Japanese Period Romance Drama Recommendations?

[Wbhendrix]

So lately I've been on a kick rewatching some early 2000's Japanese & Chinese movies (Memoirs of a Geisha, House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger) and I have a hankering to watch more films of a similar feel that I have not seen yet. I love the combination of asian drama, romance and action all set during a period other than modern times.

What other films would you recommend that are in this same niche?

 

[andy]

Not from the 2000’s but of similar style and feel is Ran. It is a bit older but is fantastic.

Ran

An aging warlord's two eldest sons fight over the kingdom, while his youngest son predicts a dire outcome. War, Epic, Period. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, and Daisuke Ryu.

store.kaleidescape.com

I also liked 13 Assassins.

13 Assassins

A band of fearless samurai set out on a suicide mission to slay a sadistic lord before he seizes control of the country. Directed by Takashi Miike. Starring Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, and Ikki Sawamura. Purchase and download today in Blu-ray quality.

store.kaleidescape.com

Andy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wbhendrix]

Not from the 2000’s but of similar style and feel is Ran. It is a bit older but is fantastic.

Ran

An aging warlord's two eldest sons fight over the kingdom, while his youngest son predicts a dire outcome. War, Epic, Period. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, and Daisuke Ryu.

store.kaleidescape.com

I also liked 13 Assassins.

13 Assassins

A band of fearless samurai set out on a suicide mission to slay a sadistic lord before he seizes control of the country. Directed by Takashi Miike. Starring Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, and Ikki Sawamura. Purchase and download today in Blu-ray quality.

store.kaleidescape.com

Andy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thanks! yeah I saw those in the store the other day and put both on my list to watch as well.

I guess i should have specified that they dont need to be movies from the early 2000's... just anything that is similar to the films i initially mentioned.

 

[cinelife]

MOAG was American made, but I get your point. Most of my favorite Japanese films are not in the Store unfortunately, and Andy already mentioned RAN, and on the Chinese side I would recommend Red Cliff if you are okay with movies depicting battle scenes.

I'm very much into Japanese Taiga dramas, but I haven't found any available in the US. I have a strong interest in Japanese history from the Ashikaga period through to the end of the Tokugawa, and most Taiga dramas take place during that period of time in Japan. I'd love to see any of those in the Store, but not likely to ever be available, NHK is tight on distribution.

Jim

 

[Wbhendrix]

MOAG was American made, but I get your point. Most of my favorite Japanese films are not in the Store unfortunately, and Andy already mentioned RAN, and on the Chinese side I would recommend Red Cliff if you are okay with movies depicting battle scenes.

I'm very much into Japanese Taiga dramas, but I haven't found any available in the US. I have a strong interest in Japanese history from the Ashikaga period through to the end of the Tokugawa, and most Taiga dramas take place during that period of time in Japan. I'd love to see any of those in the Store, but not likely to ever be available, NHK is tight on distribution.

Jim

I've been on an IMDB rabbit hole this afternoon and made a list of movies that do look interesting and you're right, very few Taiga dramas are in the K store.
That said, any movie recommendations you have outside of the K store is still much appreciated! (if that is still appropriate in this thread/forum)

 

[DmitryB]

There's not much romance here, but "Iron Monkey" is great. Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, who choreographed the fights in movies like "Crouching Tiger," "The Matrix," "Kill Bill," etc.

Iron Monkey

A visiting martial arts master challenges a local hero when his son is held captive by the corrupt governor. Martial Arts, Comedy, Action. Directed by Yuen Woo-ping. Starring Yu Rong-guang, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang, and Tsang Sze Man. Purchase and download today in Blu-ray quality.

www.kaleidescape.com

 

[cinelife]

That said, any movie recommendations you have outside of the K store is still much appreciated! (if that is still appropriate in this thread/forum)

Yes, it's appropriate, this Forum was created as a resource for K owners, and those considering K, but it is not controlled in any way by K. Sharing info regarding content, in the Store or not, is not a problem.


Jim

 

[CINERAMAX IOPH]

I like the 50's American classics House Of Bamboo, Sayonara, Friends of Eddie Coyle, and Heaven and Earth the story of Takeda vs. Kagetora.

 

[cinelife]

@Wbhendrix, a few that come to mind are the NHK Taiga dramas on the life stories of Ashikaga Takauji, Oda Nobunaga, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. (When I lived in Japan for 5 years I studied those historical figures extensively, so it was interesting to watch the Taiga dramas about their lives and their impact on Japan historically.) Unfortunately, to my knowledge I believe these are only available in Japan. I haven't searched recently, but every once in awhile you can find them used online, but they tend to be expensive. Note: as you may know these are actually a mini-series, so likely in the 6-disc set minimum range.


Jim

 

[AlanG]

In case you’re not familiar with him, Akira Kurosawa is considered by many to be the greatest of the Japanese directors. So if you enjoy Ran by Kurosawa then you might wish to check out his Seven Samurai (1954) which is considered to be not only his greatest film but also one of the greatest films of all time irregardless of country of origin. It is available on a Criterion Blu-ray.

Seven Samurai Blu-ray (DigiPack)

Seven Samurai Blu-ray Release Date October 19, 2010 (七人の侍, Shichinin no Samurai). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

[BTW, although this is off topic per se, you might be interested to know that John Sturges’ The Magnificent Seven (1960) was a revisionist western, based loosely on Akira Kurosawa’s justly famous Seven Samurai (1954).]

 

[AlanG]

Toshiro Mifune, the preeminent Japanese actor who starred in Seven Samauri, also starred in other Kurosawa films. And if you like Seven Samurai then you might wish to check IMDB to see a list of other Kurosawa films. Criterion has releases a bunch of his best films on Blu-ray.

Akira Kurosawa

Arguably the most celebrated Japanese filmmaker of all time, Akira Kurosawa had a career that spanned from the Second World War to the early nineties and that stands as a monument of artistic and personal achievement.

www.criterion.com

In addition on a Criterion Blu-ray there is Inagaki's The Samurai Trilogy which also starred Toshiro Mifune.

The Samurai Trilogy Blu-ray

The Samurai Trilogy Blu-ray Release Date June 26, 2012. Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

 

[AlanG]

There is also Shogun (1980), written by James Clavell in which Toshiro Mifune (among others) also stars, on Blu-ray.

Shogun Blu-ray (James Clavell's Shōgun)

Shogun Blu-ray Release Date July 22, 2014 (James Clavell's Shōgun). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

 

[AlanG]

In a different vein, but also highly recommendable, there is Kurosawa’s Dreams (executive produced by Spielberg) which is a very powerful, profoundly moving film. Depending on your tastes of course. But for some this is one of the absolute must see films — and maybe the greatest work of art by any filmmaker ever. High praise for sure. And not for everyone. Of course to each their own.

Dreams Blu-ray (夢 / Yume / Akira Kurosawa's Dreams)

Dreams Blu-ray Release Date November 15, 2016 (夢, Yume, Akira Kurosawa's Dreams). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

 

[Wbhendrix]

Awesome! Thank you all so much for the recommendations! I’ve already started adding these to my watchlist and can’t wait to dig in.

 

[cinelife]

I met Mifune in 1975 when he showed up at a party for a comedian actor friend (Oka Hachiro) (not the Anime character) in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan. I had been studying Kendo for a number of years and asked him a technique related question, and to my surprise he said "I never practiced Kendo, or any martial art."

Never met Kurosawa, but his work speaks for itself. (I agree with the 7 Samurai comment, but also put Yojimbo in that category.)

The story of a life transition to the most famous, and arguably the most skilled, swordsman in Japan (Miyamoto Musashi) presented in the Samurai Trilogy is excellent.

 

[DmitryB]

For Kurosawa I would add a few other films:

"Yojimbo" and "Sanjuro" are both brilliant.

Yojimbo / Sanjuro Blu-ray

Yojimbo / Sanjuro Blu-ray Release Date March 23, 2010. Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

Also:

Kagemusha Blu-ray (影武者)

Kagemusha Blu-ray Release Date August 18, 2009 (影武者). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

George Lucas himself says "The Hidden Fortress" was one title that inspired "Star Wars."

The Hidden Fortress Blu-ray (隠し砦の三悪人 / Kakushi-toride no san-akunin)

The Hidden Fortress Blu-ray Release Date March 29, 2016 (隠し砦の三悪人, Kakushi-toride no san-akunin). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

I would put "Harariki" by Masaki Kobayashi into one of the top 10 greatest films ever made.

Harakiri Blu-ray (切腹 / Seppuku)

Harakiri Blu-ray Release Date October 4, 2011 (切腹, Seppuku). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

I haven't seen this in ages, but I remember this Zhang Yimou film being brilliant.

Shanghai Triad Blu-ray (摇啊摇，摇到外婆桥)

Shanghai Triad Blu-ray Release Date August 4, 2020 (摇啊摇，摇到外婆桥). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals.

www.blu-ray.com

NOW, CAN WE GET THESE ON KALEIDESCAPE PLEASE?!