Favourite Kendo(ish) movies

[David J]

OK, someone else beat me to a books thread - so how about movies? Obviously not many Kendo-specific ones, but what about personal favourites for sword-swinging fun? (or serious philosphical whatever)

I shall get "Seven Samurai" on the table to begin with....

<rei>

Dave

[KENSHIN]

Originally posted by David J
OK, someone else beat me to a books thread - so how about movies? Obviously not many Kendo-specific ones, but what about personal favourites for sword-swinging fun? (or serious philosphical whatever)

I shall get "Seven Samurai" on the table to begin with....

<rei>

Dave

Ok first i recommend Rurouni Kenshin, it is just amazing especially the OVA series, however the TV series can be fun to watch too.

then i would suggest...RAN, kagemusha, Yojimbo all nice movies made by Akira Kurosawa along with Seven Samurai as mentioned by Dave.

Oh yeah another great favourite is an anime called "Bereserk" probably one of the best sword fighting anime i have ever seen, of course after Kenshin.

Then there is shaolin temple...starring Jet Lee, very early film actually his first film, this movie is what made him and when you see it you will know why.

just remembered another nice anime...its called Ninja Scroll...some nice sword fights.

and of course lets not forget about Star Wars...:D

Oh, there are just far too many to think about...

[GMason]

Personally as mentioned any of the Kurosawa films which are great.

But for outright swordplay and violence a must see are the Lone Wolf and Cub films.

The Zatoichi films are pretty good as well.

[David J]

Gareth - do you go to the Bolton dojo as well? I think we met when I was visiting a couple of weeks back...?

Say hi to Mr Needham for me and thank him again for his hospitality. Be nice to see some of you guys at Hizen if you're ever in these parts.

<rei>

Dave

[Ian Russell]

I recently viewed the new Austin Powers movie, it has a scene with Mike Meyers pounding men strikes on mini-me with a shinai. Then again, it was pretty painful to watch as I think the shinai still had their red shipping ties on them...

They had a wall rack with a half dozen shinai placed with the tsukas on the right... bah, movies. Now music videos, I think there was one by Enigma that had some bad kendo throughout it http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif I think it was push the limits...

I have yet to see shichinin no samurai completely or any other of Kurosawa's movies (tsk tsk). I'll get around to seeing some someday I'm sure.

As for some of my fav movies sword scenes, I'd go for some of the work in The Princess Bride (I must confess I haven't seen it in a decade but I remember them being fun) or the final duel between Hamlet (played by) Mel Gibson and Laertes, not kendo, but good movie sword fight (long, flashy and lots of noise)

Is it possible to have a serious philosophical sword movie (or anime)? I'm not qualified to comment on anime (my experience being imported Goldorak cartoons on TV as a kid) but it seems the genre would lend itself to even more implausible sword fights than movies choreographers. My favorite movies are not martial arts movies (then again Jackie Chan is fun to watch!).

Enough babbling for me. Cheers,

[alexpollijr]

Personally, I like the Musashi trilogy with Toshiro Mifune, and more recent efforts such as 'Ame Agaru' ("After the Rain") by the ex-assistant of direction of Kurosawa, and 'Gohatto' ("Taboo") by Nagisa Oshima. I don't believe that these movies have been released in the US though.

The music video is called 'Push the Limits', from Enigma. That stuff isn't really kendo at all, but the girl in the indigo kendogu is from my city in Brazil and she's the prettiest creature I've ever set my nasty little eyes upon.

[Charlie]

"Taboo" has indeed been released in the U.S.! But alas I haven't seen it yet.

Okay, here are a few more:

"Black Rain." Good cop movie, brief kendo scene, pretty sweet. Takakura Ken is THE MAN.

"The Hunted." Although the action in this gets pretty cheesy and the plot/dialogue ain't the best, there are some SWEET scenes in it (sorry to keep shouting), including a great sword fight on a speeding train. Also, a kendo sequence in the beginning where a guy takes on five guys and it is sooooo cool.

Speaking of Takakura Ken... See "The Yakuza." Just see it. 1975, Ken and Robert Mitchum. Such a good movie. I can say no more, I am overcome with emotion...

[GMason]

For the best Hollywood Movie with Kendo in there have been a couple.

I think the best was Dark Rain with Kirk Russell.

He walks into a Dojo whilst his new japanese partner is training. The first time I saw this bit after I started training I almost jumped out of my Chair. My friends thought I was crazy.........I just started say Kendo...... Stop the tape......rewind the tape....STOP THE @#;~$£" TAPE !!!!!

David J - I will pass it on to Mark. He does lurk here I believe from time to time so he might reply himself.

Yep I met you at Bolton. Hope you enjoyed the Games. I will hopefully been down your end of the woods in October for grading, my cousin will be entering the Lidstone Taikai, which I know Hizen usually has a good turn out for. So I might see you there.

[GMason]

I hadn't read the previous post. Sorry for repeating what others say.

[Kuri]

A recent movie (about 3 years old) is one called "Samurai Fiction" Don't remember the director, but he was a fan of Kurosawa, so the movie is based on the famed director's style. The character names are also taken from past Kurosawa movies. You don't even notice that it's black & white until the blood starts runing down the frame after someone gets mowed down. Great movie.

[Vanderbek]

In my opinion, the greatest "sword-swinging fun"-movie is: "Tiger and Dragon" of Ang Lee.

[James R]

Not realy a film, but does anyone remember the Monkey series from the late 70,s early 80,s. And what about Star Wars?:D

[cklin]

Not really a film, but a series:

"Young Shusaku"

(if you're in Hawaii, you could watch it on KIKU).

[kendo_chick]

A good kind-of-kendo series is Kenshin. There are a lot of Kendo elements in that one. And that series also has a movie I believe so not too much off topic ;)

Has anyone seen (mostly Canadians would know this one), the Tom Cochrane music video for 'I Wonder'? There are great scenes of a kendo match in that video (among other things). I have been trying to find the video online somewhere so that I can watch it. If I find it I will let you all know!

[KhawMengLee]

Hey "Samurai Fiction!" that was pretty cool. Especially the Ninja who keeps falling over etc. The Bad Guy is a really good guitarist called Hotei.

Hmmnn..

The Hunted- John Lone and Christopher Lambert was pretty cool.

Black Rain- cool

Samurai I, II, III- Toshiro Mifune acting as Musashi

Lone Wolf and Cub series- great swordfights, naginata etc...very violent, gory and a little brutal with the rape scenes.

Yojimbo and Sanjuro- cool. The final duel at the end of Sanjuro was cool.

Seven Samurai- heh



Crying Freeman- the movie with mark dacasos was pretty cool.


Meng

[stakenaka]

Ahh.... Young Shusaku. I watched when I visited my relatives in Hawaii. It is hilarious! Chiba Shusaku is probably turning is his grave at this moment! :)

[lewis]

In addition to those mentioned:

- Its european fencing, but the Three Musketeers and Four Musketeers with Micheal York have some really good swordfights.

- Nobody has said Samurai Jack, yet, either.

Although, when I really just want to see kendo, I put in tapes of old AJKF finals. It's great that you can finally get them online.

[kumakage]

I think I would have to agree with a few of you guys when you mentioned the Samurai trilogy, adn the anime ninja scroll. I once saw a documentary called BUDO which was real cool. There is also an older movie called Yakuza with Robert Mitchem that is also has a cool kendo scene. The Hunted (with the guy from highlander) has a couple of cool scenes.

[KENSHIN]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee


Crying Freeman- the movie with mark dacasos was pretty cool.


Meng


But have you seen the anime version (the original version)? it is ten times better...

[KhawMengLee]

I agree...but the sex goes a bit over the top. I think the movie leaves out a lot of the more amazing fight scenes from the anime.

Actually, a great anime fight scene is in the movie Ghost in The Shell. Where Kusinagi fights the guy in the water using her stealth suit.

Meng

[Confound]

Guys, what about "Sargeant Kabuki Man: NYPD"? (ok that was a total troll.)

Seriously though, i gota real kick out of the kendou in the first few episodes of Nazca, an interesting anime series (mostly about reincarnated incan warriors, but the crux of the story is the student teacher relationship between two kendouka). i'm also a fan of the lone wolf and cub movies, despite their horrible portrayal of women.

my general complaint with samurai movies in general is that there are far to many extraneous rape scenes. there are a few int he lone wolf and cub movies, and ninkja scroll has 3. I'm not a rampaging feminist, one of those women who is going to go off on a tangent about the 'gender other', but at the same time, in samurai movies, women are very objectified. I enjoy some of them, but mostf o them are far too disturbing for me to like.

the musashi series is good, it's unusual in that regard. women are given their own thoughts, their own ambitions, and their own lives. it's quite diffierent from ordinary samurai films.

c

[mingshi]

Ahah, Confound:
Women are, not only objectified in Samurai movies, but in the majority of movies throughtout film history. Thus the feminist approach for film criticism is a fairly popular subject for amateur Film Studies students, like myself.

Meanwhile I'm writting my dissertation on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (how Hollywood affects Chinese cinema, and vice versa). If anyone is a die-hard fan, or willing to "contribute" your opinon, PM me. Thanks :P
*****
Hahaha... some add-on for Anime fans. The recent Blood the Last Vampire (30mins, Ohji Mamoru) has some bloody swords fights against monsters. While the Manga Blade of the Immortal has various weapons, and a lot of chopped-off limbs. Samurai X is just some X-men comparing to Blade.

BTW, has anyone seen the Japanese Jidai drama series called "Hisatsu! Shigotonin" from 1981?? That's entertainment :)

[damocles]

kozure ookami.
any Kurosawa stuff...

yes... all been said... but. egh...

all time worst is taken by the hunted starring... ::gasp:: Christopher Lambert.... big surprise there. ;)

Oh and in the spirit of quoting anime (just got back from manifest day 1) Anyone seen Blood the Last Vampire? There's one good practical Battoujutsu scene in it. :)

[alexpollijr]

I saw it, yea, very much practical indeed.
Since we're just babblign around in this sector of the forums, I watches yesterday one of the rare japanese animation movies that is actually interesting to the 'usual' adult who's not that kind of die-hard japanese animation fan (such as me), besides of course Hayao Myiazaki movies which transcend the genre.

It's called "Jin-Roh - The Wolf Brigade". Very nice story with some great music by the Czech Philarmonic Orchestra.

[KhawMengLee]

Jin-Roh was awsome. Nice mix of WWII military equipment...from the guns, to the armour to the Volskwagon beetles...heh

Another Kendoish movie...BLADE2.

Meng

[mingshi]

Hahaha.... we can set up a "Anime Kendoka's Club" here!

Glad that someone mentioned my favorite Ohshi Mamoru. Jin-roh is written by him. Ghost in the Shell is directed by him. Blade: the Last Vampire is produced by him.

****
Who remembers the 007 movie with a kendo sequence? The one filmed in Japan maybe?

[James]

If anyone is thinking of getting Samurai Fiction, mentioned by a couple of people, try to get the boxed set with the 'making of' DVD - and you can see the guy hired to do the technical sword direction arguing with the director who asks the actors to do some kicking over of tables and other more John Wayne type stuff that the sword director doesn't believe Samurai should be involved in.
The film is pretty 'tongue in cheek' which the technical director doesn't quite get, I am guessing he is a pretty serious swordsman.
The 'making of ' DVD is only in Japanese.

james

[alexpollijr]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mingshi
[B]Hahaha.... we can set up a "Anime Kendoka's Club" here!

No, no, when I said that I meant that I am the "usual" adult not the anime fan! I watch it often but often it bores me or insults me. There are of course, lots of exceptions such as this Jin Roh. Very intelligent, very deep, very emotional, nice realistic art (no big shiny pink eyes) and a thrilling soundtrack.

[KhawMengLee]

Who remembers the 007 movie with a kendo sequence? The one filmed in Japan maybe?

Yup, that was in Moonraker. The kendoist was the maglomaniac's dreaded henchman. He was using shinai and 007 got a rapier and just cut the shinai to bits...pretty funny..then the bad guy gets thrown off a building onto a piano...hhe

[David J]

Originally posted by James
If anyone is thinking of getting Samurai Fiction, mentioned by a couple of people, try to get the boxed set with the 'making of' DVD james

How did you get hold of this?

<rei>

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

yeah, I wanna get it too!!!

PLEEZ PLEEZ

[James]

I picked it up in Japan but you can probably get it on the web somewhere: here are some details to help:
It was directred by Hiroyuki Nakano - previously a pop-video director (Groove is in the heart - Deelite etc.)
So it is not a full on Samurai film but a quirky weird film, but some good preformances especially the bad guy - who in real life is a japanese guitar god.
You can get info about it here:
http://www.ponycanyon.co.jp/intl/old/1999/right_sf.html
hope that helps,
j

[KhawMengLee]

So it is not a full on Samurai film but a quirky weird film, but some good preformances especially the bad guy - who in real life is a japanese guitar god.

Yup, refer to my earlier post. His name is Hotei.

[David J]

Originally posted by James
I picked it up in Japan

Whereabouts? Do you know of a good place for DVD shopping in Tokyo? Are they cheap or expensive in general out there?

Alternatively Meng, I've seen it on the Poker Industries website:

http://www.pokerindustries.com/acatalog/


<rei>

Dave

[James]

The big Tower Records in Shibuya is good for most stuff, also there is a Virgin in Shinjuku. Japanese depatos often don't stock some of the subtitled DVD's. But the DVD zoning is the same one for the UK. I find most DVD's, electronic goods, cars, alcohol, coffee etc. in the UK more expensive then elsewhere due to our import tax situation.
So if you are going to Japan stock up, if you are stopping over in HK then obviously you can pick up stuff a lot cheaper - just don't get caught.
j

Yes Meng, just agreeing with ya. He's kind of guy who has amazing charisma even though it looks like he fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

[Matthew Lagden]

There is a terrible Kendo scene in the old James Bond film Moonraker which i saw on telly the other week - Bondie is investigating some glass factory in venice, and for no reason I can recall is attacked by a man in Bogu, who flails around with a shinai like a hapless beginner until James dispatches him with a handy sword that has been carelessly left lying around.

I was generally disappointed by the sworplay in the recent Star Wars film as well.

[KENSHIN]

Originally posted by Matthew Lagden


I was generally disappointed by the sworplay in the recent Star Wars film as well.

I really must disagree, I thought the scene with yoda was fantastic it completely shocked me that he was capable of doing such things...but it goes to show why he is the boss.

[Daruma]

Ok guys,

The Man has to be Kurosawa Akira -

Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Sanjuro
The Hidden Fortress.


Other movies and series,

Lone wolf and Cub
The Water Margin
Black rain has a little Kendo
Yakuza - Takakura Ken
Highlander - just for nostalgic Value and because its got a sort of Scottish Content - albiet very small - french man Playing Scotsman and Scotsman playing Egyptian?
Gladiator - I thought this movie was Great.

last night I watched a DVD i rented from the local store, it was called 'After the Rain' and is based on a script of Kurasawa's here's a quick review

The Two Samurai (http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/year.cinema.kurosawa.html)


Try to watch its has some interesting Sword scenes and some really nice historical information.

[Daruma]

Here are some sites dealing with samurai movies, and some with just interesting stuff -

The Tale of Zatoichi (http://southsidecallbox.com/zatoichi.html)

Samurai Flix (http://www.samuraiflix.com/)

Samurai World (http://www.samuraiworld.com/indexe.html)

Seven Samurai (http://www.arts.adelaide.edu.au/personal/DHart/Films/7Samurai.html)

Toshiro Mifune (http://www.sprout.org/toshiro/index.html)

Samurai Cinema (http://www.animeigo.com/Samurai/)

Akira Kurasawa Database (http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~adk/kurosawa/AKpage.html)

Chambara.com (http://www.chambara.com/)

Chambara (http://www.concentric.net/~Budokai/chambara/)

Samurai Archives (http://www.samurai-archives.com/)

And as I forgot to mention Ghost Dog in my Previous Post -

Way of the Samurai (http://www.wayofthesamurai.com/)

Samurai Creed (http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/bushido/bcreed.html)

Zen and the Samurai (http://www.keganpaul.com/features/zen_samurai.html)

Ok have some fun;) ;)

[Confound]

KENSIHN LIVES!

<insert 10 minutes of flurried excitement>

Right, about samurai movies, I have only three words:

Six String Samurai.

I like traditional samurai movies, but 6 string samurai is just too quirky not to love, having watched it a few too many times, I can unequivocably state that it deserves to be a cult classic.

c

[Kendoka]

Originally posted by Charlie
[B .... "Black Rain." Good cop movie, brief kendo scene, pretty sweet. Takakura Ken is THE MAN.
... Speaking of Takakura Ken... See "The Yakuza." Just see it. 1975, Ken and Robert Mitchum. Such a good movie. I can say no more, I am overcome with emotion... [/B]

Charlies right ! If you've seen Black Rain, then find "The Yakuza" its a good movie with Kendo in some sort of context and Takakura (The Man) doing some kendo.

Then consider if the producers of Balck Rain watched Yakuza and thought "sequel"!!

Ben will mention Star Wars.

Richard

[Kendoka]

won't he ?

[Kendoka]

... guess not then.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I know, old thread but... a lot of the extras in the Hunted are from Steveston Kendo Club in Richmond, BC. The multiple-opponent kendo sequence is shot in their club.

[adfrost]

Believe it or not Rurouni Kenshin is partly to thank for getting me into kendo (the other would be my co-worker.) I watched the series (and the OVAs) and though "Damn...thanks cool. I wonder what the real thing is like!"

I'm just starting to get into anime, and thanks to kendo, martial arts flicks.

[KhawMengLee]

I know, old thread but... a lot of the extras in the Hunted are from Steveston Kendo Club in Richmond, BC. The multiple-opponent kendo sequence is shot in their club.

Cool, erm...just a question tho...the last bit in the multi opponent sequence, he(Takeda) uses his right hand to stop the opponent's shinai then does katate men on him...what the hell was that?!?

[Aden]

For actual swordsmanship one of the one on one fights in 7 samurai, and more recently Twighlight Samurai (only 2 fights and one of them is with a lump of wood vs katana - but its the quality of the fight coreography).

Of course Lone Wolf and Cub is superb lashings of the old ultra violence with edged weapons.

Aden

[KhawMengLee]

Oooo...just watched "All about Lily Chou Chou" its an interesting/artistic, but at times depressing show. Its got a whole bunch of bits in it with kendo.