Movies like Samurai Banners
If you like "Samurai Banners" you are looking for serious, captivating and realistic movies about / with samurai, military, politics, betrayal, state affairs, power relations and heroes themes of Action, Adventure and Drama genre shot in Japan.
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Samurai Banners (1969)
879
Original name: 風林火山
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 165 min.
Story:
Feudal Japan, 1543 to 1562. Kansuke Yamamoto is a samurai who dreams of a country united, peaceful from sea to sea. He enters the service of Takeda, the lord of Kai domain. He convinces Takeda to kill the lord of neighboring Suwa and take his wife as a concubine. He then convinces the widow, Princess Yu, to accept this arrangement and to bear Takeda a son. He pledges them his life. He then spends years using treachery, poetic sensibility, military and political strategy to expand Takeda's realm, advance the claim of Yu's son as the heir, and prepare for an ultimate battle with the forces of Echigo. Has Kansuke overreached? Are his dreams, blinded by love, too big? Written by jhailey@hotmail.com
Style:
serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, jidai geki
Plot:
samurai, military, politics, betrayal, state affairs, power relations, heroes, master warrior, fall in love, dishonesty, medieval, samurai sword, love triangle, love and romance, rivalry, violent content, ambition, japanese history, warlord, war, intrigue, warrior, graphic violence
Time:
16th century, medieval times
Place:
japan, asia
Most similar movies to Samurai Banners
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, serious, captivating and stylized films with plots about samurai, heroes, martial arts, samurai sword, medieval, master warrior and rivalry mostly in Drama, Action and Adventure genres. Some movies like Samurai Banners: Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970), Samurai Rebellion (1967), Shogun (1980), Incident at Blood Island (1970), Heaven and Earth (1990). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
With a price on his head, Ichi seeks tranquillity in a favorite village. Since his last visit, it has fallen prey to Boss Masagoro, the son of a merchant rumored to have stolen gold from the shogunate. The boss has hired Yojimbo as his hard-drinking ...
Style:
cult classic, semi serious, realistic, stylized
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, samurai sword, ninja, ancient, handicapped, kung fu, swordplay, clan, gold, sword fight ...
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.
Style:
tense, emotional, stylized, black and white, jidai geki ...
Plot:
samurai, father son relationship, feudal japan, rebellion, revenge, medieval, forced marriage, martial arts, violence, vengeance, kidnapping, family relations ...
Time:
18th century, year 1967, 70s
Place:
japan, asia, tokyo
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 159 min.
Story:
In the 16th Century, a Dutch ship sails the Pacific from the Americas in order to escape the Spanish. Blackthorn is the pilot of the ship and the first to realize the possibilities of Japan. Japan is a feudal society which has a strong presence of ...
Style:
realistic, captivating, serious, exciting, saga
Plot:
samurai, feudal japan, seafaring, shogun, jesuit, politics, war, heroes, escapades, betrayal, sword duel, samurai sword ...
Time:
17th century, 16th century, middle ages
Place:
japan, portugal
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: Russia
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
Set in the 16th century, this is a story about Ukraine's Cossack warriors and their campaign to defend their lands from the advancing Polish armies.
Style:
epic, realistic, exciting, serious, captivating ...
Plot:
cossack, political unrest, rebelliousness, battles, forbidden love, parent child relationship, sword fight, state affairs, medieval, heroes, father son relationship, betrayal ...
Time:
16th century, medieval times, 17th century, middle ages
Place:
poland, ukraine, europe
Similarity:
100%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
In the Edo period, a nameless ronin accepts an assignment to go to a mountain pass and wait. Near the pass he stops at an inn where a collection of characters gather, including a gang set on stealing shogunate gold that's soon to come over the ...
Style:
realistic, serious, jidai geki
Plot:
samurai, medieval, samurai sword, martial arts, zatoichi, ronin, edo period, betrayal, inn, katana, ambush, bandit ...
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
47%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
Warlords Kagetora and Takeda each wish to prevent the other from gaining hegemony in feudal Japan. The two samurai leaders pursue one another across the countryside, engaging in massive battles of cavalry and infantry. Younger and less brutal, ...
Style:
psychotronic, visually appealing, cult classic, epic, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, medieval, japanese history, katana, fight, legends and myths, ancient, siege, strong violent content, battles, family relations, chaos ...
Time:
medieval times, 16th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
43%
912
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
Late in the 1500s, an aging tea master teaches the way of tea to a headstrong Shogun. Through force of will and courageous fighting, Hideyoshi becomes Japan's most powerful warlord, unifying the country. Rikyu, through the tea ceremony and ...
Style:
contemplative, captivating, realistic, serious, stylized ...
Plot:
samurai, medieval, painting, painter, art, clan, great ending, buddhism, samurai sword, old man, biopic, tradition ...
Time:
medieval times, 16th century
Place:
japan, china, korea, asia
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
February 17 to March 3, 1860, inside Edo castle. A group of assassins wait by Sakurada Gate to kill the lord of the House of Ii, a powerful man in the Tokugawa government, which has ruled Japan for 300 years. They suspect a traitor in their midst, ...
Style:
captivating, realistic, serious, rough, gloomy ...
Plot:
samurai, ronin, medieval, samurai sword, asian history, martial arts, father, sword fight, badass, american civil war, politics, fight ...
Time:
19th century, turn of the century, 1860s
Place:
japan, tokyo, asia
Similarity:
42%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son Iemitsu in hopes of gaining him the shogunate despite the stammer and birthmark which undermine his respect. Iemitsu and his brother ...
Style:
perverse, epic, captivating, exciting, bleak ...
Plot:
samurai, ninja, martial arts, medieval, asian history, shogun, samurai sword, japanese history, kung fu, rivalry, conspiracy, strong violent content ...
Time:
17th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 207 min.
Story:
The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ...
Style:
epic, bleak, harsh, atmospheric, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, vengeance, medieval, seppuku, brutality, justice, battles, martial arts, courage, redemption, society, righting the wronged ...
Time:
18th century, middle ages, medieval times, 19th century
Place:
japan, asia, tokyo
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Action, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
A talented but troubled Edo Period swordsman, Kanemi Sanzawmon. Three years earlier, Kanemi killed a woman, Renko, the corrupt mistress of the powerful daimyo Tabu Ukyou. Unexpectedly, Kanemi received a lenient sentence for his crime and is allowed ...
Style:
captivating, suspenseful, atmospheric, tense, exciting ...
Plot:
samurai, master warrior, medieval, loyalty, betrayal, intrigue, rivalry, haunted by the past, under the surface, asian history, edo period, death of wife ...
Place:
japan
Similarity:
35%
18K
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 109 min.
TV show
Story:
An English navigator becomes both pawn and player in the deadly political games in feudal Japan.
Style:
atmospheric, mythical, costume drama, epic, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, shogun, jesuit, battles, chivalry, renaissance, historical event, tokugawa shogunate, martial arts, japanese history, samurai sword, interracial relations ...
Time:
17th century, medieval times, 20th century
Place:
japan, portugal, asia
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
Yataro Tanigawa, a one-eyed hired assassin, impresses yakuza boss Gomyo Kiyoemon with his skill. Gomyo hires Tanigawa as his bodyguard, or yojimbo, to protect him during an inter-clan conflict. Tanigawa quickly rises in stature in the clan, but ...
Style:
realistic, serious, captivating, exciting, rough ...
Plot:
medieval, martial arts, ninja, samurai sword, samurai, edo period, heist, master warrior, betrayal, dishonesty, fighting crime, society ...
Time:
18th century, 17th century
Place:
japan
Similarity:
32%
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
TAJOMARU is the famous 'bandit' of the forest from RASHOMON. Whoever kills Tajomaru inherits his name, status and sword. A royal brother leaves his kingdom to protect the princess he loves, only to find a series of harrowing adventures ...
Style:
exciting, serious, captivating, tense, suspense ...
Plot:
medieval, save the kingdom, rivalry, escapades, heroes, martial arts, bandit, danger, revenge, woods, betrayal, love and romance ...
Time:
medieval times
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
32%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
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.
Style:
cult classic, exciting, captivating, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, samurai sword, medieval, ninja, ancient, handicapped, ronin, swordplay, murder, kidnapping ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
31%

Genre: Action, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
Against the backdrop of the Edo treasury devaluing currency and driving many into poverty, Hanzo Itami enforces the law without regard to status. He shows inadequate respect to the treasurer, who wants him dead.
Style:
splatter, captivating, serious, realistic, stylized ...
Plot:
samurai, female nudity, samurai sword, edo period, martial arts, bald woman, medieval, sexploitation, rape, nude girl, violent, buried alive ...
Time:
middle ages
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
30%
Genre: Action, Adventure
Country: Japan
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.
Style:
epic, jidai geki, captivating, exciting, realistic ...
Plot:
samurai, martial arts, samurai sword, medieval, ninja, fight, exploitation, kung fu master, swordplay, assassin, edo period, violent content ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
29%
41K
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 162 min.
Story:
When a warlord dies, a peasant thief is called upon to impersonate him, in order to protect his clan from appearing weak and vulnerable. But he finds himself haunted by the warlord’s spirit as well as his own ambitions.
Style:
costume drama, cerebral, visually stunning, jidai geki, bleak ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
samurai, medieval, japanese history, battles, martial arts, warrior, warlord, doppelganger, death, emperor, samurai sword, feudal japan ...
Time:
16th century, medieval times, year 1980, 18th century
Place:
japan, east asia, asia, tokyo, india
Similarity:
28%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 136 min.
Story:
A look at Genghis Khan's life, from his birth to conquests in Asia.
Style:
exciting, captivating, serious, realistic, epic
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
medieval, battles, genghis khan, conquering, mongol empire, heroes, escapades, rise to the top, betrayal, rivalry, haunted by the past, empire ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, 12th century, 13th century
Place:
mongolia, asia
Similarity:
28%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 82 min.
Story:
Our hero Zatoichi sails to one of the distant islands to begin a pilgrimage to a total of 88 Shinto shrines.
Style:
cult classic, serious, realistic, captivating, exciting ...
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, samurai sword, handicapped, swordplay, clan, yakuza, ancient, village, self defense, fall in love ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
27%
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: Thailand
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
Based on a true historic figure, Yamada Nagamasa, a Japanese adventurer who went to Ayothaya in the 16th century and became a soldier in King Naresuan's army. After the war in Burma it's restless in Ayothaya, because of a mysterious group ...
Style:
rough, exciting, realistic, serious, inspirational
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
samurai, master warrior, martial arts, vengeance, military, disorder, misfit, soldier, gang, fish out of water, ninja, fight ...
Time:
16th century
Place:
japan, asia, thailand
Similarity:
26%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
Blind swordsman Zatoichi, jailed briefly, is implored by another prisoner to aid him in proving his innocence of a crime for which he is sentenced to death. Zatoichi is reluctant to get involved, because he knows how often such involvement has led ...
Style:
cult classic, serious, realistic, exciting, captivating ...
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, ninja, samurai sword, handicapped, swordplay, corruption, village, violent content, escape, righting the wronged ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
26%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 143 min.
Story:
Kanichiro Yoshimura is a Samurai and Family man who can no longer support his wife and children on the the low pay he receives from his small town clan, he is forced by the love for his family to leave for the city in search of higher pay to support ...
Style:
atmospheric, captivating, realistic, bleak, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, japanese history, sword fight, tragic hero, human spirit, life is a bitch, political unrest, duel, emperor, martial arts, unfulfillment, hopes ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
26%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
A steel samurai blade that was to be given to the American ambassador by the Emperor of Japan is stolen. American sailors and Japanese samurai are sent to find it.
Style:
action adventure, independent film, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, samurai sword, ninja, imperialism, tokugawa shogunate, woman with a gun, edo period, battles, political unrest, military life, heist, destiny ...
Time:
19th century, 1850s, year 1981
Place:
japan, asia, usa
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Action
Country: Japan
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
After arriving in the town of Shimonita, Ichi finds that a price has been put on his head by a local yakuza boss. He's drawn into a trap, but after hearing of the slaying of a former love, Ichi furiously fights his way through the entire clan ...
Style:
cult classic, captivating, exciting, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, samurai sword, ninja, swordplay, ancient, handicapped, ronin, sword, katana, violent content ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his ...
Style:
serious, stylized, sentimental, jidai geki, romantic ...
Plot:
samurai, martial arts, medieval, politics, feudal japan, caste system, asian history, love and romance, vengeance, family life, samurai sword, edo period ...
Time:
19th century, 1860s
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
Kenshin has settled into his new life with Kaoru and his other friends when he is approached with a request from the Meiji government. Makoto Shishio, a former assassin like Kenshin, was betrayed, set on fire and left for dead. He survived, and is ...
Style:
intense, suspense, anime, exciting, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
samurai, katana, sword fight, martial arts, medieval, fight, survival, one man army, redemption, assassin, good versus evil, samurai era ...
Time:
19th century, 1870s
Place:
japan, asia, kyoto japan, hong kong, tokyo
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
Blind swordsman/masseuse Zatoichi befriends a young woman looking for her father, a village leader who has disappeared. As he helps her investigate the disappearance, Zatoichi also becomes involved with another young woman who is trying to help her ...
Style:
grindhouse, cult classic, captivating, exciting, realistic ...
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, samurai sword, ninja, sword, new year's eve, handicapped, swordplay, ronin, village, master warrior ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 72 min.
Story:
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: his own brother. He must face in combat not only the pursuing retainers but his own ...
Style:
cult classic, serious, realistic, captivating, exciting ...
Plot:
samurai, zatoichi, martial arts, samurai sword, sword fight, ancient, handicapped, adventurer, swordplay, one man army, yakuza, criminal ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Action
Country: Japan
Duration: 84 min.
Story:
Hanzo extracts a confession from a ghost using his assaulting methods, foils thieves, connects with Heisuke Takei a friend from his youth, offers protection to a forward-thinking physician Genan Sugino who has defamed his ruler, discovers a pleasure ...
Style:
realistic, serious, captivating, stylized, atmospheric ...
Plot:
samurai, edo period, martial arts, medieval, samurai sword, female nudity, rape, violent, superhero, nudity, spirit, violent content ...
Time:
middle ages
Place:
asia, japan
Similarity:
24%
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