Mike
15Jun12
Watched for the second time in just over a week. Help. "The instant the blade tore open his flesh, the bright disk of the sun soared up behind his eyelids and exploded, lighting the sky for an instant."
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BleepyBloop
23Mar13
I recently re-watched this in HD, previously only seen it on VHS. From a visual standpoint there were many flourishes I really liked. Eiko Ishioka's production and costume design in particular. Glassy's score actually started to get on my nerves after a while (sacrilege, I know). It ended up becoming quite intrusive in the repetition of the main refraine, and histrionic. But, Ken Ogata is always a commanding geezer.
Mike
4Jun12
One of my all time favorite movies. One of the greatest scores of all time, coupled with awesome set design, Schrader's magnificent (as usual) script, great acting, beautiful cinematography - it certainly holds true to Mishima's aesthetic. 5/5. 10/10 if I could.
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Judicial Joe
4Jun12
Stunningly beautiful and faithful in style to Mishima's literature. I can now take Paul Schrader seriously as a director, and cannot wait for a blu-ray upgrade.
Mr. Arkadin
12Feb12
Re-watching this, I realized that the scene where Ogata portrays Mishima during his St. Sebastian photo shoot holds, in miniature, everything that fascinates me about the film.
Christopher M. Jones
28Feb11
Rarely does such a bombastic film have such subtlety and grace, but fuck me if this movie didn't have its cake and eat it too. What a triumph.
Brad S.
23Nov09
Yukio Mishima is a fascinating character I’ve never seen on film before, an acclaimed author whose world-view leads to a bizarre life and even more bizarre death. Schrader films in three distinct styles for his contemporary story, flashback and depictions of his writing. With all Japanese actors and dialogue and his own visual flair (and a very effective score by Phillip Glass), it the ultimate East meets West.
beer&movies
23Sep09
Beautiful. Probably would have never seen this film without the auteurs. Absolutely fantastic. Read a little backstory on Mishima and his works. The golden pavillion, kyoko's house, and runaway horses are three of his novels which are featured in the film which help to explain the man.
Mugino
19Aug09
Yukio Mishima is a subject of great embarrassment to my parents' generation in Japan. I suggested the film to them but they wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Being sufficiently removed from the politics of the era myself, I was able to enjoy the stunning imagery, Ogata's fearless performance and Schrader's impeccable direction on their own. It is an extraordinary vision.
bookwibble
21Dec08
A visually pleasing, beautifully laid out film that really depicts Mishima's life in a way that nothing else would. After I saw this (in a theater, but the Criterion version is tops with a really nice cover), I promptly ran out and bought Confessions of a Mask, his first book. I've never been inspired to do that. The score is also good.
Tanto
19Dec08
This was just one of those films I knew I was going to love for one reason or another, but shit, I wasn't prepared for the spotlessly bright and perfectly shot images. The structure works very well, and Ogata is amazing, as usual. I would only recommend for those interested deeply in Mishima's personal and literary life.
Phil Worfel
2Dec08
Schrader once said that if Mishima had not existed he would have tried to create him. What a life! What a film! Every set piece is beautiful and Ishioka's sets are breathtaking. Made me want to read everything Mishima had written. Great score by Glass!
Citizen Spain
1Dec08
I emailed the Criterion people 5 or 6 years ago and begged them to apply their treatment to this painfully unheard-of masterpiece. The film transfer on the old DVD was pathetic! I'm thrilled Criterion took the time to restore this amazing piece of work.