Hidden Fortress:
A general and a princess must dodge enemy clans while smuggling the royal treasure out of hostile territory with two bumbling, conniving peasants at their sides; it's a spirited adventure that only Akira Kurosawa could create. The Criterion Collection is proud to present this landmark motion picture in a stunning, newly-restored Tohoscope edition.
Hidden Fortress Netflixed this: am on a definite Kurosawa kick. What an eye the man had for mise en scene! Spectacular.
Update 10/4/05 Hidden Fortress is apparently the basis of the original Star Wars movie, per George Lucas.
The influence of The Hidden Fortress can be seen in George Lucas's Star Wars: A New Hope, particularly in the technique of telling of the story from the points of view of the film's lowliest characters. The relationship of R2-D2 and C-3PO is very similar to that of Tahei and Matakichi. Also, the characters of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia mirror those of the general Rokurota Makabe and Princess Yukihime. Early in the development of Star Wars, George Lucas even considered Toshiro Mifune for the role of Obi-Wan.
Oh, man--I was on this kick last year before I got sidetracked by the French and Italians...Roshomon, Ran, Ikiru, Seven Samurai, Dreams. Can't wait to see more!
I've seen all of those recently, with the exception of Roshomon. Great stuff indeed. Roshomon is next on my list I believe.