Watch Incident at Blood Pass For Free

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Like most Japanese film enthusiasts, I looked forward to this film with great antici...pation. When I finally saw it, it wasn't what I thought it would be and I wasn't disappointed.Toshiro Mifune doesn't have to try to be charismatic...he just shows up. Even in this film, whenever Mifune was off-screen, I was anticipating his return in the back of my mind. Blood Pass didn't have much of the usual slaughter associated with the actor; but, that made the movie a bit more realistic.Shintaro Katsu is a chameleon. I've seen the man as Zatoichi and as Hanzo the Razor and he impresses me with ability to live a part. As doctor/head-thug, he didn't get much screen time, but he didn't disappoint when he was on screen.The rest of the cast was standard and a little dull...But, the plot was very interesting: Go to Blood Pass and wait for something to happen. There is a tension throughout the movie because you (and Yojimbo) have no idea what he is waiting for or why. As the movie progresses, you have no idea as to the alignment of Yojimbo until he plays his hand...even then, it isn't what you expect.Was this as good as Zatoichi? No. As good as Kurasawa-directed Mifune movies? Definitely not. But, an excellent movie and worth a watch.

Hmmm...this is a hard film to review and perhaps the other reviewer who says this stands repeated viewings is correct, as with only one viewing I wasn't all that impressed. The biggest reason is that I had a certain expectation that was too great for even a very good film to match. Toshirô Mifune plays the "Yojimbo" (or, the Body Guard)--the same name given to his character in Akira Kurosawa's SANJURO and YOJIMBO--two of the greatest Japanese films I have ever seen. Supposedly he's the same guy in this film, but I just couldn't see that. While it was the same name and actor, it just didn't seem the same. The cleverness and comic style of this film character is gone--no finesse whatsoever. Instead of the smart and manipulative Yojimbo, Mifune instead plays a guy who mostly just stands back and watches thing happen all around him. He's just too passive and uninvolved to seem like the same guy at all.It's a shame, really, as the film also starred Shintaro Katsu (famous for his Zatoichi character) and the combination of the two exceptional actors could have been great. Instead, the film just seems to be on hold until the last half hour--with very little occurring up until then. And, when the action did occur, the number of twists and turns and odd loyalties made the whole thing a bit confusing...and very detached. I especially had a hard time understanding Mifune's actions and attitude towards the evil Katsu. Interestingly, another film that starred both actors and was not directed by Kurosawa (ZATOICHI MEETS YOJIMBO) was also a disappointment (ZATOICHI MEETS YOJIMBO--while not a bad film, it was actually not as good as the average film in this series--and once again, you expect so much with a film supposedly starring the Yojimbo. I guess the key to both of these films is that neither had anything to do with Kurosawa! Without the famed director, you just can't say it's the same.

Mifune and Katsu made two movies together around 1970, this one and Zatoichi vs Yojimbo, an entry in the "blind swordsman" series. This one has significantly better direction (not surprising since Inagaki is one of the best) and production values and a more interesting ensemble of characters. For fans of the Zatoichi series, its fun seeing Katsu in such a different role. Mifune plays his usual laconic yojimbo character, however, a little more serious-minded than usual. The plot structure reminded me of Petrified Forest as a diverse group of characters assemble at the remote inn run by a miserly old man together with his romantically minded granddaughter. I like this film more each time I watch it due to the eccentric characters and their interactions. Although it's not an A list film on a par with many of Kurosawa, Kobayashi or even others by Inagaki (Samurai trilogy, Chushingura) its well done and fun. Definitely recommended for fans of Mifune and samurai movies.

INCIDENT AT BLOOD PASS (aka MACHIBUSE, 1970) is a period suspense drama set at a remote inn located at a crucial mountain pass in Tokugawa-era Japan. It takes the time-honored premise of gathering a motley cast of characters and forcing them into close quarters together as trouble brews before a major confrontation. Toshiro Mifune stars as a wandering `yojimbo' (bodyguard) who has been hired to go to this pass and wait for something to happen. Quite a number of intriguing characters show up before Mifune gets a chance to figure out what his mission is.Shintaro Katsu (known for playing the title role of the blind swordsman in the Zatoichi series) plays an exiled doctor to whom there is more than meets the eye. A young wife whom Mifune rescued from an abusive husband gets a job at the inn and falls for Mifune. A young gambler arouses the passions of the innkeeper's pretty granddaughter. A zealous constable arrives holding a con man prisoner and proceeds to repulse everyone with his overbearing arrogance. When two of the con man's confederates come to try to free him, Mifune sides with the constable and fights and kills one while the other gets away to alert his gang. When the gang arrives that night, they hold everyone in the inn hostage and, not long afterwards, Mifune learns his true mission.A lot of tension is generated as the characters gather, romances develop, alliances form, and the audience is kept guessing as to who's really who and what's really what. Eventually we learn that the criminal gang is waiting to rob a caravan of the Shogun's gold scheduled to come through the pass the next day and the stage is set for a major action setpiece.The film is structured like a play, with most of the action taking place within the sprawling mountain inn where the characters all congregate. It recalls any number of Hollywood crime dramas and westerns where gangsters or outlaws hold a group of people hostage for an extended period while the hero waits for his chance to turn the tables on them. The characters here are all fascinating and well-etched and the conflicts that emerge develop naturally and believably from the volatile mix. In addition, they're all extremely well acted in a piece that's beautifully photographed and staged.Unfortunately, the payoff for all the waiting and suspense is surprisingly weak. Fans of Mifune and samurai films routinely expect a major sword duel between the hero and his antagonist to close the film, but it never happens here. A good reason is given for averting the confrontation with Mifune's opponent (who will go unidentified so as to avoid a spoiler), but it leaves the audience hanging. The final action, when it does occur, is run through rather quickly, relegated to the simple matter of rounding up and apprehending the criminals rather than releasing any tensions or providing cathartic bursts of violence. The first 5/6 of the movie is so good that it remains worth seeing, but don't expect an action-packed finale. The film is available on tape in the U.S. in a beautiful letter-boxed transfer with English subtitles.