16. Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island muffs the ending

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island ends the Samurai Trilogy with a clever fight scene but numerous unanswered questions. Really, the film doesn't end as much as it just stops, and even though this is the second time I've watched this trilogy, my reaction to the ending was exactly the same this time around as it was the first: "That's it?" I know that endings are tricky and I'm sure the book ties everything up near the end, but this film almost feels like the crew said, "you know what? We're done here" and just stopped working on the story after the final duel.

I don't remember being as irritated by the ending the first time around as I am now, but boy did it ever leave me limp this time. I wanted to know what happens with him and Otsu. I wanted to know if he was going to continue his life as a samurai or give it up to settle down. I wanted to know if he was going to continue taking on apprentices, since he has two of them by the time he leaves for the last duel. And moreover, I wanted to know what the fuck happened to Matahachi, who had such an interestingly slimy character arc that disappeared after he was exposed as a fraud. After all the promise of the second film, which seemed to be setting up an emotionally powerful, epic climax, we get a run-of-the-mill rivalry between Musashi and another great fighter named Sasaki. It never feels as powerful as it portends to be, the outcome is never in question, and when it happens it only lasts a couple of drama-free minutes. Even describing it is pissing me off a bit.

Overall, after the promise of the second film I was on board with this series and eager to see how it ended. I hoped that things would wrap up better than they actually did, and even though I was all ready to boost this one up a few spots, the ending ruined that. The third film in this trilogy was a real disappointment, and while it was entertaining overall it didn't have the kind of emotional punch I was hoping for. Therefore, I'm going to leave it at #13. I appreciate the scope of this story, but there are far too many loose ends for me to put it any higher. I'm almost tempted to slide it down to #14, but I enjoyed this one more than Amarcord, so I'm leaving it where it is, regardless of my disappointment.

1. Beauty and the Beast (1946)
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
3. The Seventh Seal (1957)
4. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
5. Grand Illusion (1937)
6. Hard Boiled (1992)
7. The 400 Blows (1959)
8. Walkabout (1971)
9. The Killer (1989)
10. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
11. A Night to Remember (1958)
12. The Lady Vanishes (1938)
13. The Samurai Trilogy (1954-1956)
14. Amarcord (1973)

Next time: The good folks at Criterion gag me with a shit-filled spoon as I force myself to sit through another viewing of the classic feel-lousy Pasolini joint Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom. Pray for me, dear readers, since the last time I watched this film I felt miserable for an entire week.