Akira Kurosawa

Hey, which Akira Kurosawa films do you rate the highest? Which one would be a best introduction to Kurosawa's work? I've seen a few trailers for Yojimbo & Seven Samurai, and people say he's an amazing director. Also, I've heard some of his films are influenced by westerns and I LOVE westerns

Genius director, even if I've only seen Seven Samurai (which IS the inspiration for the western "The Magnificent Seven", brain)

Seven Samurai is a brilliant film. I've got Sanjuro on PC as well, never find time to watch it for some reason

such directors are very rare

Difficult decision which movie should get the highest rating since I've seen almost all of them. In my opinion four movies could share this distinction: Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Throne of Blood (terribly underrated) and Yojimbo.

Almost everyone links Kurosawa to the samurai genre, yet there are plenty surprises in store. I highly recommend Drunken Angel (1948) and High and Low (1963), two detective films.

You could start as well with Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress (source of inspiration for Star Wars), Ran and Kagemusha (samurai dramas).

I've seen Seven Samurai, Rashomon and Ran (couldn't sit through Kagemusha unfortunately, though I think I was 13ish when I tried, I should be able to watch it easily now ). He's indeed a genius. Start with Seven Samurai, it's a masterpiece and a really entertaining film. I also enjoyed Rashomon immensely.

I would say Seven Samurai is a good starting point, maybe Ikiru if you're feeling sentimental. My favorite Kurosawa film by far is Dersu Uzala- actually, quite possibly my favorite film of all time. That being said I should probably note that I hate both Ran and Rashomon!

I have Ikiru on my shelf that I received for a gift a while back I have yet to watch, but Kagemusha is my favorite followed by Seven Samurai. I like Kagemusha for many reasons, besides the story, its his first film in color, and from a composition and cinematographic perspective it is simply amazing. And the editing and pacing are brilliant.

Seven Samurai is definitely the movie to see or show if you want to introduce someone to Kurosawa. Its a very accessible story to the broadest audience with very iconic characters that has had the most influence on cinema from an American Western to George Lucas and the character of Yoda. Its also very layered and tells just a good of story without any dialogue and simply what you see and how its shot than what the characters say.

Enjoy.

1. Seven Samurai
2. Yojimbo
3. Ikiru

This is how I'd rank the films that I've had experience with so far. I should really see more of his work though. He was definitely a talented director, and his influences are especially apparent in 1960s/1970s Italian, French, and American cinema. Also, there would not really be a "spaghetti western" sub-genre of the western without Akira Kurosawa, it was his work in part, that inspired them.

It's Seven Samurai for me, it's black and white version.

I've just purchased an Akira Kurosawa DVD boxset that includes Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Throne of Blood, Sanjuro and The Hidden Fortress. Lucky me

On the subject of Samurai themed films, I'd recommend highly 'The Twilight Samurai'. Fantastic film with some of the most exciting swordfight scenes I've ever seen. It's also one of the rare kinds of movie that can actually make you care about the main characters.

I would recommend Seven Samurai, brilliant movie. I've also seen Hidden Fortress and Ikiru. Hidden Fortress was not as good as I had hoped but Ikiru is also brilliant.

I like the epics the most: Kagemusha and Ran.

Originally Posted by paradamed

I like the epics the most: Kagemusha and Ran.

Agreed Kagemusha is my personal favorite a true epic, while Ran is equally excellent I like the Historic element of Kagemusha even though there is artistic license in the story.

His movies may be getting popular now with TWC members because of the up and coming release of Shogun 2.

Own the Criterion version of Seven Samurai and stand by what everyone has said about it. Now my memory is pretty bad but I've seen one of his films about a body double acting in the place of a dead guy (forgot the name) and also one about some doctor fellow. Wasn't able to finish that one but I liked it up to where I had gotten to. And what was Yojimbo about again?

Originally Posted by Encino_Man

Own the Criterion version of Seven Samurai and stand by what everyone has said about it. Now my memory is pretty bad but I've seen one of his films about a body double acting in the place of a dead guy (forgot the name) and also one about some doctor fellow. Wasn't able to finish that one but I liked it up to where I had gotten to. And what was Yojimbo about again?

Kagemusha and Akahige/Red Beard. Yojimbo is funny as hell, highly recommended. It has a semi-sequel, Tsubaki Sanjuro or simply Sanjuro.

Ah! Thank you for all that! And when I get the chance I'll check out Yojimbo

Originally Posted by Encino_Man

Ah! Thank you for all that! And when I get the chance I'll check out Yojimbo

Or watch Sanjuro if you prefer lighter-hearted stuff. I personally prefer Sanjuro.

I forgot that I also have seen "Throne of Blood"


It's crazy, at the end they actually have REAL archers shoot tons of REAL arrows at one of the characters.

Originally Posted by therussian

I forgot that I also have seen "Throne of Blood"


It's crazy, at the end they actually have REAL archers shoot tons of REAL arrows at one of the characters.

Haha, really? I watched that a while back, it's based on Macbeth isn't it??