DVDs >> Akira Kurosawa Movies - DVDs

THE FIRST FILM FROM THE LEGENDARY AKIRA KUROSAWA

The Directorial debut from one of the screen's greatest ever Directors - Akira Kurosawa. SANSHIRO SUGATA is the tale of the emergence of the fighting art of Judo in old Japan. Set in the late 19th century, the film follows a wayward young man Sugata and his quest for knowledge. After witnessing some Ju-Jitsu bullies beaten by a man with a new fighting style , Sugata yearns to learn the emerging art of Judo. As Sugata aims to beat the Ju-Jitsu masters he also fights a battle with his inner self.

Rating: PG (Mild Violence), Run Time: 78 min., Language: Japanese with English subtitles.

Kurosawa's magnificent Samurai Epic Starring Toshiro Mifune

Rating: PG (Low Level Violence), Run Time: 207 min., Language: Japanese, English. Produced: 1954
DVD Features: Exclusive Written Introduction From David Stratton from The Movieshow (sbs Tv), Trailers, Director And Cast Bio

"Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI is an action packed epic spooling in at a gargantuan 3 hours, but every black and white scene has something to keep the viewer hooked - be it the intense often noble acting, fabulous costumes or brilliant battle sequences... It may be a long haul but this "Far East Western" is a rich cinematic spectacle with a touching heart at its core." Nell Schofield, SUNDAY HERALD SUN

"The greatest action movie ever made." -- Desson Howe, WASHINGTON POST

"Akira Kurosawa's 'The Seven Samurai (1954) is not only a great film in its own right, but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century." -- Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

One of Kurosawa's classic Samurai action movies. Starring Toshiro Mifune.

Rating: PG (Low Level Violence), Run Time: 106 min. Language: Japanese Language With English Subtitles, English. Produced: 1961

"One of Japan's great contributions to cinema, the inspiration for spaghetti Westerns and the introduction of a new kind of film hero." -- Brian Webster, APOLLO GUIDE

"Japan's definitive leading man, Toshiro Mifune, wields wits that are even deadlier than his Katana. Funny, clever, and never a dull moment." -- Brian Mckay, EFILMCRITIC.COM

"Massive amounts of swordplay and treachery turn it into one of the most entertaining and best Kurosawa films." -- Ted Prigge, DECONSTRUCTING EDWARD

A follow up to Yojimbo, and another of Kurosawa's classic Samurai action movies. Staring Toshiro Mifune.

Rating: PG (Low Level Violence), Run Time: 96 min. Language: Japanese With English Subtitles, English. Produced: 1962
DVD Features: Original Theatrical Trailer With 'behind The Scenes' Footage

"Akira Kurosawa's follow-up to YOJIMBO is about as flat-out entertaining as can possibly be." - ABOUTFILM.COM

"Sanjuro "...is not at all the sort of angry, wild, sword-swinging Kurosawa "Western" we have come to expect. This is a mischievous, sly, good-humored presentation of a crusty old samurai caught between two groups of plain incompetents, with a playful satiric point... 'Never send a boy to do a man's work' " NEW YORK TIMES

The inspiration for the original "STAR WARS".

Rating: PG (Low Level Violence). Run Time: 138 min. Language: Japanese With English Subtitles, English. Produced: 1958

"No Star Wars fan should miss this suspiciously familiar samurai epic." NEW YORK TIMES

"Kurosawa reminds us that he really is the best Samurai movie director ever ... There are many laugh out loud moments, and the film also bears some of Kurosawa's finest action sequences." - EFILMCRITIC

Akira Kurosawa reworks Shakespeare's Macbeth in THRONE OF BLOOD.
Set in medieval Japan, Lord Wasizu and Lord Miki are lost in a dense forest where they meet a mysterious old woman who forsees their future. After leaving the forest, good fotune comes their way and Lord Washizu, spurred on by his ambitious wife, hatches an evil plan to make the prophecy come true.

Rating: PG (Occasional Violence ), Run Time: 105min, Language: Japanese With English Subtitles, English, Produced: 1957

DVD Features: Original Theatrical Trailer

Genius. No, really: Genius. - New York Times, Widely hailed as a masterpiece. - US Gazette journal, Kurosawa at the top of his game! - Flipside Movies

The last collaboration between Kurosawa and the powerhouse actor Toshiro Mifune, RED BEARD is the story of a young and arrogant medical graduate. Assigned to serve at an impoverished local clinic, Dr Yasumoto feels he is better than his surroundings. His superior is Dr Niide- known as 'Red Beard' who begins to show the young graduate that there may be more to life than power and prestige.

Rating: M (Adult Themes, Sexual References, Medium Level Violence), Run Time: 172 min., Language: Japanese, English, Produced: 1965

...a great and moving film - Chicago Sun Times, Many directors still have never created one film equal to Red Beard - Culture Dose, Remarkable imagery and an engrossing screenplay - APOLLO GUIDE, Red Beard is assembled with the complexity and depth of a good l9th-century novel, and it is a pleasure, in a time of stylishly fragmented films, to watch a director taking the time to fully develop his characters. - Roger Ebert Chicago Sun Times

Ichiro is a young painter on holiday in the mountains. By chance he meets Miyako- a famous singer who is staying at the same hotel. Wanting privacy, Miyako is uncooperative with the press and soon a tabloid magazine falsely suggests a scandalous relationship between the singer and the young painter. When Ichiro sues, his lawyer accepts a bribe and the real scandal begins.

Rating: PG (Adult Themes), Run Time: 104 min., Language: Japanese, English, Produced: 1950

" its cautionary commentary on journalistic ethics is topical to this day" - Channel 4 UK

From Rashomon (1950) to Ran (1985), Akira Kurosawa set new boundaries for world cinema. His extraordinary career spanned one of Japan's most dramatic centuries and produced a string of masterpieces unrivalled in motion picture history. In the first major documentary to be made since his death in 1998, Kurosawa's family and colleagues are joined by critics from Japan and America to produce a comprehensive assessment of his achievements. Shot in High Definition, this revealing look at the acclaimed director features extensive clips from Kurosawa's greatest films and includes interviews with James Coburn and Clint Eastwood along with longtime associate Teruyo Nogami, actresses Machiko Kyo and Isuzu Yamada, actor Tatsuya Nakadai, director Kno Ichikawa and critics Tadao Sato and renowned Kurosawa historian Donald Ritchie.

Rating: PG (Medium Level Violence, Adult Themes). Run Time: 215 min. Language: English And Japanese With English Subtitles, English. Produced: 2002 - DVD Features: Bonus Interview Footage

KUROSAWA BOX- SAMURAI CLASSICS 4 DVD BOX SET

Rating: PG (Low Level Violence). Language: Japanese, English.

Description: Legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa (1910-1988) is one of the most well respected and influential directors of all time. In Hollywood's hands SEVEN SAMURAI (1954) was remade as THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, YOJIMBO (1961) started the entire Spaghetti Western genre when remade as A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964) and THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958) became the inspiration for the first STAR WARS (1977). Here for the first time in Australia is a collection of Kurosawa's early Samurai Classics that will undoubtedly continue to inspire audiences and film-makers for generations to come.