Favorite Samurai Movies

Posted by Mr. Fankles on March 21, 2008 at 1:57pm in Samurai Movies

They go here.

The 7 Samurai
Ran
Yojimbo

Permalink Reply by Criss on April 22, 2008 at 8:14pm: THere are two older versions of this same trilogy. THe first one I can't recall off the top of my head (Swords in Moonlight, maybe?) because...well, because I bought the second one.

Its called Satan's Sword and its a trilogy that stars Raizo Ichikawa in the same Ryonnosuke role that Nakadai plays in Sword of Doom.

I shelled out a pretty penny for the set, btu since SOD is my favorite samurai film as well, I just had to treat myself. Its got nothing like the amazing cinematography of SOD, though. And Nakadai is wonderfully evil, too...a little over the top compared to Raizo's more subdued performance.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Danny on April 22, 2008 at 10:46pm: After reading your reply I thought you might have been referring to Sword of the Beast, which I haven't seen but came across one day on the Criterion Collection website and always wondered about. I did a little more research and found Souls in the Moonlight tied to a SOD review, so I guess that's what you're talking about. They mention Satan's Sword in the Moonlight review, as well, so now I'm heading off to queue these movies if possible. If not, there's a great video store here in Seattle that pretty much has every freaking movie you can think of, I may have to check there.

Thanks, by the way!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Criss on April 23, 2008 at 6:16am: Souls In Moonligt, right. I knew it was something like that, though I've never seen it. A lot of jidai-geki purists like that one the best for keeping with the original content.

Sword of the Beast is one that kept puttign me to sleep. Directed by the great Hideo Gosha, its got some ups and downs...but I can't properly talk abotu it becuase I missed large chunks every time I tried to watch it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by pterosaur on April 28, 2008 at 12:51pm: I liked Sword of the Beast but, you're right, it does get a little draggy. It's not one of my favorite samurai movies but it's pretty good.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Danny on April 22, 2008 at 9:38pm: Also, what do people think of the Lone Wolf & Cub series? I rented Samurai Assassin 1, and later on read that the three Samurai Assassin movies are just slimmed down versions of the complete series. Am I better off watching the entire series or are the three movies good enough?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Quentin on April 23, 2008 at 3:58am: Yeah - Go ahead and get the series.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Criss on April 23, 2008 at 6:13am: Watch the regular Lone Wolf & Cob series. The stories are coherent and at least TRY to follow the original plotline of the manga. THe LW&C films do deteriorate in quality after the first three, but I tolerated them just for the great action anyway.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zaphod on April 28, 2008 at 12:20pm: The Twilight Samurai
Zatoichi - all of the many films and tv episodes I've been able to find.
The 7 Samurai
Samurai Fiction; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Criss on April 28, 2008 at 4:54pm: Samurai Fiction was really fun. I enjoyed it quite a bit, which is not like me. I usually like to pooh-pooh soem fo the kmodern takes on samurai, but this one was just respectful enough that I could enjoy it without feeling like I'd been slapped.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zaphod on April 29, 2008 at 2:48pm: I agree, I prefer the older films by far.

I rented it from one of the local blockbusters(all gone now), before I joined netflix. I pretty much rented all of the samurai films I could find locally(very limited) and was surprised by how much I liked it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ottomaeshun on May 11, 2008 at 11:25am: My #1 has to be The 7 Samurai. Along with most of Kurosawa's other films. My other favorites are more off the beaten track. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai with Forest Whitaker, it has the feel of being very wise and honorable just like a samurai. And Red Sun with Charles Bronson and Toshiro Mifune, nothing like a Samurai Spaghetti Western.
Caio Origato Y'All; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zaphod on May 12, 2008 at 10:51am: "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai with Forest Whitaker, it has the feel of being very wise and honorable just like a samurai."

Nice choice, I enjoyed that one as well.; ▶ Reply to This