Samurai movies to watch after Ghost of Tsushima (Topic)

Ghost of Tsushima is primarily a game about the aesthetic enjoyment of samurai culture, even if many of the historical facts in the game are distorted. Despite the fact that Jin uses armor, a weapon that did not exist at that time, and his adherence to the samurai code is full of double standards, this does not change the fact that the game is captivating with its atmosphere.

Moving away from the real story, the game is inspired by Japanese paintings of the chambara genre. Just as Western films of the 50s and 60s romanticized the image of the cowboy, the chambara did this with the samurai, who gained a lot of weight in popular culture and received their stereotypical images, smoothing out the sharp edges of real history as katana.

In honor of the recent release of Sucker Punch's game, we've compiled some samurai movies to watch after Ghost of Tsushima. It is to them that the developers refer, making bright homages to the frames from these pictures.

Harakiri [1962] / Masaki Kobayashi

This is a story about Tsugumo Hanshiro, a samurai whose clan was destroyed long ago. He comes to the palace of a noble family in search of a place where he could commit hara-kiri - ritual suicide. As it turns out, at the time, many samurai did so in the hope that instead the know would offer them jobs or give them money.

Tsugomu himself actually comes to the palace of the Ii clan in order to avenge his ward, who still had to commit suicide in front of the nobility of the Ii clan. The film is a critique of the bushido code, and we see references to this in the story of Jin, who throughout the story understands that the samurai code has led Tsushima into decline and slavery among the population. Explicit references to this film are seen in duels as well.

The Tale of the Cruel Bushido [1963] / Tadashi Imai

Continuing the theme of the conflict between the main character of the game and the samurai code, one of the best samurai films after playing Ghost of Tsushima is this painting by Tadashi Imai.

This is one of the darkest films on this list. Imai's Bushido follows the ordeals of seven generations of the same samurai family, with the main members portrayed by the actor Kinnosuke Nakamura. As you follow them through the ages, you will see all the mistakes made in the name of bushido, due to an unwavering sense of loyalty to the noble class. Eager to submit to the will of their royal masters, the Ikura family suffers time and time again, enduring death and enslavement for a cruel code that does not bother their masters at all.

Ghost of Tsushima does not go that deep in understanding the conflict, but at least steps on the same ground. After the destruction of all eighty samurai of Tsushima, Jin finds himself between the unchanging bushido code he was raised on and the more effective style of guerrilla warfare. For Jin, ends are more important than means, and this leads to emotional conflict in the game.

Ran [1985] / Akira Kurosawa

Akira Kurosawa is probably the most famous director of samurai cinema, which in the future was even re-shot in the form of westerns. Sucker Punch even used his name in their black and white filter. But his work does not end with black and white films alone. Ran is his most famous color film. It is also his largest painting of the life of feudal lord Maury Motonari, inspired by William Shakespeare's King Lear. This is the story of an empire destroyed by a conflict between the three sons of the aging commander Hidetora Ishimondzhi.

More importantly, if you look at the use of color, contrast, and imagery in a movie, you'll see prints throughout Sucker Punch. While the game is clearly influenced by Kurosawa's paintings of Seven Samurai or Throne in Blood, the visual is most similar to Ran.

The Brave Samurai [1962] / Akira Kurosawa

Another of Kurosawa's most famous films and a continuation of his past as the cult "The Bodyguard". I advise you to watch both of these films, but as for me, it is "The Brave Samurai" that looks more like Ghost of Tsushima.

This is a crime drama about a samurai fighting on one side of the conflict, but not sharing the views of his employers. The main character has to resort to cunning to stay on top. But the final duel captures even more here. It is very similar to what you see in the game when you challenge your opponents. In its culticity, the final duel can be compared to the Mexican duel in Good, Bad, Ugly.

Samurai Assassin [1965] / Kihachi Okamoto

The film has its roots in the years leading up to the Meiji Restoration, which ultimately changed the samurai and the Japanese caste system in general. The main character is Tsuruchiyo Niiro, the bastard son of a lord, who becomes an outcast due to the fact that he is a bastard. This is a war between the group that Niiro is joining and the ruling clan of Ii. Niiro tries to find his honor and recognition before realizing that this will never happen.

The climax comes on a snowy battlefield when everyone dies, unable to achieve any of their goals, losing everything. This reflects Ghost of Tsushima, as Jin's battle against the Mongols costs him everything.

Lady Bloody Snow [1973] / Toshiya Fujita

Women in leading roles in samurai films, alas, are rare. There are only two strong female characters in Ghost of Tsushima: the thief Yuna, who leads Jin along the path of the ghost, and Lady Masako, the local matriarch.

In the cinema, one of the few films dedicated to a female character is "Mistress Bloody Snow". The film tells the story of a young woman, Yuki, who wants revenge on three men who raped her mother and killed her father and brother. Raised for revenge, Yuki is a single-minded assassin who hunts down bullies. Although Yuuki is much younger than Lady Masako, they share a similar determination and goals to be killed.

13 assassins [2010] / Takashi Miike

This film is a remake of the 1963 film of the same name. But he is utterly superior to him in his production and special effects. In the picture, an old samurai gathers 12 other warriors together to kill a corrupt lord with ties to the shogun. The group has to fight assassins, ronin and the shogun's troops to reach their goal. The story, alas, is tragic, as each samurai eventually dies in his battle.

13 Assassins is another film that criticizes the bushido system that supports corrupt nobles ... This is a story where samurai have to give up their code in order to do the right thing. Such actions even bring them closer to the ninja.

Sword of Vengeance [1972] / Kenji Musumi

Based on the manga of the same name by Kazuo Koike, who also wrote the aforementioned "Mistress Bloody Snow", this is the first of six films featuring Itto Ogami. It's a fairly well-known story: Ogami wanders from place to place, helping others and taking care of his son Daigoro. While Sword of Vengeance touches on some serious topics, the rest of the series is more action-packed than drama.

Some of the more fantastic elements of Ghost of Tsushima, especially special attacks such as Dance of Wrath and Heavenly Strike, came from here. It has nothing to do with reality, but how cool it looks.

The Topic of Article: Samurai movies to watch after Ghost of Tsushima.
Author: Jake Pinkman