Rashomon

This film isn't my first foray into Live Action Japanese cinema . Outside of this film though I find it interesting that a lot of the same or similar complaints that are thrown at Hollywood cinema are also thrown at Japanese cinema as well.  I think  in the cycle of things it paints an interesting picture that Japanese cinema inspired many American filmmakers and the Japanese film makers have been since inspired by American filmmakers.

Though on the subject of Rashomon
even at the time of it's release from what I've read it was accused by some critics of being too Western and that the directorial style of Kuroswa was too westernized. This is partially the reason for the films lack of success in Japan. Other critics though that the film was too stuck in the old ways and was time to move forward.

The funny thing about all this is that this type of film was not common of Japanese Cinema and when western audiences saw it they were under the impression that this was a standard  though it wasn't.

One of the shames of watching this film in our current modern sensibilities is that this all seems to familiar. The shame being that this was once of the first places it shows up.

In my thoughts it feels that this film is rather under appreciated when it feels like Seven Samurai get's a lot of the praise and talk. Though that may be just my own perception of things

Though the films influence can't certainty be denied in general popular culture.  It's interesting to see Kuroswa's birth so to say in that this film cements for people  style that he will be associated with.  I think it's really genius his the way he shot things using the sun and working with in his limitations and those of the time. Though the film is a rather simple story it really affirms the quote that limitation is one of the most important factors of art.