Favourite Samurai movie...

[Ray Pina]

The Seven Samurai discussion reminded me:

Anyone see Taboo?

As far as "gay" films go, pretty **** good! At first, I was like, "What the hell is up with this?" But it's a good movie. Just be careful of who walks in on ya. Make sure they stay for the wole thing. Last thing you want is to be caught on the edge of your seat with popcorn watching two guys go at it ... without swords! Or with, but not the sharp type.

[Judge Pen]

Originally posted by EvolutionFist
The Seven Samurai discussion reminded me:

Anyone see Taboo?

As far as "gay" films go, pretty **** good!

I don't think that I'd be holding myself out to be any authority on this particular genre.

[MasterKiller]

Everyone knows Samurai used to pound one another, just like the Romans. It's that whole "love among warriors" thing.

I'm glad Chinese Kung Fu masters chose to pass on this custom.

[Ray Pina]

Judge Pen: pretty funny ... wise a$$.

[Su Lin]

Seeing there was a favourite Kung Fu movie thread , thought I would start a Samurai thread.However, at the moment I'm in turmoil as I can't think of my favourite!
I can think of my favourite Samurai movie with tap dancing in, but that's about it. I really have problems making decisions!
It may be too obvious to say Seven Samurai, which is probably the truth, so I may say the entire Lone Wolf and Cub series instead!:rolleyes:

[unkokusai]

I can think of my favourite Samurai movie with tap dancing in, but that's about it. :


LOL

Yeah, Takeshi was a big fan of tap himself before his accident.

[hellhound]

Zatoichi by Beat Takeshi. Nice CG work on the bloody scenes. Regards!

[MasterKiller]

Seven Samurai pwns all.

But, after that...

Yojimbo

Sanjuro

Ran

Hidden Fortress

[GeneChing]

Seven Samurai is one of my favorite films of all time. And Kurosawa is one of my favorite directors. All the Kurosawa/Mifune colloborations are outstanding. On the flip side, I hated Takeshi's Zatoichi. We discussed that here some time ago. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34433)

[Su Lin]

Yep, I would have to say Seven Samurai too.

[jethro]

I would have to go with zatoichi or lone wolf and cub. My fav zatoichi that I have seen is chest of gold and only seen the first 4 LW and C's, but have to say the first one is the best.

[Su Lin]

Have you seen any Lady Snowblood films ? Seen Blizzard from the Netherworld, it's excellent. Good to see a woman wielding a sword and causing some major blood spurts!:p It's based on a manga by Kazuo Koike, who also wrote the manga Lone Wolf and Cub. I have some of those , they are excellent!

[MasterKiller]

Seven Samurai is one of my favorite films of all time. And Kurosawa is one of my favorite directors. All the Kurosawa/Mifune colloborations are outstanding. On the flip side, I hated Takeshi's Zatoichi. We discussed that here some time ago. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34433)

Seven Samurai has recently been re-issued:

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/dvd/reviews/df/20060821/115616520002.html?id=1800116040

[jethro]

Have you seen any Lady Snowblood films ? Seen Blizzard from the Netherworld, it's excellent. Good to see a woman wielding a sword and causing some major blood spurts!:p It's based on a manga by Kazuo Koike, who also wrote the manga Lone Wolf and Cub. I have some of those , they are excellent!

Nope, trying to finish up LW and C, I have two left. Just finished the 4th and LOVED it. Ogami may not be invincible:eek:

[FuXnDajenariht]

Sword in the Moon. it Koreans

oh and this funny one called Kill!

Zaotoichi owns all by the way.

[FuXnDajenariht]

i do mean the original with Shintaro Katsu though. the new one had one too many scenes involving trannies and tap dancing for god knows what reason. Zaotoichi is not supposed to play a supporting role in his own movie.

[jethro]

i do mean the original with Shintaro Katsu though. the new one had one too many scenes involving trannies and tap dancing for god knows what reason. Zaotoichi is not supposed to play a supporting role in his own movie.

I have to disagree with you and Gene Ching and say that I LOVED the newest Zatoichi. The music, the acting, the story. Well the story was kind of the same as all the rest but I like it that they had more than a single storyline. The kid from Gojoe is so freaking awesome in this. Name me a better part than when the kid imagines himself slicing Z up and then right before they go Z switches up his hold on the sword and the kid is screwed. I am really bad at explaining thing but that scene was great as was the whole movie. The ending I guess I just sort of look past, I believe he is still blind:D

After seeing the first 3 Zatiochi movies, I do have to say that like Shintaro Katsu's movies more.

[Su Lin]

Of course he is invincible!:mad:

[jethro]

Of course he is invincible!:mad:

I have to admit I was a little scared at the end of Baby Cart in Peril. He comes back for part 5 though:p

[Su Lin]

The 6th one is the only one I haven't seen! You'll like Lady Snowblood!

[GeneChing]

Chushingura
The Samurai Trilogy (Miyamoto Musashi)

OK, that's really four more classics, but the Samurai Trilogy is really one very very long epic for me. Hmmm, give me a few days and I'll come up with something that's not a Mifune film...

[Su Lin]

I'm struggling to come up with a favourite that doesn't feature Mifune!
New thread- favourite Mifune film!:p

[5Animals1Path]

Memoirs of a Geisha.







Er, wait....:p

[tug]

Samurai Fiction!

And then, pretty much what everyone else said.

[Li Kao]

I have to agree with most everyone that Seven Samurai is indeed the finest representation in this genre. It's greatness and impact on the film industry simply cannot be denied. MK, I had heard about the new Criterion release but thanks for the link -- I already own 2 versions of the film, but may just have to fork out for this new set.

Gene, I see you mentioned the Musashi trilogy -- I really liked those too (they did have Toshiro Mifune after all in the lead role). I still prefer the novel by Eiji Yoshikawa, but most attempts at making great works of fiction into movies fail in some aspect. That book, to me, did for the Japanese samurai culture what Journey to the West did for Chinese culture and kung fu. I remember as a teenager, reading the entire 5-set paperback version at least 3 times -- I have always been a voracious reader but that is no small feat. I really liked the mentor relationship that the Buddhist monk Takuan had, and the philosophical lessons were as interesting as the duels and swordplay.

Hate to say it, but I didn't care for Takeshi's Zatoichi either -- I applaud him for attempting to breathe some fresh air into the series, and it does a very unique flavor, but it just wasnt' my cup of tea.

Here is a very well written history of samurai films called "A Man, a Blade, an Empty Road: Postwar Samurai Film to 1970" by San Francisco writer Allen White:
http://www.greencine.com/article?action=view&articleID=70&pageID=138

And another good article about the genre called "Samurai Cinema 101":
http://www.midnighteye.com/features/samurai_cinema_101.shtml

[shaolinboxer]

Another classic is "Sword of Doom". It's about a samurai who goes insane.

Tokyo shock has been releasing the Zatoichi TV series on dvd, and they are well worth it. It runs 100 episodes at 50 min a piece. They're every bit as good as the films, but don't have the blood squirts (too expensive). Also, only the plots are shorter...the fights and gambling and feats of sword skill all all still there in about the same amount as most of the films.

I am also in the camp for enjoying Takeshi's version.

[GeneChing]

The Key to Longevity for the World's Oldest Person Alive? Sumo Wrestling and Hot Springs (http://time.com/5236018/masazo-nonaka-japan-oldest-person-alive/)
By ASSOCIATED PRESS Updated: April 11, 2018 8:27 AM ET

(TOKYO) — Masazo Nonaka has enjoyed soaking in northern Japan’s hot springs for many years — probably longer than most people.

The supercentenarian, whose family has run a hot springs inn for four generations, was certified Tuesday as the world’s oldest living man, at age 112 years, 259 days.

Nonaka received the certificate from Guinness World Records in a ceremony at his home in Ashoro, on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, and celebrated with a big cake decorated with berries.

Born on July 25, 1905, Nonaka grew up in a large family and succeeded his parents running the inn. The 105-year-old inn is now run by his granddaughter Yuko. He regularly soaks in the springs and also enjoys eating sweets, especially cakes.

Nonaka, wearing a knit cap and a kimono-style jacket, flashed a smile and posed for a group photo with his family, making a victory sign with his right hand.

He dug into the cake with a spoon after it was cut, and said, “Delicious,” according to NHK public television.

“Thank you,” he said.

His family members say Nonaka still moves about by himself in a wheelchair.

He reads a newspaper after breakfast every morning, and loves to watch sumo wrestling and samurai dramas on TV. But his favorite pastime is soaking in the hot springs and relaxing.

Nonaka has outlived all seven of his siblings, as well as his wife and two of their five children.

He is one of about 67,800 centenarians in Japan, the fastest-aging country in the world, with the highest average life expectancy — 80.98 for men and 87.14 for women, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Guinness says Nonaka replaced Francisco Olivera of Spain, who died earlier this year at age 113, as the world’s oldest man.

A 117-year-old Japanese woman, Nabi Tajima, who is currently the oldest living person in Japan, is expected to be certified as the world’s oldest person, replacing Violet Moss-Brown of Jamaica, who died in September at age 117.

Hot springs, sumo wrestling and samurai dramas FTW!

THREADS:
Give it up to the elderly!!!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57037-Give-it-up-to-the-elderly!!!!!)
Sumo (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56343-Sumo)
Favourite Samurai movie (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?42924-Favourite-Samurai-movie)