Good Samurai Films

[Jeikobu San]

Konichiwa

I am currently watching the Miyamato Mushashi films, Samurai 1,2, and 3. I have also seen, The Seven Samurai, The Last Samurai, Shoguns Shadow, Shogun the miniseries, The Twilight Samurai, and The Hidden Blade. Can anyone suggest some more? Some with a fair amount of realism would be nice. Also, Does anyone belive that a Usagi movie could ever be made? Just some questions to help me get to know you guys more. Domo.

Jeikobu-San

[Dr5trange]

I've always loved the zatoichi movies.

I didn't enjoy the new one as much. Regardless, they're definetly entertaining samurai movies.

[Steve Hubbell]

Just to scratch the surface a little bit....
Hideo Gosha directed a number of exceptional samurai films, starting with the fantastic "Three Outlaw Samurai" (available on import DVD), "Sword of the Beast" (available from Criterian as part of the Rebel Samurai box set), "Samurai Wolf" parts I and II (available from http://www.samuraidvd.com ), and the clasic "Goyokin" which was originally going to be the last Yojimbo film featuring toshiro Mifune (Media Blasters / Tokyo Shock), as well as a few others.

Masaki Kobayashi directed two samurai films which should not be missed, Even if you only watch two samurai films in your life. "Samurai Rebellion" and "Harakiri" (Seppuku) are both available through Criterian and star Toshiro Mifune in the first one and Tatsuya Nakadai in both.

Kihachi Okamoto directed a decent number of films worth watching, from "Samurai Assassin" (Toshiro Mifune), "The Sword of Doom" (Mifune and Nakadai, unfortunately, part one of a never finished trilogy), "Kill!" (Tatsuya Nakadai, one of my personal favorites, and while based on the same story as Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune's film "Sanjuro", it is a totally differant movie), "Red Lion" (Toshiro Mifune), and last but not least "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" (Shintaro Katsu and Mifune).

Hiroshi Inagaki is a director hard to ignore, what with the three part "Samurai" trilogy (starring Toshiro Mifune as Miyamoto Musashi) and "The Ambush" aka "Incident at Blood Pass" (featuring Katsu and Mifune). He also directed "Rise Against the Sword", "Whirlwind", "Chushingura: 47 Samurai", and "Daredevil in the Castle" (all featuring Toshiro Mifune and which are available through either official or unofficial sources on ebay, etc). His "Bandits on the Wind" is currently at the top of my "want to find" list.

Hopefully, this makes the scratch a little bit deeper into a film genre which, during it's "golden age", spanned three decades and saw literally hundreds of films released yearly during some of those years.

Also, check out the books:
"Stray Dogs & Lone Wolves: The Samurai Film Handbook" by Patrick Galloway - Stone Bridge Press, 2005

"The Samurai Film" by Alain Silver - Overlook Press, 2005

Abayo.....

[Steve Hubbell]

And, of course, you have to watch Yojimbo and Sanjuro, both classics by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune!

visit The Ninja Dojo at http://p214.ezboard.com/btheninjadojo89233 to check out a great forum for jidai geki and chanbara films with lots of iformation on both new and classic films..

I think you might have to register with ezboard.com to post to the forum.

[Tounian]

As Hubbell-san mentioned, if you want to see one of the greatest movies of all time, see Harakiri. Or just buy it, it is totally worth the $40 from Criterion. Also, the movie Ugetsu is simply amazing. It isn't a samurai flick in the general understanding, but it is a beautiful picture anyway.

[Robert Wetherelt]

I own about 30 samurai films. Some of the best ones are; Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Sword of Doom, The Lone Wolf & Cub series, Samurai Assassin, Sword of the Beast, Samurai Fiction, Goyokin, Incident at Blood Pass, The Zatoichi films, Samurai Rebellion and Shogun Assassin. I have enjoyed all of these and would recomend them whole heartedly to anyone. Abayo!

[Tounian]

Sword of Doom is AMAZING. Tatsuya Nakadai I think shined more than Mifune did in this movie. Which, considering Mifune's already established history and world renowned skill at acting, is no easy task. His portrayal of Ryunosuke was the perfect embodiment of absolute evil.

[Steve Hubbell]

Check out the "Satan's Sword Trilogy" if you liked "Sword of Doom"

SATAN'S SWORD

3 DVD SET

STARRING ICHIKAWA RAIZO

DAIBOSATSU TOGE (GREAT BUDDHA PASS) is Japan's greatest novel. Much like our own GONE WITH THE WIND, the story is set against a backdrop of civil war and political upheaval. This story has been filmed many times, and the most well known version, SWORD OF DOOM, left viewers hanging as the film ended on a freeze frame in the middle of a huge swordfight. This trilogy does not stop there, but gives you the entire story.


Part 1: SATAN'S SWORD (Daibosatsu Toge)
Covering much the same territory as SWORD OF DOOM, we meet the main characters and follow Ryunosuke's journey to the fateful night in Kyoto, when all Hell breaks out. Starring Ichikawa Raizo with a superb supporting cast including Nakamura Tamao as Hama, and Hongo Kojiro as Hyoma, this film stays very close to the original novel.

Part 2: THE DRAGON GOD (Ryujin no Maki)
Picking up where part 1 (and SWORD OF DOOM) left off, the further adventures of Ryunosuke and his mortal enemy, Hyoma take many twists and turns after Ryunosuke joins with the Tenchu Group, and finds himself being chased by his former comrades.

Part 3: THE FINAL CHAPTER (Kanketsu Hen)
At long last the entire story of the vicious killer, Tsukue Ryunosuke, comes to an end. Set against a backdrop of civil war, this story is based on fact, and along with the historical characters that populate the story (members of the Shinsengumi, etc.) the main character is said to have been based on a real samurai named Fuda Ryuzaburo Takafumi, a swordsman of the Kogen-Itto-ryu.

The tension mounts to a fever pitch as the hunt for Ryunosuke goes on. Young Utski Hyoma has come close to avenging his brother before, but each time fate has stepped in to foil his quest. Now with the words of a learned Monk burning in his ears, can he finally carry out his sworn duty?
A tremendous motion picture closes out the story as the turbulent winds of Japan's history come to life!

[Steve Hubbell]

I decided to buy a new samurai film this weekend from Merlin at SamuraiDVD.com, which has a special deal going for members of the Ninja Dojo forums ( http://p214.ezboard.com/btheninjadojo89233 ) which is THE place to learn about and share opinions on jidai geki, chambara, and samurai related films and television.

INN OF EVIL
(Inochi Bonifuro)



This is another masterpiece from filmmaker KOBAYASHI Masaki, noted director of HARA KIRI, KWAIDAN, and SAMURAI REBELLION. The Japanese title is actually translated as “We give our lives for nothing”, and is the true heart and soul of this story. Based on a novel by YAMAMOTO Shugoro, who also wrote the books upon which SANJURO, KILL, and AFTER THE RAIN, were based, it tells the tale of a group of thieves and murderers who find it within themselves to sacrifice their lives with no hope of personal gain. NAKADAI Tatsuya stars as Sada, an expert with knives, whose mysterious past comes to light as he leads a group of fugitives in their last-ditch battle to save their home, a dilapidated inn, which does not welcome strangers in its doors. KATSU Shintaro plays against type in a pivotal role as one of the only outsiders ever allowed to drink at the inn. Tension and suspense lead up to a conclusion like no other. A magnificent motion picture, and a true work of art.

Directed by: KOBAYASHI Masaki
Starring: NAKADAI Tatsuya, SATO Kei, SAKAI Wakako,
NAKAMURA Ganemon, KATSU Shintaro

SPECIAL PRICE
Price: $29.95

The special price for Ninja Dojo members is $20.00 (including shipping), so join the Ninja Dojo and order a copy soon, because the sale will not last much longer.

(when ordering through the SamuraiDVD web-site, there is a glitch in the system, so the correct price is not being calculated. Contact them by email to confirm the correct price)

[tsubakisanjuro]

'Throne of Blood', 'The Hidden Fortress', 'Yojimbo', 'Sanjuro' all directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune.

There's also "Ran' and "Kagemusha' by Kurosawa.

I'm not so familiar with more modern films because its somewhat limited as to what gets released in the UK.

[ellahrairah]

I most definately recommend Kagemusha. That one has to be my favorite, mostly because its based on true to life events. Samurai stuff should be taken with a grain of salt though, since alot of times its become more legend than reality. Look at the history channel DVDS such as WARRIOR TRADITION, and SAMURAI WARRIOR for documentarys specifically on samurai. If you like samurai flicks... you ought to enjoy the documentaries

speaking of which.. i am thinking of buying the criterion selection of seven samurai.... anyone know whats so special about that one rather than the plain old movie?

[Ben]

Jeikobu San,

If you'd like to see a film that's the exact flipside of many of the other movies mentioned in this thread, check out HARA KIRI, directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Acting, writing, direction...practically everything's top-notch. But be warned: the film's absolutely brutal in its depiction of the samurai system at its very worst.

I'd also recommend THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, starring Hiroyuki Sanada. It's much less bleak than HARA KIRI, and just as well-done.

[chickrockguitar]

I always liked "Azumi". "Azumi 2" is okay also. Worth seeing.

[estee]

I've been looking for Azumi. Looks cool.

Did you order it or buy it off the shelf, Chris?

[chickrockguitar]

Uhm.. Chris? Where you talking to me estee?

Anyway, lol. I brought Azumi from a local DVD store, and Azumi 2 from online. Try either or both at Amazon, Play, CDWOW or eBay.