The Challenge

Jul 23, 1982

1h 49m

★ 5.8

He has trained every thought, every muscle, every nerve, for the moment of truth!

Overview

Rick, a down-and-out American boxer, is hired to transport a sword to Japan, unaware that the whole thing is a set up in a bitter blood-feud between two brothers, one who follows the traditional path of the samurai and the other a businessman. At the behest of the businessman, Rick undertakes samurai training from the other brother, but joins his cause. He also becomes romantically involved with the samurai's daughter.

Genres

Action

Drama

Production Companies

Poncher-Rosen-Beckman Productions

CBS Theatrical Films

Polyphony Digital

The Challenge Trailers

Cast

Rick

Scott Glenn

Toru Yoshida

Toshirō Mifune

Akiko Yoshida

Donna Kei Benz

Hideo Yoshida

Atsuo Nakamura

Ando

Calvin Jung

Clyde Kusatsu

Toshio Yoshida

Sab Shimono

Kubo

Kiyoaki Nagai

Jiro

Kenta Fukasaku

Toru Yoshida's Father

Shōgo Shimada

Instructor

Yoshio Inaba

Old Man

Seiji Miyaguchi

The secret warriors of feudal Japan were the ninja. Sent on impossible missions, the ninja were trained to work in shadows, gather information and defeat the enemy to build a world of peace. Akakage, Aokage, and Asuka are rookie ninjas under the tutelage of Shirokage. Their life is a series of perilous missions that entail intrigue, deception and intimidation.

7.1

Crows Zero

Oct 26, 2007

The students of Suzuran High compete for the King of School title. An ex-graduate yakuza is sent to kill the son of a criminal group, but he can't make himself do it as he reminds him of his youth.

9.0

The 47 Loyal Ronin

Dec 1, 1910

An adventure film with Benshi performers. Sometimes considered the 'first Japanese feature film', it survives today as a compilation of scenes from various different 1910s adaptations totaling nearly three hours in length. The bulk of the content comes from the 1911 adaptation by legendary Japanese filmmaker Makino Shozo.

5.9

Tokyo Decadence

Jan 6, 1992

A submissive hooker goes about her trade, suffering abuse at the hands of Japanese salarymen and Yakuza types. She's unhappy about her work, and is apparently trying to find some sort of appeasement for the fact that her lover has married.

7.3

Jodhaa Akbar

Feb 13, 2008

A sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a Mughal emperor and a Rajput princess.

6.3

The Seal Of The Sun

Mar 6, 2019

At 2:46 PM on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant experiences a black out due to the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The cooling system fails at the nuclear power plant and the temperature of the nuclear reactor rises. The worst case is coming. Scientists face an unexpected situation and government officials are confused by lack of information. Residents says goodbye to their hometown before evacuating.

6.2

Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice

Dec 30, 1972

Fearless Edo-period police inspector Hanzo Itami, nicknamed The Razor, has developed his own unique way of extracting information for his inquiries. His first adventure sees him investigating his superior officer's mistress, whom he suspects of having ties with a reputed criminal on the loose.

7.4

All About Lily Chou-Chou

Oct 6, 2001

Charts the troubled teenage years of students Yūichi Hasumi and Shūsuke Hoshino, exploring the shifting and complex power dynamics of their relationship against the backdrop of Yūichi's love for the dreamy and abstract music of pop star Lily Chou-Chou.

7.3

The Tale of Zatoichi

Apr 18, 1962

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

7.0

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues

Oct 12, 1962

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.

3.6

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance

Oct 9, 2015

25 years later after the events of Samurai Cop (1991), Detective Frank Washington is forced to team up with his long estranged partner Joe Marshall to solve a series of assassinations being committed by a secret group of female vigilante killers.

0.0

Cut the Shadow

Mar 1, 1963

The womanizing master of a run-down dojo hires an unemployed samurai to make himself look good instead of learning the skills himself. He lives to regret this laziness when he falls in love with the daughter of a higher class samurai and is informed on their wedding night that he must defeat her before their marriage can be consummated....

6.2

Hanzo the Razor: The Snare

Aug 11, 1973

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.

5.7

Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?

Feb 9, 1974

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 ring of young wives and a blind music teacher, and cuckolds a corrupt official under his very nose.

0.0

Kandak Sema

Nov 2, 2023

Based on a novel written by Sumithra Rahubadda.

0.0

Nichiren

Mar 10, 1979

An epic drama about Nichiren's life. Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived for 60 years during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment. Because of his devout belief, Nichiren is met with opposition throught his travels, with life on the line, can Nichiren accomplish his goal?

5.5

Japan Sinks

Jul 15, 2006

In the aftermath of a major earthquake, scientists predict that Japan will sink into the sea. As further disasters follow, politicians plead with other countries to take refugees, while scientists struggle to save Japan itself.

6.1

Spriggan

Sep 5, 1998

An elite superhuman agent must stop a foreign military unit from seizing control of an ancient artifact that holds the key to ultimate power.

0.0

Nouka no Mikata

Oct 23, 2021

Shindo Yuya quits his job and joins the agriculture and forestry division of Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture which is tasked with the regional revitalization of the local agriculture industry.

0.0

Lady Samurai

May 29, 2019

This is the story of Kaori Kawabuchi, a samurai sword performer, singer and motion capture actor. An inspiring woman keeping alive ancient traditions and spirituality in modern Japan.