MovieChat Forums > Mibu gishi den (2003) Discussion > Samurai Cinema

Samurai Cinema

posted 17 years ago by thomas_storey
7 replies | jump to latest

Hi, I am currently a student from England undergoing a piece of coursework exploring change in style and conventions in 'Samurai Cinema'. I am focusing specifically on the construction of action sequences.

So if anyone has seen any of the following films and like to discuss what you think is evolutionary, or successful, or anything that has changed over time, then your input would be much appreciated.

The Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)
Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961)
The Samurai Trilogy (Hiroshi Inagaki, 1954-56)
Chushingura (Hiroshi Inagaki, 1962)
Harakiri (Masaki Kobayashi, 1962)
Incident at Blood Pass (Hiroshi Inagaki, 1970)
Samurai Rebellion (Masaki Kobayashi, 1967)
Samurai Banners (Hiroshi Inagaki, 1969)
When the Last Sword is Drawn (Yojiro Takita, 2003)
Twilight Samurai (Yoji Yamada, 2002)
Zatoichi (Takashi Kitano, 2003)

If you have any comments, even on other films not listed here your imput will be greatly valued.

Cheers.

[–] Suzume-san 17 years ago

Hello, Satinman, greetings from another samurai-film enthusiast in the UK. I've seen all of those, I think, except Samurai Banners which is still on my wish-list.

You should probably have some Lone Wolf and Cub and/or Hanzo the Razor in there, for the more extreme action sequences - gore everywhere!

And add the second of the Yoji Yamada 'Poor Samurai' trilogy, The Hidden Blade. It has a very interesting duel with intervention by riflemen, which is a comment in itself on the changing times and fascinating to compare with The Seven Samurai more than fifty years earlier.

Kambei of the Descending Gormful Bedafter Gumi.

[–] hathaway-2 17 years ago

I would add "Tenchu" (Hideo Gosha, 1969)

[–] heelmaster2000 17 years ago

It is a bit different of a film, but try adding in the film Taboo (1999) to your list.

"Because he's John Doe by choice!" --- Se7en

[–] Suzume-san 17 years ago

aka Gohatto. Different, certainly!

Kambei of the Gormful Gumi.

[–] ranmel 16 years ago

Skip Samurai Banners (ouch!) and throw in Sword of Doom.

[–] sushant_v1 16 years ago

i recently saw SAMURAI ASSASSIN and SAMURAI REBELLION , both starring Toshiro Mifune....they were just amazing . not just great samurai movies but great drama too specially SAMURAI REBELLION.

[–] ga526 15 years ago

Don't overlook the older Zatoichi movies or even the television series. Really good stuff, all of it, and pretty available too. Someone mentioned the Lone Wolf and Cub series, terrific cinema as well.

glenn