Samurai Trilogy: Duel at Ganryu Temple

The final installation of director Hiroshi Inagaki's samurai dramas, 'Ganryu Temple' tells the tale of humble samurai Musashi Miyamoto, who though being incredibly skilled is far from bloodthirsty, avoiding conflict whenever possible. A rival swordsman, the young, arrogant, nihilistic and completely unlikeable Kojiro Sasaki dreams of making his fortune by dueling Musashi.

In order to reach the pinnacle of fame Kojiro challenges Musashi to a duel, which Musashi politely accepts. At the same time the local shogun is courting both samurai to become his son's tutor, and they all eagerly await the duel.

At the last moment Musashi sends Kojiro a note apologizing that he cannot duel him, asking to postone the duel for one year, at a location of their choosing. Musashi heads out across the wilderness, fending off brigands, and ultimately growing vegetables just outside a nearby village. Instead of keeping up with his swordplay, Musashi revels in his new, simple life.

Before he can enjoy himself for too long, two of Musashi's old flames show up in the village, declaring their love for him. On the one hand we have Otsu, whom Musashi loves but fears he has offended in the past by pressing himself upon her. We never really see what happens in the flashback, but apparently he gave her a peck on the cheek -- scandalous!

Of course, the setting is medieval Japan, so Musashi's advance was probably the equivalent of   rape! From my perspective it's borderline melodramatic. Another woman, Akemi, arrives and pretty much throws herself at the laconic Musashi, who rebuffs her by not moving a single facial muscle.

Meanwhile, back in the city, Kojiro is trying to make a name for himself by interviewing with the shogun. The interview consists of displaying his skills in a practice duel with one of the shogun's lower level samarui. This other samurai uses a spear with the point covered -- a historically accurate practice of the time. Kojiro requests that the retainer uncover the spearhead. The shogun allows it, and in the resulting battle the retainer is so badly injured by the arrogant Kojiro that he is paralyzed.

Back home on the farm, Musashi realizes that he loves Otsu, politely rejects the slutty (by medieval Japanese standards) Akemi, and brigands attack the village when the scorned Akemi sets Musashi's hut on fire as a signal for the attack.

On a side note, you've got to feel bad for Musashi; all he wanted to do was hug vegetables in peace, and two hot women show up and wreck it all. First Otsu, being so distraught by Musashi's (feigned) romantic indifference, tries to drown herself in a nearby pond. A bewildered Musashi is forced to fish her out before she can kill herself. Then another woman (Akemi), after being spurned, burns down his hut! These women make men who dutifully chop each other to pieces with swords seem rational by comparison.

After the credits roll on 'Days of Our Samurai', Musashi realizes that he loves Otsu, but still must duel Kojiro. She begs him to give up being a samurai, to avoid the duel now that they're finally happy. Of course, Musashi embraces Otsu, and then dutifully heads to Ganryu Temple to battle his nemesis.

They battle on the beach, with the rising sun in the background in a truly spectacular battle. The film itself doesn't offer much in the way of real violence -- this isn't 'Kill Bill' -- no one loses body parts, and since the movie is in black and white, there are no arterial crimson splashes to be seen. The samurai slash quickly and their targets drop to the ground.

The drama is in the mental tension evident in the combatants, each changing their stance slightly, anticipating a lightning fast attack. They edge around each other by small degrees, one toe at a time, ratcheting up the tension.

Overall, 'Samurai Trilogy: Duel at Ganryu Temple' is one of the better samurai movies I've seen. It's still nowhere close to as good as Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' or 'Hara-Kiri' or 'Yojimbo', being too romantically melodramatic for my tastes. But the acting by Koji Tsuruta (Kojiro) and Toshiro Mifune (Musashi) is fasntastic, each man owning the role. Despite the melodrama, I really did end up hoping Musashi would win and Kojiro be cut down.

I would say 'Ganryu Temple' is a good 'starter' movie for people looking to explore Japanese samurai movies.