Longtime followers of the blog know that we here at The Eclectic Eccentric are huge fans of the samurai genre of film in all its variations. And while the long run times and subtitles might make them hard to watch during your regular, rather hectic normal life, what better time than a shelter-in-place order to give these Japanese epics a shot? Here are some of my personal favorite ways to spend a lazy afternoon.
- Seven Samurai– Western fans might recognize this as the inspiration for the American classic The Magnificent Seven, but great as it is that film is nothing but a cheap imitation of director Akira Kurosawa’s epic masterpiece. It may not be the greatest samurai film ever made but it is the standard by which every other film in the genre is judged.
- Ran- Another Kurosawa film (the whole list could be Kurosawa films to be honest). This epic takes Shakespeare’s King Lear and sets it in Feudal Japan. And let me tell you Samurai Shakespeare is the best Shakespeare. The breathtaking cinematography alone makes this a must watch.
- Harakiri- An unorthodox revenge film that serves to deconstruct the myth of the samurai and the tenants of bushido without completely upending them. The story is compelling, and the action is superb. But given its focus on the complexities of Samurai code of honor I would save this for after you’ve got a few other films on this list under your belt.
- The 47 Ronin- Seven Samurai may have perfected the samurai epic but The 47 Ronin invented it. Giving a fictionalized account of the famous (in Japan at least) story of forty-seven ronin who work together to avenge their master’s death, this is not the action-revenge film you might expect it to be. Rather it is a cerebral, nuanced exploration of honor, loyalty, and duty. But yeah there are sword fights too.
- Kill!- Often overlooked because it is based on the same novel as Kurosawa’s more famous Sanjuro; Kill! is comedic gold. The story beats will certainly seem familiar if you’ve seen Sanjuro, but the emphasis on the novel’s more satiric notes and diffused focus on multiple protagonists differentiates the film enough to make it a classic in its own right. If you like your sword fights served with laughs this is the Samurai film you’re looking for.
- The Sword of Doom– This is a dark film. The protagonist isn’t anything close to likeable and nothing good happens in the entire movie. But boy is it gripping. I don’t even know if you need subtitles for this film. Tatsuya Nakadai’s eyes will tell you everything you need to know. For those of you who enjoy psychological portraits of amoral assassins.
- Lady Snowblood– I can’t leave the ladies off the list. Lady Snowblood tells the tale of Yuki, who seeks revenge on the men who killed her family. This blood revenge tale heavily influenced Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. This film is a bit different from the previous the items on this list as 1) its not a four hour epic and 2) labeling it “samurai” film is not quite right. But it is set in the Edo era and does include a lot of swordplay so I’m going to include it because it’s awesome. Based on a manga by Kazuo Koike, who passed in April of last year.
- Sword of the Beast– Possibly the least well known of all the films I’ve mentioned, Sword of the Beast doesn’t really contribute anything new or great to the genre. It’s just a really well made, enjoyable film. Sometimes that’s enough. And despite being a bit of a deep cut to the lay person; it might be good to start here if you are unsure about the genre. It’s short runtime (96 minutes) and simple themes of betrayal and hypocrisy make for a pretty easy watch. Die hard fans will find much to love too.
- Lone Wolf and Cub– Another movie based on a manga created by Kazuo Koike (R.I.P.), well I’m cheating a bit as Lone Wolf and Cub is actually a franchise with six movies in total and I refuse to pick a favorite. The stories center around Ogami Ittō and his young boy Daigoro. Unfairly disgraced, exiled, and looking to avenge his wife’s murder; Ogami wanders the countryside with his son in tow working as an assassin for hire. The action is top notch, the story is well-crafted, and there is just enough comedy to break up tension. A great series to spend some time with.
- The Tale of Zatochi– Stories about Zatochi, the Blind Samurai are kind of like stories about Robin Hood and Zorro in that there are a lot of them, only a few are truly great, and they’ve kind of been done to death. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some classic versions. The Tale of Zatochi is definitely one of those classics. And the good news is if you love it there are plenty more to burn through.