47 Ronin
An improbable continuation to the Keanu Reeves - starrer47 Ronin , Netflix’sBlade of the 47 Ronintakes place three centuries after the event of its predecessor . With rival samurai clans battling it out with each other , it is up to a legendary samurai warrior ’s descendent to land balance .
Offering plenty of testimonial to classic samurai traditional knowledge , the picture is also a playfulness - filled , activity - heavy contemporary take on modern samurais ( who are organized into secret bon ton in this movie ’s tale ) . This is what makesBlade of the 47 Ronincomparable to interesting literary genre subversions by auteurs such as Takashi Miike ( Blade of the Immortal ) and Jim Jarmusch ( Ghost Dog ) .
Blade Of The Immortal (2017)
Stream On Netflix
free-base on the manga of the same name , Blade of the Immortalis the hyperviolent tale of an immortal samurai who is task with the security of a child after her parent are killed .
While the revenge narrative might seem straightforward , author - music director and Japanese gonzo fable Takashi Miike frames his scene in a wildly originative fashion with memorable experimentation around the pedigree and gore . If fan ofBlade of the 47 Roninwish to watch a modern classic that boasts original , adrenaline - fueled steel action , thenBlade of the Immortalwould be the way to go .
Batman Ninja (2018)
Stream On HBO Max
lay out in feudal Japan , Batman Ninjafinds the Caped Crusader assume traditional armour and a katana and push offclassic DC Comics villains such asthe Joker , Harley Quinn , and Bane , all of whom also get Japanese incarnation .
While Hollywood nonchalantly treats ninjas as synonymous with samurais , there is a huge departure . Samurais were warrior dish the landlord ( shogun ) while ninjas were hire mercenary . Batman Ninjahowever blends tropes from classical Japanese cinema full treatment that tend to focalize on both kind of warriors , even adding a hyphen of some over - the - top mecha / kaiju subgenre of Nipponese devil movies ! All in all , Batman Ninja is an absurdly unique take on archaic Nipponese military action that should be follow by buffs of both ninja and samurai movie theater .
The 47 Ronin (1941)
Stream On The Criterion Channel
Before the Keanu Reeves - pass movie , the fib of the47 Roninwas adapted for a period drama of the same name that was released way back in 1941 . The titular band of leaderless samurai warriors embarks on a revenge pursuance to avenge the slaying of their master . But in their violent itinerary , they must realize that fury benefits no one .
The 47 Roninmight not have an teemingness of samurai bloodshed but its exploration of a historical incident and the loyalty of the ronin ( samurais without a sea captain ) makes for substantive viewing for anyone who wishes to search at the legend of 47 warriors beyond the big - budget action sequences . There is mess of socio - political and cultural linguistic context to unwrap from the report as is unmistakable from this black - and - white classic .
13 Assassins (2010)
Stream On Kanopy
place towards the end of the Edo period in Japan,13 Assassinsis the story of how the titular dance orchestra of twelve samurai ( and one hunter ) assume down a homicidal clan leader , delivering their own brand of vigilante justice .
While the Takashi Miike directorial is in itself a remake of a 1963 cult classic of the same name , mainstream audiences of Nipponese cinema might even stop up comparing itto Akira Kurosawa samurai motion picture , chieflySeven Samurai . As the grouping of assassinator include several samurais with vary backgrounds ( one is masterless , one is a tired war veteran , and so on ) , it will impress interview ofBlade of the 47 Roningiven how the Netflix master copy also focuses on several samurai clans and their unity .
Ninja (2009)
Stream On Tubi TV
Even though he hails from the West , Scott Adkin ’s Casey gets adopted by a Koga Ninja clan after he gets acquainted with their particular style of the ninjutsu martial artwork . However , when the Clan and its hallowed weapon system get threatened , Casey must arm himself to wage wars in New York and Japan .
As is obviously patent from its title , Ninjadeals with ninja kin group or else of the samurai ones depicted inBlade of the 47 Ronin . Still , the moral codification of conduct and the morality of violence that the protagonist introspects on makes Ninja stick out apart as a thoughtful Japan - inspire action moving-picture show . And it is this passion behind the labor that makes it a good fellow watch to the47 Roninsequel .
Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (1999)
One ofForest Whitaker ’s safe ( and rather underrated ) movies , Ghost Dogfinds him playing a contract killer who owe his loyalty to only one mobster in the spirit of samurais who were loyal to their several feudal Lord . While he is a skilled gun , the titular protagonist also often dabbles in samurai philosophy and learn to wield the blade .
The picture is an interesting case study of the core philosophy of the Samurai code of honor and how it can be applied even in modernistic , non - Japanese contexts . AsBlade of the 47 Roninsets its timeline in the modernistic day with characters far removed from the country ’s primitive past , a contemporaneous take on samurai culture like this would impress dedicated genre fan .
Versus (2000)
Stream On VUDU
The authoritative samurai religious mysticism is blend in with New yakuza and zombi tropes in this in darkness humourous crossover of Nipponese pop refinement . Dealing with multiple portal vein and an imbalance that is have by multiple violent party necessitate , Versushas quite a hit-or-miss plot of ground but the musical genre - blending action is what make it deserving watching .
With the acute clashes between war clans inBlade of the 47 Ronin , Versus ’s diverse fight between gangsters , swordsmen , and the undead would be a treat . Even though it has been more than two tenner since the release of this cult favorite , there has barely been a subversive contemporary samurai flick like this .
Yojimbo (1961)
An undisputed classic in the pantheon of samurai movies , Akira Kurosawa’sYojimbofinds Toshiro Mifune play a nameless ronin who gets catch up in the civil war between two criminal gangs . As he serve well both side and plays them against each other , he turns out to be an improbable torpedo for the village .
Toshiro Mifune ’s character makes for a significant character bailiwick even in modern-day times as he is introduced as a moody samurai with no intentions of servitude . But in the absence seizure of a master key , his own heroics to save the villagefolk make him a loss leader of the people . This transmutation of " the gentleman with no name " turning into the hero has become a staple fiber in several western and even innovative action flicks . sword of the 47 Ronin ’s Luna is yet another protagonist who showcases such a modification .
Ninja Assassin (2009)
Stream On Hulu
South Korean Isaac Merrit Singer and entertainer Rain star as the titular hero ofNinja Assassin , a disillusioned ninja who must seek revenge from his former mentor ( played by none other than the ninja film legend Sho Kosugi ) .
InNinja Assassin , the protagonist could have inherited the bequest of a glorious ninja warrior and his clan , but he choose to go down his own path . This would seem comparable toBlade of the47 Roninwith its samurai heroine going through similar quandary of giving up her roots or carry on to protect her kindred ’s name . This duality can make out out only in innovative narratives that seek to search a proportionality between a glorious past times and an uncertain future tense .
Step Up: Year Of The Dance (2019)
Stream On STARZ
A Taiwanese installment in theStep Upfranchise , Year of the Dancehas all the makings of classic militant dancing movies while usher in viewers to local dance crews from the country .
Obviously , Step Up : Year of the Danceis by no mean connected toBlade of the 47 Ronineither in terminal figure of theme or narrative . But what ’s interesting is that both movies are directed by the same human beings Ron Yuan ( who himself has had his fair share of act course credit in martial arts - labour flick ) . With Yuan balancing different genres in his filmography , this 2019Step - Updefinitely showcases his creative versatility and would impress fans ofBlade of the 47 Roninseeking to check out more of Yuan ’s oeuvre .
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Takuya Kimura in Blade of the Immortal
