jdodd

I have only seen one Kurosawa film -- Dreams -- and have seen tiny bits and pieces of other films of his. I have, for whatever reason, been putting off watching more of his films for a lot longer than I should have, and I am now ready to take the plunge.

What should I start with? Where should I go from there? Which AK films are definite "don't miss" titles? I have been wanting to see Ikiru ever since the owner of the video store I worked at years ago told me how wonderful it is, but like I said, I put it off for quite some time for no real reason. So that's on the list.

I found this thread from a couple months back that will probably help out a bit. Any titles not in there that I should pick up?

Thanks for any guidance.

talemyn

Well, I love Ikiru. It immediately became one of my favorite movies upon my very first viewing of it. That being said, it was the first Kurosawa movie that I had ever seen and, as many of his movies are of a different tone (his samurai movies are very different), I always feel a little let down in comparison.

Don't get me wrong . . . I LOVE his work . . . his style and cinematographic skill are awesome in everything that I've seen (note: I have not seen all of his movies), but, in my mind, Ikiru is his "masterpiece", so it kind of depends on whether or not you want to watch the best, or save the best for last.

Just my two cents, of course.

William Fuld

I'd suggest chronologically.

PopcornTreeCt

Agreed. While most critics adore Rashomon and Ikiru my personal favorite movies of his was when he was working with Toshiro Mifune. I think they made 21 films together. The first being Stray Dog (I could be wrong) and the last being Red Beard. I would strongly suggest that time period of Kurosawa as it is my favorite. Criterion has yet to release all 21 films, eventually they will.

Hokeyboy

Well, good luck finding decent copies of Sanshiro Sugata or They Who Step on the Tiger's Tail. Those R0's are garbage. When, oh when will TCM run another month with Kurosawa as their featured director? September of 1999 was such a godsend...

chrisv

I'd start with Seven Samurai, it's absolutely fantastic. Then check out The Hidden Fortress, Stray Dog, and High and Low. Those seem to me to be his most accessible films. After that, jump in wherever you want, the wonderful Ikiru, the legendary Rashomon, or other great Mifune samurai performances like Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Throne of Blood.

garolo

Well it really does depend on your tastes. Without a doubt your should first check out Kurosawa's masterpiece Ikiru. Then, if you like samurai movies try Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, Kagemusha. Do you like crime dramas? High and Low ( is Kurosawa does Ed McBain), Stray Dog, Drunken Angel. Shakespere? Ran (Othello), Throne of Blood (Macbeth), Bad Sleep Well (Hamlet). Don't forget Rashomon and Red Beard.

That should get you started.

marty888

[QUOTE=garolo] Ran (Othello) QUOTE]


Isn't that King Lear ?

The Ferret

Because Seven Samurai is so good i say you wait a few films so you get aquainted with Kurosawa so you can fully appreciate it.

I'd say Yojimbo, Rashomon, Ikiru, Seven Samurai, Ran - in that order, of course it doesn't really matter much... and of course it comes down to personal preference... uhh yeah just see them all in whatever order, they're all great.

chente

They are all ve good. My personal favorites are Throne of Blood and Red Beard.

The Ferret

I forgot about Throne of Blood, also really good. I still need to see Red Beard, Hidden Fortress, Stray Dog, and i'll definately check out the Kagemusha CC.

eedoon

Seven Samurai is good although I don't really like it because it's too long and too slow (I've just saw the movie once, usually it takes some viewings to appreciate this kind of movie) but I loved The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo and Sanjuro.

garolo

[QUOTE=marty888]DOH! Got my Desdemonas confused with my Cordilias. Thanks for keeping me straight, Marty. I knew it was Lear but brain farted and wrote Othello.

Giles

question: I just watched Throne of Blood for the first yesterday and I was wondering what the literal translation of the Japanese title is

imdb denotes: Kumonosu jô = ?

the international english title card states: Throne of Blood (Spider's Web Castle).

naitram

The first Kurosawa I saw was Ran a few years after it came out, and I think that's a good place to start.

For black and white I'd say Yojimbo as it's a little lighter fare and lots of fun, then move into Hidden Fortress, Seven Samurai, and Rashomon. I haven't seen too many of his non-samurai period films, so won't try to speak on that.

dmpre99

can anyone go through the movies chronologically?

naitram

imdb.com is your friend

TomMiller

Accessible and Great: Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Hidden Fortress, Sanjuro (in descending order of importance)

A little more arty but still Great: Ikiru, Rashomon, Ran, Throne of Blood (again, descending importance).

Very, very good, and strongly recommended if you like the above: High and Low, Stray Dog, Red Beard, Kagemusha, Dersu Uzala

For the completist only: Dreams, Lower Depths, Rhapsody in August.

The only film of Kurosawa's that I haven't seen but still want to see (as opposed to feeling obligated to see it just because it is Kurosawa) is The Bad Sleep Well.

You are in for a treat. Good luck.

talemyn

From IMDB (these are just the movies that he directed) . . .

Note 1: In many cases, there were multiple alternate titles so I chose the one that seemd most likely to be the US title (in blue).

Note 2: Where I know it, I've underlined the title that is most commonly used in the US.

Note 3: I don't believe that a number of these titles are available on Region 1 DVD.


Sugata Sanshiro (1943 - a.k.a. Judo Saga)
Ichiban utsukushiku (1944 - a.k.a. The Most Beautiful)
Zoku Sugata Sanshiro (1945 - a.k.a. Judo Saga II)
Tora no o wo fumu otokotachi (1945 - a.k.a. The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail)
Asu o tsukuru hitobito (1946 - a.k.a. Those Who Make Tomorrow)
Waga seishun ni kuinashi (1946 - a.k.a. No Regrets for My Youth)
Subarashiki nichiyobi (1947 - a.k.a. One Wonderful Sunday)
Yoidore tenshi (1948 - a.k.a. Drunken Angel)
Shizukanaru ketto (1949 - a.k.a. The Quiet Duel)
Nora inu (1949 - a.k.a. Stray Dog)
Shubun (1950 - a.k.a. Scandal)
Rashômon (1950 - a.k.a. In the Woods)
Hakuchi (1951 - a.k.a. The Idiot)
Ikiru (1952 - a.k.a. To Live)
Shichinin no samurai (1954 - a.k.a. The Seven Samurai)
Ikimono no kiroku (1955 - a.k.a. I Live in Fear)
Kumonosu jô (1957 - a.k.a. Throne of Blood)
Donzoko (1957 - a.k.a. The Lower Depths)
Kakushi toride no san akunin (1958 - a.k.a. The Hidden Fortress)
Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (1960 - a.k.a. The Bad Sleep Well)
Yojimbo (1961 - a.k.a. The Bodyguard)
Tsubaki Sanjûrô (1962 - a.k.a. Sanjuro)
Tengoku to jigoku (1963 - a.k.a. Heaven and Hell)
Akahige (1965 - a.k.a. Red Beard)
Dodesukaden (1970 - a.k.a. Clickety-Clack)
Dersu Uzala (1975)
Kagemusha (1980 - a.k.a. Shadow Warrior)
Ran (1985)
Yume (1990 - a.k.a. Dreams)
Hachi-gatsu no kyôshikyoku (1991 - a.k.a. Rhapsody in August)
Madadayo (1993 - a.k.a. Not Yet)