GhstDreamer wrote:

Musashi...I'm such a baka...should have stated that

Wow, I'm surprised you don't know about Musashi. Here's the Jdorama link: http://jdorama.com/drama_742.htm

Basically, it's a biography about Japan's most famous samurai/swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. The NHK series is 49 (!) episodes long and is jam-packed with stars: Yonekura Ryoko, Nakama Yukie, Uchiyama Rina, Tstusumi Shinichi, Kitano Takeshi, Miyazawa Rie, and Ichikawa Shinnosuke as Miyamoto Musashi...

I'd steer you to the NHK-Musashi site, but those bums shut the site down after the series closed here in the States. That is sooo weak. Grrr.

GhstDreamer wrote:

Favourite Martial Arts series: Chor Lau Heung 1984; The Battlefield (even though most of the people I know thinks this was boring);

Who played Chor Lau Heung in this one? I've seen a couple of old Chor Lau Heung series but I don't know their release year.

My favourites are Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber 1986 and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 1996. I've yet to watch Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 2003 it'll probably be a couple more months before its release where I live.

For movies, Dragon Inn is a good pick, the end fight was pretty crazy. I like the Swordsman 1 & 2 as well, not bad of a movie adaption of State of Divinity. Currently, I'm trying to find old King Hu movies, I've only seen a few and they were awesome and I'm ashame to say I haven't seen A Touch of Zen yet When will they release it on DVD!!

ruroshin wrote:

Who played Chor Lau Heung in this one? I've seen a couple of old Chor Lau Heung series but I don't know their release year. My favourites are Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber 1986 and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 1996. I've yet to watch Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 2003 it'll probably be a couple more months before its release where I live. For movies, Dragon Inn is a good pick, the end fight was pretty crazy. I like the Swordsman 1 & 2 as well, not bad of a movie adaption of State of Divinity. Currently, I'm trying to find old King Hu movies, I've only seen a few and they were awesome and I'm ashame to say I haven't seen A Touch of Zen yet When will they release it on DVD!!

I think the best version of Chu Lu Xiang is the 1978-79 version with Adam Cheng. The 84 version stars Miu Kiu Wei and Barbara Yung (Yang Kang and Huang Rong from LoCH82).

I'd like to see more Japanese epics in drama form.


Though, I've really only heard of Musashi and a few other odd ones. The new dorama airing in Japan now, Shinsengumi sounds pretty interesting, even if it does take a little more comical approach to the actual historical events prior to the Meiji Restoration.


But I would love to see a historical Japanese epic drama with English subtitles. I hardly know of any though.

Kitano is Musashi? Wow, who does he play? It says Munisai Shinmen, is that Musashi's father? Is it a good series btw? It has ratings all over, and I really would like to see it, anyone know if there is a dvd release with subs somwhere?

gohmifune wrote:

Kitano is Musashi? Wow, who does he play? It says Munisai Shinmen, is that Musashi's father? Is it a good series btw? It has ratings all over, and I really would like to see it, anyone know if there is a dvd release with subs somwhere?

Yikes! You got it all wrong! Ichikawa Shinnosuke plays Miyamoto Musashi... Takeshi Kitano plays Musashi's father.

It's an excellent series. I'd give it a 9 out of 10.

There is someone who is selling DVDRs of Musashi, something like three episodes per disc... With 49 episodes, it's not going to be cheap... Here's the link:

http://jpop:[email protected]/fan/index.htm

wsim wrote:

I'd like to see more Japanese epics in drama form. Though, I've really only heard of Musashi and a few other odd ones. The new dorama airing in Japan now, Shinsengumi sounds pretty interesting, even if it does take a little more comical approach to the actual historical events prior to the Meiji Restoration. But I would love to see a historical Japanese epic drama with English subtitles. I hardly know of any though.

Most of the NHK dramas are pretty epic, and they come out every year. I'm surprised that Shinsengumi is mroe comical, but then again, it's Shingo-mama in the lead role...

I'm so confused now..there's so many to see!

Anyhow..has anybody seen a samurai film drama called "Sabu" starring Satoshi Tsumabuki and Tatsuya Fujiwara...is it any good?

bmwracer wrote:

Glad to see that you've opened up this thread, Akakage... I just got Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo and Akahige (Red Beard) in the mail today... And I'm expecting Twilight Samurai and The Yagyu Conspiracy soon...

Let me know how the Yagyu Conspiracy goes. Sounds interesting (especially after watching Musashi! )

GhstDreamer wrote:

I have to admit I have never watched the Legend of the Condor Heroes except for this new one from China that's currently being subbed...also I've never watched the Demi Gods and the Semi Devils either. There was fairly recent martial arts drama shown last year called Find the Light and that was quite good...

"Find the light"..wah..how come I've missed this one..I better check it out!

Demi gods and Semi Devils is great..lots of twisted plot, mystery and great fighting scene (all versions are good..I mean the one made by TVB-Hk in the 80's and 90's and the latest version made from mainland china.) don't miss it.

ahochaude wrote:

Let me know how the Yagyu Conspiracy goes. Sounds interesting (especially after watching Musashi! )

Watched the movie this past Saturday... Not bad, but to compress so much into a couple of hours is a llittle tough... The swordplay is pretty good, which is what I would expect from Chiba Shinichi...

With the popularity of this movie, a 39 (?) part TV series was made with the same name... I watched and taped most of the episodes when they showed it here in SoCal back in the 80's... I think the TV series was much better and there was much more character development...

I've seen VHS tapes of the series available, but the one place that has them wants a freaking $35USD a tape for each episode... Freaking ridiculous!

bmwracer wrote:

Watched the movie this past Saturday... Not bad, but to compress so much into a couple of hours is a llittle tough... The swordplay is pretty good, which is what I would expect from Chiba Shinichi... With the popularity of this movie, a 39 (?) part TV series was made with the same name... I watched and taped most of the episodes when they showed it here in SoCal back in the 80's... I think the TV series was much better and there was much more character development... I've seen VHS tapes of the series available, but the one place that has them wants a freaking $35USD a tape for each episode... Freaking ridiculous!

$35.00 for a freakin' VHS tape??!! Heh, good luck in selling that crap right there
Maybe I should look into that movie. Hmmmm.
Oh, and thanks for the review!

ahochaude wrote:

$35.00 for a freakin' VHS tape??!! Heh, good luck in selling that crap right there Maybe I should look into that movie. Hmmmm.

Man, if I had a DVD burner, I'd rip you a copy, bud.

Speaking of The Yagyu Conspiracy TV series, here's an mpeg of the opening sequence (2.17MB):

http://blofeld.qbranch.se/~maal01/Yagyu_con/yagyu.mpg


And here's a link to the series:

http://blofeld.qbranch.se/~maal01/Yagyu_con/yagyu_con_tv.html

Here's the link to the sequel to The Yagyu Conspiracy TV series, Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi:

http://blofeld.qbranch.se/~maal01/yagyu_jubei_abaretabi.htm

bmwracer wrote:

Here's the link to the sequel to The Yagyu Conspiracy TV series, Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi: http://blofeld.qbranch.se/~maal01/yagyu_jubei_abaretabi.htm

It seems that Yagyu Conspiracy is a cool TV series..and the movie is good too right?

Hmm..I'm quite interested now..

Akakage wrote:

and the movie is good too right?

See my comments on the movie at the top of the page...

bmwracer wrote:

See my comments on the movie at the top of the page...

Since I like Sony Chiba, it's worth checking..

Akakage wrote:

Since I like Sony Chiba, it's worth checking..

Absolutely. Also anything with Mifune Toshiro and Sanada Hiroyuki is worth a look.

Cool thread

I remember the Yagyu Conspiracy when I was younger. I enjoyed it very much.

I used to have a crush on Etsuko Shiomi. She must be quite old by now though.