KFCC Chambara movie review listing page 1

(89 min)

2005 - Chambara, Fantasy, Action - Japan

In an unknown place and unknown time (where ninjas, zombies, motorcycles and rocket launchers co-exist), there is a lone samurai whom the credits label as 'Grave'. His aim is destruction. He's looking for the final battle. For such purposes, he has stolen a mysterious coffin from a temple. It is a powerful object, though few agree on the exact power that resides in it, and some even claim it would unleash destruction upon the Earth if opened. Many people want it. Many people fight to get it. Grave is more than happy to oblige.

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Director : Yuji Shimomura

Cast : Tak Sakaguchi, Takamasa Suga, Yoko Fujita, Kentaro Seagal

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Hidden Blade

(130 min)

2005 - Chambara, Drama - Japan

During the westernization of Japan's political and military methods, Katagiri is struggling to adapt to the situation. After Hazama, one of his best friends, left for Edo to seek his fortune, and another friend married his sister; Katagiri is living with his elderly mother and the devoted servant-girl Kie. Secretly wishing that Kie would stay with him, Katagiri is deeply affected by her decision to marry a prosperous oil seller. The years pass and Katagiri is now witnessing his mother dying alongside the age of the sword. One day, Katagari crosses paths with Kie and, to his surprise, she doesn’t seem to be living the happy life she had expected. While Katagiri is trying to get Kie out of the grips of her villainous and abusive family, he is told that Hazama, his old friend, was arrested for plotting against the clan leaders and the clan also suspects Katagiri because of his connection with him.

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Director : Yoji Yamada

Cast : Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Tomoko Tabata, Reiko Takashima

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Izo

(128 min)

2004 - Chambara, Fantasy, Action - Japan

IZO follows the journey of the homicidal samurai warrior Okada Izo's restless soul as he travels through time and space exacting his grudge and unleashing violent judgment against those that would stand between him and divine punishment.

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Director : Takashi Miike

Cast : Kazuya Nakayama, Kaori Momoi, Ryuhei Matsuda, Ryosuke Miki

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Lady Snowblood

(97 min)

1973 - Chambara, Drama - Japan

Yuki is a child of the netherworld. Born from a secondhand hatred, and a lust for revenge, she seeks restitution for the death of her family. Her mother, raped and taken as a slave, brings Yuki into this world from the confines of a prison and places on her the life long burden of bringing the wicked to justice. Adopted by a priest, Yuki endures a rigorous childhood of extreme training in order to face the trials that lie ahead. Armed with a sword that masquerades as an umbrella, Lady Snowblood takes to the streets to deliver the wrath of hell.

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Director : Toshiya Fujita

Cast : Meiko Kaji, Kô Nishimura, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza, Eiji Okada

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Legend Of The Eight Samurai

(133 min)

1983 - Chambara, Action - Japan

Many years ago, the Satomi clan were wiped out by the evil Hikita Clan. Their ghosts still seek to destroy Princess Shizu, the last survivor of the cursed Satomi. The princess must fulfil a prophecy and unite eight samurai linked by a series of magical crystals before she can finally be free.

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Director : Kinji Fukasaku

Cast : Sonny Chiba, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Hiroyuki Sanada, Etsuko Shihomi, Yuki Meguro, Mari Natsuki

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Red Shadow

(108 min)

2001 - Chambara, Comedy - Japan

Childhood friends turned ninjas Akakage, Aokage, and Asuka fight together for the Kageichi clan under orders from those higher than them. They undertake several missions until one mission goes awry, leading to the disbanding of the trio. After some time, politics and duty bring them back together again to save the heir to the throne and her people.

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Director : Hiroyuki Nakano

Cast : Masanobu Ando, Megumi Okina, Asou Kumiko, Jyun Murakami

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Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy

(130 min)

1978 - Chambara, Drama - Japan

SHOGUN'S SAMURAI follows an epic war between two brothers over their father Shogun Hidetada's death and who will rightfully claim the throne, a position he had desired for his eldest son. The intrigue runs deeper with the Yagyu clan and nobles pulling the strings in this conflict, each vying for the fruition of their own desires, such as the nobles' wish to restore power to the Emperor.

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Director : Kinji Fukasaku

Cast : Sonny Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tetsuro Tamba, Toshiro Mifune, Kinnosuke Yorozuya

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Shogun's Shadow

(111 min)

1989 - Chambara - Japan

A band of mercenary fighters must protect the heir to the Shogun from an evil minister who wishes to gain more power. The mercenaries have five days to bring the boy back to his palace while avoiding the armies sent to track and kill them.

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Director : Yasuo Furuhata

Cast : Ken Ogata, Sonny Chiba, Hu Chien Chiang, Hiroki Matsukata, Hu Jian Quang

Silence

(129 min)

1971 - Chambara - Japan

Two Portuguese missionaries seek to spread Christianity in seventeenth century Japan. Unbeknownst to them until they arrive, ‘The Word’ is banned in the country as Christians seek refuge by worshipping in underground sects. As the men dig deeper and deeper into spreading what they believe in, truth of the religions past is revealed. Can one man change the opinions and belief of one country or will conformity take over for what he truly believes is right?

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Director : Masahiro Shinoda

Cast : David Lampson, Shima Iwashita, Yoshi Kato, Mako Iwamatsu, Noboru Matsuhashi, Tetsuro Tanba

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Twilight Samurai

(129 min)

2002 - Chambara, Drama - Japan

During the last days of Japan’s Edo period, a samurai named Seibei is struggling between supporting his poor family and his duty as a samurai. The days of the samurai are almost over now, duels are forbidden and the sword is no longer an object of respect as it was used to be. Seibei’s duties are now limited to that of a simple clerk in the clan office. Since the death of his beloved wife, Seibei’s life has never been so hard. With two young girls, a sick mother at home and 50 bales of rice a year, Seibei wishes he could live a peaceful life as a peasant instead of a poor one as a samurai. However, things take another turn when Tomoe, his old friend’s young sister, is coming back to live in the village. Seibei and Tomoe have been friends since their childhood, but destiny has separated them and now they might have a chance to make a new start together.

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Director : Yoji Yamada

Cast : Hiroyuki Sanada, Rie Miyazawa, Nenji Kobayashi

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When the Last Sword is Drawn

(143 min)

2003 - Chambara, Drama - Japan

Kanichiro Yoshimura is a samurai family man who can no longer feed his wife and children due to the low wages paid from his small town clan. Sadly, he packs up and leaves his loved ones behind so he may make a higher earning to support his family in the big city as he joins the large and renowned samurai faction, the Shinsen-gumi, where he will lead a difficult, but enriching life during one of the most tumultuous times in Japanese history.

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Director : Yojiro Takita

Cast : Kiichi Nakai, Ayumu Saito, Koichi Sato, Yui Natsukawa, Takehiro Murata, Miki Nakatani

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Yojimbo

(110 min)

1961 - Chambara - Japan

Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the original wandering cinematic Ronin, comes across a little town where the silk merchant and his gang constantly clash with the sake merchant and his gang for control of the town. Sanjuro plays both sides to ensure the destruction of them by hiring himself out as a bodyguard or yojimbo.

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Director : Akira Kurosawa

Cast : Toshirô Mifune, Eijirô Tono, Kamatari Fujiwara, Takashi Shimura, Seizaburô Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada

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Zatoichi

(111 min)

2003 - Chambara, Drama - Japan

A clan of thieves and scoundrels has put the inhabitants of a village in check. By enforcing a policy of intolerable cruelty and fear, the villagers are rendered poor and helpless against the cruel uprising of the Kuchinawa clan. A wandering blind masseuse stumbles upon the village. This blind man is none other than the legendary Zatoichi. With a deadly walking stick at his side, he serves swift justice to the Kuchinawa clan. Along the way, he meets a compulsive gambler, two geishas who are more than what meets the eye, and a deadly mercenary; all contributing to yet another stunning tale of the blind swordsman, Zatoichi.

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Director : Takashi Kitano

Cast : Takashi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ookusu, Gadarukanaru Taka, Yuuko Daike, Daigoro Tachibana

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Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo

(116 min)

1970 - Chambara - Japan

Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) strolls into a town that he’s been away from for 3 long years, retaining only the fondest memories of his stay there. What he ends up running into is a web of gold related conspiracy and general backstabbery. Masagoro, the leader of the town running Kobotoke clan, is attempting to steal the gold from the Shogunate Mint which is run by his brother who himself is debasing the loot. In steps Zatoichi, prompting Masagoro to hire the yojimbo Sasa Daisuke (Toshiro Mifune) to get rid of him. Zatoichi must simultaneously protect his neck and get to the bottom of the villages troubles in this film by Okamoto Kihachi.

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Director : Kihachi Okamoto

Cast : Shintaro Katsu, Toshiro Mifune, Ayako Wakao, Osamu Takizawa

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Zatoichi The Outlaw

(96 min)

1967 - Chambara - Japan

Zatoichi wanders himself into a village stuck in turmoil (sounds familiar….) When the village with more power kidnaps two gambler’s visiting from the other town, it would seem like a clear enemy is established. Zatoichi meets up with Asagoro, who willingly pays the gambling debts of his two unfortunate citizens. Feeling the need to make things right, Zatoichi slaughters the kidnappers and in return, gives Asagoro complete control of the villages. Feeling he’s done good, Zatoichi leaves the scene. Oh, it would seem like I just spoiled the whole movie right there, however, there’s more. Word gets out that Asagoro didn’t match up to Zatoichi’s prestige image. In fact, Asagoro used Ichi as a pawn in his games in order to reach the ultimate leadership. With the help of a local official, Asagoro becomes an instrument of corruption and destruction to the peasants. It is up to Ichi to restore peace and order into yet another village in despair.

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Director : Satsuo Yamamoto

Cast : Sintaro Katsu, Rentaro Mikuni, Ko Nishimura, Yuko Hamada, Toshiyki Hosokawa, Takuya Fujioka

Zatoichi Vol 1 - The Tale of Zatoichi

(96 min)

1962 - Chambara - Japan

Ichi finds himself in the middle of a gang war and befriends a dying Samurai by the name of Master Hirate. ZATOICHI – THE TALE OF ZATOCIHI is the first film in the legendary ZATOICHI film series starring Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi, the blind masseuse and master swordsman. This beginning film has Ichi visiting his friend, Boss Sukegoro, as he passes by the town of Iioka. He discovers that Boss Sukegoro is in the midst of a feud with the next town over, Sasagawa, lead by Boss Shigezo. After much convincing and begging, Ichi’s talents are reluctantly bought to side with Boss Sukegoro in the upcoming war.

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Director : Kenji Misumi

Cast : Shintaro Katsu, Masayo Mari, Ryuzo Shimada, Gen Mitamura, Shigero Amachi, Chitose

Zatoichi: The Festival Of Fire

(96 min)

1970 - Chambara - Japan

Zatoichi gets caught up in a city where a secret organization is running things through "favor" money and intimidation. Their leader, the Dark Imperial Lord Yamikubo takes an interest in Zatoichi as they both share the burden of blindness. Our hero gets caught up in a hell of a mess though, as he not only ends up with the entire Yakuza after his head, but is also the target of an angry husband blaming Ichi for sleeping with his wife.

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Director : Misumi Kenji

Cast : Shintaro Katsu, Tatsuya Nakadai, Peter, Reiko Ohara