Recommendations for samurai movies?

[Martok]

I have a deep, dark secret which I'm ashamed to admit: For as much as I love STW, and for as fascinated I've become with medieval Japan in the last 7 years, I've never actually watched any of the classic films covering that time period. Mostly this is because of my own ignorance, as I never knew anyone that was into that type of movie (and so had no one to to make recommendations and/or sit down and watch them with me). What's even worse, however, is that any time Puzz, Tosa, or someone else mentions one of the great samurai films, I completely forget to write it down at the time.

Well now I want to make up for that deficiency. It's way past time that I corrected this lack on my part. So with all that said, what are considered to be the "classic" movies regarding samurai and feudal Japan that I ought to see?

[Tony Furze]

Hello again Martok!

The classic is Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai) Directed by Akira Kurosawa:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047478/

a groundbreaking movie and the inspiration for The Magnificent Seven.

The more recent film The Last Samurai with tom Cruise covers quite alot of similar ground to the game eg the arrival of modern weaponry,

Then RAN is a visual treat. It was Directed by Kurosawa too and released in 1985- I remember seeing it when it came out.

A few more ideas are here:

http://www.amazon.com/TOP-TEN-JAPANE.../384DINEW7H4OX

My..Toshiro Mifune...you re really taking me back...

Ahh also Kagemusha.

[TosaInu]

Hello Martok,

Akira Kurosawa s indeed the man like Tony Furze said. Last Samurai with Tom Cruise isn't that great in my books.

Toshiro Mifune is a great actor. Check out Yojimbo (Mifune and Kurosawa), or Sanjuro. Hidden Fortress and Rashomon are other Mifune/Kurosawa movies too (Kurosawa always being director).

You can also check Hiroshi Inagaki's Mushashi Miyamoto triologiy (Mifune again). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...39N8RJXR7GBPDM

Shogun is also something you should see http://www.amazon.com/James-Clavells.../dp/B0000A2ZNX

[Drisos]

Good thread!

I'll have to remember this one, for when I have time, money, and motivation.

Have fun, Martok!



Oh and Tosa, blown up your postcount again in one of your weird experiments? :P

[Martok]

Thank you for the suggestions, gentlemen.

I do have The Last Samurai, as a matter of fact. But while I do like it -- somewhat -- it definitely lacks....something. It's why I've been meaning to start this topic for a while now, as I felt the need for something "meatier".

[Puzz3D]

Most of the films are expensive to buy, so renting them would be much cheaper if you have access to a rental service such as netflix that has these films. Most if not all of these films are slow moving by western standards, so they require patience to watch them. You also have to read subtitles. Translations don't always convey the correct meaning of the original language, but it goes with the territory if you don't speak the foreign language.

The Seven Samurai (1954) would have to top the list of classics as Tony Furze says. It set the standard for all subsequent Samurai films. The restored version is 207 minutes.

Other Arika Kurosawa Samurai films which are all excellent:

Rashomon (1950) a crime drama about perception of events.
Throne of Blood (1957) Kurosawa's take on Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Hidden Fortress (1958) a tale of adventure.
Yojimbo (1961) a ronin samurai plays both sides of feuding clans aganst each other.
Sanjuro (1962) a ronin samurai uses his skill to correct wrongdoing in this action/comedy adventure.
Kagemusha (1980) is about how the clan handled Takeda Shingen's death. (180 minutes)
Ran (1985) Kurosawa's take on Shakespeare's King Lear. Get the Criterion Edition or the Fox Lorber Masterworks Edition. Avoid the earlier (1998) poor video quality Fox Lorber release.

Some other Samurai films I've seen which I think are either excellent or at least very good:

Samurai I, II, III (1954, 1955, 1956) are about Musashi Miyamoto and already recommended by Tosa.

Harakiri (1962) is about the cruelty of the feudal code towards samurai in peacetime.

Samurai Rebellion (1967) is about the consequences of a moral injustice inflicted by a Daimyo on the son of a prominent member of his clan who has faithfully served the Daimyo for his whole life.

Sword of Doom (1966) is about a samurai who rejects the new social values as the samurai social class declines. It was supposed to be a trilogy, but parts 2 and 3 were never filmed.

Samurai Banners (1969) historical fiction about one of Takeda Shingen's generals, Kansuke Yamamoto. The various clan banners depicted are all historically accurate

Goyokin (1969) classic tale of revenge. The new DVD from Media Blasters has poorly done english subtitles, but good video quality.

Zatochi (1989) This is essentially an over the top action picture, but very entertaining. It is the last of the 26 film Zatochi series featuring Shintarô Katsu as the Blind Swordsman. I've seen the recent The Blind Swordsman: Zatochi (2003), but thought it was too comical.

Heaven and Earth (1990) is about the historical battles between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. Some people find this movie boring. It's out of print and hard to find.

The Twilight Samurai (2002) is a drama about a low level samurai left to care for two daughters and his mother in the late samurai period and a dangerous task that his clan wants him to undertake.

When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2003) deals with a Samurai who is having difficulty supporting his family during the period of the rise of the Emperor and the fall of the Shogun.

The Hidden Blade (2004) drama about a low level samurai and the caste system in late feudal Japan with a sub-plot concerning a boyhood friend involved in the conflict between the Shogunate and the Emperor. The plot is basically the same as The Twilight Samurai, but with more emphasis on romance/drama.

Samurai Fiction (1998) is a satire of classic samurai films. The crew and action choreographer assembled to make this film were veterans of classic samurai films. Watch this one after you've watched some of the B&W classics.

I also have Samurai Assassin (1965) and The Shogun's Samurai (1978) but haven't watched them yet. I have yet to view the six Lone Wolf and Cub films.


Note (16Aug09): added Samurai Rebellion to the list.

[Drisos]

But while I do like it -- somewhat -- it definitely lacks....something.

I liked the action, and the story. Yet some things were a little too much, the greatest heroes as the last ones to die? too much of a coincidence. also, the way how the sow of katsumoto dies, like he was a superman being able to cope with far more then any other samurai.
I love the bigger plot though. I can live with historical incorrectness here and there.

Thanks Puzz3d! Cool post.