Among the great legends of cinema, without a doubt one of the most influential in the industry has been Akira Kurosawaa benchmark for many renowned filmmakers.
Starting his first steps in the industry in 1936, it was not until 1943 when he made his debut as a filmmaker with his first feature film, The legend of the great judo.
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Since then he has been making a multitude of films until he passed away in 1998 at the age of 88, leaving behind a long legacy in his filmography.
Today, at Hobby Consolas, we review The 10 best Akira Kurosawa movies and one that surpasses them all.
RASHOMON
- Year: 1950
- Duration: 88 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: Intrigue
One of Kurosawa’s most notorious early films was Rashomona film nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction starring, among others, Toshiro MifuneMachiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura.
This intriguing drama is set in 12th century feudal Japan. In Kyoto, under the gates of the ruined Rashomon temple, a woodcutter, a Buddhist priest and a pilgrim take shelter from the torrential rain.
The three discuss the trial of a bandit, accused of having killed a feudal lord and raped his wife. The details of the crime are narrated from the point of view of the bandit, the woman, the feudal lord -with the help of a medium- and the woodcutter, the only witness to the events..
TO LIVE
- Year: 1952
- Duration: 143 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: psychological drama
Between the kurosawa best movies have To livean interesting psychological drama that is considered one of the best Japanese feature films ever.
La cinta cuenta con un reparto forma do por los actors Takashi Shimura, Nobuo Kaneko, Kyoko Seki, Makoto Kobori, Kumeko Urabe, Yoshie Minami, Miki Odagiri and Kamatari Fujiwara.
Its plot follows the story of Kanji Watanabe, an old civil servant who leads a monotonous and gray life, doing practically nothing.
However, he is unaware of the emptiness of his existence until one day he is diagnosed with incurable cancer. With the certainty that the end of his days is near, the need arises in Kanji to find meaning in life.
THRONE OF BLOOD
- Year: 1957
- Duration: 110 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: Drama
Akira Kurosawa’s love for feudal Japan is reflected again in throne of blooda film that adapts the famous work of William Shakespeare, Macbeth.
Starring Toshirô Mifune, Isuzu Yamada and Takashi Shimura, the film tells the story of Taketori Washizu and Yoshaki Miki, two generals who, when they return from a victorious battle, meet a strange old woman on the road.
The old woman prophesies that Washizu will become the lord of the North Castle, so his wife will incite him until she convinces him that he must fulfill his destiny.
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS
- Year: 1958
- Duration: 139 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: adventures
Following with Kurosawa’s most outstanding films have the hidden fortressa tape that significantly influenced the construction of characters in the Star Wars saga by George Lucas.
La película cuenta en su reparto con los actors Toshiro Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Misa Uehara, Takashi Shimura, Susumu Fujita, Eiko Miyoshi, Kamatari Fujiwara, Koji Mitsui y Yoshio Tsuchiya.
Set in feudal Japan, the film follows the story of Matashichi and Tahei, two soldiers who have fled from the war and seek to enrich themselves.
When they find gold, they realize that they are being watched by a silent and mysterious man, who finally turns out to be the famous general Rokurota Makabe, who He will use the two soldiers, unaware of the identity of their companions, to transport a large quantity of gold and free Princess Yukihime..
YOJIMBO (THE MERCENARY)
- Year: 1961
- Duration: 110 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: Action
Oscar nominee for Best Costume Design, Yojinbo (The mercenary) is a film starring Toshirô Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yôko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Kato, among others.
The plot of the film is located in the 19th century, in a still feudal Japan, where a samurai arrives in a town where two bands of mercenaries fight each other for control of the territory.
Very soon The newcomer shows signs of being an invincible warrior, so the bosses of the two rival gangs try to hire his services to finish off the other..
THE HELL OF HATE
- Year: 1963
- Duration: 143 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: film noir
another of the Akira Kurosawa best movies es hell of hatea police thriller based on the novel by Evan Hunter.
La película tiene en su reparto a, entre otros, Toshiro Mifune, Kyôko Kagawa, Yutaka Sada, Takashi Shimura, Tatsuya Mihashi, Tatsuya Nakadai and Kenji Kodama.
Its plot revolves around Gondo, a manager of a major shoe company who receives the news that his son has been kidnapped.
The ransom demanded for him to see again is a large amount of money, but Gondo needs that money to close a negotiation that will give him control of the company.
BARBAROSSA
- Year: 1965
- Duration: 178 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: Drama
Based on the novel by Shugoro Yamamoto, Barbarossa is a film starring Toshirô Mifune, Yûzô Kayama, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Kyôko Kagawa and Tatsuyoshi Ehara, among others.
Its plot follows Yasuoto, a doctor who returns to his village after studying in Nagasaki. However, as soon as he arrives he is greatly disappointed.
Instead of being appointed physician to the shogun, Yasuoto is sent to a clinic that has very few resources and is run by a doctor nicknamed “Barbarossa”.. There, the new intern adopts an arrogant attitude, refusing to wear a uniform and rebelling against the other doctors.
DERSU UZALA (THE HUNTER)
- Year: 1975
- Duration: 141 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: adventures
Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Dersu Uzala (The Hunter) is one of the most outstanding films by Akira Kurosawa that adapts the book by Vladimir Arsenev.
The film stars Maksim Munzuk, Yuriy Solomin, Svetlana Danilchenko, Vladimir Kremena, Dmitriy Korshikov and Suymenkul Chokmorov.
Based on true events, Dersu Uzala (The Hunter) follows Captain Vladimir Arseniev who, together with his detachment, have to carry out geological surveys in the Siberian taiga forests, but the vastness of the territory and the harshness of the climate make them misplace
Condemned to wander a wild land, Vladimir meets Dersu Uzala, a nomadic hunter who knows the territory like the back of his hand and knows how to deal with inclement weather. Dersu will teach Vladimir to respect nature and live in full harmony with ita lesson that he will hardly forget for the rest of his life.
KAGEMUSHA, THE SHADOW OF THE WARRIOR
- Year: 1980
- Duration: 180 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: Drama
following with the kurosawa’s best cinema have Kagemusha, the warrior’s shadowwhich had two Oscar nominations in the categories of Best Foreign Film and Best Art Direction.
Starring, among others, Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazak and Kenichi Hagiwara, the film places us in a medieval Japan devastated by feudal wars, where a common thief is chosen to replace a powerful warlord who has just died.
RAN
- Year: 1985
- Duration: 160 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: war drama
Protagonizada by Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao and Jinpachi Nezu, Ran is a film that had three Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction, obtaining the award in the Best Costume category.
Ran’s plot is inspired by The Lear King Shakespeare placing his plot in feudal Japan. The story begins with Hidetora, a powerful feudal lord who decides to abdicate and divide his domain among his three sons.
The minor considers that the idea is absurd and will only serve to cause problems. His father, enraged, disinherits him. Very soon he will discover his mistake, because ambition will make his older sons fight for power in a bloody war.
THE SEVEN SAMURAIS
- Year: 1954
- Duration: 205 min.
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Gender: adventures
Of course, the Akira Kurosawa film that stands out above all others is the seven samuraia cult film that was nominated for an Oscar in the categories of Best Artistic Direction and Best Costume Design.
La película tiene en su reparto a, entre otros, Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki and Daisuke Kato.
In the middle of feudal Japan, a village of defenseless peasants is repeatedly attacked and looted by a band of outlaws. Advised by the village elder, some locals go to the city with the aim of hiring a group of samurai to protect them.
Despite the fact that the only salary is food and shelter, several samurai are incorporated one by one to the singular group that finally goes to the village.
So far our review of The 10 best Akira Kurosawa movies and one that surpasses them all. If you want other movie recommendations from great directors, here we leave you the 10 best Alfred Hitchcock movies and one that surpasses them all.
