The Hidden Fortress
The Hidden Fortress

The Hidden Fortress

1958Movie139 minJapanese

In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a defeated army, stumble upon a mysterious man who guides them to a fortress hidden in the mountains.

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Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes98%
Google Users93%
Director: Akira KurosawaGenres: Adventure, Drama, War

Plot Summary

Two desperate, bumbling peasants find themselves escorting a disguised princess and her loyal retainer across treacherous enemy territory. Their perilous journey is fraught with ambushes, thrilling escapes, and a race against time to reach friendly lines and secure the future of their clan. Along the way, they must outwit ruthless samurai and navigate a landscape filled with danger, all while guarding the princess's secret identity and the precious gold she carries.

Critical Reception

The Hidden Fortress was met with widespread critical acclaim, celebrated for its masterful direction, thrilling action sequences, and engaging storytelling. It is considered a landmark achievement in Japanese cinema and a significant influence on many subsequent films, particularly in the adventure and samurai genres.

What Reviewers Say

  • Acclaimed for its grand scale and compelling adventure narrative.
  • Praised for Kurosawa's dynamic direction and innovative filmmaking techniques.
  • Applauded for its memorable characters and exciting action set pieces.

Google audience: Audiences frequently praise The Hidden Fortress for its exciting plot, memorable characters, and the masterful direction by Akira Kurosawa. Many viewers find the blend of humor and drama highly effective, making it an enduringly enjoyable classic.

Fun Fact

The film's narrative structure and character archetypes, particularly the two bumbling comedic relief characters, are widely recognized as a significant influence on George Lucas's Star Wars: A New Hope.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Now though top billing and much of the screen time is afforded to Kurosawa regular Toshirô Mifune ("Gen. Makabe") this film really belongs to the two opportunistic farmers "Matakichi" (Kamatari Fujiwara) and "Tahei" (Minori Chiaki). These t...