Customer Ratings & Reviews

Paul Schrader has made a variety of films as a director, but as a writer he is responsible for both Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" is Schrader's masterpiece as a director. From the various color schemes used (bright, vibrant color for the scenes from Mishima's books to the black and white used for Mishima's past) to the brilliant set designs, this films screams quality on every level. Ken Ogata's performance as fascinating author Yukio Mishima is subtle and pays respect to the complexity of the man. The film is certainly one of the best biographies I've ever seen, particularly because the film focuses not on explaining the details of Mishima's life, but the essence of the man: his philosophies as espoused in his books, actions, and final day. There are many extras included on this fine dvd set. On disc one, there is a commentary from Paul Schrader and the obligatory trailer. On the second disc, there is a plethora of interviews, both about the film and Yukio Mishima himself. The dvd menus are crisp and remarkably well designed. The film's picture is clear and the colors seem to pop out while the audio is also equally excellent. The packaging of "Mishima" is one of Criterion's finest achievements. The cover is a piece of artwork itself. There is a foldout tray with spots for the discs as well as a booklet including two essays on the film and photographs of Eiko Ishioka's beautiful sets from the film. Overall, it is great to see a film like this given Criterion's best treatment. I fully recommend seeing this gem of a film and picking this dvd up.