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While most developers are scrambling to avoid the GTA 6-pocalypse, Capcom apparently missed the memo about playing it safe.

Over the past week, the Japanese publisher has announced they’re dropping three major titles in 2026, the same year Rockstar’s juggernaut is expected to obliterate everything in its path.

Following Wednesday’s State of Play and yesterday’s Summer Game Fest reveals, it’s clear Capcom is cooking something special. Most studios would be terrified to compete with the most anticipated game of the decade, but not these madmen.

Pragmata and Onimusha prove Capcom isn’t backing down

Pragmata has had quite the wild ride since its initial 2020 reveal. Remember when this thing was supposed to drop in 2022? Yes, that aged about as well as milk left in the sun. The promise of Capcom-curated sci-fi adventure disappeared into development hell fast.

Related: Sony’s Underwhelming June 2025 State of Play Still...

Takehiko Inoue’s iconic manga, Vagabond, first came into the scene all the way back in 1998. Even after 27 years, it continues to spark the imagination of the fans owing to the breathtaking art, deep thoughts about life, and Musashi Miyamoto’s journey to becoming the greatest swordsman in Japan.

However, some fans are now picking up some issues with the series, like how Akemi sometimes seems like an awkward character, particularly her relationship with Musashi. Specifically, fans note that some issues with Akemi’s narrative seem dependent on the males around her, unlike the vibes of Musashi or the other men portrayed.

This might be the only dent in a near-perfect series, but it is what has now prompted some discussions around Akemi’s character. So, how do we assess her character arc, and does it really affect Vagabond‘s legendary status?

Why Akemi could feel like a missed opportunity...

The world of manga doesn't always give closure to its readers. For every satisfying conclusion to a long-running shonen manga series, there's a series suffering from long hiatuses. Even the most well-written series can suffer from their stories not continuing for years. These hiatuses can happen for various reasons.

A manga author's health plays a key role in the series' status. If a mangaka is ill and can't continue working on a series, it can take months or even years for them to get well enough to continue their stories. Other issues, like scheduling, can cause delays in stories that would have been released consistently. These issues can't be helped, but they still put a damper on stories that would have benefited from having a regular release schedule.

Freezing's Manga Is Still On Hold After The Creators Pursued Other Projects Freezing Manga Went on Hiatus After Chapter 225

Freezing is one...

When a game truly embraces authenticity, it takes the player’s experience to an entirely new level. The weight of every battle, the depth of every character, and the world itself feel more immersive and believable. Capcom seems to understand this well.

The game is set to release in 2026 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. | Image Credit: Capcom

With its latest samurai title, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the studio is making a bold move to ensure the game captures the true essence of a warrior’s journey.

Rather than simply drawing inspiration from the legendary swordsman of history, the studio is taking an extra step and has modeled the protagonist’s face after one of Japan’s most iconic samurai actors, the late Toshiro Mifune.

A samurai legend returns with Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword

For those unfamiliar, Toshiro Mifune was more than just an...

Vagabond is the creation of the genius mind that is Takehiko Inoue, of Slam Dunk fame. The manga has depth and an inspired touch that makes it unique compared to the average Edo-period style samurai manga.

Musashi Miyamoto in Vagabond (Credit: Kodansha)

The fans of Vagabond have been clamoring for an anime adaptation of Takehiko Inoue’s masterpiece, ever since it has been on a hiatus. With Vagabond’s deeply philosophical narrative, intense character studies, and intense fights shown through exceptional art, Vagabond is one of the most iconic manga ever created.

Given the growing global appreciation for anime across the world, a high-budget adaptation of this beloved series doesn’t seem to be far off, especially since there have been discussions on and off regarding the anime adaptation, but hadn’t borne fruit.

There cannot be a better time for a Vagabond adaptation

With the current appreciation towards anime,...

Masashi Kishimoto has set a benchmark in the anime-manga industry with the success of Naruto. Matching the success of Naruto is not an easy feat, and it might not even be the goal. But after Naruto ended, fans were expecting him to release something that was either related to Naruto or something that matches it’s glory. Boruto was the former and has become fairly successful. Whereas Kishimoto’s other manga, Samurai 8, was neither of those things.

Published for the first time in 2019, Samurai 8 had a lackluster year-long run. It’s performance was far worse than the general perception regarding Boruto. Here are 3 reasons that made Samurai 8 a complete disaster.

3. The Weight of Expectations A panel from the manga with the cluttered art style | Credits: Viz Media

After Naruto’s massive success, there’s a set of expectations from the readers and publishers that follows after Kishimoto. These expectations were...

Anime NYC 2024 had plenty of license announcements, including a fresh batch from Kodansha for September 2024 and Summer 2025. Among the print releases are some big box sets, chief among them being Attack on Titan Fly . The premium collector's set packs in the final Attack on Titan art book with a new interview with creator Hajime Isayama, replicas of Eren's key and Mikasa's scarf, and the first English release of exclusive manga booklet Vol. 35, featuring rough layouts of the final chapter and a new manga chapter centered on Levi. Kodansha Summer 2025 Print Licenses Last Samurai Standing by Tatsuz Synopsis: In a rapidly changing world, a sinister game of life-or-death brutally culls Japan’s fading warrior class. Who is rounding up the few who still cling to their swords and is forcing them to fight? And who will be the last samurai standing? It is the 11th year of the Meiji era in Japan,...

Netflix’s One Piece Live Action season 2 script has finished, and the series is under production. Fans have high expectations for the upcoming season, as season one performed admirably. The series has managed to reduce people’s fear of anime live adaptation failure. With such expectations, One Piece Live Action will try to repeat the success of season one.

The executives and Eiichiro Oda have already taken a step towards success by getting the perfect actors to play Dr. Kureha and Fr. Hiriluk. Katey Sagal and Mark Harelik’s casting has been perfect from every angle. With that thought, the fans believe Xolo Maridueña could be the perfect actor to play live-action Portgas D. Ace.

Cobra Kai Star Could Be The Perfect Casting Of Portgas D. Ace Portgas D. Ace as seen in the anime (Credits: Toei Animation)

Portgas D. Ace is one of the most crucial characters in One Piece.

Japan's fun trend of preventing people from falling into the dark abyss of the sewers using colorful anime characters continues with the unveiling of some fun Pokmon-themed manhole covers. Gifu prefecture recently announced the placement of special-edition manhole covers imbuing the areas storied history with the Pocket Monsters' mass appeal, fittingly named Pok Lids.

Via Gamer, following in the footsteps of the beloved mecha juggernaut Gundam and the equally impactful magical girl anime Sailor Moon, Gifu Prefecture has upped the ante with five unique Pok Lids, or Pokfuta. While Minamiuonuma City celebrated Mobile Suit legends like the Rx-78-2 and the Yms-15 Gyan from the original run of Mobile Suit Gundam, and Tokyo's Minato Ward received some great throwback imagery of the Sailor Scouts, Gifu Prefecture went with representing the culture-rich region with new gen Pokmon.

Related Sailor Moon Manhole Cover With Creator Illustration Becomes Exclusive Collector Card

Sailor Moon...

Slam Dunk is a legendary manga by Takehiko Inoue, and its fame has spread far and wide. It also has a beloved anime that has adapted the entire manga, other than the most important final match of Shohoku. This led fans to grieve the cliffhanger for almost three decades until Toei decided to release the final match as a movie, The First Slam Dunk.

Just as expected, the theatrical release brought tears to the eyes of Slam Dunk fans as they finally received a beautifully animated conclusion. And if this doesn’t convince you to watch the movie, the accolades it has received might.

The First Slam Dunk is the Sixth Highest-Grossing Movie in Japan A Still From The First Slam Dunk | Credit: Toei Animation

The First Slam Dunk movie featured the adrenaline-pumping match between Shohoku, a no-name high school from Kanegawa and Sannoh, the defending national champion basketball team.

The discussion about the best manga series of all time is incomplete without Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond. Known for his extremely entertaining sports (particularly basketball) manga series, Inoue in 1998 decided to try something different and thus came Vagabond, which went on to become one of the greatest manga series of all time.

A manga panel from Vagabond | Credit: Kodansha

However, the series never saw its conclusion, as while working on Vagabond, Inoue went on multiple hiatus because of his health, and finally, in 2015, he decided to completely stop working on it because of creative reasons. He then took up his other manga, Real, which is still going on after so long. But fans do await the return of Vagabond.

Inoue once revealed the real reason behind Vagabond’s indefinite hiatus. He not only talked about why he stopped working on Vagabond, but he also revealed when he will probably start working on it once again.

Berserk is one of the supreme manga that belongs to the seinen or dark fantasy genre. Kentaro Miura created a tale of pain and thrilling action sequences that often blur the lines between good and evil. Guts serves as a layered protagonist for the manga, but fans are of the opinion that his character carries some cliches that halt the manga from going beyond what it is now.

The manga is often compared to Vagabond, another manga from the same genre. Unlike Berserk, the protagonist of Vagabond is more complex and is not as protected by plot armor as Guts.

The Cliches Present in the Protagonist of Kentaro Miura’s Berserk Guts in Berserk | Credit: Hakusensha

According to fans, Kentaro Miura overused many cliches in Berserk, especially pertaining to Guts. The portrayal of the character is such that he always overcomes every obstacle. Yes, he undergoes pain and suffering because of it,...

Kentaro Miura’s magnum opus, Berserk, features the character of Guts, who, according to the story, has suffered a lot and is still suffering only to achieve the one thing for which he started his journey. His suffering as a seinen manga character is one of the reasons why fans are so connected with the protagonist and love him so much.

Guts in Berserk

However, there is one character in the Shonen genre who might have suffered as much as Guts. The character in the discussion is Bartholomew Kuma, the former king of the Sorbet Kingdom and a founding member of the Revolutionary Army. One Piece fans are well-versed in what Kuma had to go through to save his daughter, Jewelry Bonney.

Recently, a tweet about the suffering of these two characters was shared on X (Formerly Twitter), and it brought both One Piece and Berserk fans together. Fans discussed...

Quick Links War Arc (Chapters 154; Episodes 124) Slave Arc (Chapters 5599; Episodes 2548) Slave Arc, Eastern Expedition Arc (Chapter 100166) Vinland Arc (Chapter 167Ongoing )

Makoto Yukimura's Vinland Saga is among the best ongoing seinen manga, with Thorfinn Karlsefni proving to be a nuanced protagonist with a rewarding character arc. He ranks alongside Berserk's Guts and Vagabond's Musashi for compelling seinen leads, and like his contemporaries, Thorfinn learned joy and sorrow in spades.

Vinland Saga is an inspired historical fiction and drama taking cues from the hero's real-world counterpart, with Yukimura penning his character arc in in-depth phases to match each storyline. And still, his journey isn't over yet. Between his violent wake-up call to the cruelties of war, his years living as a vengeful mercenary, and his noble expedition to North America, Thorfinn's life throughout Vinland Saga has been incredibly eventful.

War Arc (Chapters 154; Episodes 124) Thorfinn Was a Carefree Boy Until...

Goku and Gojo Satoru are the two pinnacle of strengths in their respective universes. While one is the strongest Saiyan fighter in the Dragon Ball world, another is the strongest jujutsu sorcerer to ever exist in Jujutsu Kaisen. The two have totally different powers and abilities, but their battle will be an interesting sight for anime and manga fans.

Gojo Satoru in Jujutsu Kaisen season two

While the chance of this battle ever taking place is impossible, a Jujutsu Kaisen fan account recently shared a post on X(Formerly Twitter) which had an edited image of a fight between Goku and Gojo Satoru. The post instantly went viral and anime fans shared their opinions about the imaginary battle.

The post led to a discussion among Jujutsu Kaisen fans and Dragon Ball fans. The general opinion among the fans was that Goku would absolutely demolish Gojo and could easily win the fight.

Myths, legends, religion and history are heavily utilized when creating the stories found in all genres of anime. Dozens upon dozens of myths and legends were used to build the characters and plot of Jujutsu Kaisen , for example, and this anime is far from the only example. Fate/stay night is rife with mythological, legendary, and historical figures. First things first. This article is going to focus on Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works . Yes, I know, I know. This means we won’t be diving into the video games, the other anime installments in the Fate series, or any of the myriad of spinoffs. Related: The Folklore Behind Megumi Fushigur's Shikigami in Jujutsu Kaisen It’s probably no surprise that Unlimited Blade Works is absolutely chock full of characters based on people from myths, legends, and history. Many of the streets shown in the anime can be walked in Japan as well,...

To celebrate the release of One Percenter, on Blu-Ray and Digital from 11 March, we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!

Tak Sakaguchi, the legendary Japanese action star of Versus, Re:Born and Crazy Samurai Musashi teams up with director Yudai Yamaguchi to invite you to experience the birth of a new form of “Real Action”!

Action film actor Takuma Toshiro is a man with only one goal: the perfection of action film acting.

But when his samurai-approach to the profession clashes with an industry addicted to wires, CGI and quick edits, Toshiro and his trusty apprentice Akira decide to make their dream film themselves.

When actual violence finds its way onto their film set in the form of yakuza mobsters looking for a hidden cache of drugs, Toshiro and Akira are suddenly thrust into action. Is this the ideal opportunity to take his “Real Action” to the next level? As...

The story penned by Eiichiro Oda is one of the most incredible anime stories ever, and it won’t be overtaken anytime soon. In the journey of uncovering the One Piece, Oda sensei has introduced us to numerous characters, each of whom has managed to bond with the audience.

Roronoa Zoro’s Coldest Moment

One of the most beloved characters is Zoro, whom fans acknowledge for his loyalty to Luffy and his fighting style, which involves using three swords. However, despite Oda sensei being hailed as a mastermind, he sometimes does things on a whim. One example of this could be Zoro’s swords, as it has been revealed that Zoro only uses three swords because of Oda sensei’s urge to make him look greater than Miyamoto Musashi, the greatest swordsman in Japanese history.

Zoro’s sword style was drawn in a way to depict him as greater than...

Vagabond has been on hiatus for almost 9 years, testing the devotion of fans who eagerly await its continuation. Dogs: Bullets & Carnage has left fans hanging since 2015, with a major cliffhanger that needs closure. X by Clamp has been on hiatus for over 21 years, leaving fans wondering how the story will conclude.

Many manga fans know the pain of seeing their favorite series go on a brief hiatus, but that can't compare to how brutal the waits have been for the manga that have gone on the longest hiatuses. These hiatuses can be caused by many factors including health issues or cancelation, but no matter what the reason being left on the edge of their seats waiting for another chapter has tested the devotion of some fans and broken the wills of others. However, for those who manage to wait out the entire break, a potential continuation to the story can be incredible to read.

Crazy Samurai: 400 vs. 1 is a Japanese action movie with a staggeringly long 77-minute one-take fight scene, showcasing practical mastery and physical exhaustion. The film focuses on the fight scene, with minimal story and character development, which may not appeal to all viewers unfamiliar with martial arts proficiency. The practical demands of shooting the ambitious fight scene are evident, with the actor suffering injuries and the use of CGI blood and off-screen removal of defeated opponents. Despite these flaws, the film is a remarkable practical achievement.

Some of the greatest action movies ever made have delivered lengthy fight scenes, but one underground martial arts film puts them all to shame. Long fight scenes are a major risk in any action movie; while an epic sequence can be enough to secure a film’s cultural legacy, the expanded ambition leaves more room for things to go wrong. A Japanese action...

Onimusha is a short and visually appealing dark historical fantasy anime that efficiently tells its story within its four-hour runtime. The anime draws inspiration from samurai films and the original Onimusha video game franchise, but also strives to stand on its own. While the animation quality varies, the anime effectively utilizes its limited episodes to deliver non-stop action and engaging set pieces.

The new Netflix original anime, Onimusha, produced by Sublimation, is a short and sweet dark historical fantasy that accomplishes what it can in its short runtime. It may not be the most awe-inspiring piece of work out there, but clean visuals and an efficient story ensure that viewers won't feel its four-hour runtime is not wasted. As such, it's perfect for unwinding between longer shows.

Capcom's Onimusha franchise has lain dormant for decades now, leaving the premise free to be reused in any way. Sublimation chose to set...

Surrounded by zombies in a desolate mountain village, Miyamoto Musashi (Ôtsuka Akio) hatches a plan to corral the creatures and blast them en masse. But the samurai needs bait, so he dangles a young girl named Sayo (Yamane Aya), the town’s sole survivor, in front of the horde. A close-up centers her trembling face and chattering teeth. “Don’t worry,” Musashi says, flashing an impish smile. “I won’t let them lay a finger on you.” Sayo steels herself, nodding with quiet confidence in her newfound companion.

The scene, which takes place midway through the second episode of Netflix’s Onimusha, is emblematic of the animated series, based on Capcom’s supernatural samurai video game series of the same name. Beneath the show’s slick, ferocious action—a hallmark of supervising director Miike Takashi—lies a surprisingly touching emotional core.

Set during the Edo period, Onimusha begins shortly after...

The Pokémon franchise creatively names its characters, often drawing inspiration from real-world historical figures. The English localization team has successfully adapted many character names, maintaining the essence of the original Japanese references for English-speaking audiences. Jessie and James are named after famous historical figures both in English and in Japanese, while Ash and Gary, pay homage to the franchise's creator and his mentor.

As one of the most profitable media franchises of all time, Pokémon and its characters have become iconic and instantly recognizable. Although fans will be familiar with many of the names of Pokémon's extensive cast of characters, they may not be aware of the references to real-world historical figures that inspired the names of certain prominent characters in the franchise. While some of these references are only present in the original Japanese and have been dropped by the English localization teams, others have been adapted to...

Netflix is no stranger to bringing iconic video game adaptations to its platform. The latest to join the roster is ‘Onimusha,’ based on Capcom’s legendary action video game series. This isn’t just another action-packed series; it carries the rich historical backdrop of Japan’s Warring States period. It promises to blend history, action, and a touch of the supernatural in a captivating anime rendition.

Set in an age where swordplay was as much art as it was warfare, ‘Onimusha’ tells the tale of Miyamoto Musashi. This wandering swordsman isn’t your ordinary warrior. Armed with the mythical Oni Gauntlet, Musashi embarks on a perilous mission. His objective? To confront and defeat malevolent beings known as Genma. These are no mere foes, as they wield otherworldly powers, pushing Musashi to his limits.

The teaser offered viewers a tantalizing glimpse into Musashi’s world. The focus was clear – a relentless hunter of demons,...

Final Fantasy 7 Remake game director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed a secret about the game. The hidden detail is actually a special cameo appearance. The cameo in Final Fantasy 7 Remake is connected to Hamaguchi himself.

A long-hidden detail in Final Fantasy 7 Remake has been commented on by the game director, revealing an adorable secret. The first entry in the remake series was released back in early 2020 and covered the first portion of the game, set entirely within the city of Midgar. As such, the game’s final moments see the group led by Cloud Strife leaving Midgar after a gruesome and fate-changing fight with Sephiroth.

The next game in the series will be Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and will follow up immediately after the group’s departure from the city. With it, players will explore a new open-world map, which contains many areas from the classic 1997 title, such as Cosmo Canyon, Fort Condor,...

Capcom’s “Onimusha,” the landmark survival action video game series set in Japan’s feudal Sengoku period, is being adapted into an anime series that will start streaming from Thursday, November 2, only on Netflix. Directed by Takashi Miike, this ambitious series will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Toshiro Mifune, the Japanese film icon known around the globe. This is the beginning of an intense series full of realistic action in which Musashi’s blade slices through evil as he traverses a land plagued by poverty.

The Netflix Series “Onimusha” starts streaming Thursday, November 2, only on Netflix.

The anime adaptation of the Capcom game series "Onimusha", directed by Takashi Miike streams November 2, 2023 on Netflix:

"...'Musashi Miyamoto', at the beginning of the 'Edo' period is no longer a young man. He departs with the legendary 'Oni Gauntlet' to defeat the 'Genma', in which Musashi’s blade slices through evil as he traverses a land plagued by poverty..."

Click the images to enlarge...

While Konami seems to have been hogging all of the animated Netflix video game adaptations lately, Capcom has countered with a new trailer for Onimusha, which is set to start streaming on November 2. Set to “The Loneliest” by Måneskin, the trailer doesn’t get into the demon-slaying that the video games are known for just yet, but that’s quickly rectified.

Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.

Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.

Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...

Western audiences have developed a strong love for Thorfinn, the main character of Vinland Saga, surprising the manga's author, Makoto Yukimura. Yukimura was particularly surprised by the popularity of Thorfinn's quote, "I have no enemies," which has resonated with Western viewers and inspired them. Yukimura expressed his gratitude to the animation team for adapting his work and sharing it with the world, but also voiced concerns about overwork in the anime industry.

The love western audiences have for Thorfinn has even surprised the author of Vinland Saga, Makoto Yukimura. While the manga has been around since 2005, it wasn't until recent years that the story gained a great deal of attention in the Western anime and manga fandom. This new rise in popularity came on one part with the anime and on the other with its main character's development.

Thorfinn's journey of self-improvement has inspired many people to follow his example and share his message.

As a member of the always affable Team Rocket in Pokémon, Jessie has long been a fan-favorite. However, her family history is not very well-known, especially compared to her partner, James. While the anime has aired numerous series across both Japanese and North American markets, early media elements were never officially released outside of Japan. This includes a radio drama released ahead of the premiere of Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back.

In the anime, Jessie's "mother" is featured once, in the episode "Snow Way Out!, which was part of the original series. Within the episode, Jessie discusses how her mother would make her a "snowgasbord." This meal was made entirely of snow, showing that her family was not very well off. However, this may or may not be her birth mother - as it could be her foster mother. In the radio drama, "The Birth of Mewtwo...

Even though the series remains unfinished, Takehiko Inoue's Vagabond manga is still spoken of in reverence thanks to its stunning art. The Seinen manga series is a fictionalized retelling of the legendary roaming samurai Musashi Miyamoto and his life in Edo-period Japan.

Related: 10 '90s Anime Even Darker Than You Remember

Vagabond's story is characterized by thrilling duels and engrossing introspection, with Inoue's art exceptionally highlighting those plot elements. The realistic and expressive art style makes scenes like Musashi's sword training with water and exaggerated ones like Sekishusai Yagyu's imposing presence feel deeply impactful.

Flowing Like Water

Musashi Miyamoto would easily be another one of the greatest anime swordsmen if Vagabond were to be adapted. And as with such characters, Inoue's manga does a fantastic job of depicting Musashi's various training scenes.

One of the most iconic panels is when the ronin trained with his sword using water.

Miyamoto Musashi has been solidified in history for his phenomenal skills as a swordsman. As such, he’s been depicted in cinema for decades. His story has been shown as a hopeful journey in Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy” or as a Zen-seeking quest in Tomu Uchida’s five-part film series. The ronin would even be used as a symbol of patriotism in the propaganda feature “Miyamoto Musashi,” directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. Yet, the famed warrior was far from perfect, and there was more to him besides his sword skills. He was also a human and one with imperfections for that matter. These complexities are showcased in Tai Kato’s gritty but human jidaigeki epic “Miyamoto Musashi.” An alternative title for the picture is “Sword of Fury.”

Like many adaptations, the film is based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s epic novel “Musashi,” a fictionalized account of the famous ronin with touches...

“Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple,” much like the first entry of “The Samurai Trilogy,” was a financial and critical success. A lot transpired storywise, and the ending teased for a great follow-up. It was time for Hiroshi Inagaki to wrap things up for Musashi Miyamoto. More stakes are to be raised, and loose ends are to be tied. Upon release, the third and final entry in Inagaki’s rendition of the famous swordsman would perform well like the previous two. Musashi would now face off against his greatest opponent, Sasaki Kojiro, in the enjoyable finale “Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island.”

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Following his newfound wisdom and immense regret for his failed awkward romantic advances on Otsu, Musashi Miyamoto retires his sword and pursues the life of a reserved commoner. He has taken in a younger apprentice and grown a liking for woodcutting. However, the...

Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto” was a critical and box office success. It was time to continue the narrative in the second entry of “The Samurai Trilogy.” Inagaki would raise more stakes, and much of Musashi’s history would be covered, albeit in a more theatrically romanticized way. Also, a major player in the narrative would be introduced, one that would participate in a significant event in the life of Musashi Miyamoto. So much content would be covered in the entertaining follow-up “Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple.”

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A majority of the cast from the previous returned, but some were recast here. Rentaro Mikuni was replaced in the part of Matahachi Honiden by Sachio Sakai. This change was likely due to Mikuni’s demanding schedule as he became more and more of a popular star in Japan. The renowned talent would work with...

The famous swordsman Musashi Miyamoto has been depicted in entertainment countless times with various interpretations. Some depictions of him are grounded and closer to his known history, while other versions are more romanticized in nature with elements of truth. Eiji Yoshikawa would detail the samurai’s life in his grand novel “Musashi,” which loosely details the life of the skilled warrior but with a fictional spin. Yoshikawa’s version of events would be the template for countless cinematic adaptations. One of the most popular adaptations is “The Samurai Trilogy,” directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, a three-part epic chronicle of the life of Musashi. The trilogy would be off to a terrific start in the first entry, “Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto.”

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As typical with the work of Hiroshi Inagaki, high production values would be on full display and this time in luscious Eastmancolor. With Toho being the production company,...

This article contains spoilers for all of Westworld season 3.

Remember back to Westworld season 3, if you will.

It’s been three months since the Westworld massacre, and Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) still has work to do. She’s escaped the boundaries of Delos’ adult theme park, has made her way to a dystopian future version of Los Angeles, and is actively hunting down anyone connected to the artificial intelligence program known as Rehoboam. The overturned stones lead her to Liam Dempsey Jr. (John Gallagher Jr.), the failson of the founder of Incite, who maintain the world-controlling artificial intelligence. He’s a useless money-suck living off his old man’s accomplishments; the true power behind the throne is a man known as Serac (Vincent Cassel), the world’s only secretive billionaire. Dolores learns this secret, but only after killing Dempsey’s right hand man Connells (Tommy Flanagan) and replacing him with an identical host.