Recommendations for samurai movies?

**caravel** · 08-16-2009, 19:29

I have the 7 Samurai on two DVDs that lasts 207 minutes. I got through DVD 1 yesterday and now I'm going to watch the second half. This film is absolutely superb, I am off now to see the rest!

Edit:-

Wow, this film has everything. The acting and the plot is legendary. At times it's tragic and at other times uplifting. But this film even has humour, in abundance, which I had never expected. It's a "must see".

**Togakure** · 08-17-2009, 04:01

Kagemusha is another particularly good one. Title essentially means "body double." The tale centers around the Takeda clan with Shingen and Katsuyori during the Sengoku, culminating with the battle of Nagashino. Nobunaga and Ieyasu also play prominent roles in the film.

My favorite character in the film is Yamagata Masakage, one of Shingen's 24.

**caravel** · 08-17-2009, 19:57

Yes I have Kagemusha and Ran already.

I will probably watch Rashomon next.

**Togakure** · 08-18-2009, 03:14

Originally Posted by Asai Nagamasa

Yes I have Kagemusha and Ran already.

I will probably watch Rashomon next.

Oops! I didn't re-read the thread and missed that you'd seen that already.

Rashomon is different, not a samurai movie really, but brilliant in its own way.

**caravel** · 08-19-2009, 11:38

Originally Posted by Masamune

Oops! I didn't re-read the thread and missed that you'd seen that already.

Rashomon is different, not a samurai movie really, but brilliant in its own way.

Yes, I know what you mean, from what I've read, it's a Samurai movie but not really about war and the like. Though Seven Samurai was not really a Samurai Movie in the Ran/Kagemusha sense.

I may get time to watch it (Rashomon) over the weekend. I have in my possession about 16 Kurosawa movies that I haven't seen as yet - not all of them are Samurai/Medieval period. They're not copies/counterfeits, all originals, but I ordered them from overseas for a lot cheaper than I would have paid for just one movie over here.

**Takeo** · 09-10-2009, 14:25

Watched Ran only recently, and I actually thought it was a horror movie!

Kurosawa's screenplay is visually very good, and the casts are also quite colorful. But I found some of the acting rather over-the-top, making the King seem hauntingly scary as he got mad. Also, the little clown was especially annoying throughout.

Don't think I would be watching it again...

**caravel** · 09-10-2009, 17:23

Ran is based on Shakespeare's King Lear. The "Jester" actually played a good part IMHO - he was supposed to be rather annoying - but was also very philosophical. In my book it was a classic film, but may not be to everyone's tastes.