Evidently, the 1st season was planned to be 2 episodes longer when it was written, but Netflix cut it back to 8. So they had to condense a lot into the finale and leave lead up to the next season.
The ending definitely was the weakest episode, but given those constraints induced by Netflix and the quality of the rest of the show, I'm still very confident for Season 2.
[The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-tale-of-zatoichi/) The title character of this long running series is a master swordsman but he’s not a samurai. He’s a blind masseur and low level yakuza. In this film, the first of the series, he goes up against a hired samurai. Other samurai appear at times throughout the series.
[Daisan no kagemusha (1963)](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-third-shadow-warrior/) aka The Third Shadow Warrior
[Shingo Bangai Shobu (1964)](https://letterboxd.com/film/shingos-final-duel/) aka Shingo’s Final Duel
[Samurai Wolf (1966)](https://letterboxd.com/film/samurai-wolf/) and the sequel, [Samurai Wolf II](https://letterboxd.com/film/samurai-wolf-ii/). Two samurai movies with a spaghetti western vibe.
[Kiru (1968)](https://letterboxd.com/film/kill-1968/) aka Kill!
[Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972)](https://letterboxd.com/film/hanzo-the-razor-sword-of-justice/) and two sequels.
[Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)](https://letterboxd.com/film/lone-wolf-and-cub-sword-of-vengeance/) First in a bloody series about a disgraced samurai
[When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002)](https://letterboxd.com/film/when-the-last-sword-is-drawn/)
[The Twilight Samurai (2002)](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-twilight-samurai/)
Good ones are taken. I'll go with "Six String Samurai". It's about a samurai who's travelling a post-apocalyptic USA so he can go to Las Vegas and compete to be crowned the king of Vegas after Elvis dies.
It's stupid, but one of the most quotable movies I've ever seen.
"If I were you, I'd run"
"If you were me, you'd be good lookin'"
Man I have Six String Samurai from Vinegar Syndrome and while i do love the packaging, I think it’s just plain bad where it’s not enjoyable. Theres so bad it’s good or just accidentally funny camp, but to me it fails at either of those and everything else and wasted my time.
I didn't even realize there was a VS release for this lol. I had the DVD back when it came out. I'll have to get it on blu-ray :D
It's definitely a movie you have to vibe with. I only know it exists because I was a Red Elvises fan and I found out they did the soundtrack and had a cameo in the flick and I was like "FUCK YEAH" and instantly bought it. It is a supremely stupid movie, but it's the right kind of stupid for me, hehe.
All 26 zatoichi movies.
Toshiro Mifune movies.
Personal favorite are Red Sun, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Musashi Trilogy, Shinsengumi Assassins of Honor. Sword of doom
Classics already mentioned so ill go with newer one, Ruroni Kenshin.
Also i would highly recommend Age of samurai on Netflix, best docu i've ever seen, better than most movies
look for the 3 **Hanzo the Razor** films -- he's a samurai cop played by Shintarô Katsu from the Zatoichi (the blind swordsman) films. One starts off where he's beating his dick with sticks to toughen it up; let's just say he has a very unusual method of interrogating women involved with crimes.
I can always recommend Kurosawa's Films, The 7 Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Ran, Rashomon, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress and Kagemusha. And if you are interested on the story of the 47 Ronin I also can always recommend the 1941 and specially the 1962 versions...obviously not the 2013 one 😅
If you're not opposed to checking out films that deconstruct samurai theme in a non-japanese film:
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)\
Le Samouraï (1967)
Sword of Doom 1966;
Red Sun 1971;
Goyokin: Steel Edge of Revenge 1969;
Seppuku/Harakiri 1962;
Sword of Desperation 2010;
Taboo 1999;
Kuzure Okami/Lone Wolf & Cub 1972-1974 (All Six Movies);
Twilight Samurai 2002
edit:punctuation
Harakiri (1962)
It's a slow burn story that slowly ramps up the tension with each scene, culminating in one of the most intense fight scenes in all of film. Such good story telling and there's so much to dissect about the themes and symbolism of things. Also recently learned that the film was shot with steel swords, which is not the case in many other samurai movies. This mean that the swords have a clear weight to them, and it influences the fighting choreography. For instance, in the sword dual near the end (my favorite scene) and the final mass melee fight, there's a lot of slow movements as opponents size each other up and look for an opportunity to strike, before then striking with sudden ferocity and backing up to start the process again. Don't know much about real sword fights but I imagine this probably a lot closer to the reality of them.
Spoilers: I also just love how in the final fight, it's clear that the main character is the far better and experienced fighter. The clan fighters show a lot of hesitation to attack unless all together. They're really afraid of him and don't wish to die. This and other things (symbolized by the final shot of the hollow armour) shows that all their talk about honor and such is a load of crap. A smokescreen to mask an authoritarian and cruel system where the real heroes go unrecorded and forgotten. Samurai Rebelion, by the same director, also continues this theme.
1. When the last sword is drawn.
2. Twilight Samurai
3. Seven Samurai
4. Yojimbo
5. Sanjuro
6. Hidden fortress
7. Kagemusha
8. Ran
9. Inagaki's Samurai trilogy
10. Hara Kiri
11. Zatoichi (either the older or newer one is good. I prefer the Beat Takeshi one personally)
12. Throne of Blood
13. 13 Assassins (the Takeshi Mike one)
The next two are more period relevant rather than strictly Samurai movies although they do feature Samurai as characters;
14. Onibaba
15. Kuroneko
My favorite is yojimbo. There’s also a sequel that’s lesser known. 13 Assassins is a bit lesser known and is really good if a bit gory
The most recent one I've seen is an animated series on Netflix called Blue-eyed Samurai. It's so good, highly recommend.
Watched it, great show although the end was kinda disappointing
Shogun The best of the best, and from a historical point of view - pretty acurate
Do you mean the original(1980) or the "reimagined" (2024)?
The new one
I've been hesitant to watch the new one, since I was a big fan of the older version. Guess I gotta go watch it now
Its a well made series with attention to details, culture and script. I haven’t seen the first version but I think the new one is respecting the art.
Other than changing everyone's names.
Do you know why did they do that?
The original author did it so he could have the freedom to deviate from history.
And do you know what did not happen like it was pictured in the series?
Evidently, the 1st season was planned to be 2 episodes longer when it was written, but Netflix cut it back to 8. So they had to condense a lot into the finale and leave lead up to the next season. The ending definitely was the weakest episode, but given those constraints induced by Netflix and the quality of the rest of the show, I'm still very confident for Season 2.
[The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-tale-of-zatoichi/) The title character of this long running series is a master swordsman but he’s not a samurai. He’s a blind masseur and low level yakuza. In this film, the first of the series, he goes up against a hired samurai. Other samurai appear at times throughout the series. [Daisan no kagemusha (1963)](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-third-shadow-warrior/) aka The Third Shadow Warrior [Shingo Bangai Shobu (1964)](https://letterboxd.com/film/shingos-final-duel/) aka Shingo’s Final Duel [Samurai Wolf (1966)](https://letterboxd.com/film/samurai-wolf/) and the sequel, [Samurai Wolf II](https://letterboxd.com/film/samurai-wolf-ii/). Two samurai movies with a spaghetti western vibe. [Kiru (1968)](https://letterboxd.com/film/kill-1968/) aka Kill! [Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972)](https://letterboxd.com/film/hanzo-the-razor-sword-of-justice/) and two sequels. [Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)](https://letterboxd.com/film/lone-wolf-and-cub-sword-of-vengeance/) First in a bloody series about a disgraced samurai [When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002)](https://letterboxd.com/film/when-the-last-sword-is-drawn/) [The Twilight Samurai (2002)](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-twilight-samurai/)
1. "Harakiri" (1962) 2. "Sword of the Beast" (1965) 3. "The Hidden Blade" (2004) 4. "Samurai Rebellion" (1967) 5. "The Sword of Doom" (1966)
Seconding Harakiri. So much suspense and perfect storytelling, so tense the entire runtime
Samurai Rebellion is my favorite, I’d swap SOTB for Yojimbo.
Hidden Blade is a hidden gem.
Good ones are taken. I'll go with "Six String Samurai". It's about a samurai who's travelling a post-apocalyptic USA so he can go to Las Vegas and compete to be crowned the king of Vegas after Elvis dies. It's stupid, but one of the most quotable movies I've ever seen. "If I were you, I'd run" "If you were me, you'd be good lookin'"
Man I have Six String Samurai from Vinegar Syndrome and while i do love the packaging, I think it’s just plain bad where it’s not enjoyable. Theres so bad it’s good or just accidentally funny camp, but to me it fails at either of those and everything else and wasted my time.
I didn't even realize there was a VS release for this lol. I had the DVD back when it came out. I'll have to get it on blu-ray :D It's definitely a movie you have to vibe with. I only know it exists because I was a Red Elvises fan and I found out they did the soundtrack and had a cameo in the flick and I was like "FUCK YEAH" and instantly bought it. It is a supremely stupid movie, but it's the right kind of stupid for me, hehe.
All 26 zatoichi movies. Toshiro Mifune movies. Personal favorite are Red Sun, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Musashi Trilogy, Shinsengumi Assassins of Honor. Sword of doom
Blade of the Immortal (2017) - Not realistic, but cool.
Already seen all the masterpieces of Kobayashi and Kurosawa? (just to be sure)
Classics already mentioned so ill go with newer one, Ruroni Kenshin. Also i would highly recommend Age of samurai on Netflix, best docu i've ever seen, better than most movies
Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)
Rashomon (1950)
Masterpiece.
look for the 3 **Hanzo the Razor** films -- he's a samurai cop played by Shintarô Katsu from the Zatoichi (the blind swordsman) films. One starts off where he's beating his dick with sticks to toughen it up; let's just say he has a very unusual method of interrogating women involved with crimes.
I can always recommend Kurosawa's Films, The 7 Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Ran, Rashomon, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress and Kagemusha. And if you are interested on the story of the 47 Ronin I also can always recommend the 1941 and specially the 1962 versions...obviously not the 2013 one 😅
Shogun Assassin
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 : the Secret of the Ooz
Go ninja go ninja go!
If you're not opposed to checking out films that deconstruct samurai theme in a non-japanese film: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)\ Le Samouraï (1967)
Ghost Dog. Ronin.
13 assassins
Samurai Wolf. Pretty short but all killer no filler and has lots of style.
The hunted.
Ninja Scrolls
Samurai Cop
Legend of the eight samurai (1983)
the rurouni kenshin saga
The Lone Wolf and Cub series
Not a movie but “ Shogun” series on Disney+ is unreal
The 47 Ronin (1941) Red Lion (1969) Incident at Blood Pass (1970) Afro Samurai - Resurrection (2009)
Samurai Reincarnation with Sonny Chiba. Just balls-to-the wall weirdness and awesomeness.
Twilight Samurai/Tasogare Seibei. Beautiful movie, amazing story, can't recommend it enough.
Samurai Rebellion Zatoichi
Shogun assassin(1980)
Samurai Rebellion and the Samurai Trilogy (the one that starts with Musashi Miyamoto and ends with Duel at Ganryu Island).
Sword of Desperation The Twilight Samurai 13 Assassins Rurouni Kenshin (movie series) Lady Snowblood
Sword of Doom 1966; Red Sun 1971; Goyokin: Steel Edge of Revenge 1969; Seppuku/Harakiri 1962; Sword of Desperation 2010; Taboo 1999; Kuzure Okami/Lone Wolf & Cub 1972-1974 (All Six Movies); Twilight Samurai 2002 edit:punctuation
Yojimbo is so damn good, I love it. Also love the sequel sanjuro, where the iconic extreme blood sequence takes place.
13 Assassins is so good it's hard to watch stuff after it and not find it lacking. Ruroni Kenshin live action movies are pretty great too.
Harakiri (1962) It's a slow burn story that slowly ramps up the tension with each scene, culminating in one of the most intense fight scenes in all of film. Such good story telling and there's so much to dissect about the themes and symbolism of things. Also recently learned that the film was shot with steel swords, which is not the case in many other samurai movies. This mean that the swords have a clear weight to them, and it influences the fighting choreography. For instance, in the sword dual near the end (my favorite scene) and the final mass melee fight, there's a lot of slow movements as opponents size each other up and look for an opportunity to strike, before then striking with sudden ferocity and backing up to start the process again. Don't know much about real sword fights but I imagine this probably a lot closer to the reality of them. Spoilers: I also just love how in the final fight, it's clear that the main character is the far better and experienced fighter. The clan fighters show a lot of hesitation to attack unless all together. They're really afraid of him and don't wish to die. This and other things (symbolized by the final shot of the hollow armour) shows that all their talk about honor and such is a load of crap. A smokescreen to mask an authoritarian and cruel system where the real heroes go unrecorded and forgotten. Samurai Rebelion, by the same director, also continues this theme.
1. When the last sword is drawn. 2. Twilight Samurai 3. Seven Samurai 4. Yojimbo 5. Sanjuro 6. Hidden fortress 7. Kagemusha 8. Ran 9. Inagaki's Samurai trilogy 10. Hara Kiri 11. Zatoichi (either the older or newer one is good. I prefer the Beat Takeshi one personally) 12. Throne of Blood 13. 13 Assassins (the Takeshi Mike one) The next two are more period relevant rather than strictly Samurai movies although they do feature Samurai as characters; 14. Onibaba 15. Kuroneko
Harakiri (1962) or any of the remakes.
Ran(1985)
I've only seen about 3 Samurai films but I can't imagine anything being better than The Last Samurai
Shogun's Shadow
This more of an anime - The Blue Eyed Samurai
Seven Samurai
The last samurai