#6 in Akira Kurosawa

A rewatch in far better conditions proves that this is an excellent film (I don't need to say how excellent the action sequences are, nor the world building of the first hour), but this really is among Kurosawa's driest works. The middle, though necessary (and gives us the film's greatest moment), is just too slow for whatever reason. Glad I'm finally appreciating this more though, the best bits shine with the likes of Red Beard as the very best of Kurosawa (even if we're seeing two completely different ends of his style) it's just sadly let down by a sub-par middle.