Browsing by Genre

Jidaigeki (Historic Drama)

Akakage (2001)
The tale of three ninja sent by a daimyo to spy upon a neighboring fiefdom now being run by the widow of a former rival, who supposedly has a powerful secret weapon. What they actually discover is a plot to ensure safety and peace in the area, and a betrayal that threatens to kill them all. Hip, modern tale of ninja and samurai. Love of chambara not a pre-requisite.
Gohatto (1999)
The story of a young samurai warrior of extraordinary skill and "beauty" is the mark of several samurai who wish to posess him, as well as destroy him. A look at homosexuality in Japan, set in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu Period, which turns into a murder mystery.
Jungle Spririt (2006)
Sixty years after the end of World War Two, an aging former officer of the Japanese Imperial Army journeys to Malaysia to exorcize horrible memories that have troubled him for the past six decades. It was in Malaysia at the close of the war that this man, as a member of a military command, participated in the execution of five young, beautiful local girls. He has been troubled ever since the event, tormented by recurring nightmares of the beheadings of the young women. In his troubled sleep, he dreams of opening a bag to find the severed head of one girl but can not see her face or remember distinctly the sequence of events that resulted in her execution. The dream has followed him from place to place during the post-war years but is never completed in the full details of what happend that fateful day so long ago. He needs to remember. He returns the place where it happened with unexpected consequences.
Kakushi Ken Oni no Tsume (2004)
The continuing struggle of samurai Munezo Katagiri in his journey to change 19th century Japan.
Mibu Gishi Den
<<no description given>>
Onmyouji
A demon's curse had the ancient capital of Heian (old Kyoto) in the grips of fear that it may be destroyed. Abe No Seimei (a Ying-Yang master) is called upon to dispell and reveal the forces of evil.
Onmyouji 2
Return to the old capital of Heian with a new adventure of magic and friendship. A curse set upon the country of Yamato (the name of old Japan) by a wizard of Izumo sets Abe No Seimei and his companions in motion. It is a race against time as they realize that gods are involved.
Samurai Fiction (1998)
The tale of a sword stolen by a rogue samurai who is supposed to deliver it to the Shogun. Hip, modern samurai tale. Love of chambara action movies not a pre-requisite.
Tasogare Seibei
<<no description given>>
Zatoichi (2003)
Based on a famous historic character (a blind masseuse) who traveled the countryside of Edo Era Japan righting wrongs with his ungodly swordsman skills. An updated version featuring Kitano as the masseuse who wanders into a town run by yakuza gangs who have the local populace in a stranglehold. Violent, bloody; definitely for the samurai flick crowd, but no love for the chambara genre required to enjoy.