Samurai Films / Shaw Bros.

[roguescout]

Here I am again. Staying up all night Friday and on into Saturday morning to watch a Samurai flick at 5am pst on IFC. I cannot go to sleep. I am not an early riser and I would surely miss it. I am too lazy to record it as well. Plus, there is something about the dawn hours and being exhausted that brings something surreal into the experience.

As I stare at my Zatoichi and Kurosawa DVD collection, I realize that I am hooked on Samurai films.

I just wish IFC would throw some Shaw Bros. Hong Kong classics from Celestial into the mix. I even sent IFC an email about it.

I'm lost in my obsession and tired.

Anyone else have this sickness?

Mods... Feel free to move this. Not sure if it needs to be in TV for referring to  IFC or in movies. Did I mention I was tired? 

[the long undertow]

I've seen quite a few Kurosawa films and a few that he and Mifune didn't work on together, but that's pretty much it.  No sickness here.  What's worth checking out?

[mrbasehart]

Criterion has produced a few decent Samurai movies lately too: Sword of Doom, Samurai Spy, Kill!, Sword of the Beast... They are a little more expensive though. 

[the long undertow]

Expensive movies are why I think Netflix is so great.  Thanks for the recommendations.  I added Samurai Spy, and Kill!  Already have the other two in my queue.

[roguescout]

As far as the Zatoichi, my favorite is probaby "Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman". "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" is a close second because of Mifune and Katsu sharing the screen.

"The Hidden Fortress" is a really good adventure story (it is the basis for Star Wars) and the supporting cast is great. A good film for those who don't like the heavy drama of some Samurai films. Of course, the standard Kurosawa faire is always worth a watch ("Seven Samurai", "Rashomon", "Sanjuro", "Yojimbo", more recently "Ran")

"Samurai Assassin" has a really good snow battle as it's finale.

"Samurai Wolf 1 and 2" is good if you like Katsu's "Lone Wolf and Cub" series.

"Samurai Saga" is just beautiful to watch, but it is merely another adaptation of "Cyrano De Bergerac". Kind of like "Macbeth" and Kurosawa's, "Throne of Blood". Still worth watching for the beautiful cinematography. Mifune is excellent.

"Sword of Doom" and "The Betrayal" probably has the best choreographed swordplay of any Samurai films. Both are brutal and tragic.

"Bushido" is amazing in the fact that one actor played the seven roles of the main character's former generations as he reflects on his family's life throughout history.

Hope these recommendations are helpful!

[MrTorso]

What did you think of Beat Takeshi's take on Zatoichi?

[roguescout]

That's a tough one. It's kinda like if you asked me how I would feel if Eric Bana was chosen as the Mel Gibson replacement for Mad Max 4.

Probably the best choice for the job and the film has all the right elements to make it worthy as a successor. But it is just not the same and never will be. It had its charm.

I think Beat (Kitano) was great on MXC though. 

And Eric is the best replacement for Mel. Ever see him play the tough/bada*s title role in "Chopper"? Even more, he is a serious gearhead and can seriously handle a car. Plus, he owns probably the nicest and meanest '73XB Falcon in all of Oz. He could be a better Maxie than Mel himself. If George Miller doesn't choose him, he's nuts.

[Trufire]

I have been watching a lot of Spike TV recently for Pros vs Joes and CSI. I have been seeing a lot of previews that they are goiing to show the samurai movie starting Samuel L. Jackson in the animie flick.....get ready for it.....Afro Samurai. Yeahhhhhhhhhhh......

[eclipt1c]

I really like Kill! and recommend it to anyone who likes any of the other stuff, especially Kurosawa.  It's a great comical conglomeration of all the samurai movies, kinda like a Shaun of the Dead of samurai films if you will.  To get most of the references you should probably have seen at least Sword of Doom, Seven Samurai, and Sanjuro.