Very little seems to capture my imagination as much as a well-made samurai drama (save maybe a western – the American equivalent to the Japanese samurai film). While I’ve never been able to pinpoint exactly what it is about the samurai that fascinates me so much – their romanticized views on the world, their strict code of honor, their unwavering loyalties and dedication to the craft of swordsmanship – these Eastern knights in shining armor have been the focus of some of the finest and most influential films in cinema. From Sergio Leone to George Lucas to John Sturges, their influence, particularly that of the legendary Akira Kurosawa, has been acknowledged time and time again. Recently watching the brilliant Love and Honor, I felt inspired to whip this up and get some discussion going on all of our favorite samurai films, and maybe in the process find myself some recommendations.
Continue on and make sure to rank yours in the comments!
10. Seppuku (Kobayashi, 1962)
9. Rashomon (Kurosawa, 1950)
8. Samurai Rebellion (Kobayashi, 1967)
7. The Hidden Blade (Yamada, 2004)
6. Kagemusha (Kurosawa, 1980)
5. Sword of Doom (Okamoto, 1966)
4. Yojimbo (Kurosawa, 1961)
3. The Twilight Samurai (Yamada, 2002)
2. Seven Samurai (Kurosawa, 1954)
1. Samurai trilogy aka Musashi Miyamoto (Inagaki, 1954, 1955, 1956)
This discussion currently has 23 responses.
January 25, 2009
Too Many to name. I love the surreal ending of SWORD OF DOOM.
And where is the unique “Hanzo The Razor” trilogy (1972-74), Sword of Justice (1972) is one of my favourites. It’s like Samurai, Police Procedurial and Blaxploitation all in one!!
January 25, 2009
Wait, where’s Shogun Assassin? That should be #1!
January 25, 2009
lol. Shogun Assassin is so ridiculous.
January 25, 2009
throw in Ran, Sword of the Beast, Sanjuro and Ronin Gai and you have yourself a hell of a list
January 25, 2009
Isn’t Shogun Assassin the ‘mulched together’ version of the Babycart & Cub series?
January 25, 2009
I have a real softspot for Kitano’s recent updating of Zatoichi, too. Probably not at the ‘top’ of anything, but very entertaining cinema!
January 25, 2009
I wasn’t a fan although the classic Zatoichi’s are entertaining, especially the very first
January 25, 2009
Yup, although I wouldn’t use the word mulched, and it’s the first two.. Do you know how much Wu-Tang has sampled from that film?
January 25, 2009
Kurt, is Hanzo the blade that series about the samuri detective who solves crimes by throwing women in a net and raping them?
January 25, 2009
@Rusty, yep that is the one. But really, he only starts out raping them because he is looking for information to solve his case. BUT – Then the sex is so good that the women confess the information willingly so he can bring them to orgasm. Of course in between cases he keeps on a rigid exercise regimen of ritual fucking of the bag of rice then pounding it (his penis, not the rice) with a club. Yes, Japanese B-cinema doesn’t get much better than the Hanzo series:
***That above embedded trailer is probab…er…DEFINITELY not safe for work***
January 25, 2009
Kore-Eda’s recent film, Hana Yori Mo Naho (aka HANA) is also an interesting recent (2006) take on the Samurai genre in the same vein as Twilight Samurai. It has a very gentle feel to it that can make it look slight on first viewing, but it is a very warm piece of moviemaking.
January 25, 2009
@ Kurt, who’s been cast in the American remake?
January 25, 2009
Harvey Keitel, naturally. Actually, didn’t Abel Ferrera loosely base Bad Lieutenant on Hanzo?
/ha. Kidding.
January 25, 2009
January 25, 2009
Abel Ferrera is definitefly directing. It’ll be weird to have him working on a mainstream 150 mil+ production but I remain optomistic. I’m sure Jerry Bruckheimer as producer will help mature his sensibilities and reel in his artsy side.
Michael Chiklis would’ve been great but of course he felt it was too similar to his role as vic mackey. I’m less enthusiastic about ex prowrestler John Cena in the lead role (and of course contributing the single from his latest album as a synergist tie in which should seriously amp up it’s opening weekend returns and boffo box office!). This could be the break out film from the WWE production studio and may even dominate the coveted july 26th weekend.
Working title: Detective Rapes-A-Lot
January 25, 2009
I definitely wouldn’t put Hana in quite the same vein as The Twilight Samurai.
They both attempt to deconstruct the myth of the samurai, although I would argue that Hana full out drops the romanticism of it all, whereas The Twilight Samurai still holds onto that notion by the very edges of its fingers (e.g. the ending).
Both choose character over action, but both approach the subject matter of a failed samurai very differently (Hana, with a somewhat silly, lighter comedic touch… The Twilight Samurai, with depressing realism).
The new Zatoichi? Not a huge fan. Still haven’t caught the original though, which I have been wanting to for ages.
January 25, 2009
3 Seven Samurai (Kurosawa, 1954)
2 Yojimbo (Kurosawa, 1961)
1 Samurai Rebellion (Kobayashi, 1967)
I have a few of those on the list on my zip list, but I want to add Six String Samurai as an honorable mention….just cause.
January 25, 2009
Okay, here goes.
10. Hitokiri (Tenchu)
9 Ran
8. Samurai Assassin
7. Seppuku
6. Samurai Rebellion
5. Kagemusha
4. Sword of Doom
3. Yojimbo
2. Musashi Miyamoto Trilogy
1. The Seven Samurai
And while I wouldn’t rank it with these films, I must say that I find myself watching the 2003 version of Samurai Resurrection (Makai Tensho) way too often. Just something about Yagyu Mitsuyoshi fighting undead samurai…
January 26, 2009
I have to admit that the Musashi Miyamoto trilogy didn’t fully grab me – oh it’s excellent at times, but it didn’t compel me as much as some of the others.
One title not yet mentioned is Masahiro Shinoda’s “Samurai Spy” – a beautiful looking film and equally as good as “Samurai Rebellion”. Those two along with “Harakiri” and “Ran” would be my faves.
A more recent film is “Samurai Fiction” – not your typical Samurai film as it’s a bit satiric and more modernized (e.g. the music) all while being a nice tribute to the older films.
January 26, 2009
While I have yet to see many of the films on this list, I do love Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ran and Yojimbo. I also liked the Zatoichi remake, and have a soft spot for the Lone Wolf and Cub series.
January 26, 2009
the first in the Musashi Miyamoto isn’t the best. very restrained, very sentimental, but oh boy, after that, it really picks up. it is rivaled by few trilogies in my book.
January 26, 2009
I have to agree with you there, Murph. Once the Musashi Miyamoto trilogy picks up, it really picks up!
August 14, 2009
A little late, but I wanted to add my choices……
(In no particular order)
Harakiri (Kobayashi)
Samurai Rebellion (Kobayashi)
Seven Samurai (Kurosawa)
Yojimbo (Kurosawa)
Sanjuro (Kurosawa)
Kill! (Okamoto)
Sword of Doom (Okamoto)
Ambush (Inagaki)
Three Outlaw Samurai (Gosha)
Sword of the Beast (Gosha)
Samurai Wolf (Gosha)
Really too many to even come close to limiting it to 10….
Goyokin (Gosha)
Tale of Zatoichi (Misumi)
Enter Kyoshiro Nemuri the Swordman / Chinese Jade (Tanaka)
Adauchi / Revenge (Imai)
Betrayal (Tanaka)
More recent films…..
Ronin Gai (Kuroki)
Samurai Fiction (Nakano)
Sea is Watching (Kumai – based on Kurosawa story)
After the Rain (Koizumi – based on Kurosawa story)
Dora Heita (Ichikawa – w/ Kurosawa and Kobayashi)
Twilight Samurai (Yamada)
Hidden Blade (Yamada)
Love and Honor (Yamada)
Vengeance for Sale (Okamoto)
A Chorus of Cicadas / The Samurai I loved (Kurotsuchi)