Mothra (Japan, 1961)

Shipwreck survivors are found on Beiru Island, which was previously used for atomic tests. The interior is amazingly free of radiation effects, and they believe that they were protected by a special juice that was given to them by the island's residents. A joint expedition of Rolisican and Japanese scientists explores Beiru and discovers many curious things, including two women only one foot high. Unscrupulous expedition leader Clark Nelson abducts the women and puts them in a vaudeville show. But their sweet singing contains a telepathic cry for help to Mothra, a gigantic moth that is worshiped as a deity by the island people.

Mothra is the first film to feature the sort of good kaiju that also appeared in the Godzilla-universe. Directed by Ishiro Honda, the co-creator of Godzilla and lifelong friend of Akira Kurosawa, Mothra featured the most detailed miniature work of any Toho film to that point. One of the biggest joys is seeing the city get destroyed by an angry moth, with charmingly obvious toy tanks and humans getting blown away by Mothra's gusts of wind. The destruction is far more enjoyable to watch than any of the latest billion-dollar remakes from the US, which is kind of a sad thought that CGI-films are the way to go nowadays.

 

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Zero Focus (Japan, 1961)

Kenichi and Teiko Uhara are one week newlyweds. Promoted to his company Hakuho Ad Agency's Tokyo headquarters, Kenichi heads on a short business trip back to Kanazawa, where he was that branch office's manager, to wrap up his business there, leaving Teiko alone in Tokyo to unpack their apartment. Although he is reported to have left Kanazawa to head back to Tokyo on the day planned, he doesn't come home on the scheduled day, without anyone in his and Teiko's personal life or his business colleagues knowing what happened to him.

Zero Focus unravels like an Hitchcockian ball of yarn, slowly putting the pieces together and never gives away too much. If this film had been made in the west it would've had James Stewart and Grace Kelly in the lead roles. Director Yoshitaro Nomura is considered as a pioneer of Japanese noir and also worked with Akira Kurosawa on The Idiot (1951), while himself directed as many as 89 films in total.

Genre: Drama/Mystery

Yojimbo (Japan, 1961)

Sanjuro, a wandering samurai enters a rural town and discovers that there's a feud going on, involving the entire town. After learning from the innkeeper that the town is divided between two gangsters, he convinces each of two crime lords, Seibei and Ushitora, to hire him as protection from the other.

One of the greatest classics in film history, and possibly my personal favorite movie by Akira Kurosawa. Yojimbo is practically a masterclass in film making, and inspired countess of directors for years to come. The character Sanjuro is an unbeatable combination of a skillful samurai, comic relief and merciless justice. Almost like a superhero (or antihero) in Japan's Edo period. Mifune's character later develops a rivalry with Unosuke, played by Tatsuya Nakadai and they act beautifully together. Toshiro Mifune, who starred in 16 of Kurosawa's films, is perfect for the role and makes Sanjuro a character impossible not to like. In other words, Yojimbo is a great and often hilarious samurai story that should not be missed!

Genre: Action/Adventure