Manga has been a constant source of inspiration for Japanese movie-makers, long before the American deep dive into the Marvel universe. Red Shadow had brought a 21st century live-action feel to the work of one of the godfathers of the manga, Mitsuteru Yokoyama. Dororo takes a similar live-action approach to one of the most inventive … Continue reading Dororo (2007)
Tange Sazen
One-Eyed, One-Armed Swordsman / Tange Sazen: Zankoku no kawa (1963)
In 1962, Ryutaro Otomo made the last of his popular Tange Sazen films, but it was hardly the last screen appearance of the character. In 1963, Shochiku decided to try a new version with Tetsuro Tanba. Reflecting some of the sixties zeitgeist that was spreading throughout the chanbara as a whole, Zankoku no kawa is … Continue reading One-Eyed, One-Armed Swordsman / Tange Sazen: Zankoku no kawa (1963)
Bandit vs. Samurai Squad / Kumokiri Nizaemon (1978)
Bandit vs. Samurai Squad opens with a dramatic tightrope walk into a rich man’s compound and a robbery. Unfortunately, these are not the bandits of the title, but another clumsier gang that is destroyed by the fast-arriving Samurai Squad, while the gold they steal is stolen in turn by members of the Kumokiri gang. This … Continue reading Bandit vs. Samurai Squad / Kumokiri Nizaemon (1978)
Secret of the Urn / Tange Sazen: Hien iaigiri (1966)
One of the most popular characters in Japanese films has been Tange Sazen (as he insists on being called in this version), the one-eyed, one-armed ronin. How he is depicted in his movies has been a good sign of the mood of the times, with the character usually featuring a number of comic traits. By … Continue reading Secret of the Urn / Tange Sazen: Hien iaigiri (1966)
Woman of the Ghostly Lantern / Umon torimonocho maboroshi toro no onna (1961)
Apparently part of a series, Woman of the Ghostly Lantern allows us to look at Japanese popular entertainment movies of its time. It is a basic murder mystery told in a light-hearted manner. The ronin Bizen has been murdered and two competing detectives try to solve the case. One is the pompous and ambitious Murakami, … Continue reading Woman of the Ghostly Lantern / Umon torimonocho maboroshi toro no onna (1961)
Street of Ronin / Ronin Gai (1957)
The Street of Ronin here is really a small neighborhood which includes a market area and many regular citizens of Edo in the Tokugawa era, but mixed among them are a number of ronin who have gravitated to the big city for various reasons. There they eke out a precarious living, "protecting" the market or … Continue reading Street of Ronin / Ronin Gai (1957)
Shozo, A Cat, and Two Women / Neko to Shozo to futari no onna (1956)
All but unknown outside of Japan, Shozo, a Cat, and Two Women is one of the most surprising and entertaining movies of the fifties, not just from Japan but from any country. Shozo is your average man, a typical shomin-geki hero who just wants a quiet life. But he has woman-trouble from every angle, not … Continue reading Shozo, A Cat, and Two Women / Neko to Shozo to futari no onna (1956)
Sazen Tange and the Million Ryo Pot (1935)
It's not often we get to use the words "fun" and "samurai movie" in the same sentence, but they certainly apply to this film. One of only three surviving movies directed by Sadao Yamanaka, it is a real pleasure to watch, with plenty of laughs, touches of sentiment, and a genuine sense of joy in … Continue reading Sazen Tange and the Million Ryo Pot (1935)
Tange Sazen and the Princess/ Tange Sazen nuretsubame ittoryu (1961)
Tange Sazen was one of the most popular characters in 20th century Japanese fiction and film, with dozens of movies made about him and with most action stars taking at least one shot at him. Which is remarkable, since Tange Sazen is just about everything a Samurai hero should not be. He is, admittedly, a … Continue reading Tange Sazen and the Princess/ Tange Sazen nuretsubame ittoryu (1961)
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