I’ve enjoyed some of Akira Kurosawa’s works (Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Ran, Seven Samurai, Rashoman), and The Hidden Fortress is on my list, but I’d like to hear any of your suggestions for samurai cinema.
There’s the Zatoichi series. The first, The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) is required but I gave up after the first three. @falidorn@lemmy.world mentioned that Kazuo Miyagawa was the cinematographer for some of them in this thread.
The Sword of Doom is a classic. Same for Harakiri. Maybe Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai, too (depends on one’s tastes). If you don’t want to get stuck in the 60s, Twilight Samurai is more modern.
I’m forgetting some that are worth a mention, but I’m totally skipping some titles I think are just ‘meh’.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Hesitant to even suggest this because I don’t think it’s quite what you’re looking for, but I loved The Last Samurai as a kid. I still do. Cruise is pretty great in it, don’t care what anyone says. Good calming nostalgia movie for me.
Yeah, I saw it once some time ago and decided it wasn’t for me. Thanks anyways!
47 Ronin and Shōgun.
Shōgun is a miniseries but it’s awesome.
How is the new Shogun? I’ve heard good things, but haven’t had a chance to see it yet.
Really good. I never saw the first one but the latest one was epic.
Tadnobu Asano is a personal favorite actor of mine and he just chews up the scenery whenever he’s on screen. I LOVED it. My dad complained that the pacing too slow, but I’m not sure if his real issue wasn’t reading subtitles fpr so long.
The Lone Wolf and Cub series for sure. Maybe start the traditional way with the “americanized” “compilation” Shogun Assassin.
On the modern side, rza’s Man With The Iron Fist is worthwhile, along with the Kill Bills.
There is a lot of overlap with kung fu. I would recommend 36 chambers of Shaolin as a good entry point there.
Thanks!
Shinya Tsukamoto’s 2018 film Killing is a great, tense story that both plays into and undermines some of the tropes of samurai films. It’s a bit brutal at times, and also amusing in that wry way that Tsukamoto is so good at.
I’ll have to try that!
The Last Samurai!
Kek
