Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (Sub)

Starring:Akira Terao, Mitsuko Baisho, Toshie Negishi, Mieko Harada, Mitsunori Isaki, Toshihiko Nakano, Yoshitaka Zushi, Hisashi Igawa, Chosuke Ikariya, Chishu Ryu, Martin Scorsese, Masayuki Yui, Tessho Yamashita, Misato Tate, Catherine Cadou, Mieko Suzuki, Mugita Endo, Ryojiro Oki, Masaru Sakurai, Masaaki Sasaki
Director: Akira Kurosawa, Ishirô Honda
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Produced with assistance from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Dreams is an omnibus of eight short stories and parables that spell enchantment at every turn. The opening story, "Sun Under the Rain," emerges from director Akira Kurosawa's personal memories, as a child (whose house is modeled after Kurosawa's childhood home in Koishikawa) witnesses a fox's wedding ceremony in a magical forest. The Garden of Eden motif continues in "The Peach Orchard," while Lucas's ILM special effects group shines in the glorious "Crows" segment, in which an art admirer finds himself living within the paintings of Van Gogh (played with concentrated energy by Kurosawa enthusiast Martin Scorsese). In the idyllic closing fable, "The Village of the Watermills," a centenarian claims that "people nowadays have forgotten that they are also part of nature." The equally wise Kurosawa reinforces the old man's claim through these vivid but ultimately life-affirming tableaux. --Kevin Mulhall

Description

One of the most visionary, deeply personal works in the 60-year career of the master behind Rashomon, The Seven Samurai and Ran. Featuring eight episodes rich in imagery and insight (and casting MARTIN SCORSESE as a feisty Vincent Van Gogh), it explores the costs of war, the perils of nuclear power and especially humankind's need to harmonize with nature. You will be enchanted ... and enthralled.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning Color and Inspiring Imagery.......2007-07-04

I wish I were eloquent enough to convey just how much I loved and apprecciated the feelings this movie evoked in me when I watched it the first time. Each dream or vignette is distinct and yet somehow connected. My favorite was the 'peach orchard' segment. It was so stunningly beautiful it brought me to tears. The colors were unparalleled and the message was clearly yet sensitively conveyed. It is not a movie with the traditional beginning, middle and end. It is separate 'dream' sequences that fit together in an unusual but highly effective way. I love all of Kurosawa's movies, but this is a special piece I will hold in my heart forever.

my introduction to Kurosawa..............2007-06-27

I first became familiar with the wonderful work of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa with his DREAMS. It was a required film in my non-western art course. For starters, many of these eight vignettes feel directly inspired and lifted out of Japanese screen art. They start off in a very engaging way and then end very abruptly (not unlike real-life dreams). They leave you wanting more and it is often pretty frustrating because you are just getting lost in the stories when they come to a close. They are inspired by Kurosawa's childhood, Japanese folklore and Van Gogh's cornfield painting (among other storylines). The short stories are brilliantly shot and the colors are breathtaking. It's a shame that I didn't see this on the big screen. If this is ever re-released in the movie theater, I would have to go see it! In the meantime, viewers, please don't miss out on this film. It's wonderful and poignant.

Foreign films can be different, but nice. .......2007-04-21

This is a very avant-guarde movie; very different from your typical modern film. It is actually a series of eight short movies depicting a dream. Given an even chance, and a little time to think outside the expectations of a typical modern movie; I think this movie can be quite entertaining and thought-provoking. It is fascinating to explore the mysterious world of dreams, as doctors Freud and Jung have so impressed upon modern society. The color and Japanese feel of this movie are a tribute to the artistic talents of the reknowned director.

Visions of Harmony.......2007-04-16

I was advised by a friend that "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams" were just a series of pretty pictures without much meaning. I was prepared to just enjoy the cinematography but I came away with an appreciation of a kaleidescope of vision that tells of harmony with nature and one another. I don't necessarily concur with the whole concept expressed in the movie but I'd rather watch this than "An Inconvenient Truth" any day.

There are eight seemingly independent vision (dreams) that subtly tie together to give the director's vision clarity and impact. The first story tells of the dangers of disobeying the laws of nature; even those we totally depend on cannot always help us when we break this taboo. The second tells of the danger of destroying natural things that not only benefit our lives but improve the quality of it as well. Once destroyed, natural treasures may only be found in dreams. The third story tells of how man is helpless against the powerful forces of nature. The fourth episode reminds us of humanity's self-destructive nature.

In a break in the logical process, the fifth episode reminds us of humanity's ability to create and understand beauty and harmony. The path shown, in other words, can be altered within our own capabilities. The sixth episode returns to the potential self destruction of humanity and the seventh shows how that same self-destruction can not only destroy ourselves but all of nature as well. The final episode leads us back to a beginning point where, with a new attitude, the predicted doom and gloom need not happen.

All scenes are exceptionally well created on film. The color, the impressionism, the gloom, all underscore Kurosawa's message. Indeed, if you don't care for the message, don't skip this film. Watch it to appreciate the technical talents of Kurosawa and his cameramen, artists, set designers etc.. Whether one is an adherant to the theory of Global Warming or other theories of apocalypse, it is hard not to appreciate the beauty of one man's artistic effort to make his statement. It is coherent and profound unlike the politcal cacaphony of all sides of these issues.

there are three kinds of dreams in this phenomenal movie:.......2007-04-06

the good, the bad, and the ugly. there were beauties, sadness, helplessness, permanent losses, dim hopefulness, and ugliness in it. they were also broken dreams, nightmares, rarely beautiful and worthlessly trying to go back in time to look back the japanese history. japanese, like korea, was constantly invaded and attacked by the super powers from the west. they were forced to open their borders and ports to the canons and guns, that forever messed up their traditions and values. what they did in the 2nd world war was just an ultimate revenge to the outside world around them. they just couldn't help it. their die-hard stubbornness of their samurai values not only became the driving force to do the bad and the ugly, but also driving them over-the-edge crazy and so blindly.
what kurasawa tried to deliver in this film was the dilemma and the struggle between the traditional value and the silent fanaticism of japan. then hollywood did another weird .what dream may come', an adaptation far from reality.

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