Gate of Hell

Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
Year Released: 1953
Rating: 2.5

Led me to believe it would be an action picture until about twenty minutes in before it diverted off into romantic love triangle territory. The key conflict - that of a samurai in love with another warrior's wife - is closer to Sirk than Kurosawa; it's also painfully obvious what the outcome will be. Costumes and set colors are really vibrant in a Kwaidan way - though not as pronounced of course - and as a film it keeps your attention without being particularly groundbreaking.