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 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 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-Trilog.../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-Trilog.../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.

[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.