Tokyo Drifter (Japan, 1966)

Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo is a member of a recently deactivated Yakuza gang. His boss, to whom he holds absolute loyalty, Kurata, has given up the life of crime for himself and his syndicate. Otsuka, a rival gang boss, attempts to recruit Tetsu into his organization, but is turned down. After failing, Otsuka sends an assassin to neutralize Tetsu, fearing he will interfere with a real estate scam. Looking to profit from the scheme himself and fearing that his group is threatened by his presence, Kurata asks Tetsu to leave and live the life of a drifter.

Tokyo Drifter has some seriously bizarre cinematography, it's even so out there, that Nikkatsu the film studio tried to get director Seijun Suzuki to tone down his visual style. To no avail, it turned out. The film oozes attitude and Tetsuya, the main character, almost outshines everyone else when it comes to being cool. He's like a delinquent James Bond.

Genre: Crime/Drama

Branded to Kill (Japan, 1967)

The story follows Goro Hanada in his life as a contract killer. He falls in love with a woman named Misako, who recruits him for a seemingly impossible mission. When the mission fails, he becomes hunted by the phantom Number One Killer, whose methods threaten his sanity as much as his life.

The controversy surrounding Branded to Kill is almost as interesting as the movie itself. Director Seijun Suzuki was hired to rewrite the original script, and threw in all sorts of crazy ideas just before shooting the scenes. After it's release, the film company fired Suzuki for making "movies that make no sense and money". Since then, Branded to Kill has become a cult classic and has grown a strong following. It's a cool story about ice cold assassins and gangsters, with visuals that got a man fired from his job. Literally.

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama