MUSASHI MIYAMOTO SERIES
Starring : Nakamura Kinnosuke
Directed by : Uchida Tomu
1.ZEN & SWORD
After defeating Yoshioka Seijuro in a match, Miyamoto Musashi has become a marked man. Countless people want revenge against him for a variety of reasons, and he is challenged by the Yoshioka family to a rematch, only since the new titular head of the Yoshioka school is a mere child, they can bring in over 100 skilled samurai to fight him in the most memorable version of the famous showdown with the Yoshioka by the lonesome pine tree near Ichijoji Temple.
This is the most action packed entry in the series as should be expected. Unlike the whitewash given to Musashi in the earlier version from Toho, Musashi does not hesitate to carry out what needs to be done in order to win a duel against 100 men!
1961 Color Widescreen 110 min.
2.SHOWDOWN AT HANNYAZAKA
Also known as DUEL AT DEVIL'S MASK PASS this film begins when, after spending 3 years of study in isolation, Takezo is brought before the Clan Lord and made a Samurai. At this time he receives the new samurai name that he is to be remembered for, Miyamoto Musashi.
Now he travels Japan seeking to develop his sword skill, and goes to Nara near Kyoto to learn from the Hozoin Priests about their unique method of fighting with spears. Along the way he runs afoul of a group of ronin who have been terrorizing the area, and they must meet at Devil?s Mask Pass to see who will live. None of this is in the Mifune/Inagaki version of the Musashi story, though it is one of his greatest battles.
1962 Color Widescreen 107 min.
3.ELEVATION TO THE 2 SWORD STYLE
In this film, alternately known as THE WORTHLESS DUEL, Musashi has just slaughtered the vile ronin and vilified the Hozoin Priests for their duplicity, when he sets off to challenge the most famous sword fighting schools in Japan, the Yagyu and the Yoshioka.
As the great Grandmaster Yagyu Sekishusai is refusing to meet the young swordsmen from Yoshioka, Musashi comes along looking to challenge the masters of both schools.
This is from another part in the book which was not covered at all in the SAMURAI TRILOGY, and is really critical to the understanding of Musashi?s development as a martial artist. When Sasaki Kojiro comes into the picture, the final element is there for the rest of the story to play out.
1963 Color Widescreen 104 min.
4.THE DUEL AT ICHIJOJI TEMPLE
After defeating Yoshioka Seijuro in a match, Miyamoto Musashi has become a marked man. Countless people want revenge against him for a variety of reasons, and he is challenged by the Yoshioka family to a rematch, only since the new titular head of the Yoshioka school is a mere child, they can bring in over 100 skilled samurai to fight him in the most memorable version of the famous showdown with the Yoshioka by the lonesome pine tree near Ichijoji Temple.
This is the most action packed entry in the series as should be expected. Unlike the whitewash given to Musashi in the earlier version from Toho, Musashi does not hesitate to carry out what needs to be done in order to win a duel against 100 men!
1964 Color Widescreen 128 min.
5.THE FINAL DUEL
The final showdown between the two rival swordsmen comes on Funajima Island when Musashi has to somehow find a way to defeat the 37 long sword that his arch enemy Kojiro uses for his "Swallow-tail" cut.
While the clan lord who backs Kojiro plans to ambush Musashi, the time is ripe for one of Musashi?s most famous tricks, that of using an oar to defeat the extremely long sword of his arrogant foe! But how can he escape the vengeance of those who are defeated?
1965 Color Widescreen 121 min.
All 5 Movies are NTSC Region Free
Japanese with English subtitles
|
