(aka "Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple" or "Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijôji no kettô" or "Samurai 2: Ichijôji no kettô" or "Ichijoji no ketto" or "Swords of Doom" )

 

directed by Hiroshi Inagaki
Japan 1955

 

In this the second of three films about Miyamoto Musashi, we start media res with the famous duel between Musashi and Baiken (a master of kusari-gama). Here Musashi also finds his apprentice. Together they now wander the land, seeking out to duel the master of a famous school, which is the duel at Ichijoji temple. Once again, Otsu tries to get Musashi to love her, but he brings shame on her and the film ends with Otsu becoming a nun and Musashi walking the curved path of enlightenment.

Having established the central storylines in the first part, this is where the story really begins to pick up pace and become great. Matahachi has lost everything, Otsu still fights for her love and Musashi is perfecting his skill. A new character is introduced, Sasaki Kojiro, a young master who eventually also is seeking perfection.

Both in story and in film superior to the first part. There are some amazing compositions in medium and long shots here, especially during the final duel, but also in the scenes taking place indoor. Characters also have become more colourful in terms of costumes, as they have come town from countryside.
 

Henrik Sylow

Theatrical Release: July 12, 1955

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for all the Screen Caps!

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

  

 

 

You may also buy the Three Samurai films (Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto, Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple, Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island) in a Criterion Boxset - saving over purchasing individually.

               

Distribution

Criterion Collection Spine #15

Region 0 - NTSC

 ArtsMagic
Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:43:47 1.43:13
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.46 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: ? mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Criterion Collection

 

Bitrate:

 

ArtsMagic

 

UNAVAILABLE
Audio 1.0 Dolby Digital Japanese Monaural

2.0 MPEG Japanese Monaural
Subtitles English, None English (burned)
Features Release Information:
Studio: Criterion Collection

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• 4 page insert
• Original Japanese Trailer (3:45)

DVD Release Date: July 21, 1998 (Reissue: May 18, 2004)
Amarey

Chapters 35
 

 Release Information:
Studio: ArtsMagic

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Trailers:
• Samurai 1 (2:25)
• Samurai 2 (1:47)
• Samurai 3 (1:34)
• Red Lion (2:00)
• Ambush at Blood Pass (1:46)
• Zatoichi the Outlaw (1:31)
• Biographies for Hiroshi and Mifune
• Cast gallery
• Artwork for Babycart Assasin, Zatoichi and Lady Snowblood
• Notes of Musashi's 'Book of 5 rings': The Water Book and The Fire Book

 

DVD Release Date: August 27, 2001
Keep Case

Chapters 14

Comments Once again as with the first DVD, Criterion has a nice enough picture, but suffers from edge enhancement and the sound is pretty bad, audible scratches and in desperate need for a remastering. It is slightly better than the first DVD.

Again, ArtsMagic is horrible bad. Colours are faded and bloom, there are edge enhancement halo’s and it simply is way below acceptable norms for DVD.

About the bitrate: It was impossible for the program to get anything. The bitrate is, if one looks at the outswing on the info while playing about par with the other two DVD (4.5 mb/s avg).

Again, as on the other discs, the trailer is superior in quality to the film itself.

 - Henrik Sylow

 


 

Recommended Reading for Japanese Film Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

 

 

The Japan Journals : 1947-2004,

by  Donald Richie

 The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film
by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp

Kon Ichikawa (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs)

by James Quandt, Cinematheque Ontario

 Shohei Imamura (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No. 1)
by James Quandt 		Eros Plus Massacre: An Introduction to the Japanese New Wave Cinema (Midland Book, Mb 469)
by David Desser 		The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Ritchie

Tokyo Story

by Yasujiro Ozu, Kogo Noda, Donald Richie, Eric Klestadt

Ozu by Donald Richie

 A Hundred Years of Japanese Film by Donald Richie

Check out more in "The Library"



DVD Menus

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)


 

 

 

Subtitle Sample

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

Screen Captures

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. ArtsMagic - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

Image:

Criterion

Sound:

Criterion
Extras: ArtsMagic
Menu: Criterion
DVD Box Covers

  

 

 

You may also buy the Three Samurai films (Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto, Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple, Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island) in a Criterion Boxset - saving over purchasing individually.

               

Distribution

Criterion Collection Spine #15

Region 0 - NTSC

 ArtsMagic
Region 2 - PAL

 

 

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