Akira Kurosawa Films That You Need to See

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese director who created some of Japan’s most popular films. He reminds me of a Japanese version of John Ford.
Just like how John Ford used John Wayne a lot in his films, Akira Kurosawa used the glorious actor Toshiro Mifune… who himself feels like Japan’s John Wayne.

  1. Madadayo
    Madadayo tells the story of a professor’s life before and after World War II. It’s sad, slow, and interesting.
  2. Ran
    Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of King Lear. Try to watch the Blu-ray version. It’s ridiculously colorful for a 1980’s Japanese film.
  3. Throne of Blood
    Throne of Blood just happens to be another adaption from Shakespeare… this time it’s Macbeth.
  4. Yojimbo and Sanjuro
    A two-fer. These films follow the ronin Sanjuro on his little escapades. They’re both actually a bit humorous.