Summary
Sucker Punch Productions is slated to release their sequel toGhost of Tsushimathis year,Ghost of Yotei. With the game quickly approaching, fans of the previous game and samurai alike are no doubt seeking media of all forms to satiate their hunger for sword-wielding action. Stories of Samurai are a constant in both classic and modern-day media and portray honor-bound warriors in bitter conflicts where a blade is often the only way out.
While not much has been revealed about the story or setting ofGhost of Yotei, aside from video games, there is a large array of classic cinema available to pass the time while waiting for the game’s release.Ghost of Yoteiis undoubtedly centered around the way of the Samurai and features a rare female samurai as its main character. Here are some ofthe best films to watch while waiting forGhost of Yotei.
The Last Samuraiis a Western re-telling of the fall of Samurai leading to the rise of modern warfare, a result of the emperor of Japan hiring the American military to train his soldiers in combat. Ken Watanabe stars as the leader of a small village of samurai loyal to the emperor who wishes for their sacred traditions to be upheld and not abandoned by progress.
Tom Cruise playsNathan Algren, a disheveled army veteran who is kidnapped by Katsumoto’s band of warriors and made a prisoner of war. Algren experiences the culture and dedication of his captors, and his jaded view of man and war slowly fades. The band of Samurai rises up against American influence, and Nathan makes a final stand against his own people.
Lady Snowbloodstars Meiko Kaji as Yuki Kashima, an orphaned young girl born in a women’s prison where her mother died after childbirth. Yuki is raised to claim vengeance on her mother’s assaulters, those who tortured her and then left her to rot for the rest of her life.
Yuki is trained to be the ultimate weapon and claim vengeance for her family in a bloody path of retribution.Lady Snowbloodis directed by Toshiya Fujita, who delivers the violent rampage of a woman scorned from birth who is forged into a one-woman army with a single purpose. The film is a classic film that still holds up against modern stories today.
13 Assassinsis set in the final days of the shogun’s reign, Japan prepares for ascension as the successor, Naritsugu, takes the throne. Unfortunately,the new rising Shogunis a cruel and degenerate man who revels in violence as pleasure. Fearing the deterioration of decades of peace and prosperity, a lone member of the shogun’s own court seeks outside aid to claim Naritsugu’s life and end his reign early for the sake of Japan.
Shinzaemon is hired to assassinate Naritsugu before he plunges the country into a civil war. Leading a band of dedicated warriors bound by honor, Shinzaemon declares war on the shogun and all loyal to him in a bitter and violent confrontation that nearly tears the country apart.
Director Akira Kurosawais a legendary artist whose works have paved the way for Japanese entertainment and what action and drama is today. Among his long list of classic projects,Seven Samuraihas stood the test of time and has one of the largest followings.
A small village hires a lone wandering samurai to protect them from invading threats. With the odds against the little town, the Wanderer recruits several allies to aid him in protecting the village and teaching the villagers how to protect themselves.Seven Samuraiis a masterfully shot tale of tragedy and dedication, as the old ways of the Samurai must always be treasured and remembered.
134min
138min
Rurouni Kenshinis an anime created by Nobuhiro Watsuki and is a highly praised tale of a lone Samurai named Kenshin Himura. Known widely as the manslayer, Kenshin Himura was an instrumental weapon during the war and cut down countless men with not a single drop of remorse.
However, a series of tragic events would lead him to walk down a path of peace after taking a vow never to kill again. The story ofRurouni Kenshinhas been adapted into a live-action trilogy that does a fantastic job of delivering a complete vision of the beloved series, while also standing as one of the best modern samurai trilogies.
Set during the Sengoku period in Japan, a young thief named Kotarou and his fateful four-legged ally are made enemies of the state by the Ming Dynasty and are chased by a gang of assassins. While on the run, Kotarou runs into a secluded ronin who helps him out of a bind when he’s cornered and poisoned.
Fearing for his life, the young boy offers to employ the samurai’s service in exchange for safe passage to a safe place. Reluctantly, the Samurai Nanashi agrees, which takes him down a violent and perilous road as the Ming Dynasty attempts to kill the boy at all costs. Visually,Sword of the Strangeris one of the most impressive animated films ever made and one of Masahiro Ando’s long list of exceptional works.
Runtime
120min
Ichi parades from town to town as a blind beggar. This charade aids her in remaining undetected as she wanders in search of her lost mentor. In reality, Ichi is a deadly master swordsman who was taught by the legendary Zatoichi, a blind samurai with unparalleled skill in combat. Eventually, Ichi’s journey brings her into contact with a village under attack by a band of mercenaries and forces her out into the open.
Ichiis anadaptation of a mangaby Hana Shinohara, and stars Haruka Ayase as the lead. The film delivers a tension-filled epic with great direction from Fumihiko Sori.
