Samurai Movies

[Andres]

Well, it's still a long wait for the release of S2TW.

In the meanwhile, I think I'm going to start some samurai movies to get myself in the mood.

I can think of the following movies:

Seven Samurai
Ran
Kagemusha
Yojimbo
Sanjuro
Zatoichi (2003)
Azumi I & II

Except for Zatoichi and Azumi, all of them are directed by Akira Kurosawa. I can highly recommend all of those.

Not a movie, but also great to get in the mood: the miniserie Shogun, based on the work of James Clavell with the same title. I saw it in the eighthies when I was still a kid, but it's out on DVD. Great stuff. The book too, btw.

So, do any of you have have some more recommendations?

[Skullheadhq]

The Last Samurai?

[caravel]

Also by Kurosawa Akira:

The Hidden Fortress
Throne of Blood

[aimlesswanderer]

Every year, the NHK broadcasting network in Japan makes a new jidaigeki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jidaigeki) series (often set during the age of the country at war, ie around the time of Nobunaga et al, or the Tokugawa shogunate). These are generally about 50 episodes or so long. Certainly not to everyone's taste, but certainly a great insight into what it was like back then. Sometimes the main character is one of the chief retainers of a major historical figure.

[Andres]

The Last Samurai?

Forgot that one. Not really to be compared against the Kurosawa movies, but still a very enjoyable movie.


Also by Kurosawa Akira:

The Hidden Fortress
Throne of Blood

Thnx. I'll make sure to check those out.


Every year, the NHK broadcasting network in Japan makes a new jidaigeki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jidaigeki) series (often set during the age of the country at war, ie around the time of Nobunaga et al, or the Tokugawa shogunate). These are generally about 50 episodes or so long. Certainly not to everyone's taste, but certainly a great insight into what it was like back then. Sometimes the main character is one of the chief retainers of a major historical figure.

Sounds intresting. I take it those are released on DVD as well?

[TosaInu]

Hello,

Toshiro Mifune is starring in Musashi, 3 DVD's. http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Trilogy-Box-Set-Collection/dp/B0001UZZT0
Akira.Kurosawa They Who Step On Tiger's Tail

[caravel]

Hello,

Toshiro Mifune is starring in Musashi, 3 DVD's. http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Trilogy-Box-Set-Collection/dp/B0001UZZT0
Akira.Kurosawa They Who Step On Tiger's Tail

I've not seen any of Mifune Toshiro's post Kurosawa Akira material - I'll be sure to look those up.

Not seen The Men Who Tread On The Tiger's Tail yet. I plan to get hold of that one Red Beard and some more Kurosawa films soon.

:bow:

[Kagemusha]

These are not movies per se. But the most accurate picture from the period and samurais can be seen in Taiga drama´s. These are period drama´s that the Japanese national television network NHK airs one each year. These have featured characters like Tokugawa Ieasy,Takeda Shingen, Mori Motonari, Oda Nobunaga, Toytomi Hideyoshi and the list goes on. With episodes amounting near or more then hundred. These television shows go indepth of the main characters and their history like never seen in any movies. I truly recommmend watching these for anyone enthusiastic about the period.:bow:

[TosaInu]

Are these dramas also available on say DVD?

[drone]

Are these dramas also available on say DVD?
Found this on Google, don't know about region coding or European delivery though
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-aa-49-en-70-32ej.html

[A Nerd]

Ninja Scroll is a good samurai-esque type movie. Anime though, I enjoyed it however. I don't know if I was looking too deeply or high on something instead, but it seemed to me at the time to exhibit some subtle mythology and superstition of such thru the showing I remember. Perhaps not, but perhaps so.

[Gregoshi]

Found this on Google, don't know about region coding or European delivery though
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-aa-49-en-70-32ej.html
$460??!! Woah! Pass...

[drone]

$460??!! Woah! Pass...

Well, it says 7 discs, over 20 hours. ~D

You might be able to find it cheaper, that's just the first one I came across. Looks like there is a second box set available also.

[Tsar Alexsandr]

Toshiro Mifune is a great actor! And Akira Kurosawa is simply brilliant! I highly recommend any Kurosawa film.

"Yojimbo" was mentioned, and is a great movie. As is "The Seven Samurai". Seven samurai is a long movie. Four hours I think. But it is a masterpiece.

[aimlesswanderer]

Forgot that one. Not really to be compared against the Kurosawa movies, but still a very enjoyable movie.

Thnx. I'll make sure to check those out.

Sounds intresting. I take it those are released on DVD as well?


Are these dramas also available on say DVD?


Well, it says 7 discs, over 20 hours. ~D

You might be able to find it cheaper, that's just the first one I came across. Looks like there is a second box set available also.

One can find some of these series online for purchase. Let's not discuss any dodgy methods of obtaining stuff.

[Tomisama]

AKIRA KUROSAWA COMPLETE COLLECTION 33 DVDs Box Set NEW

1.SANSHIRO SUGATA 1
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
2.SANSHIRO SUGATA 2
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
3.The men who tread on the tiger's tail
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
4.No regrets for our youth
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
5.One Wonderful Sunday
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
6. Drunken Angel
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: French,Chinese
7. The special features of Drunken Angel
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: French,Chinese
8.The Quiet Duel
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: Chinese
9. Stray Dog
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
10. Scandal
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
11. RASHOMON
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
12. The idiot
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
13.LKIRU
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
14. Seven Samurai 1
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Korean,Japanese,Chinese
15.Seven Samurai 2
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Korean,Japanese,Chinese
16. The special features of Seven Samurai
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
17.Throne of blood
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
18.Donzoko/The Lower Depths
Audio: English,Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
19. The hidden fortress
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
20. The bad sleep well
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
21.Red Beard
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
22. DERSOU OUZALA
Audio: Russian Removable/Selectable Subtitles: French,Chinese
23. The special features of DERSOU OUZALA
Audio: Russian Removable/Selectable Subtitles: French,Chinese
24.The shadow warrior
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Denish,Norwegian,Swedish,Chinese
25.RAN
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: French,Chinese
26. Dreams
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,French,Spanish,Portuguese,Thai,Korean,Japanese,Chinese
27.Rhapsody in August
Audio: Japanese,Chinese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,French,Spanish,Japanese,Chinese
28. MADADAYO
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
29. Record of a Living Being
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,French,Chinese
30. The special features of Record of a Living Being
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: French,Chinese
31. YOJIMBO
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
32. SANJURO
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese
33. The Most Beautiful
Audio: Japanese Removable/Selectable Subtitles: English,Chinese

http://www.ioffer.com/i/akira-kurosawa-complete-collection-33-dvds-box-set-new-111104335

[caravel]

I would advise extreme caution when buying Kurosawa films online from Ebay or similar - especially boxed collections. Looking at those versions they seem to be the "English/Chinese" subtitled releases - which are notorious for the poor quality translations of the English subtitles.

:bow:

[Tomisama]

Good advice!

The only plus that the above 33 DVD set may have is that for under 70 dollars you will get to watch the movies, poor translations or not.

I only have Ran, Seven Samurai, and the Shogun series, that together cost me twice that much…

[Tsar Alexsandr]

I've seen a lot of his movies, but I only own "Yojimbo". Which is a great movie to anyone interested. It was the first Kurosawa film I ever say, and it's just very entertaining.

The main character, Sanjuro, played by Toshiro Mifune, is a very interesting character. Having come to a town afflicted with crime, he has a daring solution to defeat both gangs that plague the town. XD

It's a really good story, and Toshiro Mifune is a great actor.

[NagaoKagetora]

Id like to add "Ten to Chi to" (Heaven and Earth) worth watching for the visuals alone.

Also not a film but from the BBC's "Hero's and Villans" series:-

The Shogun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbLxc9Rpikk which deals with Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The actors speak in English but its very well done.

[Sp00n]

Heaven and Earth has some great battles but its very hard to get in the UK took, me a few years after Yuuki mentioned it to me to finally find it on ebay may be diff now though.

I recall watching James Clavells Shogun as a kid pretty good tracked it down a few years back and made the GF sit through it lol

I also like the manga's Lone Wolf and Cub which were made into 6 films with an American version of the first 2 films around under the title Shogun Assassin way better than Zatoichi imo, also in similar vein are the truly strange Hanzo series about a Samurai policeman who interegates female suspects in a unique way, a great manga/cartoon is Sword Of The Stranger basically and action packed romp similar to Ninja Scroll bit without the mutants. Also worth a mention is the giesha inspired Lady Snowblood.

On Akira Kurosawa I find him very hit and miss I found 7 Samurai totally boring and much prefer the Magnificent 7, however Ran is truly stunning and I love Yojimbo, Kagemusha is also pretty good as are Rashoman and Throne of Blood.

:P

Heres a link to the first Lone Wolf film with the others in recommendations at the bottom
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068815/

Heres Sword Of The Stranger
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1121794/

Heres The Hanzo movies again rest on recommendations at bottom.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068650/

Lady Snowblood
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158714/

Heaven And Earth
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099753/

[Andres]

Great recommendations so far :2thumbsup: Keep it coming!

Not exactly a samurai movie and not taking place in the timeframe of Shogun II, but still a movie I very much enjoyed and thus recommend is "Memoirs of a Geisha".

[Sp00n]

How could I forget Timeslip also called G I Samurai the Sonny Chiba Tanks versus Samurai Movie! lol

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083050/

[Sp00n]

Also forgot The Twilight Samurai which is a truly stunning portrayal of the Samurai way of life, slow but really really good.
Starring Hiroyuki Sanada the swordmaster from The Last Samurai it won an unprecedented 12 Japanese Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0351817/