Samurai Movies

[billrick]

Any fans out there?

If yes, add "13 Assassins" to your must view list:

13 Assassins (Official Movie Site) - Starring Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada and Yûsuke Iseya

I admit, Takashi Miike is a little warped and like a lot of his movies, it turns into a gore fest at the end. (See also Ichi the Killer.) But this movie rockets to the top 3 of my All Time Best Samurai Movies List.

Pivotal moment for me was when the lead samurai realized that he might actually achieve the "noble death" that he has always longed for, in the very strange and shadowy "Total Massacre" scene. Warped, disturbing, giddy, and you just simply get it.

Having grown up on Kurosawa, I've been kind of amazed by the recent modern Samurai movies, like Twilight Samurai. There is some good stuff out there. I hope they continue.

What have you seen that you like?

[cody.wms]

You going to see 13 assassins at the E-Street cinema?

[lavi]

Sweet. Thanks. I'll check this one out.

[Shinomaster]

Ran is my all time fav.

[BestDeathEver]

This movie is phenomenal. Almost makes up for the last 27 pieces of crap that Miike put his name on since 'Ichi the Killer'. Almost.

[billrick]

Ran is my all time fav.

Me too. One of the greatest films ever, period.

Fond memories of that one. When I was a kid, my parents took me to see an outdoor Summer Shakespeare performance of "Samurai MacBeth." Hooked me big time. That led me to Kurosawa's Throne of Blood on grainy VHS. So when I was 17 y.o., I dragged my 14 y.o. kid brother to see Ran in the theatre, insisting that it would be the best thing since Star Wars. After two hours, he started punching me in the arm, muttering this sucks, this sucks. He walked out.

You going to see 13 assassins at the E-Street cinema?

I wish!!! Would be awesome on the big screen. I've seen exactly two movies in a theatre since my first kid was born four years ago. I saw 13 Assassins pre-release through Amazon On Demand.

This movie is phenomenal. Almost makes up for the last 27 pieces of crap that Miike put his name on since 'Ichi the Killer'. Almost.

I hear ya. Just read that Miike is currently remaking the old "Hara-Kiri" samurai movie. Hope he has found he new groove.

[steve garro]

Check out "the good, the bad & the wierd" - it totally kicked ass on several levels!!!!!!!!!!! - Garro.

[nomuse]

I just finished up Melville's "La Samourai," which was quite good. "The Good, The Bad, And The Weird" is percolating to the top of my watching queue.

[alexstar]

Saw 13 Assassins this weekend, definitely the best samurai movie I've seen in a long time. Amazing.

[Honus]

I'll definitely have to check that out. I too saw Ran when it was released in the theater- epic film. Samurai movies made me want to learn about Japanese metalsmithing.

[acotts]

My favorite is Hara-kiri (1962), sometimes called Seppuku.

I think Mike just did a 3-D remake of it. But its really good. Very long and deliberate, but still very good.

[fieldrecordings]

Looking forward to this movie. I'm pretty sure it's in my Netflix queue but I'm going to check right now!

[rydesteel]

One of the best Asian films I've seen lately is the "Man From Nowhere". I think it's a Korean film, absolutely one of the best knife fight scenes ever. Not Samurai still very cool. My favorite line is "Do you have any gold teeth? I'm a Pawn Broker I'll keep the teeth and grind up the rest"

Hmm just watched the previews for !3 Assassins need to look that up.

[Jason Musgrave]

trailer looks good but I'm not big on huge amounts of gore...