Mifune is good, but I think Shimura is better.Watch him as the lead samurai in Seven Samurai, the drunk doctor in Drunken Angel, and the bureaucrat in Ikiru and you would think you are looking at three different actors if you didn't know any different, and Shimura nails each role. Shimura could deliver a pathos that Mifune couldn't touch.
I agree, Mifune is some kind of a "master of this art" according to me, but there is another actor people seem to forget about - Nakadai Tatsuya. I think he is as good as Mifune. Watch "Sword of doom", he was so eerie in it... I look up to them both though, my favourite actors :)
Saw Seven Samurai when I was 17. Blown away! It's hard to make a film with such a huge cast funny, captivating and heart breaking all at once. One of cinema's ultimate best!
Exactly what I was thinking. You think it's going to be a standard dying man makes life change movies but it's so much different than what you normally see, even compared to modern versions of that plot.
That is so true! The route Kurosawa takes instead of dipping into corny "feel good" cliche is what really makes that film have such a profound and lasting emotional impact.
I cried last night watching Seven Samurai, Kikuchiyo being just brought to ruin while saving the baby from the burning building, screaming “this is me! This is exactly what happened to me!” was just beautiful and sad, along with the whole movie.
That was the only part of the movie where I was like “ok this is a lil heavy handed” like as soon as you saw him w the baby u understood the parallel it didn’t need to be explained. Seven Samurai is my second favorite film ever tho
When I first saw Ran at a young age, I was mesmerised by the colour scheme, lavish costumes, grand action scenes, strong visuals and stellar performances, it introduced me to Japanese cinema and I've been a Kurosawa fan ever since. Watching "Ran" was such an important memory to me that I even remember what I was eating at the time, a Philadelphia and grape wrap.
I was invited to see it at my friends apartment... this was the first foreign film I had ever seen. Didn’t expect much going into it but left reformed and dumbfounded. Such beautiful angles and jaw dropping color grading.
*Ikiru* is, by far, the saddest film ever made... and one of the most beautiful. *Takashi Shimura* singing *Gondola no Uta* both in the bar and park scenes is crushing... the bar scene for pure sadness, the park scene for both its sadness but also triumph and finality (not to mention the beauty of the cinematography). I'd definitely put it in the top 3 of Kurosawa's films, imho.
For an Asian filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa was a pioneer to break into international recognition. He inspired many Asians directors: John Woo (Hong Kong), Zhang Yimou (People's Republic of China), Ang Lee (Taiwan), Takeshi Kitano (Japan), Satyajit Ray (India), Hayao Miyazaki (Japan) and Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong).
I honestly must thank Anime for this. Kurosawa was mentioned in some Anime, and I started watching a few of his movies. And it dumbfounded me, just what I'd been missing. Kurosawa movies turned me into a movie buff, eventually introducing me to Stanley Kubrick. Kurosawa's movies had magnificent cinematography, and some of the best pacing ever. Seven Samurai was a three and a half hour long movie. And I couldn't get off my chair.
I will say this. Who ever the actors were in fight scenes with cavalry, they had some balls. There weren't any CG back in the day, and getting trampled by a horse (or god forbid multiple horses) happened numerous times.
442hoeky yea, ill admit that im a fanboy... and yea, at times you can see clear moment where "no one would do that in a fight" . however its never too fluid and perfect like in Jet Li movies for example.
Not included here is one of Kurosawa's greatest lessons in humanity - Dodes'ka-den(1970). It's about how the lower class in the slums of 1960's Tokyo deal with their everyday existence of poverty. Which also juxtaposes his 1957 film The Lower Depths, an adaptation of the Russian play by Maxim Gorky. Kurosawa is a master story teller in describing how the human spirit with imagination can survive through horrid conditions and still find meaning in a very cruel world.
I guess most people are not interested in seeing how those living in the poverty of slums go through their days...one day after another. We already know, as most people have to go through their less-than-perfect though better-than-impoverished days. Dramatization doesn't make the poverty and/or imprisonment seem worse than its reality. We rather understand why there is such a horrible state of poverty and enslavement or imprisonment, and prevent or end it.
Yeah, I was kinda thinking along these lines. I could not put one ahead of another when it comes ot Kurosawa and I have not even seen all of his films! But from the ones I have seen 90 % with Mifune Toshiro and 1 with only Shimura Takashi I could never make a list. They are all perfect and have different things to offer. Who is to say which one is the best when they are not comparable?! They all tackle different themes and social problems..
Good list overall, but Akahige (Red Beard) and Tengoku to Jigoku (High and Low) should definitely be in the Top 5. Two absolute classics that showed how versatile the great man was.
I've read 'The Emperor and the Wolf' because of both Kurosawa and Mifune. It's a fascinating and insightful read on their relationship from beginning to end. Sad that they couldn't reconcile after 'Akahige' and I would've loved to have seen Mifune in 'Kagemusha' and 'Ran' as he would've brought a different level of acting.
We respect Kurosawa's work, because we love his movies. As senior and film lover, I can distinguish and separate at least dozen directors I like who created about hundreds of marvelous films I love and watched them in many past decades. Every of them is unique, in some way not competitive. Thanks God for it, but we got choices and variety of beauty... Directors, and their films, are hardly comparable, because firstly we, people, are so different...
Kurosawa released a collection of shorts in later years under the title, "Dreams." Variously evoking psychological, cultural, spiritual, and even political themes without words, each vignette comes across as a spectacular visual haiku.
These are all great choices, but it's really hard to put together a top10 list of Kurosawa's films. He truly was a magnificent director; George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola among many others honored him as the master of his craft. Coppola even referred to him as the Great Father of Screen Violence.
Seven Samurai is undoubtedly one of the best and most influential movies ever, but that final showdown in Yojimbo is my personal favourite scene of any movie ever. the framing, the movement, the tension, the shot composition... everything about it is perfect imo. even Leone's "fistful of dollars" (plagarized) final showdown couldn't capture the moment as well. It felt like a cheap, untalented attempt to recreate it slightly differently. And that's saying something because Leone is a fantastic director in his own right.
@@sammy17bst Bro, what are you talking about? That's directed by Masaki Kobayashi. I think it's one of the best movies ever made and is in my top 3. If you like it, check out Samurai Rebellion by the same director. It isn't at the same level, but it's really good too.
@@ayushpatel7597 Lmao, I realized my mistake soon after I made that comment, just didn't bother deleting it, thanks for correcting me lol. I was convinced it was Kurosawa for some reason.
Would've loved to see "Dreams" get a mention somewhere, but it's pretty hard to get them all in. It's a testament to Kurosawa's brilliance that this list could also be called "10 of the Greatest Films Ever Made."
I AM 46 years old..I saw one of his movies when I was a kid..the name escapes me..it had a lot of fighting in it. Seven Samurai!! Me thinks...Anyway..it blew me away, I could not take my eyes off of the screen, I didn't want to leave the TV even to go to the bathroom and almost shit myself. The immersion in that movie is otherworldly.
The "Rashomon" plot,or rather a version of it,has become a favorite of sitcoms...as the story opens,something dramatic has happened.The participants,usually bickering with each other,are asked to explain what happened.Each one does,giving their own version but always casting themselves as the virtuous one.In some cases,one of the characters remains quiet for most of the proceedings,but it is from this person that we get the real story.
7S is a true masterpiece. I love how it had funny moments without messing with the serious tone, it really makes you feel connected to the seven ronin when they are cracking jokes during their down time.
I am pretty aware of the influence Seven Samurai had,but for me Ran has to be nr.1. Also,Ikiru deserves a much higher position in this list. I guess all movies made by Akira Kurosawa are worth watching,so there is no point in ranking them :)
Kurosawa was one of the greatest directors of cinema full stop. i have never seen a movie of his i disliked, and a large portion of his filmography belongs in the top 100 films of all time. Seriously, Kurosawa has had a profound impact on my taste in movies and me as a person. His works transcend boundaries of country and time.
+Matthew McVeagh So what? A lot of films are adapted or based off of novels or short stories. The specific narrative doesn't necessarily have anything to do with his visual merits as a filmmaker directly influencing a near shot for shot remake by Leone or directors like Spielberg or Lucas ripping shots and sequences right out of Kurosawa's films. You would get a lot more mileage however mentioning the great importance of the influence from filmmakers, especially the likes of John Ford, had on Kurosawa's work.
+Richard Brighton That statement defies reality. Akira Kurosawa sued Sergio Leone over A Fistful of Dollars, and even sent him this letter: "Signor Leone-I have just had the chance to see your film. It is a very fine film, but it is my film. Since Japan is a signatory of the Berne Convention on international copyright, you must pay me" Leone settled with Kurosawa and Toho out of court, to the tune of 15% of worldwide box office plus $100,000, and rights to the Asian release of FFoD. That's a far cry from 'gave Leone permission to release it, as that permission was purchased with a heavy price tag. +Matthew McVeagh Please understand that I am not referring to the story of either Yojimbo or FFoD, but the cinematography, framing, and pacing. These elements are almost solely under the control of the director, and are the elements that Leone copied wholesale from Yojimbo.
I've seen Kagemusha, Ran, Throne of Blood and The Seven Samurai. Great films all. I think Ran and Kagemusha were the most visually beautiful. Kurosawa does battle scenes of rival armies in beautiful colors sweeping down on each other. Quite stunning.
@@divnaindija24 He still had to work under strenuous conditions and times. It wasn't easy for him in the later part of his career before he retired for some time.
+jackson madden everyone can find something of himself in kurosawas movies, i guess you can call at least 5 of his movies masterpieces. his influence will always have its place in history
My ranking would go like this 1) Ran 2) Seven Samurai 3) High and Low 4) Ikiru 5) The Bad Sleep Well 6) Rashomon 7) Dreams 8) Red Beard 9) Yojimbo 10) Sanjuro 11) Kagemusha 12) Throne of Blood 13) The Hidden Fortress 14) Drunken Angel All of them are good to amazing
This is my list, with the WatchMojo rankings in parentheses. I add a few comments also: 1. Seven Samurai (1) *a no-brainer 2. Rashomon (2) *a no-brainer 3. Ikiru (7) *much too low, it's one of his greatest. 4. Yojimbo (4) *exactly right 5. Throne of Blood (6) *pretty close to mine 6. High and Low (9) *This film is usually either under-rated or over-rated, imo. 6 seems right to me. 7. Ran (3) *I love it...but 3 is too high -, his black and white period at it's best was unbeatable. 8. Hidden Fortress (5) *much too high - delightful but a bit too lightweight for 5. 9. Sanjuro (8) *pretty close to mine 10. Kagemusha (10) *exactly right (all in all, not a bad TOP 10 for WatchMojo) Honorable Mention: 11. Stray Dog (not mentioned by WM) 12. Drunken Angel 13. Red Beard 14. The Lower Depths (not mentioned by WM) 15. Dersu Uzala *(in my opinion, Madadayo is not a near masterpiece - but is sweet and pleasant, though, as is Dreams)
Last October 5th i started seeing a kurosawa's film a day. Today I concluded by rewatching "High and Low", the first akira kurosawa's film I saw first 1 year ago. What an amazing journey!
Akira Kurosawa was born in the house of a descendant of a samurai. He loved the ideas and actions of samurai. Samurai always walks in the middle of the road. And the eyes of the Samurai are sharp and their appearance is dignified. The difference between samurai and farmers, and people in town is clear. Samurai appearing in Kurosawa's movie can be distinguished clearly. Kurosawa took time to get the kimono of the actor getting used to.
Akira kurosawa is one of the greatest directors the world has ever seen . He made so many great movies a lot of people associate him with samurai genre although he was versatile director high and low , Dersu Uzala are underrated masterpieces . His autobiography is also must read an awesome book for anyone kurosawa simply giant of world cinema.
He is the greatest filmaker that ever lived and inspired all the current generation of filmakers. Japan really can produce world class success stories.
It's a good list. It's hard to separate best and favorite, but for me *Ikiru* is his best. For films not on the list I think *Stray Dog* deserves to be there, and while *August Rhapsody* may not be, it is still one of my favorites. It's really hard to make comedic action movies that are among the greatest films ever made, but Kurosawa was able to do it (Wong Kar-wai too). MUCH aided by Mifune. Kurosawa is, in my opinion, one of the top 10 film makers of all time and of them all, he perhaps has the most masterpieces to his credit.
In Throne of Blood, "Lady Macbeth" is one of the most sinister characters in cinema. The rustle of her kimono approaching slowly from the darkness sets the hairs up on the back of my neck every time. Brr!
ok since Ghost of Tsushima is about to released soon now i'm intrigued! so the question here how I can watch all of these digitally since his movies are years before I was even born. lol
Get a subscription to the criterion channel. It has all his films besides dreams ran and the quiet duel. Aldo it comes a lot if commentary documentary and interviews.
I watched seven samurai when I was like 14 for the first time and was blown away by it. I’ve seen it many time since it truly is an incredible film. Puts modern movies to shame in my opinion it just show what true movie making talent looks like.
Matei Lascu I personally never liked Rashomon that much, i see the influence and the greatness in that way, but i never thought it was that entertaining or emmersive like Kurosawa's other films like Ikiru, Yojinbo, Ran, Stray Dogs, Hidden Fortress, Red Beard, high and low etc. But you know, that's just me
You can never - *never* - go wrong with Kurosawa! _Yojimbo/Sanjuro, Seven Samurai, High & Low, Ikiru, Stray Dogs, Rashomon, Throne Of Blood, Hidden Fortress, Lower Depths, Ran..._ and on and on and on.
One of my favorite home video purchases was when I ordered Stray Dog through Suncoast Video for $16.00 and it turned out to be part of a three-pack VHS set of Stray Dog, High and Low, and The Bad Sleep Well. High and Low is probably my favorite Kurosawa film. I might seek out your no. 10 pick though after watching this video.
His films basically inspired the whole gang of well known directors from Coppola to Lucas to be action film directors. The few films he made during World War Two (judo story series) were credited to have pioneer many modern action filming techniques in scene construction and pacing, I was surprised that series weren't get mentioned.
"This fantastic filmmaker put Japanese cinema on the map." It was already on the map; it was in Japan. I shouldn't expect great writing from a listicle video, but come on.
The Bad Sleep Well. Hated in Japan and rumor has it the emperor denounced as anti Japanese. An amazing movie about Japan's culture and fascist ideology.
It is his best movie and one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is extremely suspense full and test amazingly symbolic movie. If you are a movie lover,especially noir genre then you got to watch it.
I was introduced to Kurosawa in the 70's and Dersu Uzala has stuck with me since then. An outstanding piece of work by a brilliant man. It followed the book by Vladimir Arsenyev very closely.
Seven Samurai was my first Kurosawa flick and love it! I even find myself singing the theme sometimes. That’s how much I love it. I’d love to know the story that inspired it
I always have a good chuckle when the subject of Rashomon comes up, and "From a certain point of view..." comes to mind. It's usually said that "The Hidden Fortress" influenced George Lucas, but to be fair, it was "The films of Akira Kurosawa." For those who haven't seen much of his work, well, there are a few bits in the video you just watched that were referenced in the Star Wars movies, including the events in "Yojimbo" that lead up to "We're wanted men", and Dersu Uzala -- who first appears to be some kind of country rube before the captain and his men figure out just how talented and wise he really is -- is advising the captain to help him gather grass to build a shelter to help them survive a night in the Siberian wilderness. There's a little something like that in "Empire." 🙂
Seven Samurai opened my eyes to how powerful a medium cinema truly is. I will always be grateful to Kurosawa for this
+Jared Dowty saw it at 12, fell in love with cinema
I had no idea movies used slo-mo that long ago.
agreed
I saw it at 13 and it made me want to watch good films, I've had a love of cinema ever since then.
As a Magnificent Seven fan, Seven Samurai was one of the greatest pieces of cinema I’ve ever seen.
"Seven Samurai" is one of the greatest dramas ever. "Ran" is one of the most ferocious war movies ever.
@Moh Asani true id say it’s more of a drama
And Rashomon and Dreams are two of the most innovative movies ever.
the greatest
Ran is the most beautiful movie I ever saw. You could freeze frame almost any scene and get an incredible picture.
And Lady Kaede is a great villain !!!
Arnaud Lécuyer I hated that bitch!
Ellijah De Leon loved her death scene. it was so instantaneous.
Arnaud Lécuyer Ran and Blade Runner most beautiful movies for me
Arnaud Lécuyer you are my people.
Akira + Mifune.. Best combination...
Better than Scorsese and De Niro or DiCaprio
Spike Spiegel no. Scorsese and de niro is the greatest paring in cinema imo
Mifune is good, but I think Shimura is better.Watch him as the lead samurai in Seven Samurai, the drunk doctor in Drunken Angel, and the bureaucrat in Ikiru and you would think you are looking at three different actors if you didn't know any different, and Shimura nails each role. Shimura could deliver a pathos that Mifune couldn't touch.
Matthew Meaney You mustn't forget Nakadai, though. I couldn't imagine somebody else playing the main character of Kagemusha.
I agree, Mifune is some kind of a "master of this art" according to me, but there is another actor people seem to forget about - Nakadai Tatsuya. I think he is as good as Mifune. Watch "Sword of doom", he was so eerie in it... I look up to them both though, my favourite actors :)
Saw Seven Samurai when I was 17. Blown away! It's hard to make a film with such a huge cast funny, captivating and heart breaking all at once. One of cinema's ultimate best!
Im 17 and I abt watch it !
Agreed. It was just amazing.
Ikiru is more like the 7th best film of all-time than it is merely Kurosawa's 7th best. Arguably the most life-affirming film in all of world cinema.
Exactly what I was thinking. You think it's going to be a standard dying man makes life change movies but it's so much different than what you normally see, even compared to modern versions of that plot.
That is so true! The route Kurosawa takes instead of dipping into corny "feel good" cliche is what really makes that film have such a profound and lasting emotional impact.
I'd probably rank it as number two on this list, it's one of my favorites of all time but I do think that Seven Samurai influenced a lot more movies.
Madadayo hit me like that.
true., just saw it for first time last night. Probably my 15th Kirosawa. Great stuff.
Drunken Angel didn't even make the list. So many great films
I cried last night watching Seven Samurai, Kikuchiyo being just brought to ruin while saving the baby from the burning building, screaming “this is me! This is exactly what happened to me!” was just beautiful and sad, along with the whole movie.
Ya bro
That was the only part of the movie where I was like “ok this is a lil heavy handed” like as soon as you saw him w the baby u understood the parallel it didn’t need to be explained. Seven Samurai is my second favorite film ever tho
Try Ikiru...
Bring Kleenex/tissues
That felt a little weird to me. I mean I know he said he was just like that baby, but still.
Like in Space Odyssey 2001, but not like in Space Odyssey 2001. The Ending of the movie...
When I first saw Ran at a young age, I was mesmerised by the colour scheme, lavish costumes, grand action scenes, strong visuals and stellar performances, it introduced me to Japanese cinema and I've been a Kurosawa fan ever since. Watching "Ran" was such an important memory to me that I even remember what I was eating at the time, a Philadelphia and grape wrap.
Ditto. My Father took me to see Ran in the theater.
A better King Lear then King Lear!
I was invited to see it at my friends apartment... this was the first foreign film I had ever seen. Didn’t expect much going into it but left reformed and dumbfounded. Such beautiful angles and jaw dropping color grading.
So how was the wrap?
*Ikiru* is, by far, the saddest film ever made... and one of the most beautiful. *Takashi Shimura* singing *Gondola no Uta* both in the bar and park scenes is crushing... the bar scene for pure sadness, the park scene for both its sadness but also triumph and finality (not to mention the beauty of the cinematography). I'd definitely put it in the top 3 of Kurosawa's films, imho.
Incredible film without doubt. But I think *Come* *and* *see* or *Irréversible* are sadder
@orion khan AGREED! Putting it on number 7 is a travesty
@@sergividal661 saddest in it's time.
@@sergividal661 Irreversible? wtf.. are u on drugs?
Magic on film
For an Asian filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa was a pioneer to break into international recognition. He inspired many Asians directors: John Woo (Hong Kong), Zhang Yimou (People's Republic of China), Ang Lee (Taiwan), Takeshi Kitano (Japan), Satyajit Ray (India), Hayao Miyazaki (Japan) and Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong).
You forgot pretty much every American director that American warship he inspired to
I honestly must thank Anime for this. Kurosawa was mentioned in some Anime, and I started watching a few of his movies. And it dumbfounded me, just what I'd been missing. Kurosawa movies turned me into a movie buff, eventually introducing me to Stanley Kubrick. Kurosawa's movies had magnificent cinematography, and some of the best pacing ever. Seven Samurai was a three and a half hour long movie. And I couldn't get off my chair.
Swapnil Karmakar anime is ani-gay.
Lol
Personally, I kept checking to see how much time was left. Then I'd say things like, "Oh, no! ONLY TWO MORE HOURS! NOOOO!". 😱
You know that Sholay was a remake of Seven Samurais.
I found kuroswawa from satyajit ray books
Anyone watching before playing Ghost of Tsushima?
damn straight!
I legitimately can’t fucking wait!
Totally!!!!
yes sir
Secure those likes man
I love Kurosawa fight scenes. So realistic and not a bunch of choreogrophy dance moves.
I will say this. Who ever the actors were in fight scenes with cavalry, they had some balls.
There weren't any CG back in the day, and getting trampled by a horse (or god forbid multiple horses) happened numerous times.
442hoeky
yea, ill admit that im a fanboy... and yea, at times you can see clear moment where "no one would do that in a fight" . however its never too fluid and perfect like in Jet Li movies for example.
@@tieyiklunmliu or getting shot at with arrows
Akira Kurosawa is one of the best. Definitely in the top 5 filmmakers of all time!
Top 2
The Number One, definately.
Not included here is one of Kurosawa's greatest lessons in humanity - Dodes'ka-den(1970). It's about how the lower class in the slums of 1960's Tokyo deal with their everyday existence of poverty. Which also juxtaposes his 1957 film The Lower Depths, an adaptation of the Russian play by Maxim Gorky. Kurosawa is a master story teller in describing how the human spirit with imagination can survive through horrid conditions and still find meaning in a very cruel world.
Agree on the Lower Depths, but not so much on Dodes'ka-den
I agree. Dodes'ka-den is highly underrated.
After some scrolling, finally see Dodes'kaden mentioned
I guess most people are not interested in seeing how those living in the poverty of slums go through their days...one day after another. We already know, as most people have to go through their less-than-perfect though better-than-impoverished days. Dramatization doesn't make the poverty and/or imprisonment seem worse than its reality.
We rather understand why there is such a horrible state of poverty and enslavement or imprisonment, and prevent or end it.
The reason this list is false is because they’re all perfect. There’s no top 10 when they’re all equal.
I guess they did a list just for the sake of it, which I don't mind, it help us to see how much of a great producer Kurosawa is.
Nah Yojimbo, High and Low are two of the second best and Seven Samurai is his best. Haven’t seen Ran yet
@@hood6089 You are so in for a treat with Ran, just wait...
Yeah, I was kinda thinking along these lines. I could not put one ahead of another when it comes ot Kurosawa and I have not even seen all of his films! But from the ones I have seen 90 % with Mifune Toshiro and 1 with only Shimura Takashi I could never make a list. They are all perfect and have different things to offer. Who is to say which one is the best when they are not comparable?! They all tackle different themes and social problems..
How do you exclude Yojimbo & Red Beard?
Good list overall, but Akahige (Red Beard) and Tengoku to Jigoku (High and Low) should definitely be in the Top 5. Two absolute classics that showed how versatile the great man was.
In total agreement, though those two could place in the top 3 for me.
Agree with you, Akahige (Red Beard/Barberousse) is probably one of the best film ever done
I've read 'The Emperor and the Wolf' because of both Kurosawa and Mifune.
It's a fascinating and insightful read on their relationship from beginning to end.
Sad that they couldn't reconcile after 'Akahige' and I would've loved to have seen Mifune in 'Kagemusha' and 'Ran' as he would've brought a different level of acting.
Mifune is to me the Japanese Brando. Stunning man both physically & acting.
We respect Kurosawa's work, because we love his movies.
As senior and film lover, I can distinguish and separate at least dozen directors I like who created about hundreds of marvelous films I love and watched them in many past decades. Every of them is unique, in some way not competitive. Thanks God for it, but we got choices and variety of beauty...
Directors, and their films, are hardly comparable, because firstly we, people, are so different...
1) Seven Samurai
2) Ikiru
3) High and Low
4) Throne of Blood
5) Rashomon
6) The Hidden Fortress
7) Red Beard
8) Dersu Uzala
9) Ran
10) Kagemusha
GiantSandles that’s a much better list but I’d include dreams
@@threeblindchickens I've not actually watched that one, it's on the Criterion channel but it runs out in a few days so I'll have to do that soon
GiantSandles it’s really good I recommend it although not as good as the ones at the top of your list
Agreed on 9 off your list, I would still put Drunken Angel at #10.
Very good
Kurosawa released a collection of shorts in later years under the title, "Dreams." Variously evoking psychological, cultural, spiritual, and even political themes without words, each vignette comes across as a spectacular visual haiku.
These are all great choices, but it's really hard to put together a top10 list of Kurosawa's films. He truly was a magnificent director; George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola among many others honored him as the master of his craft. Coppola even referred to him as the Great Father of Screen Violence.
Forgot to mention John Belushi.
How amazing is a filmmaker when something like "Ran" or "Yojimbo" isn't even his best? One of the greatest ever.
Seven Samurai is undoubtedly one of the best and most influential movies ever, but that final showdown in Yojimbo is my personal favourite scene of any movie ever. the framing, the movement, the tension, the shot composition... everything about it is perfect imo. even Leone's "fistful of dollars" (plagarized) final showdown couldn't capture the moment as well. It felt like a cheap, untalented attempt to recreate it slightly differently. And that's saying something because Leone is a fantastic director in his own right.
I was stunned Harakiri didn't even make the list, not even an honorable mention. It's a masterpiece imo.
@@sammy17bst Bro, what are you talking about? That's directed by Masaki Kobayashi. I think it's one of the best movies ever made and is in my top 3. If you like it, check out Samurai Rebellion by the same director. It isn't at the same level, but it's really good too.
@@ayushpatel7597 Lmao, I realized my mistake soon after I made that comment, just didn't bother deleting it, thanks for correcting me lol. I was convinced it was Kurosawa for some reason.
No one ever mentions Red Beard or as SNL would say Samurai Doctor! My favorite choreographed fight scene in Kurosawa movie.
Ikiru is a beautiful film. It makes me cry just thinking about it. Highly recommended.
It's the most human movie ever
Would've loved to see "Dreams" get a mention somewhere, but it's pretty hard to get them all in. It's a testament to Kurosawa's brilliance that this list could also be called "10 of the Greatest Films Ever Made."
I AM 46 years old..I saw one of his movies when I was a kid..the name escapes me..it had a lot of fighting in it. Seven Samurai!! Me thinks...Anyway..it blew me away, I could not take my eyes off of the screen, I didn't want to leave the TV even to go to the bathroom and almost shit myself. The immersion in that movie is otherworldly.
Unique.
The "Rashomon" plot,or rather a version of it,has become a favorite of sitcoms...as the story opens,something dramatic has happened.The participants,usually bickering with each other,are asked to explain what happened.Each one does,giving their own version but always casting themselves as the virtuous one.In some cases,one of the characters remains quiet for most of the proceedings,but it is from this person that we get the real story.
I was mesmerized by 'Ran' when I first watched it. Truly a magnificent film.
Kurosawa's Dreams (1990) is a criminally underrated film in AK's oevre. Sorry to see it absent from the list.
His must underrated is One Wonderful Sunday
"Find hungry samurai," is one of the greatest lines ever uttered in cinema.
THANK YOU! time to re-watch this riveting, sometimes charming, sometimes tragic heroic story.
7S is a true masterpiece. I love how it had funny moments without messing with the serious tone, it really makes you feel connected to the seven ronin when they are cracking jokes during their down time.
Not even a mention for Dreams? Outrageous!
It's a pretty film and has a few great moments, but I think not ranking it among his greatest is correct.
Bored
In my opinion dreams is top 3
In Dreams, the Tunnel episode is enough to be on the top of the list.
Dreams is probably the best anthology film ever made.
Should've been there.
I am pretty aware of the influence Seven Samurai had,but for me Ran has to be nr.1.
Also,Ikiru deserves a much higher position in this list.
I guess all movies made by Akira Kurosawa are worth watching,so there is no point in ranking them :)
Kurosawa was one of the greatest directors of cinema full stop. i have never seen a movie of his i disliked, and a large portion of his filmography belongs in the top 100 films of all time.
Seriously, Kurosawa has had a profound impact on my taste in movies and me as a person. His works transcend boundaries of country and time.
RIP Kurosawa. You were a hero of filmmaking.
Ikiru can make me weep from simply thinking about the swing scene. Moving, beautiful, and absolutely perfect.
Yojimbo is my favorite Kurosawa film.
+Jared Dowty rashomon is his perfect film
Mine as well. Rashomon and Ran are beautiful, but I love Yojimbo a bit more
Yojimbo gave birth to the spaghetti western. Great film!
I just saw Yojimbo a few days ago! A truly spectacular work of cinema.
The bodyguard
I wish there was another man like Toshiro Mifune !
Truth!
This will be hard, he was very gifted. And he had class ;)
Spielberg says every actor tries to act like Mifune, but nobody can.
Why wish for another, when there can only be one of a kind
Legend!
My Top 5:
1) Seven Samurai
2) Rashomon
3) Ikiru
4) Yojimbo
5) Ran
Red Beard?
Same top 5 but with a different order.
7:50 Inspired nothing. As much as I love Sergio Leone, Fistful of Dollars was a shot-for-shot ripoff of Yojimbo. Kurosawa even sued Leone over it.
+Ugh-Fudge Bwana And yet Yojimbo was itself based on Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest story...
+Matthew McVeagh So what? A lot of films are adapted or based off of novels or short stories. The specific narrative doesn't necessarily have anything to do with his visual merits as a filmmaker directly influencing a near shot for shot remake by Leone or directors like Spielberg or Lucas ripping shots and sequences right out of Kurosawa's films.
You would get a lot more mileage however mentioning the great importance of the influence from filmmakers, especially the likes of John Ford, had on Kurosawa's work.
thetramp123 Well I don't know about it that, but I did know about the bit I mentioned.
+Ugh-Fudge Bwana Kurosawa saw the film, and liked it... he gave Leone permission to release it...
+Richard Brighton That statement defies reality. Akira Kurosawa sued Sergio Leone over A Fistful of Dollars, and even sent him this letter:
"Signor Leone-I have just had the chance to see your film. It is a very fine film, but it is my film. Since Japan is a signatory of the Berne Convention on international copyright, you must pay me"
Leone settled with Kurosawa and Toho out of court, to the tune of 15% of worldwide box office plus $100,000, and rights to the Asian release of FFoD. That's a far cry from 'gave Leone permission to release it, as that permission was purchased with a heavy price tag.
+Matthew McVeagh
Please understand that I am not referring to the story of either Yojimbo or FFoD, but the cinematography, framing, and pacing. These elements are almost solely under the control of the director, and are the elements that Leone copied wholesale from Yojimbo.
I've seen Kagemusha, Ran, Throne of Blood and The Seven Samurai. Great films all. I think Ran and Kagemusha were the most visually beautiful. Kurosawa does battle scenes of rival armies in beautiful colors sweeping down on each other. Quite stunning.
"Madadayo" and "Dreams" are SO beautiful I lack words. Ashame "Dreams" wasn't mentioned.
I love Dersu Uzala 'cause it shows a perfect unity of man and nature. The story itself is very moving, too.
Watchmojo finally made a good list. Know that's why I'm subscribed to your channel.
They finally did a very good an accurate list for once!
Whe are the Top Ten Anime Deaths though
Too bad it has such a by the numbers narration.
Yeah, but High and Low should be in the top 5
Dersu uzala would have been in my top 10 otherwise a great list
+eck macdonald Agreed.
K . dreams
Agreed. It's a superb movie. I'd have it in the top three.
This is the most manly movie I've ever seen, and I mean that in a good way. Few other films so completely and simply capture the male bond.
@@ericthemauve Yes, that's what I believe as well.
Akira Kurosawa is Legend, everyone in Hollywood should bow to him
+bunnyfreakz Not only in Hollywood :)
He was a lucky guy, becuse he havent got anything to do with Hollywood during his lifetime
@@divnaindija24 He still had to work under strenuous conditions and times. It wasn't easy for him in the later part of his career before he retired for some time.
I bow to no man.
Seven Samurais. Never get tired of watching.
This artist is one of the reasons why I aspire to become a filmmaker.
Ran is my favorite. it is a masterpiece!
+jackson madden That movie is a visual and aural masterpiece.
+jackson madden everyone can find something of himself in kurosawas movies, i guess you can call at least 5 of his movies masterpieces. his influence will always have its place in history
Is Ran still available on DVD or is it out of print? I can't find it anywhere.
Stefan Mogielnicki i could find it on amazon in an instant
Mine too.A close runner-up would be Rashomon.
Top 10 Federico Fellini Films
The Bad Sleep Well should be on here as an honorable mention at least.
I was hoping to see it here, too. I know the ending is widely considered to be flawed, but it had a real impact on me.
Roshoman is my fav, that final "real" fight scene was so authentic. Both men scared for their lives, tired, shaking.
My ranking would go like this
1) Ran
2) Seven Samurai
3) High and Low
4) Ikiru
5) The Bad Sleep Well
6) Rashomon
7) Dreams
8) Red Beard
9) Yojimbo
10) Sanjuro
11) Kagemusha
12) Throne of Blood
13) The Hidden Fortress
14) Drunken Angel
All of them are good to amazing
This is a great list. I would rank Throne of Blood higher but other than that, very close to right.
'Seven Samurai' One of the greatest movies I've ever scene
This is my list, with the WatchMojo rankings in parentheses. I add a few comments also:
1. Seven Samurai (1) *a no-brainer
2. Rashomon (2) *a no-brainer
3. Ikiru (7) *much too low, it's one of his greatest.
4. Yojimbo (4) *exactly right
5. Throne of Blood (6) *pretty close to mine
6. High and Low (9) *This film is usually either under-rated or over-rated, imo. 6 seems right to me.
7. Ran (3) *I love it...but 3 is too high -, his black and white period at it's best was unbeatable.
8. Hidden Fortress (5) *much too high - delightful but a bit too lightweight for 5.
9. Sanjuro (8) *pretty close to mine
10. Kagemusha (10) *exactly right
(all in all, not a bad TOP 10 for WatchMojo)
Honorable Mention:
11. Stray Dog (not mentioned by WM)
12. Drunken Angel
13. Red Beard
14. The Lower Depths (not mentioned by WM)
15. Dersu Uzala
*(in my opinion, Madadayo is not a near masterpiece - but is sweet and pleasant, though, as is Dreams)
Lol.
1.Has there been a list of "top Shakespeare adaptations"?
2. "Dreams" also deserves an honorable mention.
I always think High and Low is kind of underrated...well considering Kurosawa's other films, thats make sense somehow...Good List BTW.
You should reeeaaaaaally do a Top 10 Ingmar Bergman films.
1. Rashomon
2. Seven Samurai
3. Ran
4.Yojimbo
5.High and Low
6.Kagemusha
7.Throne of Blood
8.The Hidden Fortress
9.Sanjuro
Kurosawa was definitely a phenomenal and inspiring director!
Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Seven Samurai... everything samurai that Kurosawa and Mifune worked together on was amazing!
Toshiro Mifune's performance in Rashomon is one of the best of all time
In general he was a genius Demon of an Actor
Last October 5th i started seeing a kurosawa's film a day. Today I concluded by rewatching "High and Low", the first akira kurosawa's film I saw first 1 year ago. What an amazing journey!
I would replace Rashomon for Dersu Uzala any day! The film deserves to be in a top three pick.
I love Dersu Uzala too!
Akira Kurosawa was born in the house of a descendant of a samurai. He loved the ideas and actions of samurai. Samurai always walks in the middle of the road. And the eyes of the Samurai are sharp and their appearance is dignified. The difference between samurai and farmers, and people in town is clear. Samurai appearing in Kurosawa's movie can be distinguished clearly. Kurosawa took time to get the kimono of the actor getting used to.
"Dreams" was the best for me. it was so artistic.
Cute things to call your girl/boyfriend
1- Sugar
2- Honey
3- Flour
4- Egg
5- 1/2lb butter
6- Stir
7- Pour into pan
8- Preheat to 360
____ Egg
I don't know why I read this comment... but it did make me laugh.
Each one is a class. Akira Kurosawa is indeed a legend...
Hands down the most influential director in film history.
Akira Kurosawa is the greatest director of all time.
next to Andrei Tarkovsky, Federico Fellini and Robert Bresson
Kubrick, Hitchcock, Kurosawa
Either Kurosawa or Bergman.
Akira kurosawa is one of the greatest directors the world has ever seen . He made so many great movies a lot of people associate him with samurai genre although he was versatile director high and low , Dersu Uzala are underrated masterpieces . His autobiography is also must read an awesome book for anyone kurosawa simply giant of world cinema.
Kurosawa and Miyazaki are some of the most talented storytellers and filmmakers in history
He is the greatest filmaker that ever lived and inspired all the current generation of filmakers.
Japan really can produce world class success stories.
It's a good list. It's hard to separate best and favorite, but for me *Ikiru* is his best. For films not on the list I think *Stray Dog* deserves to be there, and while *August Rhapsody* may not be, it is still one of my favorites. It's really hard to make comedic action movies that are among the greatest films ever made, but Kurosawa was able to do it (Wong Kar-wai too). MUCH aided by Mifune. Kurosawa is, in my opinion, one of the top 10 film makers of all time and of them all, he perhaps has the most masterpieces to his credit.
Hidden fortress above ikiru and kagemusha is wild
The greatest filmmaker in history if you ask me. Thanks for making this list!
The one I love the most is “After The Rain”, a beautiful movie that was an unexpected surprise the first time I watched it.
In Throne of Blood, "Lady Macbeth" is one of the most sinister characters in cinema. The rustle of her kimono approaching slowly from the darkness sets the hairs up on the back of my neck every time. Brr!
10. Kagemusha
9. High and Low
8. Sanjuro
7. Ikiru
6. Throne of Blood
5. The Hidden Fortress
4. Yojimbo
3. Ran
2. Rashomon
1. Seven Samurai
Honorable Mentions: Drunken Angel, Dersu Uzala, Stray Dog, Red Beard, Madadayo
Seven Samurai is definitely the best. You can watch it over and over again and enjoy it every time.
ok since Ghost of Tsushima is about to released soon now i'm intrigued! so the question here how I can watch all of these digitally since his movies are years before I was even born. lol
A lot of them are on HBO max... plus the 6 lone wolf and cub films which aren’t Kurosawa but they are pretty badass
Criterion Channel has it. It's a paid service though.
Joseph Baura Theres a free trial
Get a subscription to the criterion channel. It has all his films besides dreams ran and the quiet duel. Aldo it comes a lot if commentary documentary and interviews.
Akira Kurosawa é o maior diretor em todos os tempos, ele filma e lê a mente do espectador, sensacional!
MY TOP
10- Derzu Uzala
9- Red Beard
8- Dreams
7- Throne of Blood
6- The Hidden Fortress
5- Ikiru
4- Yojimbo
3- Rashomon
2- Ran
1- Seven Samurai
Ikiru should be top 3
Dreams is my favorite. It's like all of the most surreal parts of his other films in one.
I watched seven samurai when I was like 14 for the first time and was blown away by it. I’ve seen it many time since it truly is an incredible film. Puts modern movies to shame in my opinion it just show what true movie making talent looks like.
Rashamon should've been number 1. It was an absolute breakthrough in film narrative
+Joe Green
seven samurai is still more influential
+Lt. Col. Frank Slade True,but personally I also think Rashomon is better.
+Lt. Col. Frank Slade True,but personally I also think Rashomon is better.
Matei Lascu
I personally never liked Rashomon that much, i see the influence and the greatness in that way, but i never thought it was that entertaining or emmersive like Kurosawa's other films like Ikiru, Yojinbo, Ran, Stray Dogs, Hidden Fortress, Red Beard, high and low etc.
But you know, that's just me
I think seven samuri should be number 1!! But why you did not like Rashamon???
You can never - *never* - go wrong with Kurosawa! _Yojimbo/Sanjuro, Seven Samurai, High & Low, Ikiru, Stray Dogs, Rashomon, Throne Of Blood, Hidden Fortress, Lower Depths, Ran..._ and on and on and on.
Which of his films would you recommend to watch first?
I've never seen one of his and need to start!
If Ikiru isn't on this list I'm going to disown you Mojo!
Okay, Mojo, we are still family. :)
confucius12012 Of course Ikiru would be on the list. It's a masterpiece, and one of his best.
Ikiru should have been higher. I would have put it 3rd, even though it's my personal favorite.
I'm with Nathan. Ikiru is in the top 3.
What about Red Beard?
One of my favorite home video purchases was when I ordered Stray Dog through Suncoast Video for $16.00 and it turned out to be part of a three-pack VHS set of Stray Dog, High and Low, and The Bad Sleep Well. High and Low is probably my favorite Kurosawa film. I might seek out your no. 10 pick though after watching this video.
His films basically inspired the whole gang of well known directors from Coppola to Lucas to be action film directors.
The few films he made during World War Two (judo story series) were credited to have pioneer many modern action filming techniques in scene construction and pacing, I was surprised that series weren't get mentioned.
"This fantastic filmmaker put Japanese cinema on the map." It was already on the map; it was in Japan. I shouldn't expect great writing from a listicle video, but come on.
Kurosawa é um dos grandes mestres do cinema! Dersu Uzala e Madadayo
estão entre os meus queridos!
10- Kagemusha
9- High and Low
8- Sanjuro
7- Ikiru
6- Throne of Blood
5- The Hidden Fortress
4- Yojimbo
3- Ran
2- Rashomon
1- Seven Samurai
Red Beard should be on the list
I agree, such an understated but powerful performance by Mifune
My opinion:
1 - Seven Samurai
2 - High and Low
3 - Rashomon
4 - Red Beard
5 - Ran
6 - Throne of Blood
7 - Ikiru
8 - Yojimbo
9 - Hidden Fortress
10 - Kagemusha
The Bad Sleep Well. Hated in Japan and rumor has it the emperor denounced as anti Japanese. An amazing movie about Japan's culture and fascist ideology.
If an emperor denounce something as anti-establishment, it's most likely something good.
It is his best movie and one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is extremely suspense full and test amazingly symbolic movie. If you are a movie lover,especially noir genre then you got to watch it.
@Matt,then you are Not a movie lover! Just somebody who watches movies that suit his taste only.
Stick to Marvel and DC comics then. I guess a piss in the snow is your Picasso!
delon a
It also based on Hamlet, why that wasn't included in the 10 is beyond me.
I was introduced to Kurosawa in the 70's and Dersu Uzala has stuck with me since then. An outstanding piece of work by a brilliant man. It followed the book by Vladimir Arsenyev very closely.
Nah! You forgot to add DREAMS, one of the most visually stunning films he produced and directed! The list is incomplete without that film!
I see the Fox Wedding in my mind's eye often--exquisite and stirring and a mystery
Seven Samurai was my first Kurosawa flick and love it! I even find myself singing the theme sometimes. That’s how much I love it. I’d love to know the story that inspired it
The Hidden Fortress is one of my favorites!!!! ❤️
I always have a good chuckle when the subject of Rashomon comes up, and "From a certain point of view..." comes to mind. It's usually said that "The Hidden Fortress" influenced George Lucas, but to be fair, it was "The films of Akira Kurosawa." For those who haven't seen much of his work, well, there are a few bits in the video you just watched that were referenced in the Star Wars movies, including the events in "Yojimbo" that lead up to "We're wanted men", and Dersu Uzala -- who first appears to be some kind of country rube before the captain and his men figure out just how talented and wise he really is -- is advising the captain to help him gather grass to build a shelter to help them survive a night in the Siberian wilderness. There's a little something like that in "Empire." 🙂