10. The Twillight Samurai / Tasogare Seibei (2002)
The
Movie favouring character-driven drama over more traditional action beats,
Twilight Samurai follows the tale of a 19th century samurai who attempts to
protect a battered woman (who is also a former love) whilst conforming to the
rigid demands of feudal society. Wildly popular in Japan, it was picked up on
by Western critics and eventually nominated for a foreign language Oscar.
The
Samurai Seibei Iguchi is a profoundly likeable hero, what with his
slightly dog-eared appearance and long-suffering expression. Having sold his
sword to pay for his wife's funeral, defending the honour of his childhood
sweetheart is going to be harder than it ought to be.
While
the idea of a samurai movie conjures up ideas of complex choreography and
severed limbs, this low key character piece shows a different side to the
genre. Well worth seeking out, it's a thoughtful, affecting drama with a
pleasingly uplifting ending.
9. Seven Samurai (1954)
The Seven Samurai is an all-time
legendary picture, produced by renowned director Akira
Kurosaw. It follows the
story of a group of villagers who, upon overhearing the cruel plan of a group
of bandits, decide to protect their harvest and homeland by hiring a group of
mercenary samurai. Due to poverty and food shortages, the villagers are limited
in their choices, but by stroke of luck, they successfully find seven samurai
to take on their cause, and a tale of class and cultural conflict ensues (much
like in the film’s 1960 Hollywood western re-make, The
Magnificent Seven),
packed to the brim with heart-thumping action sequences and heart-wrenching
twists.
8. 13 Assassins (2010)
Takeshi
Miike takes on the samurai movie with this lavish period drama set in
mid-nineteenth century Japan, following the exploits of a band of assassins
charged with murdering the sadistic brother of the ruling Shogun. Shinzaemon is
the man charged with assassinating the despot in waiting, and sensibly, he
decides to recruit a further twelve sword-swingers in order to combat Lord
Naritsugu's private army. Honourable, wise and battle-worn, he's just the kind of
character you want to see leading the charge. It's not perfect, with several of
the titular 13 afforded little in the way of characterisation, but in terms of
kinetic, blood-spattered action, 13 Assassins delivers in spades.
Miike deserves credit for reviving a flagging genre, without sacrificing any of
the old-school trappings that made it great in the first place.
7. Kagemusha (1980)
A
must-watch film from Kurosawa of Palme d’Or fame, Kagemusha tells
the story of a lowly criminal raised to all new social heights by learning to
impersonate a local warlord and stave off attacks from nearby warring clans.
During the production, Kurosawa hired over 5,000 extras as fodder for the
dramatic final battle scene and selected only the best 90 seconds for the final
release.
When
a powerful warlord in medieval Japan dies, a poor thief recruited to
impersonate him finds difficulty living up to his role and clashes with the
spirit of the warlord during turbulent times in the kingdom.
6.
Chushingura (1962)
Based upon one of
Japan's most revered folk stories, oft-described as the country's
"national legend", this famous adaptation follows a group of 18th
century assassins seeking revenge on the court official who forced their master
to commit seppuku. 47 loyal samurais, who suddenly find themselves masterless
after Lord Asano is forced to kill himself. Knowing they too will be fired to
commit seppuku should they exact their revenge, they get set to embark upon a
very bloody mission indeed.
Whilst film's like
Seven Samurai are more relatable to a Western
audience, Chushingura is immersed in the rules and regulations of the
traditional samurai, a world in which bloody revenge can be taken, but only on
the understanding that one will have to kill oneself afterwards. A must-watch
for anyone hoping to understand what the way of the samurai is all about.
5. Tales of Ugetsu (1953)
Based on Ueda Akinari’s book of the same
name, this movie directed by the acclaimed Kenji
Mizoguchi centers on
the struggle of two peasant families pursuing different dreams, leading them to
follow divergent life paths. The impressive plot structure of the masterpiece
is full of surprising twists and there is an ever-present tension between the
themes of morality, family loyalty and dreaming that does well to critique the
contemporary Azuchi–Momoyamaperiod of Japan. Viewers also enjoy a glimpse of national
culture through the eye-wateringly wonderful and Oscar-nominated costumes
throughout.
4. Lone Wolf And Cub: Sword Of
Vengeance (1972)
The
first in a series of six films, Lone Wolf And Cub: Sword Of
Vengeance follows the adventures of Ogami Itt, a wandering assassin for
hire who roams the Japanese countryside with his young son Daigoro in search of
the hit squad who murdered his wife. It is a gruff, unsmiling sort, which is
probably to be expected given what's happened to him. As for his parenting
skills, he's fairly hardline. When Daigoro was a baby, Itt gave him the choice
between a ball or a sword. Had the youngster chosen the ball, Itt had resolved
to kill him. Good job he grabbed the sword then It's a ridiculously cool
revenge story, and the final showdown provides everything you could hope for
from such a scenario. Even Daigoro's baby carriage comes into play, harbouring
an armoured underside and a host of concealed weaponry. Gratifyingly grisly,
it's the samurai movie at its most down and dirty.
3. Yojimbo (1961)
Another
masterpiece directed by Akira Kurosaw, Yojimbo never disappoints
viewers with its enthralling and complex plot lines. Feeling discontent with an
ongoing war between gang leaders Seibei and Ushitora, a masterless samurai
decides to go vigilante, eliminate the gangs and restore peace in the area. Sanjuro, a wandering samurai enters a
rural town in nineteenth century Japan. After learning from the innkeeper that
the town is divided between two gangsters, he plays one side off against the
other. His efforts are complicated by the arrival of the wily Unosuke, the son
of one of the gangsters, who owns a revolver. Unosuke has Sanjuro beaten after
he reunites an abducted woman with her husband and son, then massacres his
father's opponents. During the slaughter, the samurai escapes with the help of
the innkeeper; but while recuperating at a nearby temple, he learns of
innkeeper's abduction by Unosuke, and returns to the town to confront him.
2. Harakiri (1962)
Peace
in 17th-century Japan causes the Shogunate's breakup of warrior clans, throwing
thousands of samurai out of work and into poverty. An honorable end to such
fate under the samurai code is ritual suicide, or hara-kiri (self-inflicted
disembowelment). An elder warrior, Hanshiro Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai) seeks
admittance to the house of a feudal lord to commit the act. There, he learns of
the fate of his son-in-law, a young samurai who sought work at the house but
was instead barbarically forced to commit traditional hara-kiri in an excruciating
manner with a dull bamboo blade. In flashbacks the samurai tells the tragic
story of his son-in-law, and how he was forced to sell his real sword to
support his sick wife and child. Tsugumo thus sets in motion a tense showdown
of revenge against the house.
1. 1. Sanjuro (1962)
Another masterfully directed and acted moving
picture from Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune, Sanjuro is the sequel to
the director’s 1961 Yojimbo. Sanjuro – a ronin who happens to overhear the
plans of nine young samurai to fight against their corrupt superintendent –
decides to lead the ploy and the fight for justice. The action comes to a head
with one of the most intense stand-offs in Japanese film history, while the
movie also makes a commentary on the nature of violence and life – “the best
swords are the ones that are kept in their scabbards” reads the final mantra.
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