Action junkies get to watch riveting combat with cool-looking swords. If operatic drama is more your speed, you can sit back and watch committed actors dine upon lavish scenery.
Fans of period pieces will love the intricate set design, costuming and portrayals of towering historical figures in the midst of epic conflict. Samurai flicks really have something for everyone. The American Western falls more or less within the bounds of the 19th Century, yet samurai films offer centuries of warfare, palace intrigue and a drawn-out end of an era for the history and film buff to chew on. This is a broad genre, just from a the standpoint of how much history falls within it. And it’s why we’re so excited to present Paste’s list of the 50 Best Samurai Films of All Time. That self-abnegation in service of something greater than oneself is the question at the heart of the works of generation after generation of directors as they revisit the samurai film.
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I believe it might be that at the core of every samurai is the code of bushido, the feudal Japanese equivalent of chivalry, with its one edict above all else: If the time should call for it, protect your lord with your life. What is it about the samurai that captivates Westerners? The armor and swords, the reverent attitude and the reputation for supreme competence in warfare are all pretty impressive, but they don’t get to the heart of it.