The Hidden Fortress duel is indeed underrated. Having studied traditional Nippon weapon-play for years I can attest to the technical proficiency of the actors who clearly put a lot of time and effort working with knowledgeable experts and wow, that slow but accurate weapons-play combined with top-notch acting/directing = an amazing duel indeed. An entertaining and edifying listing with great selections if incomplete surely for brevity's sale. Thanks, BushidoBlues.
The reason not all duels are fully shown is because if you play a movie clip for more than a few seconds, it will cause the video to get a copyright claim and be taken down. Blame RU-vid.
Watching this whole thing, I was like, it has to be here, and you keep going and going, and sure enough, it was number 1. I remember the first time I saw the movies back to back, and that fight was the OMG moment. I had to watch it like 12 times before I figured out what he did and then slowed it down to make sure. Great picks all around.
Excellent top ten best samurai duels in movies list Bushido Blues oh by the way did you finally watched the Samurai Champloo short film created by the RU-vid channel Rouge Origin Films yet?
Radioactive Japan historically has no history of only swords. That's it. There was no clothing, food, or state itself. During the Meiji Restoration, cesium, all Japanese culture was created at that time. Actually, everyone knows.
@@KkKk-br4iw -Radioactive Japan's history is just fiction. When it started publicly, the first emperor of Japan began exactly 50 years after the fall of Baekje on the 8,000-year-old Korean Peninsula. Before that, Cesium had no origin in Japan. Even the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron should start in this order, but in Japan, bronze is missing. Why? It was because the Bronze Age was not properly delivered to the Korean Peninsula. There is absolutely no culture in radioactive Japan that is common in Asian agricultural cultures. This is because the local nobles (daimyo) ruled like kings and sucked up the blood of the Japanese people, and killed them without any time of day. So there was no culture in which the culture could grow. Naturally, because of the daimyo, the existence of a king, a centralized power, was meaningless. But how can a national ideology emerge? There was no concept of a country itself. During the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century, only Japanese culture?? made all at once. Before that, there was no time to develop clothes, houses, food, etc. Because the samurai hired by Tamiyo killed the people.
@@KkKk-br4iw -Today's China is a new country that emerged after the establishment of the Communist Party in 1923. It was made by Northeast Samsung (Manchuria region - Dongi tribe). Our Korean people, the Dong Yi, fully helped. A history of 95% of the history of China by the Dong Yi. With the exception of the Qin Dynasty, the first kingdom of China, all of them are the history of the Dongyi people. Mongolia is also part of the Dongyi. There is a reason why only Goryeo remained intact when Central Asia and half of Europe were trembling in fear. Because we exchanged 50,000 people each. The Hongshan civilization is also a region of the Dongyi people. When a Japanese scholar invaded China, you went around China at will to investigate. And the tombstone of King Gwanggaeto the Great was manipulated by a Japanese scholar. Why? Japan has no roots. Of course, there were, but we Koreans never confirm your origin. We have asked us to confirm the family tree of the Emperor of Japan dozens of times so far, but our Koreans have never given us an answer. Why was that?? humble cattle. Do you know well why radioactive Japan invaded Korea? Because there is so much to steal. Without history, there was no culture. So 8,000 years of history is overflowing with things to loot. So, in the end, there were two invasions: the Imjin War and the Jeong Yujae. There are more than 8 million cultural assets stolen from the trading country of Joseon. If you just ask for it back, you will never give it to me. Why? We know very well that unless we bring it by force, we will never just give it to you. You bastards of lowly beasts. Be sure to return what you received. 1000 times. Radiation-exposed monkey cubs.
@@KkKk-br4iw -Radioactive Japan, as a World War II war criminal, made an alliance with the Nazis and hailed Germany's honorary white recognition, and even took a picture. As a radioactive flag, the Rising Sun flag later surrendered to only two US atomic bombs (it should have taken 20 more), and Koreans who were taken to Nagasaki and Hiroshima were sacrificed as victims of war. Da massacred 1 million Koreans who were taken hostage by spreading rumors. After stealing Western civilization as it is, Sony, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, etc., the 200 largest companies in Japan, such as Cesium, suddenly grew into large corporations. Therefore, Western powers such as Europe and the United States created intellectual property rights and enacted laws to protect the knowledge industry that was plundered by radioactive warfare. In addition, due to lack of nuclear technology, the Fukushima nuclear power plants 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc. were exploded, resulting in an explosion with more than 500 times the radioactivity of the atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshika.
Great list man! Harakiri may be my fav of these films but Zatoichi Challenged has my fav duel..so cinematic & emotionally charged... I do love the Sanjuro / Mifune v Nakadai final pick tho, just seems right
The grass field duel is such a beautifully shot scene. Nakadai says in his interview biography that Harakiri was the first movie where he had to really learn swordplay, and he pulls it off so well.
I totally agree Bushido I always like Mifune that look you pointed out that he gives telling you this is for real and it would scare the hell out of me to seeing those eyes because when you challenge a master swordsman like him in those times that look was serious because he not only was telling you this is for real you cant back away from it now my eyes are fixed on you to judge the amount of nerve you have for bringing this duel on between us in the first place.
Personally, I think the duel in the Seven Samurai is the most powerful. The tension that scene conveys is unmached. The reacion of the young Samurai at the end, they pure shock and awe at seeing a man cut down so perfectly, with such art... He's both transfixed and terrified.
I like Sanjuro and also Yojimbo, which I believe is a story with the same protagonist, but that plot happened before the story of Sanjuro. This duel is very believable from the sword technique point of view, as it reminds me of Iaido rather than a long hit and parry battle. It comes across more believable in this way and while the blood spray is ridiculous, the speed and execution of the moves is timeless.
"Sword of desperation" dual is my favourite. Main character duty bound to fight. he also uses the shorter wakazashi which is great to see and it leads into a tragic massive final fight.
I agree, the spear fight scene from Hidden Fortress is HIGHLY underrated. Another honorable mention is the duel between Sonny Chiba and Mikio Narita in 1978's Shogun's Samurai. A quiet, tense build up to a quick and deadly fight with the kill strike accented by a thunderous piano chord. You see the energy and determination in Chiba's downward strike. Still one of my favorites after all this time.
Yes, the duel scene in The Hidden Fortress is epic. As a longtime practitioner of traditional Nippon weapon-play, I can attest to the brilliance and accuracy of the choreography and gotta' say: Wow, great performances from Mifune and friend. They clearly spent a lot of time preparing under knowledgeable sensei and this extra effort definitely shows. I noted last night that during Okami: The Road to Hell, the best and most intense battle scenes are performed by highly skilled kenjitsu players with the Bailiff edited in ad hoc, assuring a fine illusion of his skill as a swordsman. But in Fortress, et al we get the real deal. The action is slow but very much the real deal and the final effect is an engaging, dramatic, technically proficient duel. Glad someone else thinks it's noteworthy. Point being, I agree: underrated.
Interesting point with Kyozo from 7 Samurai, his death by gun shoot represent new deadly invention can easily kill off a master swordsman who trained all his life by a bandit armed with a gun.
@@bushidoblues9302 it really is. The slow reveal is masterful. The fights are cool but they just enhance the film. I love the Lone Wolf and Cub films but those are just badass gorefests, Harakiri is freaking art, man.
Very good list. Well done. I have one caveat: I think one of the greatest, up there with Nakadai/Mifune in Sanjuro is the final fight--also Nakadai/Mifune--in _Samurai Rebellion_, directed by Kobayashi. _Sword of Doom_ had some terrific fight scenes, too. But for me, Kurosawa and Kobayashi transcend.
My very Favorite Samurai duel is from a very underrated film. The Hunted 1995 Takeda(Samurai) vs Kinjo(Ninja). Epic build up with an epic duel. Very stark comparison of Samurai honor vs ninja mentality. Must watch it, Christopher lambert plays a New Yorker that is hunted tor witnessing an assassination. His character is most likely what stopped people from giving the film a chance.
Hi, I like your list because you did not just take modern films but the real classics and especially the absolte samurai: Mifune Toshiro. No one is his class. I had in mind another duel I wanted to write about, but it slipped my mind while I was thinking of the fight scene in the Sword of Doom. You forgot about the most cinamaticly spectacular fight in the Sword of Doom, where Mifune Toshiro fights those who attack him.Okay, it is not exactly a duel between just two people but it is perfect, the best visuals and the best fight. And it also feels real. Because in real life there was not much of acrobatics and not too many blows and such in fact motly none. The two faced each other and in a matter of seconds the duel was over, the one who was better ut the weaker down. It only happened if the were of equal talents that the fight lasted longer. As crazy as it seems, it is realistic that the samurai master in the Sword of Doom finishes so quickly the fight. In less then 2 minutes if I remember well, Mifune's character cuts down 23 people, Nakadai's character is frigthened, so he does nut cut him down because he puts his sword back.
Yeah that snow fight is definitely great and memorable. I'll be sure to include it in my best samurai fights video where it will be fights that aren't 1 on 1.
B'H: I think that the film was Yojimbo but I am not sure. The reverse draw performed by Toshiro Mifune in the last scene is the most understated yet magnificent moves that I have ever seen.
The saki bar scene in Zatoichi (2003) with Beat Takeshi, which foreshadows the end duel. I appreciate your criticism of the Blind Samurai theme. This was the 1st Zatoichi film I'd ever scene though I've watched most of Kurosawa's films and had been aware of his influence in American films for years. I loved it! Over the top, for sure, but rich with humor, tradition, a cool story. This will remain a favorite of mine for years. 13 Assassins was great! So glad you mentioned that one.
Im a sport fencer and started experiementing with different arms from all over the world. This is my first time watching Samurai duels in films - thank you so much Bushido Blues. I just wanted to make an observation - what makes Samurai duels in your selection powerful are two things that are apparent in all of them as opposed to other duels in films: 1. Beautifully shot, chreographed and dramatised universal fencing footwork. 2. An equal number of evaded or dodged attacked with parries and glances almost 50:50. Watch the videos again and all of them… you see more expression and emotion. Ferocity, malice, desperation or superiority all expressed in their footwork. While it keeps very Japanese swordmanship footwork at the start - it always devolves into universal fencing language. Secondly, notice unlike other sword fights - they don’t do much parrying. Its usually a 1 dodge, evasion or repositioning for every 3-5 (worse more) per parry or glancing strike. In these films its always a parry and then movement. Theres his intense tension that comes from a back to back parry or a desperarion from a parry and a glancrd strike (including Samurai X if you consider Kenshin’s single “stride” as a attack not what his hands are doing - which makes sense Kenshin has an unorthodox batouryu or iaijutsu sytle where he stides into his sword draw - lunging at the zenith of his blade strike)… Miamoto Musashi is so unfazed playing this the waves, the sunset, the wind and dust and the glare of his sword… the moment Kojiro flinches… he advances with pure malice. In Heibei’s fight you knew it was over the moment the Camera shows the bootful of mud. As if we realised he’s waiting for us to look. And now the muds going in and then its just desperation in his feet… The spear fight… the actors faces is actually a bit funny to me as a South East Asian… we have softer features. But the footwork he walks and moves likes a person in a legion, army or uniformed body… like he’s a trained Marine out of bootcamp even how he stomps the other guys spear is like riot squad curb stomp vibe
" *I just wanted to make an observation - what makes Samurai duels in your selection powerful* " While everything you say seems true, I don't think it's what really matters. For starters, being shot well and dramatized well should be a given for any memorable scene in a movie, so that thing can not be considered to be special for those duels. Everybody tries for that, only a few succeed. Regardless of the genre or settings. Then, it's about "dodges vs parries". Yes, samurai movies use dodges more often, but you can make a great fight with parries too. Honestly, an example of that sprung to my mind immediately, since I grew up on such stuff. Paste: "Potop (The Deluge) - Wołodyjowski duels Kmicic [ENG subs]" in the YT search bar to see what I mean (old RU-vid, bad quality, maybe there is a better version nowadays, but this one still works). There are no dodges, lots of exchanges, lots of parries, yet the most popular RU-vid version of this fight is called "Best movie saber duel" nonetheless. So if I disagree that the aspects you mentioned were crucial here, what, according to me, actually was crucial? I think it's the skill. Raw skill of the actors. Kurosawa for sure was influenced with Western "cowboy" movies, with their iconic quick-draw duels. We might think that it's very easy to fake skill in such a scene with movie magic, yet people who compete in stuff nowadays analyze those scenes, and the actors tended to be *really* fast. So it very often was "real", definitely a real skill (even if enhanced). It's the same story with samurai duels. Those guys were genuinely good! The exact way the scene is done is less important, I think. You can make it a long exchange, you can make it a single shot kind of a deal. However, in order to make any of that work on the screen, especially if you want to achieve something genuinely great, the actors need to be skilled. Otherwise it's very hard to make the scene work. It will always seem fake.
Good picks with logical justifications. I would add the *Hanzo the Razor* films as well as *Duel to the Death* PS: if you could add the movie titles on your time stamps, that would be appreciated.
What a great list and I completely agree with your number one choice. I'm a big fan of Japanese samurai cinema, but there are plenty of films I still need to discover and I think your channel is the perfect place to find out what I'm missing, so you got yourself a new subscriber. Love your channel name, by the way. Keep up the good work, my friend.
Twilight Samurai one of the greatest Zen Samurai movies ever made. It's basically the Book of the 5 Rings. It's the meaning of what it is to be Samurai
Excellent list. By the way. Have you ever seen the movie kiru!, With tatsuya nakadai? I believe it is a loose retelling of the sanjuro novel, only this time with a bit more of a humorous approach. Despite that, the movie still is ripe with tension and excellent choreography. Solid performance just about everyone aboard, both in front of and behind the camera. It doesn't really get the recognition it deserves in my opinion, but no matter. Definitely check it out if you haven't. If you have, what are your thoughts? Keep up the great work
I recommend you to watch more japanese samurai movies from the 60s and 70s, a period of mutation and criticism to the genre, when new directors came to fight against the traditional society and bushido codes, making it dirtier, more cynical, more violent. I'd like to say some titles: -Satan's Sword (1.960), by Kenji Misumi -The Third Shadow (1.963), by Umetsugu Inoue -Assassination (1.964), by Masahiro Shinoda -Revenge (1.964), by Tadashi Imai -11 Samurai (1.966), by Eiichi Kudo -The Betrayal (1.966), by Tokuzo Tanaka (Raizo Ichikawa against 80 men) -Zatoichi XIII: Zatoichi's Vengeance (1.966), by Tokuzo Tanaka -Kiru (1.968), by Kihachi Okamoto -Goyokin (1.969), by Hideo Gosha -Shura (1.971), by Toshio Matsumoto -Lady Snowblood (1.973), by Toshiya Fujita (forget about Uma Thurman; Meiko Kaji kills it here, literally) -Fall of Ako Castle (1.978), by Kinji Fukasaku
Zatoichi had what used to be called hysterical blindness from PTSD. His mind wouldn't let him see, taking him from high status samurai to low status wandering masseur, barely above beggar. However his reflexes took over in a fight.
The Twilight Samurai is an incredibly great film highlighted by an exquisitely written script, a smouldering love affair that defines the word understated and more realistic than most any samurai film. Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa put in Oscar performances and exude dignity and nobility.
Samurai Rebellion isn't even mentioned? That was the best samurai duel I've ever seen. I've encountered four incredible fight scenes in cinema--that's one of them.
Very nice top of samurai films, you had great taste. woww old and modern films. impressive bloody historical and japanese spirit artsword of japanese iconic soul. I see only the last samurai from this topic and i undestood why they your favorite because must of them iconic and beautiful
Grew up watching The Samurai. Shintaro Inspired me to learn martial arts, a few styles. Karate, B.J.J. kenjutsu and kyujitstu.. discipline.. toshiru mifune was brilliant.. thanks for your features. Much appreciated.. 7 samurai ..magnificent 7.. Trinity... and Sergio Leone's western films.. all are brilliant.. just have that feel to them.
Because of quirks of Japanese culture the more grounded cinema truly shows how sword fighting works. Made in honour of a culture that was the recipient of cultural genocide just decades prior, with eye witnesses and even master swordsmen available, and their styles widely known to the public. While in other settings it would be unrealistic for one man to stand off with entire groups as usual in Japanese cinema, a quirk of Japanese culture makes stabbing someone in the back quite unlikely in normal conditions, giving cinema a free pass to keep the main actor alive without compromising on realism. In terms of full realism though most of the sorts of fight scenes used in Japanese historical fiction resemble things that happened just a handful of times to just a handful of men. Miyomoto Musashi in particular; actual life experiences seem to be routinely used as models for the hero characters fights in fiction. Can spot quite a few very clearly inspired by his actual life story here. The scene in Twilight Samurai with the drunken lout is very clearly inspired by Musashi vs Kojiro, for example. You see that same scene playing out with all sorts of fictional characters. On the opposite note: is that absurd film/series Lone Wolf and Cub the origin of the ridiculously unrealistic and cheesy fights often depicted in Japanese animation? I couldn't believe something so silly could be made in live action.
Long story short the katana is kind of a garbage sword if you get down to the medallergy of it. It was made with inferior Steel that you can say it was strong when It wasn't. Just because they had to pound the crap out of it while adding other stuff. So not that good of Steel. So I was thinking what if because I'm a Viking Berserker born and raised in northern Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior what if we use the best steel in the world. Still from northern Minnesota's arguably the best steel in the world. There's other really good deposits but well they're not as high quality as Minnesota Steel. So what if we made a katana made from the best steel on Earth and gave it to the best Samurai or Japanese Swordsman that ever lived and see if historically they could turn that sword into a what you call a legendary sword. Because my Viking broadsword can literally hack the edge off of any traditionally constructed Katana ever made within one or two strikes. And after about four strikes the katana will be so bent and so gnarled that the only good it would be four will be to throw it at me in the last ditch effort to run like a coward. So I want to see what my sword and the hands of a Japanese sword master could do. My sword can be wielded one or two-handed. It is probably just as sharp as a katana I could comfortably shave with it if I tried. And it's strong enough that I can cut your car in half including your drivetrain while staying sharp enough to effortlessly slice your tomato. So I'm just saying what do you think that would have been like? What is it been like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon where they got that one and sword that like cuts through everything? I don't know it's just one of those things I've always thought of.🤔
The blood spurt worked in that last scene because it looks like someone getting their body opened up to the point the aorta and/or heart are emptying out freely, with death in just seconds. The scenes paying homage to it are rarely anywhere near as realistic.
And apparently Hidden Fortress provided inspiration for Star Wars. But I seem to remember that Kurosawa was in turn inspired by westerns, so there was an exchange. Having said that, to me no western remake of Seven Samurai comes even close.
I remember Shintaro Katsu saying in one Zatoichi movie "I just go batshit and hope to hit someone.." :D he was joking but it felt like the truth haha anyway, great video ;)
13:50 Seven Samurai- Kyuzo vs Nameless. IMO, Kyuzo was cruel and murderous. Okay. Please hear me out! In the bokken on bokken duel, both swordsmen go straight in. It’s an obvious draw. Kyuzo goads (yes, goads) Nameless by declaring himself the winner. When they go katana to katana, Kyuzo changes his former technique by doing a slight right angle side-step - thus avoiding the initial straight on repeat. He kills Nameless, obviously. NOW - if Kyuzo knew that his ACTUAL technique would have won the duel, he could have simply grinned and accepted the “defeat”, knowing that his secret technique was superior. Instead, he chose (yes, chose) to take Nameless’ life. My observation and opinion. Thoughts?
It's more so a samurai pride thing. Samurai rather die than admit defeat. The nameless samurai did the same thing. If you read Hagakure it explains their ways of thinking. By admitting you are weak or scared then other samurai won't respect you and therefore not respect your family and honor. I also just viewed it as Kyuzo being brutally honest.
@@bushidoblues9302 Ah. But being brutally honest (as he had hidden his actual technique) he would know, based on your observation, that Nameless (to save face) would go the next step - thus leading to Nameless’ demise. Kyuzu, being masterless, had nothing to prove to anyone other than protecting his own ego. He was the strong, silent swordsman the rest of the film, so after many viewings of the movie, that scene always rubbed me wrong. That’s just me 😄
I like how when people look at Asian sword fighting films they are like: "Oh wow realistic swordsmanship goes well with the story. When it comes to European Swordfighting using real techniques: "We can't have that, there is no such thing as realistic sword fighting in movies, it would ruin the plot!"
Just viewed ‘Love & Honor’ for the first time yesterday. Much like ‘Twilight Samurai,’ it’s all about quality > quantity. While I like balls-out action as much as the next viewer, these quieter, more intimate films tend to lend a denser emotional gravity. Hard to make a top 10 here for sure, but I’m grateful that L&H ranked as highly as it did in your list. 🙇♂️🍻
Wait, I watched the 13 assassins movie from 2010 and there was no such scene. It's a different film you're talking about. Is there any other remake from 2011, for example? I really want to watch the real movies that fight is from.
Greatest one on one samurai battle was one I saw as a kid in a black and white movie, made sometime in the late sixties. The hero looks like a Japanese Clint Eastwood and the fight takes place at night on a bridge. I don't remember the name of the movie, don't really remember anything else about it, but that fight was one of the most thrilling things I'd ever seen, and it kills me that I simply can't find the movie anywhere. I have searched for years.
Excellent list . I haven't seen 4 of the entries but I agree on your other selections ; in any order. A few films for consideration: (Some of which have featured in your videos) Sword of the Beast Three Outlaw Samurai Sword of the Stranger Sword of Doom
I would say the Wakizashi vs Katana duel in "Sword of Desperation" could easily dislodge any of the films on your top five list from their position. I also liked the fight scenes in "The Hidden Blade" and Takeshi Kitano's 2003 remake of "Zatoichi". Special mention to the spear vs katana final fight scene in Azumi 2 the sequel (although the story was not much to talk about, but I would say that final fight scene kicked butt).
Another great video with masterful film clips. I agree with your number 2 selection. I really liked that samurai's role in the Seven, his look and quiet dignity were surpassed only by his heroic death in the film.
Kyuzo has always been the samurai I identified the most with. Quiet, reserved and his actions speak louder than words. Do you have a seven samurai you identify with?
@@bushidoblues9302 Yes....the young man that falls in love with the young woman from the village....so sad when he leaves and they cut to a shot of her walking into the rice fields wiping her tears and joining in the rice planting song. And I'll always have a special place in my heart for 13.
You clicked the wrong video. In this one I show the entire duel. Watch on a big screen. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LtAy5Xbs34k.html
