Samurai Movies thread

BopNiblets

I thought I'd start a thread for these kind of movies and any fans out there
Some good ones I've seen:
Seven Samurai (of course, I've seen Roshomon and been meaning to watch Yojimbo)
When The Last Sword is Drawn
The Twilight Samurai
Zaitochi

Wasn't really impressed with The Last Samurai, Tom Cruise swinging a sword around really?

Paddy Samurai

Yeah i love Samurai Movies.Have a rake of them in the collection,all the usual ones ,plus a few less well known.
The "Baby Cart" series are top notch,spagetti samurai,with lots of fun Mad stuff and great fight scenes.
Chushingura based on the 47 rohin is a great story,love the scenes in the snow.Have the Musashi trilogy,based on his life story.......the Japanese "Gone with the Wind", although a bit dated still a good film set.

I remember a great samurai fight scene in one of Robert Mitchums films,can't remember the film.Although the rest of the film is probably out of date,that last fight scene is forever embedded in my head.........Great stuff!.Will look it up one day and get a copy.

Hank_Jones

This will quickly turn into the Akira Kurosawa thread.

Apart from the ones you have mentioned.
I also enjoyed:

Ran
The Hidden Fortress
Kagemusha


I've enjoyed every Kurosawa film I have seen.
The guy knew how to work a story.

johnny_ultimate

Yeah Kurosawa was the master here. Yojimbo is one of my favourite films, full of humour and clever action. Still haven't got around to the sequel Sanjuro yet, which is meant to be great too. Seven Samurai of course is a classic, the rain drenched finale one of the most visceral action scenes I've ever seen. Ran is one of the most engrossing films I've ever seen too. Hard to describe Kurosawa films without superlatives I haven't loved every Kurosawa film I've seen like Hank - specifically, I only thought I Live in Fear was OK! - but all his samurai / feudal Japan films have been astonishing (Throne of Blood is another particularly good one). Oh, and Rashomon is like the best film ever!

Have When the Last Sword is Drawn to watch, picked it up for a euro previously-viewed in Xtravision a week ago!

ziggyman17

Shogun Assassin ..remember seeing this years ago.. Thought it was a great movie..

mike65

Shogun Assassin is a hacked down (!) pair of Babycart films nailed together for Roger Cormans company.

Otis Driftwood

Definitly The Lone Wolf and Cub series would be in my humble the best samurai movies Ive ever seen.I break them out and watch all 6 back to back every so often.

jeffreylebowski

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

I remember a great samurai fight scene in one of Robert Mitchums films,can't remember the film.Although the rest of the film is probably out of date,that last fight scene is forever embedded in my head.........Great stuff!.Will look it up one day and get a copy.

I think that scene might be from The Yakuza? Robert Mitchum, 1974? I liked that movie a lot too.

As to other Samurai movies, well the original Zatoichi movies aren't really samurai flicks but they're still Japanese swordfighting movies, or chanbara or whatever you like to call them, and I saw the first one and found it pretty fantastic. A really good drama, surprisingly enough, with sparse but excellent screen fighting.

BopNiblets

Might have a look at some of these if I can get them, what are some of the best newer ones do you guys think?

spacecoyote

For modern Samurai style movie I really enjoyed Azumi...more style than substance but a good watch!

Sanjuro

See my user name!

Anyway, one samurai movie I watched recently was Sword of the Stranger. It's anime (which may put some people off), but it's absolutely fantastic. If anyone's read Blade of the Immortal, it's along the same lines. Great animation, but overall, great samurai flick.

Paddy Samurai

spacecoyote wrote: »

For modern Samurai style movie I really enjoyed Azumi...more style than substance but a good watch!

Yeah i agree with you on style over substance,but i loved the style..lol.
Took me a while to hunt down the full lenght version,but it was worth it.

Paddy Samurai

Has anyone seen Hanzo the Razor,i was thinking about getting it,but not sure,alot of mixed reviews .
Anyone know if it worth getting?.

getz

to me shogun was good ,i know the japanese rate it highly

LittleBook

Depending on how wide/narrow your definition of a "samurai movie" is and getting away from Kurosawa (who's clearly the master):

Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai is well worth a look.

There's a great animated samurai segment in The Animatrix by Yoshiaki Kawajiri called "Program".

I might get shot for this but I remember wholeheartedly enjoying the TV series of James Clavell's book "Shogun".

Andi I hated The Last Samurai with a passion. :rolleyes:

BopNiblets

Watched Yojimbo last night, Mifune is great, he wrecks the joint!

Also like the look of Sword Of Doom, looks like it's got great action, anyone seen it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq0g58ovd-E

BopNiblets

Thought I'd shamelessly bump my own thread for this film trailer which looks great (aside from odd music choice):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7MB8C4fpvY

L31mr0d

Can we bundle in Ninja films?

Shinobi (2005) is worth a watch

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) will make your eyes bleed

Hero (2002) has probably already been watched by everyone here, but still worth mentioning

As an aside, everyone here should watch Ip man. Simply amazing.

Mickeroo

L31mr0d wrote: »

Can we bundle in Ninja films?

Shinobi (2005) is worth a watch

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) will make your eyes bleed

Hero (2002) has probably already been watched by everyone here, but still worth mentioning

As an aside, everyone here should watch Ip man. Simply amazing.

Now now ya can't be throwing Chinese movies into a thread about Samurai! Culturally insensitive and all that :P....let you away with the Ninja though.

All the Kurasawa ones are great as already mentioned as well as Twilight Samurai and When the Last Sword is Drawn. Also from the director of Twilight Samurai is The Hidden Blade, great movie!!

I want to recommend Red Sun also, its a fish out of water western with Charles Bronson and a Samurai played by Toshiro Mifune, deserves more recognition than it gets and has two of the best actors ever at the top of their game! Trailer is a bit spoilery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRwQWf_h8Pk

Also its not a movie but if you like samurai you really should track down the anime series Samurai Champloo from the makers of Cowboy Bebop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ANvMgx76SI

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai was already mentioned but it kicks ass! I think Ronin with Robert Deniro and Jean Reno could also be classed as a samurai moie to some extent too!

Jagera

BopNiblets wrote: »

Thought I'd shamelessly bump my own thread for this film trailer which looks great (aside from odd music choice):

If that song is actually in the movie.. It's officially ruined.

BopNiblets

^ Yeah it was a weird inclusion in the "official trailer" according to Youtube, here's another without it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ILO2RWhEw

L31mr0d wrote: »

Can we bundle in Ninja films?

Shinobi (2005) is worth a watch

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) will make your eyes bleed

Hero (2002) has probably already been watched by everyone here, but still worth mentioning

As an aside, everyone here should watch Ip man. Simply amazing.

Ninja yes but wuxia (Chinese martial-arts fantasy), NO!

j/k, I guess it's ok but strictly speaking they should be totally different kinds of films.

bnt

There are also movies in which Samurai are not the good guys: two I can think of are Rashomon and [Zatoichi]. The Ronin come up in this context: when a Samurai is not in service to a Lord, what happens to him? Does he fight for good, or does he go wild?

Josey Wales

I see there is a bit of hate in this thread for The Last Samurai but I thought it was an excellent film.

BopNiblets

It was hardly original though, I found it too similar to James Clavell's book, Shogun ( Last Samurai was much more condensed), which they made a TV series of, with Toshiro Mifune as the main Lord, who I didn't recognise with the moustache lol.

Trailer (very dated now but pretty awesome for the 80's):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoTGQffgifo

Paddy Samurai

Two that I seen last year, were Ichi and 13 assassins. Loved the story in Ichi ,its well worth watching.13 Assassins is top notch.

Got a copy of Hanzo the razor,watched the first one and gave up.Action scenes were a bit boring,and there was some pretty weird stuff (made me laugh)that probably appeals to a Japanese audience.
Did'nt bother with the rest of the set.

johnny_ultimate

The recent Blu-Ray of Harakiri is frankly astonishing. I'd put the film up there with the best of Kurosawa's samurai films. Kind of film that reminds me why I love Japanese cinema so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mocBv_WJJMI

Takeshi Miike has a remake of the film due out soon. It looks extremely similar, which doesn't fill me with great confidence TBH:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkfkEkI0rf8

johnny_ultimate

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

The recent Blu-Ray of Harakiri is frankly astonishing. I'd put the film up there with the best of Kurosawa's samurai films. Kind of film that reminds me why I love Japanese cinema so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mocBv_WJJMI

Takeshi Miike has a remake of the film due out soon. It looks extremely similar, which doesn't fill me with great confidence TBH:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkfkEkI0rf8

I thought it was out in April, it was listed as such when I preordered the Blu-Ray awhile back but a friend working in HMV said that they have it on their computer as being released last Friday.

johnny_ultimate

Says end of April on Amazon. Surprised it isn't getting a cinema release on the back of 13 Assassins.

As said, trailer doesn't look like a departure from the original (although I'm aware 13 Assassins was a remake of a - more obscure - older film too). More excited about his take on Gyakuten Saiban / Ace Attorney, due out in fair Nippon next month.

johnny_ultimate

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Says end of April on Amazon. Surprised it isn't getting a cinema release on the back of 13 Assassins.

As said, trailer doesn't look like a departure from the original (although I'm aware 13 Assassins was a remake of a - more obscure - older film too). More excited about his take on Gyakuten Saiban / Ace Attorney, due out in fair Nippon next month.

April 20th is the release date I think, I'm assuming HMV have the date wrong or it may be some early exclusive but I doubt it. The original is a master class in cinematic perfection, one of those films that everyone should watch. Been meaning to pick up the Blu since it was released, thinking I may order it with Seven Samurai later this week

Mickeroo

Deleted User wrote: »

April 20th is the release date I think, I'm assuming HMV have the date wrong or it may be some early exclusive but I doubt it. The original is a master class in cinematic perfection, one of those films that everyone should watch. Been meaning to pick up the Blu since it was released, thinking I may order it with Seven Samurai later this week

Is it on criterion release? I presume it is? Or is that just the dvd version?

Mickeroo

Mickeroo wrote: »

Is it on criterion release? I presume it is? Or is that just the dvd version?

Criterion Blu, they have a few Kurosawa on Blu. Planning to get Yojimbo also

Mickeroo

Deleted User wrote: »

Criterion Blu, they have a few Kurosawa on Blu. Planning to get Yojimbo also

Sweet. Its criminal they don't get released properly over here. At least you feel like you're getting your money's worth with them though.

johnny_ultimate

I think Masters of Cinema are doing a great job bringing Criterion quality classics over here. However, they still seem a bit better for hidden and underviewed classics rather than the usual 'best films evar' (although their version of Touch of Evil is meant to be fantastic). I know BFI have started releasing some Blu-Rays, so hopefully they'll get on their Kurosawa back catalogue soon.

BopNiblets

Watched Chonmage Purin, (A Boy and His Samurai), saw a few boardsies mention it.
Nice little film.

Next up: Samurai Fiction!

Kess73

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I think Masters of Cinema are doing a great job bringing Criterion quality classics over here. However, they still seem a bit better for hidden and underviewed classics rather than the usual 'best films evar' (although their version of Touch of Evil is meant to be fantastic). I know BFI have started releasing some Blu-Rays, so hopefully they'll get on their Kurosawa back catalogue soon.

It is. Bought it and their version of Silent Running last week on blu.

Paddy Samurai

Has anyone seen this yet.I was thinking of getting a copy.But the only copy I could see online (amazon) is getting bad reviews.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Mickeroo

Aquila wrote: »

Is 13 Assassins any good lads?

Good is an understatement

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Paddy Samurai

Aquila wrote: »

Is 13 Assassins any good lads?

Top notch IMO.I would have liked to see the full Japanese version,but I was happy enough with the international release.

Mickeroo

Aquila wrote: »

So its a must watch?

Absolutely imho!

Paddy Samurai

Aquila wrote: »

So its a must watch?

IMO yeah.I have seen it a few times now,and I have liked it more each time.

Brian?

I am a very occasionaly poster in these parts. I was having a read of the favourite westerns thread and it got me thinking. I love Sergio Leone's westerns and as a teenager this got me interested in Samurai films when I heard he used the films of Akira Kurosawa as a basis for them.

The first Samurai film I ever watched was Yojimbo, late night on Channel 4 sometime in the early 90's. Blew me away. What a film, it was the first of a season of Japanese films that included some heavy weight classics: Ran, Kagemusha, The 7 Samurai, Akira and more.

Personally, Kagemusha is my favourite Samurai film and probably in my top 5 favourite films ever. Best film George Lucas was ever involved in .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzR87VBlaoo

In recent years I've really enjoyed When the Last Sword is Drawn and The Twilight Samurai.

I was wondering if there are any I've missed out on and would love to hear what peoples favourite Samurai films are.

Outkast_IRE

This is an area of film i really must make the effort to watch more movies about , as im a huge fan of samurai era japan, i have read the book Shogun which is one of all my all time favourite reads. I play shogun total war alot.

And have recently watched 13 samurai which i loved and have also recently watched Ran recently which was great.

Im going to get my hands on the movie you recomeneded here and post again when i watch it.

One of the reasons i fear for these movies though is maybe its just me but the type of film alot of them are shot on seems super grainy, and i dont think restoration copies will come out looking great.

Bullseye1

I have the Criterion version of the Seven Samurai. But technically were they not Ronin's?

mikemac1

Watched When the last sword is drawn recently, didn't like it much

But I did enjoy 13 Assassins

Brian?

Bullseye1 wrote: »

I have the Criterion version of the Seven Samurai. But technically were they not Ronin's?

Ronin Samurai were landless Samurai for hire.

johnny_ultimate

Merged with the recent thread on the subject.

As I said earlier, the original version of Hara-Kiri is every bit as brilliant as any of Kurosawa's films in the 'genre' (if we can call it that). A brutally cynical film, but the kind that makes you fall in love with Japanese cinema all over again. Miike's recent remake is identical and therefore pretty pointless. Kobayashi's is probably in my top five Japanese films of all time, though.

Musashi is good , as well as ran.

I like 7 Samurai as well as Azumi 1 and 2. My girlfriend bought them by mistake.

Cardinal Richelieu

Ichi, a female Zaitochi. Its good, not great but watchable.



Last Princess the 2008 remake of Hidden Fortress isn't that bad either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9pq5eurZZ8

Links234

watched 13 assassins and thought it was really good, but I noticed the run time on the bluray released by artificial eye was like 120 mins? and the original version was something like 140 minutes? was a little disappointed to see so much was cut.

am I missing out on much?