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Films with theme "Samurai films", sorted by rating
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Ninja Scroll (1993)
, 1h32Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Origin Japon
Genres Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Kōichi Yamadera, Takeshi Aono, Daisuke Gōri, Emi Shinohara, Shūichirō Moriyama, Norio Wakamoto
Ninja Scroll is set in feudal Japan. Five years before the start of the film, the Yamashiro clan's chief retainers (vassal lords) dig gold out of a secret mine behind their lord's back. The lord of the Yamashiro clan wants to have the gold for himself, but his forces are not strong enough, so he cannot act alone. He also cannot go to the government first, because they would take the gold if they knew about the mine. He orders his ninja team, led by Gemma Himuro, to kill the chief retainers, claiming he would then report the mine to the government. Jubei Kibagami and Shinkuro are members of this ninja team. After the chief retainers are murdered, the Yamashiro lord does not report the mine to the government. Later, Gemma orders Shinkuro and the other ninjas to kill each other, thus eliminating everyone who knew about the mine. Reluctantly, Jubei kills Shinkuro his friend in self-defense, while the other team members lie dead. While Gemma is riding along a pass, Jubei springs from the snow and cuts off his head to avenge Shinkuro and the others. Jubei then becomes a wandering swordsman-for-hire.
The Last Samurai (2003)
, 2h34Directed by Edward Zwick
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Action, Adventure, Historical
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Ken Watanabe, Chad Lindberg, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada
In 1876, U.S. Army captain Civil War veteran Nathan Algren is traumatized by his participation in atrocities during the Indian Wars, and has become an embittered alcoholic. Algren is approached by his former commanding officer, Colonel Bagley, on behalf of Japanese businessman Omura, who wishes to hire distinguished U.S. soldiers to train the Imperial Japanese Army to suppress a samurai rebellion, led by Katsumoto Moritsugu. In exchange, Japan would ratify a lucrative trade agreement that would grant the U.S. exclusive rights to supply arms to the Japanese government. Although Algren despises Bagley for having ordered atrocities during the Indian wars, he accepts the job for the money and sails to Japan. Most of the soldiers being trained are little more than inexperienced peasants and farmers.The training is interrupted when the samurai rebels attack a railroad owned by Omura; Bagley orders the regiment to mobilize, overruling Algren's objection that the soldiers are not ready. Algren is proved correct: during a battle in a foggy forest in Yoshino Province, the undisciplined and intimidated soldiers panic and are quickly routed by the samurai horsemen. Algren kills several samurai with his revolver and saber but is eventually knocked from his horse. Algren desperately fights using a spear tipped flagstaff with a flag of a white tiger until he collapses from complete exhaustion. As he is about to be vanquished, he kills his would-be executioner with the staff's spear tip. His ferocity and refusal to surrender, as well as the image of the white tiger on the flag he is fighting with, reminds Katsumoto of a recurring dream. As a result, Algren is spared and taken captive to the rebels' village in the mountains.
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
, 2h8Directed by John Sturges
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Western
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Charles Bronson
A Mexican village is periodically raided for food and supplies by Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his bandits. As he and his men ride away from their latest visit, Calvera promises to return to loot the village again. Taking what meager goods they have, the village leaders ride to a town just inside the American border hoping to barter for weapons to defend themselves. While there, they encounter Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), a veteran Cajun gunslinger. After listening to their tale, Chris suggests that the village hire gunfighters, which would be cheaper than guns and ammunition. The village men relentlessly try to convince him to be their gunman. At first he agrees only to help them find men, but later he decides to recruit six other men to help him defend the village, despite the poor pay offered.
Sword of the Stranger (2007)
, 1h42Origin Japon
Genres Action, Adventure, Historical, Animation
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Tomoya Nagase, Kōichi Yamadera, Naoto Takenaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Atsushi Ii, Unshō Ishizuka
Set during the Sengoku-era in Japan, a young boy named Kotarou flees from mysterious pursuers with his dog, Tobimaru, and a monk, Shouan. Shouan tells the boy to seek help from Zekkai at the Mangaku temple in Akaike, handing him a gem in case he needs money. With that, Kotarou takes off as the temple he was staying at burns to the ground.
The Hidden Blade (2004)
, 2h12Directed by Yōji Yamada
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Action, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Tomoko Tabata, Reiko Takashima, Kunie Tanaka
The film takes place in Japan in the 1860s, a time of cultural assimilation. Two samurai, Munezo Katagiri (Masatoshi Nagase) and Samon Shimada (Hidetaka Yoshioka), bid farewell to their friend, Yaichiro Hazama (Yukiyoshi Ozawa), who is to serve in Edo (present-day Tokyo) under the shogunate of that region. Though the position is desirable, Katagiri voices his concern that a man of Yaichiro’s character is likely to run into trouble. His doubts are assured when the married Yaichiro expresses an intention to indulge in Edo’s sensual pleasures while stationed there.
, 1h23Directed by Kenji Misumi
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Tomisaburō Wakayama, Taketoshi Naito, Shigeru Tsuyuguchi, Yoshi Katō, Yūnosuke Itō, Akiji Kobayashi
Set in Japan during an unspecific year of the Edo period, Ogami Ittō, disgraced former executioner, or Kogi Kaishakunin, to the shogun, wanders the countryside, pushing a baby cart with his 3-year-old son Daigoro inside. A banner hangs off his back. "Ogami: Suiouryo technique" (Child and expertise for rent)(子を[son] 貸し[for hire] 腕 [arm|skill] 貸し[for hire] つかまつる [to serve] 水
Love and Honor (2006)
, 1h58Directed by Yōji Yamada
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films, Films about disabilities
Actors Takuya Kimura, Takashi Sasano, Rei Dan, Nenji Kobayashi, Ken Ogata, Kaori Momoi
Shinnojo, a low level samurai, lives with his pretty, dutiful and loyal wife Kayo. He has come to find his position in a castle as a food-taster for a feudal lord to be boring and pointless, and talks about opening a kendo school open to boys of all castes where he can teach the use of the sword. Before he can act on his dream he becomes ill with a fever after tasting some sashimi made from shell fish, but an investigation reveals that the poisoning was not due to a human conspiracy, but a poor choice of food out of season. After three days he awakes but finds that the toxin from the food has blinded him. Kayo is summoned by Shinnojo's family to explain how the couple will survive. His uncle laments that he no longer knows anybody with influence in the castle, and asks Kayo if she knows of anybody. She relates how Toya Shimada, the chief duty officer in the castle and a samurai of high rank, offered to help and they tell her to act upon his offer of assistance. A message from the castle brings the good news that Shinnojo's stipend of rice will remain the same, and for life but his aunt tells him that Kayo was seen with another man. He has Tokuhei, his faithful servant, follow her. Kayo notices that she is being followed, and although Tokuhei offers to cover for her, she reveals to Shinnojo that Shimada offered to help but with a price, shown when he forced himself upon her. He then solicited three additional trysts by threatening to tell Shinnojo about the first. An enraged Shinnojo divorces her and orders her out of his house. When it is revealed to him that Shimada had nothing to do with maintaining his stipend, but that it came out of gratitude from the lord of the clan himself, Shinnojo seeks to renew his skill with the sword as a blind man to avenge the dishonor of Kayo. Through Tokuhei, he sends a message to Shimada to set up a duel, with the additional message to not underestimate him. The two samurai meet at the stables near the river to decide their destinies. In the subsequent fight Shinnojo cuts off Shimada's arm. He leaves Shimada to live a horribly disfigured life, telling Tokuhei that he has now avenged Kayo's dishonor. The next day Shinnojo is informed that the injured Shimada refused to tell anyone what had happened or who injured him in the duel. That night Shimada committed seppuku and killed himself, as a samurai cannot live with only one arm. He dies without anyone knowing of his sin against the Mimura family, his violation of Kayo, or his own dishonorable injury by a blinded man. Tokuhei tells Shinnojo he has found a girl to work in the kitchen and cook for him. After one taste of the girl's food, Shinnojo recognizes his wife's cooking, and calls Kayo to come into the house. Shinnojo and Kayo reconcile, with an understanding that they will begin their life together anew.
After the Rain (2000)
, 1h31Directed by Takashi Koizumi
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Mieko Harada, Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Paul Bettany, Fumi Dan, Louise Lombard
A group of travelers is stranded in a small country inn when the local river floods. As the bad weather continues, tensions rise amongst the travelers trapped at the inn. A traveling ronin (masterless samurai), Ihei Misawa takes it upon himself to cheer everyone up by arranging a splendid feast. Unfortunately he has no money and in order to pay for the feast he visits the local dojos and challenges the masters there for payment, termed in the film as prize fighting. Later, after breaking up a duel between two young retainers of the local clan he receives an offer of employment as a sword master from the local lord, Shigeaki. He has a tense interaction with the lord and his retainers, revealing his prowess at their expense.
Lady Snowblood (1973)
, 1h37Directed by Toshiya Fujita
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Seafaring films, Films about sexuality, Sports films, Transport films, Rape in fiction, Martial arts films, Samurai films, Rape and revenge films
Actors Meiko Kaji, Kō Nishimura, Yutaka Matsushige, Miyoko Akaza, Eiji Okada, Hitoshi Takagi
The scenes of this film do not appear in chronological order. Each paragraph below represents a passage of the film in the order it appears.
, 1h45Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Historical, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Toshiro Mifune, Rentarō Mikuni, Kaoru Yachigusa, Kōji Tsuruta, Mariko Okada, Takashi Shimura
Takezo (Musashi) abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.
Goyokin (1969)
, 2h4Directed by Hideo Gosha
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Tatsuya Nakadai, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Tetsurō Tanba, Ruriko Asaoka, Yōko Tsukasa, Kunie Tanaka
Magobei Wakizaka is a samurai for the Sabai clan. A nearby island, Sado, boasts a rich gold mine which provides plentiful riches for the Tokugawa clan. When one of the gold ships sink, the local farmers recover some of the gold, intending to return it to the Tokugawa clan. However, Magobei's clan master, Rokugo Tatewaki, takes the gold and slaughters the farmers so they cannot report the gold stolen. Magobei is appalled. He promises not to report Rokugo to the shogunate in exchange for Rokugo 's promise to never do so again.
Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)
, 1h35Directed by Hideo Gosha
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Tetsurō Tanba, Mikijirō Hira, Hisashi Igawa, Kamatari Fujiwara, Yōko Mihara, Jun Tatara
Des paysans décident de se révolter contre le seigneur local en kidnappant sa fille, ils souhaitent que leur ras-le-bol se fasse enfin entendre aux yeux de cet homme qui se complait dans sa riche situation sans se poser des questions. La famine n'est pas son problème. Mais un rōnin de passage fait irruption chez les révoltés, Sakon Shiba est simplement porté par sa curiosité. Il ne peut que se joindre à ces hommes méprisés mais faibles face à la force d'un Seigneur. Le rōnin parvient vite à ramener un autre rōnin, d'une condition pauvre au point qu'il préfère coucher en prison. Le trio se complète par le garde du corps du Seigneur, qui comprend que son statut d'homme de sabre l'empêche de se prélasser dans une vie stable et calme. Et pendant les trois hommes unissent leurs forces pour affirmer la parole des paysans, ces derniers restent passifs et effrayés, ils sont enfermés dans la peur de mourir.
The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
, 1h36Directed by Kenji Misumi
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films, Yakuza films, Films about disabilities, Gangster films
Actors Shintarō Katsu, Shigeru Amachi, Eijirō Yanagi
The blind masseur Zatoichi is hired by yakuza gang-leader Sukegoro (Eijiro Yanagi) as he thinks that war is inevitable with the rival yakuza Shigezo (Ryuzo Shimada). Zatoichi has a distinguished reputation as a swordsman and Sukegoro thinks he is money well spent. Shigezo responds by hiring a ronin of similar repute, Miki Hirate (Shigeru Amachi). Ichi is a meek and humble man who is commonly underestimated by most men, and looked upon suspiciously. His being a masseur, which was a position of low regard in feudal Japan, merely increases the hostility that is shown towards him. They even try to take advantage of his blindness in a gambling den, but from early on it is clear that Zatoichi draws strength from his disability.
47 Ronin (1962)
, 3h27Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki
Genres Drama, Action, Historical
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Takashi Shimura, Matsumoto Hakuō I, Yūzō Kayama, Tatsuya Mihashi, Toshiro Mifune, Akira Kubo
Following their lord being forced to commit ritual suicide, forty-seven samurai warriors await the chance to avenge their master and reclaim their honor.
Good Soil (2007)
, 30minutesOrigin USA
Genres Drama, Historical
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Shin Koyamada
Jinbei Masuda, a Japanese Christian of the samurai class, draws his strength from his faith, family, and fencing. However, he is caught up in the shogun’s policy of religious persecution and must choose between his loved ones and his God.