Directed by Nishitani Hiroshi (2007)
Akechi Mitsuhide Karasawa Hiroaki
Oda Nobunaga Uekawa Takaya
Hashiba Hideyoshi Yanagiba Toshiro
Hiroko Nagagawa Masami
I have to admit this film could have been better. I expected a three to four hour movie about Mitsuhide, but left with a sour taste in my mouth. The movie is about less than two hours and I am thinking why? To tell you the truth, I do not know why.
Karasawa Hiroaki played a decent Mitsuhide, but at times drifted away. Nobunaga was portrayed as stiff, cold, and inhuman like. I was upset about that, but I am going to let this slide because the movie was not about him. The movie is about Mitsuhide. Hideyoshi is the star of the show. His energy and enthusiasm alone carried the movie. Without his spunky behavior, the movie would been a dud.
The action is the movie are few, but tense. At least the director got me hooked on that. The slaughter at Mt. Hiei is one of the best I have seen since the movie captures the horror. The expressed shock the Oda army when the people fled for their lives. Mitsuhide looks horrified about the massacre. I do not blame him on this one. However, one of the best parts of the movie was when Nobunaga threw his sword at a bunch of monks praying stabbing one in the back. The Nobunaga way: finish them off.
Mitsuhide had enough and eventually rebels against his lord. It is bit different from most of the Honnoji Rebellions I have seen, but enjoyed it. Nobunaga puts up a good fight before he dies. However, the two talk before Nobunaga walks into the flames of hell to kill himself. Not to be missed was the part of the movie was when Nobunaga beat the living hell out Mitsuhide.
That being said, I think this was a chick flick in many ways. I cannot describe it. The director should have gone back further in Mitsuhide's days in Mino and Echizen. After all, Mitsuhide was a talented man in warfare and in the cultural arts. He did loved his wife Hiroko and family and it showed in the movie. Mitsuhide at times was unsure about himself and it showed in the movie. That trait alone eventually cost him his life.
I will keep the movie since I plan to watch it again in about six months. Hopefully, my opinion would change. Doubt it.
Nobunaga no tame!
4 comments:
So the movie showed Nobunaga putting up a good fight at Honnoji?
One of the reasons I like the character for Nobunaga in the drama Tenchijin was how they showed Nobunaga in the Honnoji Incident episode. Nobunaga put up a great fight. They showed him standing out on the veranda shooting his bow amid chaotic fighting around him. He took out several Mitsuhide soldiers before he retreated to the inner part of Honnoji temple. It was a pretty awesome scene.
I agree. At least they got it right on the Honnoji. I did like Nobunaga's coffin (Nobunaga no Hitsugi), although it was very short. The women fleeing and Nobunaga doing his best.
It was interesting how in Tenchijin they made it seem as if Nobunaga could have escaped from Honnoji. His female companion was begging him to flee as Honnoji burned but he refused. To me that scenario is far fetched as I don't think anyone could have escaped from Honnoji since it was surround by thousands of troops.
There is a lot movies and novels about the Honnoji Incident of late. It does not bother me at all. I think historians know what really happened. Novels and movies now are filling in the gaps.
I do plan to make a trip to the Honnoji(modern/ and the landmark where Nobunaga died)in October.
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