SAMURAI FILMS

Roland Thorne

References to Samurai Films are quite common in film literature. Many mainstream directors, from Hollywood and elsewhere, have been inspired and influenced by Samurai Films. Want to know where George Lucas got some of the major plot ideas for Star Wars: A New Hope? Check out Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress. Interested in seeing the film that arguably inspired the whole Spaghetti Western genre? Have a look at Kurosawa's Yojimbo. Want to see one of the major inspirations for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films? Look no further than Toshiya Fujita's Lady Snowblood.

If you've encountered brief references like these before and want to know more about Samurai Films, then this is the book for you. The history of this unique Japanese genre, including the influence it's had on world cinema is covered, as well as analysis of the key films that have defined the genre. Classics such as Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy are included, as well as more recent films, such as Aragami, The Twilight Samurai and The Hidden Blade.

Samurai Films are a wonderful combination of frenetic action sequences, moving personal drama and philosophical observations on loyalty and violence, all against the spectacular backdrop of pre-industrial Japan. If you want to immerse yourself in this popular and influential cult genre, then the Kamera Book of Samurai Films is the perfect place to start.

Or read his article on Samurai Film from Shortlist Magazine in pdf format