Samurai
Lone Wolf and Cub 1: Sword of Vengeance (1972)
Director: Kenji Misumi
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama
He was Ogami Itto, a man who held himself to the harsh code of Bushido, entrusted by the Shogun with the gravest of responsibilities, that of official... Read more
Lone Wolf and Cub 2: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)
Director: Kenji Misumi
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama
The Yagyu clan has murdered Ogami Itto's wife, and had him stripped of his position of Official Shogunate Second. Now Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro w... Read more
Lone Wolf and Cub 3: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)
Director: Kenji Misumi
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama
"Child and Expertise For Rent" reads the sign on the crude baby cart that Ogami Itto pushes, carrying his infant son, Daigoro, as they wander the Japa... Read more
Red Lion (1969)
7.1/10
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Shima Iwashita, Etsushi Takahashi, Ito Yonosuke
The always mesmerizing Toshiro Mifune plays an enthusiastic, if dim-witted imperial emissary, sent to break the good news about the fall of the shogun... Read more
Kill! (1968)
7.6/10
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Etsushi Takahashi, Akira Kubo, Naoko Kubo
A samurai satire, equal parts sword-play and jet-black comedy this is full of Japanese cinema inside jokes, double crosses and fast-paced action. Tat... Read more
Zatoichi 16: The Outlaw (1967)
Director: Satsuo Yamamoto
Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Rentaro Mikuni
Zatoichi, played of course by the brilliant Shintaro Katsu, wanders into yet another village in turmoil as rival gambling houses are putting the squee... Read more
The Sword of Doom (1966)
8/10
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Yuzo Kayama, Toshiro Mifune, Michiyo Aratama, Yoko Naito
A brutal, amoral samurai, Ryunosuke (played brilliantly by Tatsuya Nakadai) is scheduled to fight an exhibition match. His opponent's wife offers her... Read more
Assassination ( aka Ansatsu ) (1964)
7.3/10
Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Starring: Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tamba, Eiji Okuda, Keiji Sada, Eitaro Ozawa
Based on the novel by Ryotaro Shiba, this samurai classic from director Masahiro Shinoda begins in the waning years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. As Ame... Read more
Samurai Assassin (1964)
7.6/10
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Ito Yonosuke, Eijiro Tono
Based loosley on true events, the great Toshiro Mifune plays a masterless samurai in 1860 as the rule of the shogun is coming to an end. A few disgru... Read more
Onibaba (1964)
8/10
Director: Kaneto Shindo
Starring: Nobuku Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Sato
An exotic and stylish tale of deceit and survival. A peasant mother and daughter lure soldiers away from their comrades and slay them for their armour... Read more