Best Samurai films. Kurosawa, Toshiro Mifune.

on Dec 12, 2009

My five favorite Samurai films. Kurosawa, Toshiro Mifune.

Whether via Netflix or your local indie video store, these films—some of which provided inspiration to Western directors including Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg—are worth your time.

1. Seven Samurai

One of the all-time best movies—of any genre. Far more than a samurai film (if you think samurai films are about swordplay or Japanese culture), Seven Samurai is an epic tale of human suffering, cooperation, nobility, class, triumph and tragedy.

2. Hidden Fortress

My personal favorite, all about honor, nobility and journey. It was a close source in plot and characters for Star Wars. Watch the movie, the parallels are endless. George Lucas wanted Mifune to play Obi wan, apparently:

3. Yojimbo

4. Sanjuro

…upon which Clint Eastwood’s famous Fistful of Dollars “Spaghetti Western” was based. I think another one was based on Sanjuro, right?

5. The Samurai Trilogy

Not a Kurosawa-directed film, but great: the story of Musashi, one of Japan’s greatest heroes, both in battle and in peace.

This scene is one of the great face-off battle scenes in literature, and in cinema:

Bonus: also not Kurosawa, and not with Mifune, but…Harakiri is perfect.

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Noel says:

December 13, 2009 at 00:39

For the advanced viewer:
Samurai Rebellion, starring Toshiro Mifune, is my all-time favorite. It's slower paced than some of the usual slash-em-ups, but explores the samurai ethos on a deep level, going beyond a sense of feudal duty to a more genuine duty to protect the love and happiness of others. The climactic battle is heart-rending and tense.

Hidden Blade, by the same director as Twilight Samurai- these are similar, but Hidden Blade is a bit more refined- these are contemporary, sublime, and fun.

elephantjournal says:

December 13, 2009 at 21:27

Cool, I'll check 'em out. Think I've seen Samurai Rebellion, just last year…but not sure. Shoulda had you make the list, you and I watching Marx Bros and Kurosawa vids in Boulder Public Library now 25 years ago (#@$%^&*(!!) is how I got my start.

Robert Mann says:

December 13, 2009 at 22:10

Roshomon, Red Lion, RAN, Zatoichi, Throne of blood…. Guess these are kind of a no brainer though,.. ah?

December 14, 2009 at 04:31

Robert and Noel in one post! I'm in heaven. I didn't love Ran, tho visually it might be Kurosawa's best. A lot of my friends love Red Beard…I need to take another look. Rashomon is ca-lassic. Great additions.

December 14, 2009 at 17:12

Looks you found the proper bait for us "M" kids! Can't help but bite into Samurai… Throne of Blood is on my top 5 of all time…. Mix a little Shakespeare with the Mifune-Kurosawa team and you have one tasty cocktail friends.