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Best Samurai films NOT by Kurosawa (I'm asking, not telling)

posted 8 years ago by bimlanders
15 replies | jump to latest

I've seen all of the Samurai period films by Kurosawa and I love/like them all to different degrees. I've also seen a few of Kenji Mizoguchi films, loved LOVED Ugetsu. I've also seen Sword of Doom, and a few other cult classics here and there, but largely there seems to be so much more to be discovered out there.

In particular I'm looking for films that are more about the lore of the Samurai, rather than simply a period film set in that time. I want epic showdowns, mythology, and style in spades - or anything else you think should demand my time.

Thanks in advance.

[–] Suzume-san 8 years ago

How about Kobayashi? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0462030/?ref_=fn_al_nm_4 Seppuku is generally considered his best.

And this is another of my favourites - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055850/ The great Chushingura, the real story of the 47 Ronin. By Hiroshi Inagaki, whose trilogy, often just called Samurai, on Miyamoto Musashi is also worth finding.

[–] mevmijaumau 8 years ago

These samurai movies are, IMO, better than Kurosawa's:

Harakiri

Samurai Rebellion

Tenchu

Demons (Shura)

"There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life. " - Fellini

[–] EpsilonX 8 years ago

Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins is pretty awesome. It's sort of similar to Seven Samurai, but a lot more violent. It's a remake of a film of the same name from the 60s, but I haven't seen it so I can't comment on its quality. Heard it's pretty good though.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Suzume-san 8 years ago

What, the Tom Cruise ego trip?

Very pretty scenery, certainly, made me quite keen to go to New Zealand. Otherwise, a total travesty.

White man happens upon quaint natives, instantly learns their ways, while they all obligingly start speaking picturesque broken English; he supplants all the daimyo's own retainers, takes command of his troops and presides over the subsequent massacre, which he survives himself by the magic forcefield of American nationality. He also gets to patronise the Emperor with homespun advice, and ends up getting the girl. Ugh. Not fit to be mentioned on this board.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Colin-630-935811 8 years ago

13 Assassins (remake) any of the Zatoichi series, ( Fire Festival is my favorite) HariKiri, Onibaba, Kurenko,first 3 Lone Wolf and Cub films, Hanzo The Razor is crazy fun,Sword of Destruction,Kwaidan.... Just for starters.

[–] richard_heys-757-149700 7 years ago

"Twilight Samurai" is a good one, deals very well with what your asking and "When the last sword is drawn"

Twilight Samurai has less action in it compared with when the last sword is drawn but has IMO the better story

[–] armanmarok 7 years ago

One that hasn't been mentioned: Demons (1971)

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My Top 1,000 Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls071561044/

[–] mevmijaumau 7 years ago

I've mentioned it, but it's worth repeating. I think Demons is tied with Harakiri as the best samurai film ever made.

[–] CrashHolly8 7 years ago

I'm not sure, does Chinese counts? Because before Bruce Lee all Chinese movies were swordplay (Samurai-ish) movies. Heres some popular: Come Drink with Me (1966), The One-Armed Swordsman (1967), Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1969), The Wandering Swordsman (1970), The Heroic Ones (1970) and A Touch of Zen (1971).