# Anyone seen Rashomon and is it worth renting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318 "2008-12-31T04:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/21 "2008-12-31T15:51:19Z")
Anything by Kurosawa is great! My copy of _The Hidden Fortress_ is a treasured item in my DVD collection. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/22 "2008-12-31T17:02:03Z")
It’s a good film and shouldn’t be hard to get. Blockbuster and your local library should both have it on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/23 "2008-12-31T20:03:18Z")
**Anyone seen Rashomon and is it worth renting?** It depends on who you ask. (See it.) ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/24 "2008-12-31T20:41:57Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > I got it through Netflix. I thought it was not quite up to its bloated reputation storywise; as for the cinematography, it sure looked like it had been made a lot later than it actually was. I would agree with this. The Rashomon story gimmick has arguably been done better in later copies, but the direction and cinematography of this film make it stand out. I was impressed. It is definitely a film that I would watch again. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/25 "2008-12-31T21:03:38Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I’m pretty sure I wrote that review. Aww, I see what you did there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/26 "2008-12-31T21:44:02Z")
I’ve never made it through any Kurosawa film but _Rashomon._ I absolutely recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/27 "2009-01-01T12:36:08Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > **Anyone seen Rashomon and is it worth renting?** > > It depends on who you ask. > > (See it.) Oh, _very_ nice! \🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/28 "2009-01-01T13:39:51Z")
Ditto to all of the above comments re. its place in film history, but I side with the “overrated and not as entertaining as I’d hoped it would be” camp. If I had to choose between another viewing of **Rashomon** or, say, **Vantage Point** , I’d go with the latter, partly because **Rashomon** doesn’t feature any great car chases. 😃 [d&r from the impending barrage of slings & arrows from Kurosawa fans and other true cineastes] ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/29 "2009-01-01T13:50:19Z")
_The Seven Samurai_ was absolutely engaging. I caught it one night on TCM and I sat through the whole thing nonstop. I didn’t even look away for very long because I might miss something, be it camera work, dialogue (subtitled), or the sheer physical exuberance of the cast. It was wonderful. Sadly, we’re talking about _Rashomon_. I explicitly rented it at a local independent video rental/book/music store in town (which has survived abortive attempts by Best Buy and f.y.e. to establish themselves here) and tried to like it one night. It just didn’t take: It was slow, the characters were the precise opposite of engaging, it was really quite slow, the dialogue wasn’t up to par (again, subtitled), it was slow, and, from another perspective entirely, it was slow. I went in with a full understanding of how the story would be told and retold and I still wasn’t prepared for the plodding pace. Most of the later works I’ve seen that use the same device have been much more engaging. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/30 "2009-01-01T15:42:16Z")
You know, I watched _Rashomon_ from the couch, then from the recliner, then on a TV in the kitchen, and finally on a DVD played in the car… and no matter what, it was the same movie every time. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/31 "2009-01-01T23:48:28Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > _The Seven Samurai_ was absolutely engaging. I caught it one night on TCM and I sat through the whole thing nonstop. I didn’t even look away for very long because I might miss something, be it camera work, dialogue (subtitled), or the sheer physical exuberance of the cast. It was wonderful. > > Sadly, we’re talking about _Rashomon_. I explicitly rented it at a local independent video rental/book/music store in town (which has survived abortive attempts by Best Buy and f.y.e. to establish themselves here) and tried to like it one night. It just didn’t take: It was slow, the characters were the precise opposite of engaging, it was really quite slow, the dialogue wasn’t up to par (again, subtitled), it was slow, and, from another perspective entirely, it was slow. I went in with a full understanding of how the story would be told and retold and I still wasn’t prepared for the plodding pace. Most of the later works I’ve seen that use the same device have been much more engaging. Right _Seven Samurai_ is basically a western, chock full of the medieval equivalent of car chases. If you go \*Rashomon \*with that expectation, you will be disappointed: it’s a different kind of movie. I recommend that in this instance, as in pretty much every other instance, you should try to appreciate a movie for what it _is_, rather than for what it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/32 "2009-01-02T02:22:16Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Right _Seven Samurai_ is basically a western, chock full of the medieval equivalent of car chases. If you go \*Rashomon \*with that expectation, you will be disappointed: it’s a different kind of movie. But here’s the thing: _Rashomon_ was that kind of a movie to a certain extent. It was about a rape and a trial afterwards. There was no reason for it to drag. > [@](#): > > I recommend that in this instance, as in pretty much every other instance, you should try to appreciate a movie for what it _is_, rather than for what it isn’t. I went in with an open mind. I came out with an anesthetized one. I thought _2001_, for example, was a fascinating and engaging film. I thought _Sunrise_ was utterly amazing and beautiful. (If you’ve never heard of it, don’t feel bad: Silent films don’t get nearly the respect they deserve in popular culture these days.) I approach films bearing in mind what they are and what they’re intended to be. _Rashomon_ was an utterly beautiful film with some wonderful set-pieces and great acting that simply took too long to get from one part to the next. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/33 "2009-01-02T02:37:58Z")
I liked the Seven Samuri a lot. I have seen it many times. I enjoyed Roshomon a bit better. My favorite is Ran. They all should be seen. Ran is on such a grand scale and is beautiful to watch. But they are all about human frailty and deception. Lies ,selfishness and dishonesty even in families ,corrupts and ends in death. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/34 "2009-01-02T02:46:27Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > . . . I thought _Sunrise_ was utterly amazing and beautiful. (If you’ve never heard of it, don’t feel bad: Silent films don’t get nearly the respect they deserve in popular culture these days.) . . . [Um . . .](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=229653) ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/35 "2009-01-02T02:47:04Z")
_Rashomon_ is totally freaking excellent. Just saw it last year, brilliant movie! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/36 "2009-01-02T02:53:47Z")
Only copy I was able to find a few years ago when I wanted to see it was at my public library and it skipped for the first half and the second half didn’t play at all. I tried it on different DVD players and cleaned it. Still nothing. Damn people with no respect for public property . . . :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/37 "2009-01-02T03:41:45Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > [Um . . .](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=229653) So I don’t keep track of your five-year-old threads. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/38 "2009-01-02T17:48:29Z")
Is it about Japanese Jews or something? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/39 "2009-01-02T20:30:40Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > It just didn’t take: It was slow, the characters were the precise opposite of engaging, it was really quite slow, the dialogue wasn’t up to par (again, subtitled), it was slow, and, from another perspective entirely, it was slow. I went in with a full understanding of how the story would be told and retold and I still wasn’t prepared for the plodding pace. Most of the later works I’ve seen that use the same device have been much more engaging. I had the pleasure of seeing a new cleaned-up release on the big screen last year, and I must say that I can understand someone finding it slow if viewed at home. However, being a big fan of seeing films on the big screen, the way they were intended to be seen, I find it a vastly different experience. The pacing of the film serves to draw you in, and the immersive environment of a darkened theater keeps you there. Just something to keep in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318/40 "2009-01-02T22:44:09Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I’ve read a bit about this movie but I’m not sure if I want to invest the time tracking it down to watch it. Have any dopers seen it and is it worth watching? Kurosawa makes mad films. I don’t make films. But if I did, they’d have a Samurai. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-rashomon-and-is-it-worth-renting/479318.md?page=3)