Samurai Assassin, Mifune Toshiro

Samurai Assassin

Japanese, English Subtitles

1965, 122 Minutes

5 Stars

Rainy Day rates this 5 stars because the acting was superb, and the photography pretty darned good. The story is based on history, about the end of the Samurai times. Adm. Perry and his Black Ships were already nosing around Japanese harbors. Mifune Toshiro stars as the ronin Niiro Tsuruchiyo, who is not really a ronin because he is not really a Samurai. He becomes involved in a coup attempt in order to become a Samurai. He is an angry, broken, and almost animalistic man who never knew who his father was, and neither his mother nor his stepfather will tell him. He seeks to become a Samurai by killing a daimyo, thereby setting off a chain of events ending the Samurai period. Rainy Day has no idea how historically accurate the movie is, but thinks it's worth the watch.

For a trailer of Samurai Assassin, click here.

Samurai Banners, starring Mifune Toshiro

Samurai Banners

Japanese, English subtitles

1969, 166 minutes

4 Stars

The Netflix blurb describing this movie is totally messed. And, in a way, she found the title also misleading. Rainy Day expected lots of classic sword fights, and instead had chaotic wars, with the Samurai Banners being on the fighters. According to one reviewer on Netflix, it is a prequel to the Kurosawa movie, Kagemusha, which Rainy Day saw and enjoyed. Mifune Toshiro is the lead in this movie and, as usual, his performance is excellent. If you like epic stories, fictionalized history, and the strategies leading up to and fighting of wars, this is definitely a movie you will enjoy. Just don't expect the romance and fatal sword fight between the two men who love the same woman.

For a clip of Samurai Banners, click here. This clip shows the entertainment leading up to the assassination of Lord Suwa. Gives you a chance to practice your French;-)

Chusingura (47 Samurai)

Chusingura (47 Samurai)

Japanese, English subtitles

1962, 207 minutes

5 Stars

This widescreen movie, made in 1962, looks like something made in 2002. The colors were brilliant, and unlike the earlier version of 47 Samurai that Rainy Day watched, this movie could actually be seen. It is the fictionalized account of Lord Asano who refuses to bribe a crooked official, is provoked until he draws his sword in the Shogun's palace, and therefore must commit seppuku. This time, we get to see what led up to the provocation and why 47 of the now masterless Asana Samurai seek revenge, and what happens to them. This movie is not for the impatient, it takes us through many subplots before leading us to the climax. The settings are realistic, the costuming superb, the swordsmanship appears to be of the classical style, what happens when a clan is abolished. A must see movie!

Rainy Day could find no trailer for this particular movie online. There are several articles, and trailers for similar movies, all you have to do is Google Chusingura.