Samurai and "Ninja" movies

1. Owl's Castle
2. Yoji Yamada's series - The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, Love and Honor (I've only seen the first and the last - both very good - and I've heard very good things about the second)
3. When the Last Sword is Drawn (I really like this movie)
4. The Sword of Doom
5. Throne of Blood (Shakespeare meets Kurosawa)
6. Chusingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki (a telling of the legend of the 47 ronin)

And it all begins....

Action Movies I would suggest:

Japanese:

• Sichi Samurai
• Yojimbo
• Sanjuro
• Zatoichi (2003)
• The Hidden Fortress
• Shogun Assassin

Chinese

• Fearless