movies
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Ugetsu (1953)
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi In contrast to last week’s film Ugetsu needs no introduction: this is Criterion Collection content. Unlike Gorotsuki-bune I found Ugetsu a slog. I wanted to like it far more than I did. Perhaps my expectations were… Continue reading
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Gorotsuki-bune (Ship of Outlaws) (1950)
Directed by Kazuo Mori I discovered this action-packed gem from Daiei hidden in the depths of YouTube. The YouTube copy has no English subtitles and is a low-resolution transfer of a poor quality print. You know it’s a good movie… Continue reading
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Tange Sazen Yowa: Hyakuman Ryō no Tsubo (Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryō) (1935)
Directed by Sadao Yamanaka I’m delighted to say that today’s film has no shortage of reviews online. Unlike my blog’s usual fare, it’s a comedy. I tend to avoid reviewing comedies from other countries because appreciating humor typically requires a… Continue reading
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Hangyakuji (Conspirator) (1961)
Directed by Daisuke Itō A bleak historical drama about a young nobleman caught in the middle of a dynastic power struggle, Hangyakuji is stunning to look at, gorgeously shot in Eastmancolor by cinematographer Makoto Tsuboi and features strong performances across… Continue reading
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Jūsan-nin no shikaku (13 Assassins) (1963)
Directed by Eiichi Kudo To my astonishment 13 Assassins currently has four reviews on IMDb. I’m sorry but that’s just wrong. A classic movie deserves better than four paltry reviews. One of the purposes of my blog is to introduce… Continue reading
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Ishin no kagaribi (Signal Fire of Restoration / Restoration Fire) (1961)
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda I grew up watching Errol Flynn movies on TV. He was my childhood crush and my personal template for action-adventure heroes. According to this template swordsmen should be equally adept at romance as they are at… Continue reading
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Jiraiya (1937) / Yoja no maden (Ninja’s Weapon) (1956)
Directed by Masahiro Makino (1937) and Sadatsugu Matsuda (1956) Are ninja/sorcerer movies samurai films? Or are they fantasy films that are samurai-adjacent? There’s lots of sword fighting, to be sure, but why use conventional means of combat when you can… Continue reading
