Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu 1967

Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: The film's escalation of tension is almost unbearable, and Mifune erupts with a ferocity that's as righteous as it is ultimately tragic, for Kobayashi refuses to soften the film's devastating imbalance of power. Read more

Michael Sragow, New Yorker: No one could seethe better than Mifune, but what gives the movie equal shares of exhilaration and heartbreak is the feeling that pours out of him ... Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: As extreme a samurai film as I've seen in both senses (the ethics and the violence), and one of the best. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Read more

Variety: Read more

Chuck Stephens, Village Voice: Austerely anti-authoritarian. Read more