Favorite Historical Movies/Dramas

This is my FAVORITE Korean historical drama! Lee Tae-gon gave an awesome, powerful performance. He is one of a few Korean actors I really like and admire. Fabulous actor and hasn't fallen into that plastic surgery makeover of so many stars. I must have watched this drama a dozen times. lol 

OMG, if I could only explain how much I love this movie! It is so poignant and beautiful and the ending will blow you away. I own the DVD and watch it from time to time.  Such a beautiful love story about a samurai willing to risk his life for the woman he loved - but never got.

Handsome Masaharu Fukuyama gave a bravura performance in this biographical drama of  Sakamoto Ryoma, an influential samurai in 1880's Meiji era Japan. Really good drama.

I cannot tell you how much I absolutely LOVE this movie!  I own the DVD and watch it from time to time.  Kiichi Nakai is one of my favorite Japanese actors and he pulled out all stops on this one. Playing the title role of Yoshiura, his performance made me cry.

An exquisite jidaigeki movie with a stand out performance by  Masatoshi Nagase,  a beautiful OST and a heartwarming ending. He is seriously an underrated actor.  The musical score is magic - so lovely and add to the story the lovely Takako Matsu as the maid girl he falls in love with, it's a winner!

Nobody does kick butt historical movies like the Chinese and with this one, it was awesome! There is so much action and blood, all true to form of Chinese historical movies I've watched. I loved every minute of it!

This drama was saved by young actor,  Yoo Ah-in.  He is one of the really good Korean actors, IMO, and showed it in this drama.  Playing a monarch can't be easy but he played his role with such conviction and suave. lol I really loved him in this and I re-watch this drama from time to time. Beautiful costumes, also.

I really enjoyed this drama although at times, it seemed a bit disjointed. Way too many episodes, like most Korean dramas but again, Yoo An-in was great. 

Koji Yakusho isn't one of my favorite Japanese actors, but in this, he was great! I was  a bit put off by the violence but after all, it is a samurai movie. lol Great job by all the cast.

All I can say is WOW!  What an awesome (bloody and scary) movie this was! Based on a real Japanese figure in history, the main role played by hunk Seigi Ozeki, was off the chart! If you like a film with lots of slashing, blood and gore, this one's for you. lol

Where do I begin? This was a surprise, esp. when I read that Matsuda Ryuhei was only FIFTEEN years old when he did this film! During the end of the samurai period in Japan, a beautiful young boy named Sozaburo Kano joins the ranks of the Shinsingumi. All the older men are smitten by his delicate features and beautiful form. In particular, one samurai played by great actor  Asano Tadanobu, falls head over heels in love with him.

Although Kano gives off the aura of being young and innocent and flirts shamelessly with the men, underneath lies a cold blooded killer with nerves of steel  who casually decapitates a samurai for violation of the Shinsingumi rules.

I own this DVD and I am always amazed at Matsuda's performance.