Sansho the Bailiff

Sansho the Bailiff 1954

8.10

In medieval Japan, a woman and her children journey to find the family's patriarch, who was exiled years before.

1954

The Wicked Reporter 2: The Rebirth of Horserace Betting

The Wicked Reporter 2: The Rebirth of Horserace Betting 1994

8.80

The continuing adventures of Matsuzaki (Eiji Okuda), a racing tipster for a sports paper. In this sequel to 1993's The Wicked Reporter, Matsuzaki befriends a mysterious old bettor at the track named Tokudaiji (Kei Sato). The man turns out to be a well-connected millionaire and invites Matsuzaki to his home... While the sequel covers the familiar territory of gambling and gangsters, Mochizuki also attempts to tactfully approach such subjects as gender dysphoria, transvestism, and infidelity.

1994

Pulse

Pulse 2001

6.60

In the immense city of Tokyo, the darkness of the afterlife lurks some of its inhabitants who are desperately trying to escape the sadness and isolation of the modern world.

2001

Zatoichi on the Road

Zatoichi on the Road 1963

6.90

Zatoichi is sworn to protect the life of a young girl and without any real allies finds himself in the middle of a bloody turf war.

1963

The Tale of Zatoichi

The Tale of Zatoichi 1962

7.30

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

1962

Zatoichi's Vengeance

Zatoichi's Vengeance 1966

6.80

Zatoichi comes upon a dying man who asks him to give a bag of money to "Taichi". Zatoichi has no idea who this is but when he comes upon a small town harassed by gangsters, he finds that "Taichi" was the man's young son. Along his travels he also met a blind monk who makes Zatoichi question his murderous lifestyle. In trying to help the town, Zatoichi kills some gangsters and becomes a hero to the boy. He must make a choice of whether to use non-violence and set a good example, or violence and set the boy on the wrong path in life.

1966

Rashomon

Rashomon 1950

8.09

Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, "Rashomon" is perhaps the finest film ever to investigate the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.

1950

Dersu Uzala

Dersu Uzala 1975

7.95

A military explorer meets and befriends a Goldi man in Russia’s unmapped forests. A deep and abiding bond evolves between the two men, one civilized in the usual sense, the other at home in the glacial Siberian woods.

1975

Ugetsu

Ugetsu 1953

7.97

In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

1953

New Tale of Zatoichi

New Tale of Zatoichi 1963

6.90

Wishing to find peace, Zatoichi travels to his old village but only finds trouble when he ends up in a love triangle and finds old scores have followed him home.

1963

Cure

Cure 1997

7.50

A detective starts spiraling out of control when a wave of gruesome murders with seemingly similar bizarre circumstances are sweeping Tokyo.

1997

Street of Shame

Street of Shame 1956

7.65

The lives of five prostitutes employed at a Japanese brothel while the nation is debating the passage of an anti-prostitution law.

1956

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues 1962

7.00

Returning to the village where a year before he had killed Hirate, a much-admired opponent, Zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love.

1962

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe 1995

7.50

A ship runs aground on a mysterious atoll leading to an investigation by insurance representative Kusanagi, who discovers an ancient bead that he gives to his daughter Asagi. Meanwhile, ornithologist Nagamine investigates reports of a new species of large bird named Gyaos. As the Gyaos begin to attack, an ancient guardian with a bond to Asagi emerges.

1995

Gate of Hell

Gate of Hell 1953

7.10

Japan, 1159. Moritō, a brave samurai, performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. Moritō falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is married.

1953

Love for an Idiot

Love for an Idiot 1967

5.96

A middle-aged factory engineer trains, marries, and ultimately loses a teenage bride after she enslaves him to her whims.

1967

Gamera vs. Guiron

Gamera vs. Guiron 1969

5.50

Two young boys sneak aboard a spaceship and find themselves whisked away to the mysterious planet Terra. There, they encounter Gamera's old foe Gyaos and two female aliens with a taste for human brains. Gamera must save the children and battle the new monster Guiron, whose entire body is a deadly living weapon.

1969

Graveyard of Honor

Graveyard of Honor 2002

6.20

A barkeeper saves a Yakuza boss' life and thus makes his way up in the organization. However, his fear of nothing soon causes problems.

2002

Serpent's Path

Serpent's Path 1998

6.80

Miyashita, a former low-level yakuza member, has tracked down and kidnapped his daughter's murderer with help of his friend Nijima. But others are soon implicated in the death, leading the pair further down a violent path of revenge.

1998

Shinsengumi Chronicles

Shinsengumi Chronicles 1963

6.50

As winds of change sweep Japan, an honest man joins the Shinsengumi out of admiration for its leader, and because he wants to live and die as a samurai. However, as his involvement grows, reality and idealism come into deadly conflict.

1963