Machibuse (AKA Ambush or The Incident at Blood Pass). This is actually Mifune's 4th outing as the samurai with no name. No subs in the trailer but there are in Region A/1 DVDs
Throne of Blood. It does deal with the supernatural in certain moments as it is a telling of MacBeth and the best version of that story you will witness.
And finally, The Hidden Fortress. The Kurosawa film that inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars. And I mean the original Hidden Fortress with Toshiro Mifune. No original quality trailers so here is a modern take on the original film:
Nice list, but yeah as I said in the article The Last Samurai is there pretty much only for people who need something very familiar to what they’re used to form Hollywood movies as an introduction or gateway to the proper films. So in that instance it has some value.
I noted Hidden Fortress as an honorable mention just because it’s not really that much of a *Samurai* movie, despite being a very influential movie.
Perhaps Shogun (mini-series) would have been a better recommendation as 'gateway' flick to the genre. The Zatoichi and Lone Wolf series bear mentioning as well of course.
Really wish the TV show Ryomaden would have gotten a release in the West, as I've heard good things about it. Been looking for it on BR or even DVD when I was in Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Japan, but haven't found it yet.
Blade of the Immortal is nice as well, although the manga (of course) is better.
Vagabond (manga) is also highly regarded, but only read the first book myself.
It is more of an overall representation of jidaigeki and less of the sub category of chanbara. However there are some moments in there that will relate to the game as well as the Mongol Invasions themselves. Regarding TLS and it’s necessity, they are about to get, what is for most, something wholly unfamiliar :) And a great many Japanese do not care for that film at all. In addition its not, as SP has patterned, samurai cinema.
One other note about chanbara. Most of the highly respected films in the genre have remarkably little combat compared to the entire run time.
Great you brought those up. I absolutely considered listing those along with The Sleepy Eyes of Death and decided to forgo it because of trying to explain to people where to start ha ha. In fact the 3rd appearance of Yojimbo was in Jan of 1970 with Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo :P
Love Blade of the Immortal. Also Samurai Executioner is in print.
Edit: Shogun miniseries tie in perfect for Nioh players as well
Two others I recommend that I own. Castle of Owls. Also, the Sonny Chiba TV series I have called Shadow Warriors where he first played the leader of the Iga Ninja Clan, Hattori Hanzo, the forefthaer of the character he would later play in Kill Bill.
The Last Samurai...not one of the movies that should be in the same article as the other films.
I recommend the remake of Hara Kiri as well as the original.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
The Sword Of Doom
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Machibuse (AKA Ambush or The Incident at Blood Pass). This is actually Mifune's 4th outing as the samurai with no name. No subs in the trailer but there are in Region A/1 DVDs
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Sekigahara, same as above the bluray has english subs.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Throne of Blood. It does deal with the supernatural in certain moments as it is a telling of MacBeth and the best version of that story you will witness.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Three Outlaw Samurai
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Goyokin
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Samurai Assassin
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
And finally, The Hidden Fortress. The Kurosawa film that inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars. And I mean the original Hidden Fortress with Toshiro Mifune. No original quality trailers so here is a modern take on the original film:
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Someone even did a Star Wars style trailer for it: https://www.youtube.com/wat...
zatoichi the blind swordsman and sword of doom.