Hidden Fortress:Last Princess
Directed by: Shinji Higuchi Starring: Jun Matsumoto, Masami Nagasawa, Hiroshi Abe Synopsis:Based on the Akira Kurosowa classic: As her kingdom falls to a rival warlord, a princess disguises herself as a peasant, ably supported by her samurai bodyguard posing as her brother. They enlist the help of two would-be thieves in helping them smuggle a warchest full of gold bars through enemy territory to safety. Takezo, one of the thieves, had recently escaped from a mine and had a deep resentment for the samurai class. The princess, Yukihime, is almost overwhelmed by the position she is in, but is more concerned for the welfare of her people. Meanwhile, Gyobu (Kippei Shiina) the warlord wants Yukihime to be his bride so he can formally annex her kingdom… Review: Fans of Kurasawa’s classic should let this one pass them by, however everyone else with an interest in Chanbara movies should consider giving this a look-see. Most people will be aware that Kurasawa’s film was a big influence on Star Wars, and that George Lucas styled the comic antics of C3PO and R2D2 on the two peasants roped in to help Toshiro Mifune’s General. Hidden Fortress: The last Princess repays the compliment, by borrowing as much from Star Wars as it does from the original film. The character of Takezo becomes a mix of Solo and Skywalker, while Makabe Rokurota, now a mere samurai/bodyguard, could almost be compared to Chewbacca. Even Gyobu is dressed in a sinister black costume complete with face-plate and cloak. The Last Princess’ music cues sound similar to some of those from Star Wars too, particularly the Skywalker themes from Tatooine. One of the elements I liked about the film was the way princess Yukihime is affected by the human cost of their plan – in order for her and Makabe to get a clean headstart on their pursuers, a number of state officials must make a show of protecting Makabe’s sister, who is impersonating the princess. Makabe considers it an honour that his sister was able to “serve” the princess in this manner, but Yukihime herself is appalled, not only that it has happened but also at Makabe’s attitude. There are a number of decent action scenes throughout the film, but there are a number of downtime moments too, especially between Takezo and Yukihime, and a whole sequence where Takezo takes the gang back to his home village in time for a fire festival. However the finale dishes out a number of decent plot twists and a rousing finale in the Death Star – I mean Gyobu’s hidden fortress! Verdict Both a remake and a rip-off, The Last Princess isn’t a patch on the original but it is a pretty entertaining romp all the same. 7 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)
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