Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
Directed by: Hiroshi Inagaki
Starring: Toshirô Mifune, Kōji Tsuruta, Mariko Okada, Kaoru Yachigusa
Rated: NR
Running Time: 1h 43m
TMM Score: 4 out of 5
STRENGTHS: Characters, Story, Themes
WEAKNESSES:
Musashi, ever the wanderer, continues his journey, dueling and gathering knowledge to become a respectable samurai.
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Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
Directed by: Hiroshi Inagaki
Starring: Toshirô Mifune, Mariko Okada, Rentarô Mikuni
Rated: NR
Running Time: 1h 33m
TMM Score: 3.5 out of 5
STRENGTHS: Characters, Story, Themes, Color, Japan
WEAKNESSES: Action, Blocking
An aspiring warrior joins the losing side of a feudal war, sending him on a downward spiral as he finds himself a wanted fugitive in the land he once called home.
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Kwaidan (1964)
Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi
Starring: Rentaro Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Miskako Wantanabe, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Kishi
Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Some Frightening Moments)
Running Time: 3 h 3 m
TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5
STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Stories, Culture, Mis-en-scene
WEAKNESSES: -
An anthology film of four Japanese folk tales with supernatural themes.
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