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The Seven Samurai (1954): Preyed upon by a gang of bandits, a poor Japanese village manages to enlist the protective aid of Seven samurai warriors. This simple setup is played for all it’s worth. Very likeable heroes render the final hour of the film all the more effective. Remade in America as the classic western The Magnificent Seven, but the original is even better.
The Hidden Fortress (1958): A princess and one of her samurai generals must find a way to sneak royal gold across an enemy border. They are aided by two greedy peasants hoping to get their hands on a portion of the riches. One of Kurosawa’s personal favorites. George Lucas used the peasant characters as inspiration for R2D2 and C3PO in Star Wars.
Yojimbo (1961): In a small Japanese town, a wandering swordsman plays one rival gang against the other to the destruction of both. Sound familiar? If you are a fan of Sergio Leone’s Fistful of Dollars (which prompted the term “spaghetti western,” and made Clint Eastwood a star), it should. Again, Kurosawa did it first, with similar dark humor.
Sanjuro (1962): Light in comparison to many of Kurosawa’s films. Another wandering swordsman helps young warriors expose the corruption of the elders in a clan. Similar to Yojimbo in tone, but not as beloved. I saw this for the first time this year, and completely enjoyed it.
Kagemusha (1980): When a Japanese warlord dies, a common thief (and uncanny look-alike) is offered amnesty in exchange for posing as the dead ruler in order to keep the warlord’s enemies from laying claim to his lands. Grand-scale mounted battles and excellent dramatic impact make this one of my favorites. The strength and pain of individuals is never lost amidst the epic sweep of events. Kurosawa allows the camera to linger, but in this case, it adds depth to the film.
Ran (1985): In later years, Kurosawa’s directing style slowed in pace, with drawn out scenes like those found in this film, the director’s vision of King Lear. I need to view this one again to possibly appreciate it more. There are large chunks of the king’s wanderings and outbursts that had me wishing for a judicious edit.
(Update: April, 2006: I just watched a great DVD transfer of this film, and actually did appreciate it more. The epic scale and rich emotions of the characters shined better in this format, and perhaps I’m just older now, and have a deeper attention span). |
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Samurai Cinema: Classic Japanese Films |
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Movies |
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DVD Reviews and More |
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Samurai Rebellion (1967): Toshiro Mifune stars as an aging samurai who wants nothing more than to declare his eldest son to be the new head of the household, and finally retire. When his lord demands that this son marry the lord’s shunned consort, the samurai finds her difficult to accept. But soon, the bride wins over the hearts of the samurai and her new husband. Following the untimely death of the heir to the lord’s throne, the shunned consort’s first son becomes heir, and the lord demands her return to the castle, despite her new marriage. Standing on principle, the aging samurai refuses to send her back. Facing the wrath of his lord, and mounting pressure from his clan and family, the samurai must stand beside the couple for honor’s sake, no matter the consequences. An excellent film, with Mifune in top form. |
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Unknown Actor Appreciation Area: |
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Chris Cooper
Recognize this man? Perhaps a few film titles will help: Time to Kill, The Patriot, Adaptation (which earned him an Academy Award), Seabiscuit, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Capote. Or how about the miniseries Lonesome Dove? Or, my personal favorite, the fantastic 1996 Texas murder-mystery Lone Star? Chris brings a sense of balance to a film, usually in the form of a common sense everyman character. If a movie is bad, at least you know it’s not his fault. |
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Stephen Tobolowsky
Although nearly guaranteed to not know his name, if you’ve seen a movie or watched television in the last two decades, chances are you know his face. From Groundhog Day (insurance, anyone?) to CSI: Miami (Assistant State Attorney), Memento (Sammy) to Basic Instinct (Dr. Lamott), Stephen has had a supporting role in a mind-numbing number of productions (about 170). He’s called upon whenever a bookish character is needed, which apparently is all the time. There’s even a documentary movie about the man, titled Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party, made last year.
Considering all this, why in the world can’t we remember his name? It’s certainly distinctive enough. |
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Akira Kurosawa In the 1950s and early 60s, this Japanese writer/director produced some of the most influencial films made. Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas laud him as a Grand Master of direction, with good reason. Luckily for us, there are plenty of examples of Kurosawa’s career, which continued into the early 1990s, available on DVD for our enjoyment. Special mention also has to go to actor Toshiro Mifune, whose roguish mannerisms have become legend. He was Kurosawa’s greatest asset. Some highlights include: |
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Masaki Kobayashi
Masaki wrote the script for Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, and shows similar brilliance as the writer/director of the anti-samurai classic Harakiri (1962). In a time of peace at the beginning of the shogunate era, ronin samurai wander in search of new masters. Unable to face the humiliation, many instead choose to commit honorable ritual suicide. Others use the promise of harakiri as a ruse for sympathetic monies. When a middle-aged man petitions a well-known clan for the right to commit suicide, the leader believes he is lying, and plans to make an example of him. But the clan is in for a surprise. What a powerful film! A must-see for anyone interested in Japanese cinema. Find it now! |