Samurai FilmsSamurai films are an intriguing combination of frenetic action sequences, moving personal drama, and philosophical observations on loyalty and violence, all set against the spectacular backdrop of pre-industrial Japan. References to samurai films are quite common in film literature, and many mainstream directors, from Hollywood and elsewhere, have been inspired and influenced by them—Lucas by Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress, and the genre of spaghetti westerns by Kurosawa's Yojimbo. Want to see one of the major inspirations for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films? Look no further than Toshiya Fujita's Lady Snowblood. The history of this unique Japanese genre, including its influence on world cinema is covered, as well as analysis of the key films that have defined the genre. Classics such as Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy are included, as well as more recent films, such as Shinobi, Aragami, and The Twilight Samurai. |
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Adapted Akira Kurosawa ANALYSIS Aragami audiences Baby Cart battle scenes blind swordsman Cast castle characters cinema Cinematography clan creates Cub series Daigoro daimyo director duel Edited enemies entertaining epic fight scenes film’s gang Gonzo Hanji Hanshiro Harakiri Hidden Fortress Hideo Gosha Hidetora Hiroshi Inagaki Isaburo Itto Japan Japanese Title Kanbei Kansuke Kayo Kazuo Kenji Misumi Kihachi Okamoto Kikui kill Kojiro Komaki Lady Snowblood Lone Wolf Masaki Kobayashi Mifune’s Miyamoto Musashi Munezo Niiro Nizaemon numbers Ogami Otsu peasants performance PLOT SUMMARY Rokurota Ryunosuke Samurai Assassin samurai film genre samurai films Sanjuro Sasa Seibei Seven Samurai Shiba Shingen Shinnojo Shintaro Katsu Shogunate shots story Studios Sword of Doom Takeda Takeshi Kitano Takezo Tale of Zatoichi Tatsuya Nakadai Throne of Blood Toho Studios Tokugawa Tomisaburo Wakayama Tomoyuki Tanaka Toshiro Mifune Twilight Samurai VERDICT violence warrior Washizu wife Wolf and Cub yakuza yakuza boss Yataro Yoji Yamada Yojimbo Yoshio Yuki Yuki’s Zatoichi films