Summary
- Ghost of Yotei features a female main character and rare depictions of female samurai.
- The Last Samurai and Seven Samurai are iconic films showcasing the way of the samurai.
- Sword of the Stranger and Ichi highlight breathtaking samurai action and strong female leads.
Sucker Punch Productions is slated to release their sequel to Ghost of Tsushima this year, Ghost of Yotei. With the game quickly approaching, fans of the previous game and samurai alike are no doubt seeking media of all forms to satiate their hunger for sword-wielding action. Stories of Samurai are a constant in both classic and modern-day media and portray honor-bound warriors in bitter conflicts where a blade is often the only way out.
While not much has been revealed about the story or setting of Ghost of Yotei, aside from video games, there is a large array of classic cinema available to pass the time while waiting for the game’s release. Ghost of Yotei is undoubtedly centered around the way of the Samurai and features a rare female samurai as its main character. Here are some of the best films to watch while waiting for Ghost of Yotei.
7
The Last Samurai
A Tale About Perspective And Tradition
The Last Samurai
- Release Date
-
December 5, 2003
- Runtime
-
154 minutes
- Director
-
Edward Zwick
The Last Samurai is a Western re-telling of the fall of Samurai leading to the rise of modern warfare, a result of the emperor of Japan hiring the American military to train his soldiers in combat. Ken Watanabe stars as the leader of a small village of samurai loyal to the emperor who wishes for their sacred traditions to be upheld and not abandoned by progress.
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Tom Cruise plays Nathan Algren, a disheveled army veteran who is kidnapped by Katsumoto’s band of warriors and made a prisoner of war. Algren experiences the culture and dedication of his captors, and his jaded view of man and war slowly fades. The band of Samurai rises up against American influence, and Nathan makes a final stand against his own people.
6
Lady Snowblood
A Bloody Action-Packed Revenge Story
Lady Snowblood
- Release Date
-
March 22, 1974
Lady Snowblood stars Meiko Kaji as Yuki Kashima, an orphaned young girl born in a women’s prison where her mother died after childbirth. Yuki is raised to claim vengeance on her mother’s assaulters, those who tortured her and then left her to rot for the rest of her life.
Yuki is trained to be the ultimate weapon and claim vengeance for her family in a bloody path of retribution. Lady Snowblood is directed by Toshiya Fujita, who delivers the violent rampage of a woman scorned from birth who is forged into a one-woman army with a single purpose. The film is a classic film that still holds up against modern stories today.
5
13 Assassins
A Small Few Versus Many Try To Maintain Peace By Spilling The Blood Of Their Own People
13 Assassins
- Release Date
-
September 9, 2010
13 Assassins is set in the final days of the shogun’s reign, Japan prepares for ascension as the successor, Naritsugu, takes the throne. Unfortunately, the new rising Shogun is a cruel and degenerate man who revels in violence as pleasure. Fearing the deterioration of decades of peace and prosperity, a lone member of the shogun’s own court seeks outside aid to claim Naritsugu’s life and end his reign early for the sake of Japan.
Shinzaemon is hired to assassinate Naritsugu before he plunges the country into a civil war. Leading a band of dedicated warriors bound by honor, Shinzaemon declares war on the shogun and all loyal to him in a bitter and violent confrontation that nearly tears the country apart.
4
Seven Samurai
A Classic Among Classics And One Of The Late Kurosawa’s Best
Seven Samurai
- Release Date
-
April 26, 1954
Director Akira Kurosawa is a legendary artist whose works have paved the way for Japanese entertainment and what action and drama is today. Among his long list of classic projects, Seven Samurai has stood the test of time and has one of the largest followings.
A small village hires a lone wandering samurai to protect them from invading threats. With the odds against the little town, the Wanderer recruits several allies to aid him in protecting the village and teaching the villagers how to protect themselves. Seven Samurai is a masterfully shot tale of tragedy and dedication, as the old ways of the Samurai must always be treasured and remembered.
3
The Rurouni Kenshin Trilogy
A Beautiful Telling Of Kenshin Himura’s Story From Beginning To End
|
Movie |
Part 1: Origins |
Part 2: Kyoto Inferno |
Part 3: The Legend Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Director |
Keishi Otomo |
Keishi Otomo |
Keishi Otomo |
|
Cast |
Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Yosuke Eguchi, Munetaka Aoki |
Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Yosuke Eguchi, Munetaka Aoki, Tatsuya Fujiwara |
Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Yosuke Eguchi, Munetaka Aoki, Tatsuya Fujiwara |
|
Release Date |
August 25, 2012 |
August 1, 2014 |
September 13, 2014 |
|
Runtime |
134min |
138min |
134min |
Rurouni Kenshin is an anime created by Nobuhiro Watsuki and is a highly praised tale of a lone Samurai named Kenshin Himura. Known widely as the manslayer, Kenshin Himura was an instrumental weapon during the war and cut down countless men with not a single drop of remorse.
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However, a series of tragic events would lead him to walk down a path of peace after taking a vow never to kill again. The story of Rurouni Kenshin has been adapted into a live-action trilogy that does a fantastic job of delivering a complete vision of the beloved series, while also standing as one of the best modern samurai trilogies.
2
Sword Of The Stranger
A Breathtaking Animated Film With Pristine Samurai Action
Sword of the Stranger
- Release Date
-
February 5, 2009
- Runtime
-
103 Minutes
- Director
-
Masahiro Andô
Set during the Sengoku period in Japan, a young thief named Kotarou and his fateful four-legged ally are made enemies of the state by the Ming Dynasty and are chased by a gang of assassins. While on the run, Kotarou runs into a secluded ronin who helps him out of a bind when he’s cornered and poisoned.
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Fearing for his life, the young boy offers to employ the samurai’s service in exchange for safe passage to a safe place. Reluctantly, the Samurai Nanashi agrees, which takes him down a violent and perilous road as the Ming Dynasty attempts to kill the boy at all costs. Visually, Sword of the Stranger is one of the most impressive animated films ever made and one of Masahiro Ando’s long list of exceptional works.
1
Ichi
An Action-Fueled Story With A Strong Female Lead
|
Director |
Fumihiko Sori |
|---|---|
|
Cast |
Haruka Ayase, Shido Nakamura, Yosuke Kobozuka, Takao Osawa |
|
Release Date |
October 25, 2008 |
|
Runtime |
120min |
Ichi parades from town to town as a blind beggar. This charade aids her in remaining undetected as she wanders in search of her lost mentor. In reality, Ichi is a deadly master swordsman who was taught by the legendary Zatoichi, a blind samurai with unparalleled skill in combat. Eventually, Ichi’s journey brings her into contact with a village under attack by a band of mercenaries and forces her out into the open.
Ichi is an adaptation of a manga by Hana Shinohara, and stars Haruka Ayase as the lead. The film delivers a tension-filled epic with great direction from Fumihiko Sori.
Action
Adventure
Open-World
- Released
-
2025
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony Interactive Entertainment