Thank you. Harakari is first in my rewatch. My teen has shown some interest in foreign and classic films so I will see if he likes it too.

To follow Tatsuya Nakadai you will see some of the greatest films of all time. I didn't even mention High and Low, Yojimbo, The Seven Samurai, Samurai Rebellion.

Ran (1985) is Kurosawa's reimagining of King Lear, and Nakadai plays the Lear part. A wild and completely unhinged performance that starts coiled and ends animalistic. An epic in every way, Nakadai matches the ferocity of filmmaking. These are masters giving it their all.

The Sword of Doom (1966) is a slightly frustrating film because it was intended to have a sequel that never happened, so the story arc is never realized. Nakadai plays a purely evil sociopath and there is a tension in the way he suppresses his natural charisma. He centers the movie perfectly.

Nakadai is only in one section of Kwaidan (1964), an amazing stylish horror anthology. He is the centre of a man haunted in a surreal sublime section. While he is only in this section his fear is so realized it grounds the part perfectly.

Harakari (1962) is often cited as his greatest role, and I think if you were to watch one movie to understand Nakadai's depth, this is the one. Often a theatrical actor, he finds a great deal of depth and nuance. A FANTASTIC film in every way. Also a must watch samurai film.

The Human Condition (1959 -1961) is a trilogy of films. To watch all three is almost 10 hours and it is 10 hours that will affect you. One of the greatest epics ever. Nakadai plays a man struggling to hang onto his moral center and return to his wife despite the cruelty the world throws at him.

Yeah. I find that stuff so boring.

This is from the episode "Tick v Arthur" (season 3 episode 4). I have no idea why it was his with an adult content warning (it ran on normal tv), but you can find it easily online.

That’s fair. I did show it to my teen kids and they sat there stone faced, but that’s obviously just 2 kids. They find other stuff I’ve shown them funny (aqua teen, SpongeBob is still huge, looney tunes).

That’s fair and I try to get to that in my response. A lot of stuff from that era though does hold up. Ren and Stimpy was super important and relevant for its era and purpose. I just find it hasn’t aged well. That’s less a criticism than a description and not the show‘s fault.

… but I was shocked how unfunny it is in 2025. I saw each joke a mile away. It deserves a spot for what it influenced, but the show itself does not hold up in my opinion. It definitely had the widest gulf between expectation and experience.

...(Episode 12) has more depth and nuance than most of these shows. Worth searching out and easy to find online.

True. It’s a show I dipped in and out of, but I always know it would be very good.

... running on fumes way longer than it was relevant, it was at it's peak for a good 8 seasons and has a hundred episodes with an argument for best. I choose Marge vs the Monorail (1993, season 4 episode 12) because I often find myself singing the song.

I mean, it maintains its quality, which is especially impressive considering it’s quite unique

39 is close. What’s the show?