Great Japanese Movies.

Post by **Maka** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 23:58 -0700

Usually when people mention Japanese directors, names like Ozu, Kurosawa and Miyazaki come up. And rightfully so, these are masters of japanese film.

But what are some lesser know japanese films?

One of my favorite is 1962 film "Seppuku" by Masaki Kobayashi. It's looks at the hypocrisy of samurai code of honor in 17th century. Great storytelling. It's one of my favorite japanese films of all time.

And I love Juzo Itami's work. His death in 1997 is a huge lost to film. I still wonder if his death is really a sucide or did the Yakuza push him off his office on the 8th floor.

But back on topic, what other Japanese films do you recommend that aren't from Kurosawa, Miyazaki or Ozu.

Maka

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 7:03 -0700

I don't have a great knowledge of Japanese movie-making, and I don't really know many more names than you said, but if you're looking for good japanese films that are not related to the samurai or the Japanese middle-ages, try watching some of the new horror films which are being done there ("Ringu", which recently had a remake in the States, or "Dark Water"). "Battle Royale" is also a good choice (and pretty violent, I should say). Of course, there's also anime

, but most of the movies are already well known (any Miyazaki stuff, "Akira", "Ghost in the Shell", "Metropolis"...). And, if you like "weird stuff" and you don't mind searching on imported DVD shops or any other importation source, I would recommend the "Crayon Shin-Chan" movie ("Crayon Shin-Chan" is a completely hilarious anime about a 5 year old kid, and has become one of the most watched series in Spain). That's my two cents

I have only seen a movie by Akira Kurosawa (I think it was called "throne of blood"?), because I haven't had the chance to watch them, but I'll try to get some, as well as movies by Ozu and "Seppuku", I know, shame on me

AlexB · Post by **AlexB** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 8:53 -0700

I can't say I know a lot about Japanese cinema but I have recently bought most of Kurosawa's samurai films on DVD along with the Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai trilogy. I can heartily recommend all of those.

My personal favourite is Kurosawa's Yojimbo starring Toshiro Mifune - Usagi fans will recognise more than a few characters and scenes from that (not just the title).

I'm also reading 'The Emperor and the Wolf' - Stuart Galbraith's massive joint biography of Kurosawa and Mifune, which gives a huge amount of detail on Japanese cinema in general. It's well worth a look.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 9:08 -0700

Maka wrote: One of my favorite is 1962 film "Seppuku" by Masaki Kobayashi. It's looks at the hypocrisy of samurai code of honor in 17th century. Great storytelling. It's one of my favorite japanese films of all time.

That was a gruelling movie to watch--especially the part where the samurai has to commit seppuku (belly-slicing) with a bamboo blade. I saw it a long time ago, and that's the only scene I recall vividly.

My favorite Japanese film is Satomi Hakkenden (the 1959(?)) version. It is a trilogy based on a 47 volume novel. The effects were really cheesy by today's standards (even as a kid, I noticed the wires holding up the giant snake) but it's a fun movie. I'd love to get a dvd of it. It has been remake a couple of time, a live action with Shinichi Chiba and as an anime, but none of them compares to the original.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 14:56 -0700

I just had to mention Samurai Rebellion by Kobayashi with Toshiro Mifune since... 1) you already mentioned Kobayashi, 2) everyone is or should be familiar with Mifune, and 3) one of the handful of Japanese films readily available in the U.S.

It also addresses the downside of the Japanese Feudal system clan loyalties. It also has a duel between Mifune and Naka Naka Naka... (brain fart, forgot the guy's name) anyways, the star of Hari Kari (Seppuka) towards the end of the film.

Abayo,
Steve

Post by **Maka** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 1:40 -0700

Tatsuya Nakadia. He was also great in RAN.

Thanks for everyone's input. It's a small enough list that I can probably check most of them out by the time my kids grow up.

Another Japanese favorite is Shall we Dansu? by Masayuki Suo. In it Naoto Takenaka gives a fun performance as a secret ballroom dancer. Takenaka also acted as Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the TV series Hideyoshi in 1996, but that hasn't been translated into English yet (as far as I know). My parents rented from their Japanese market and raved about his performance. They should have taught me Japanese growing up.

No luck finding a dvd of Satomi Hakkenden (1959).

Peace, maka

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 3:38 -0700

Maka wrote:Another Japanese favorite is Shall we Dansu? by Masayuki Suo. In it Naoto Takenaka gives a fun performance as a secret ballroom dancer. My parents rented from their Japanese market and raved about his performance.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shall We Dance is going to be Westernized into a feature film from Miramax. It is slated to be directed by Peter Chelsem. Negotiations are underway with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere to play the lead roles. A while back, I also heard that Tom Hanks was being considered.

Chris G. · Post by **Chris G.** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 13:53 -0700

The Independent Film Channel is currently running "Samurai Saturdays," featuring the film series about Zatoichi, The Blind Swordsman. These are fantastic! Most of the series is available on video, as well, if you don't get IFC, and a few are out on dvd (with more coming soon, or so I've read). One of later Zatoichi films co-stars Toshiro Mifune and is titled Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo, though IFC hasn't played that one. I believe Stan pays tribute to Zatoichi in the character of Zatoino, the Blind Swordspig.

Chris

Post by **Maka** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 20:00 -0700

Stan wrote:

"According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shall We Dance is going to be Westernized into a feature film from Miramax. It is slated to be directed by Peter Chelsem. Negotiations are underway with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere to play the lead roles. A while back, I also heard that Tom Hanks was being considered."

How strange. Part of the appeal (for me) of the Japanese film was the conflict the main character had with his dancing and how deviant that lifestyle is in Japanese culture. How will that play out in a western context? Interesting.

Peace, maka

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 30, 2003 20:16 -0700

Kenji Mizoguchi is a great director that isn't very well known here in the US. The only work of his that I've seen (and it's one of my all time favorite films) is 'Ugetsu Monogatari' (aka Ugetsu, Tales of Ugetsu) from 1953. It's a ghost story set in 16th century Japan, involving 2 peasant brothers that each seek their forture in a different ways, one as a potmaker and the other as a samurai. This one's not out on DVD yet, but the VHS is usually available in the 'foreign films' section of most of the rental chains.

I've also heard great things about his 4 hour samurai epic '47 Ronin' (or 47 Samurai) but I haven't been able to watch it yet. Mizoguchi also directed the film 'Miyamoto Musashi' from 1944.

Robert Wetherelt · Post by **Robert Wetherelt** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:15 -0700

I love samurai cinema!!! And I have Sakai-sensei and Usagi Yojimbo to thank for it. It's too bad that so few titles are available{especially up here in Canada!!!}. My personal fave's are; Yojimbo,Sanjuro,Sword of doom,the Zatoichi series of flix,Tenchu and two "Americanised" Lone wolf flix; Shogun Assassin and Lupine wolf. I wish that I could get my hands on some of the original Lone Wolf{or as they're really called "Babycart"}flix on DVD. But, they are just too expensive on the net and I've searched my brains out up here! Well, gotta go so,Ja mata.

Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Great Japanese Movies.

Great Japanese Movies.

Re: Great Japanese Movies.

Japanese films

Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman

Japanese Movies.