Black Samurai DVD

Advantages: Easy to understand foreign film
Disadvantages: Needs to be digitally re-mastered

...Seven Samurai is a Japanese film made by Akira Kurosawa in the year 1954. Now, before you click on the 'back' button on your browser, hear me out! Yes, it is made in black in white, and the film quality isn't Lucasfilm standard. But the great thing about this movie is that it is a simple story, yet so complex. So much of the traditions of the Japanese and Samurai are blended into the film, without ever obstructing the actual story. The story is of a village which is plundered by a group of bandits every year at harvest time. They decide that enough is enough, and go out to look for some Samurai who can assist them in repelling these attacks. The Samurai were very well respected and held high esteem in Japanese society wheras farmers were lower in the system. The caste system was still very much in use in Japan until not so long ago... Read review

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Advantages: Another good Chiba film
Disadvantages: Quite dated now

...The Cast Sonny Chiba ... Shinzaemon Yagyu Hiroyuki Sanada ... Jotaro Fuefuki Noriko Watanabe ... Kagaribi, Ukyodayu Akira Nakao ... Donjo Matsunaga Jun Miho ... Isaribi Mikio Narita ... Kashin Koji Yuki Kazamatsuri ... Chidori Kongo Kobayashi ... Evil Monk Gajiro Sato ... Curly-haired Evil Monk Ninja Wars or Black Magic Wars (Iga Ninpo-cho) as released in its native country is another one of Sonny Chiba's better films and is definitely in the same league as G.I Samurai in my opinion. Does not have all the fast paced martial arts fights like many of the chinese kung-fu movies, although the action scenes are very good. This is particuarly shown towards the end of the film when the rag tag band of heroes make their valiant last stand. This film is very good in it's own right. Ironically Sonny Chiba always seems to be at his best... Read review

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Advantages: Great series, good art, and great action
Disadvantages: Nothing yet,

..., while the samurai live with blood on their hands. I wanted to tell you guys more, but I don't want to spoil the story. This dvd has the following features, 2 audio, english and Japanese. character info, and some breif history on the movie and story. chracter or anime pictures that you can download onto your computer. and trailers of other anime. This is a good series that anyone can get into even if you have never seen the seven samurai movie like me, though it makes you want to see it.... Read review

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