Review: Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (Criterion Collection Spine #14)

The Beast Becomes a Man

Spine #14 brings us back to Japan and back to the legendary Toshiro Mifune, but the tone is strikingly different from Seven Samurai. Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954) is the first chapter of Japan’s most famous “superhero” origin story, shot in vibrant color. It serves as a fascinating study of what it actually means to hold a prestigious title.

The protagonist, Takezo (Mifune), begins the film as a wild animal—growling, impulsive, and violent. His perception of a “samurai” is no different from how many people view prestigious jobs today: they assume they know what the role entails (glory and power) until they actually get closer to it. Only then do they realize the immense discipline required. Takezo is a quality fighter, but he lacks the soul of a samurai.

To bridge this gap, the film introduces the monk Takuan, who subjects Takezo to what can only be described as torture—hanging him from a tree for days and locking him in a room full of books. While these methods are cruel, they feel necessary. Takezo is an extreme person, and Takuan realizes that to break the beast and find the determination underneath, he has to meet Takezo where he is. Extreme impulsiveness requires an extreme cure.

The women in the film serve as perfect mirrors for Takezo’s evolution. When he is wild and desperate, he is pursued by Akemi, who matches that chaotic energy. But as he begins to understand the patience required to achieve his dream, he aligns with Otsu. She represents the discipline of waiting—a trait Takezo must learn if he is to survive. (There is a nice irony here, as Otsu was originally waiting for her fiancé Matahachi, who ultimately succumbs to the “wild” life with Akemi).

The Verdict: The movie feels incomplete, but that is by design. It isn’t a cliffhanger; it is a prologue. When Takezo finally sheds his old name and adopts the legendary moniker “Musashi Miyamoto,” walking off to begin his training, we understand that we haven’t watched a whole story—we have just watched the birth of a legend.

← Previous PostNext Post →