Here are some fabulous samurai films I was surprised to find on hulu plus (most, if not all, are reviewed in my books):
Shinsengumi Chronicles
Excellent, warts-and-all portrayal of the notorious pro-shogunate ronin militia and their bloody hijinks during the Bakumatsu period.
Samurai Saga
Toshiro Mifune doing Cyrano. A classic.
The Secret of the Urn
Great Gosha treatment of crazy one-eyed, one-armed ronin Tange Sazen (wonderfully portrayed by Kinnosuke Nakamura).
Samurai Vendetta
Shintaro Katsu and Raizo Ichikawa’s first on-screen teaming. (During filming, the studio sent a car for Raizo; Katsu had to take the bus … )
Hunter in the Dark
My favorite 70s era Gosha, a decade in which he made a number of awesome yakuza epics. This is the best of the bunch.
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Another one, not the best (a couple of flaws, which I mention in Warring Clans) but still pretty awesome. Keep the book handy — this one may require some help keeping up!
Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees
Tomisaburo Wakayama chops off heads for his lady love in this shocker from Japanese new wave enfant terrible Masahiro Shinoda.
Duel for Gold (1971) - 7.5
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The morality tale told here is as old as the Bible but rarely has it been
told with so much blood and with such a high body count. This was director
Chor...
2 hours ago