Archive for Historical Epics/Martial arts/Fantasy

Samurai Trilogy 3 dvds boxset (starring Toshiro Mifune) – $8

July 18, 2008 at 8:01 am · Filed under DVDs, Historical Epics/Martial arts/Fantasy

From Wikipedia.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Trilogy

The Samurai Trilogy is a film trilogy directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune as Miyamoto Musashi and Koji Tsuruta as Sasaki Kojirō. The films are based on the novel by Eiji Yoshikawa, about the famous duellist and author of The Book of Five Rings.

The three films are:

  • Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
  • Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
  • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)

Together, they are a trilogy of epic proportions following the character growth of Musashi from brash – yet strong – young soldier to thoughtful and introspective samurai, culminating in Musashi’s duel with the greatest opponent he would ever face.

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One of Musashi earlier battles, with the sickle and ball expert, Shisido Baiken!

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Musashi – Eji Yoshikawa (Hardcover) – $20

July 18, 2008 at 7:42 am · Filed under Books, Historical Epics/Martial arts/Fantasy

Romance, Philosophy, Action rolled into one. This is one delicious read!

 The book begins with the early life of Miyamoto Musashi, born Shinmen Takezo, and we see how he turned from a loutish hooligan (remember Huo Yuan jia?) to a samurai always seeking to better himself in soul and spirit.

A few memorable fights were his clashes with the Yoshioka School where he emerged unscathed from an ambush by 80 men, and of course, the duel at Ganyru with his pretty boy nemesis, Sasaki Kojiro, he of the “swallow cut” fame. (he could cut off swallows in full flight, whatever purpose that serves…)

The tragic love story interweaved within this journey-of-englightenment tale is too overwrought for our times but make for amusing reading (oh cynical cynical me !)

Actually I read this book a long time ago. I remembered loving it despite having much of the details escaped me. Watching the Samurai Trilogy dvds (http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/42733/Samurai-1-Musashi-Miyamoto/overview) last weekend brought back the memorieis and I’m itching to re-read the book again.

Review with plot synopsis:

http://www.worldlanguage.com/Products/Musashi-by-Eiji-Yoshikawa-in-English-Literature-102505.htm

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Taiko – Eiji Yoshikawa (Hardcover) – $20

July 17, 2008 at 11:20 am · Filed under Books, Historical Epics/Martial arts/Fantasy

Forget Red Cliff. Forget Romance of Three Kingdoms whose tales we have heard ad infinitum.

Set in the 15 to 17th century Sengoku period (literally read as “Warring-states period” in chinese), this is Japan’s ROTK.

Read about how the great and brutal warrior Oda Nobunaga, attacked Mount Hiei and obliterated 1000 Buddhist (warrior) monks! (an historcal event that occurred in 1571, methinks)

Read about how Toyotomi Hideyoshi, of humble farmer descent, eventually succeeded his former lord (Nobunaga), rose above his peers,  and attempted to unify Japan!

Read about how Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually did that around 1600 after the great Battle of Sekigahara !

(my next book on, Musashi, about the legendary swordman Miyamoto Musashi, is set in the period after this great battle)

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