Is this a good movie? Plot? Actors? Visually? Good Transfer to disc? Any other comments?

While I think it certainly warrants a look, the movie itself is a bit disappointing. Made in Japan during WWII, it was an attempt to whip up some patriotic fervor by rehashing the 47 Ronin story. It's a very long film (two parts) and very dialogue centric with almost no action. It almost teases the viewer by building up for a great battle and then cutting directly to the aftermath scene.

If you're looking for a film based on the same story but which is much more engaging, check out the recent DVD of <B>Chushingura</B>. Same basic storyline but with a larger budget and more actvity on screen.