Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Original title: Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijôji no kettô
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Musashi Miyamoto returns to Kyoto after years of absence. After a series of fights against the Yoshioka School, he challenges its master to a duel.Musashi Miyamoto returns to Kyoto after years of absence. After a series of fights against the Yoshioka School, he challenges its master to a duel.Musashi Miyamoto returns to Kyoto after years of absence. After a series of fights against the Yoshioka School, he challenges its master to a duel.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn a scene in which Musashi is staying in a courtesan's compound to avoid his antagonists, he is seen painting in ink. In reality, Musashi was an artist and actually did create many works of art, such as one titled "Shrike in a barren tree", and they still exist to this day in museums throughout Japan.
- GoofsMany of the guys killed in swordplay go down with either no visible contact between their bodies and a katana, or appear to be hit in the arm or leg with a non-fatal slash that stills ends them, regardless.
- Quotes
Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo): I renounce my love of women.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
Featured review
Predictable and melodramatic
I've watched the entire trilogy of the Musashi Miyamoto films, of which this film is the second part. The first film, titled simply "Musashi Miyamoto," introduces us to the characters of this and the third film. Without having seen the first film and developing some interest in the welfare of the characters, I certainly wouldn't have sat through the second and third films.
"Duel at Ichijoji Temple," this film, deals with Musashi's exploits as a sort of samurai knight-errant, seeking glory in a very ambiguous and roundabout way. Two women are trailing after him, as Kurosawa films would say, "like goldfish dung." Musashi himself is a flat character on whom Toshiro Mifune's acting skills are wasted. He displays very little emotion or intellect, despite his supposed interest in one of the women and enlightening education by his monk teacher (as we saw in the first film).
If Musashi is flat, the female characters are steamrolled. Their hand wringing, collapsing, and sobbing is typical of American movies of this time period and grows tedious in a samurai film. Having seen other films from this time period set in the days of samurai, I've seen that much more can be done with female characters. The plot was likewise predictable and slow-moving.
If you don't care about characters or plot, the high points of the movie may compensate: beautiful color landscapes and Toshiro Mifune's thrilling fight scenes. Otherwise, I recommend films by Kurosawa or Mizoguchi ("Sanjuro," the mysterious "Ugetsu") over this trilogy. 5/10
"Duel at Ichijoji Temple," this film, deals with Musashi's exploits as a sort of samurai knight-errant, seeking glory in a very ambiguous and roundabout way. Two women are trailing after him, as Kurosawa films would say, "like goldfish dung." Musashi himself is a flat character on whom Toshiro Mifune's acting skills are wasted. He displays very little emotion or intellect, despite his supposed interest in one of the women and enlightening education by his monk teacher (as we saw in the first film).
If Musashi is flat, the female characters are steamrolled. Their hand wringing, collapsing, and sobbing is typical of American movies of this time period and grows tedious in a samurai film. Having seen other films from this time period set in the days of samurai, I've seen that much more can be done with female characters. The plot was likewise predictable and slow-moving.
If you don't care about characters or plot, the high points of the movie may compensate: beautiful color landscapes and Toshiro Mifune's thrilling fight scenes. Otherwise, I recommend films by Kurosawa or Mizoguchi ("Sanjuro," the mysterious "Ugetsu") over this trilogy. 5/10
helpful•2221
- frojavigdis
- Apr 15, 2004
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Duel at Ichijoji Temple
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955) officially released in India in English?
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