Time for a movie history lesson!

Most movie fans are well aware that samurai movies—most notably Akira Kurosawa‘s 1958 film The Hidden Fortress—heavily inspired George Lucas in making 1977’s Star Wars, but it goes much deeper than that. Many don’t know the history behind it all, and a new video is here to educate all those who are interested in acquiring a little knowledge on the topic.

You can check out the video, created by YouTube channel CineFix, below.

Rubicon
Based on an idea by Christopher McQuarrie
Story by Dan Capel
Written by Mark Long
Art by Mario Stilla
Colors by Howling Monkey Studios
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Archaia Entertainment/Archaia Black Label
Release Date: March 12, 2014
Cover Price: $14.99

Rubicon is the brainchild of Christopher McQuarrie and Dan Capel. Take the story of the Seven Samurai, bring it to Afghanistan, and appropriately, cast the US Navy SEALs in the role of the seven noble Samurai “” a legendary story that has been playing out for close to ten years now.

Artist Mario Stilla paints a gritty world in a style which reminds me of early Frank Miller, only neater and less confused. The subjects that need to be gritty are almost lost in the detail of their clothing, but when addressing the women in the story, the lines are clean and even. Stilla displays both a proficiency at marrying different styles, and a clear intention that the art tell as much of the story as the words. Frame-by-frame, he shows you what to be focused on as writer Mark Long spins the tale.

Rubicon
Hardcover
Written by Dan Capel, Mark Long, Christopher McQuarrie
Based on works by Akira Kurosawa
Art by Mario Stilla
Archaia Entertainment
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Cover Price: $22.45

Akira Kurosawa’s work is legendary and rises beyond the test of time. It’s long lasting, and has been reinterpreted millions of times in a manner of ways, from Spaghetti Westerns to a “Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away.” Along comes Rubicon, a graphic novel from Archaia Entertainment – the newest reimagining of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, though placed in the environment of the modern Afghanistan war.

Rubicon focuses (mainly) on a group of SEALs and Special Forces, in a situational conflict in Afghanistan that is very loosely based on the Kurosawa classic. Facing a group of insurgents largely supported and controlled by the Taliban, the group of elite troops opt to focus on safeguarding a small village that harvests poppies, rather than their own base of operations.

Subscribe to the Podcast: RSS | iTunes | Zune | Stitcher
Follow us on Twitter: @SkullFaceIsland
Like us on Facebook: Skull-Face Island
E-mail us at
Call Us: 980-272-0111

Hello There! This is Adam Frazier and you are listening to Skull-Face Island, the official movie podcast of Geeks of Doom! As always I’m joined by the Carrie Matheson to my Saul Berenson, David Allen… and a man prone to restless leg syndrome AND genre blindness, producer Tim Grant.

Today on the Show: We’ll discuss Kathryn Bigelow‘s latest film, Zero Dark Thirty, and boot-up the Geek-O-Matic TeleFax for all the latest news on MGM’s Ben-Hur remake, a Star Wars spin-off film inspired by Akira Kurosawa‘s Seven Samurai, and Brad Bird’s 1952.

We also kick off a four-part series of “BEST OF THE YEAR” lists with special guest Sean O’Connell of Fandango, Movies.Com, CinemaBlend, and The Washington Post. On this week’s installment we’ll cover the best performances of 2012 for both supporting actors and actresses. You’ll definitely want to tune in for the insanity that ensues.

The Gold Box spotlight deal of the day is Seven Samurai on Blu-ray for $24.49 (that’s 51% off the list price of $49.95) and The Samurai Trilogy Criterion Collection Blu-ray for $35.49 (that’s 49% off the list price of $69.95).

Note – this deal is valid only for today, Thursday, October 4, 2012 until 11:59pm PST while supplies last.

From Amazon:

Unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of film, “Seven Samurai” has inspired countless films modeled after its basic premise. “The Samurai Trilogy” continues this legacy offering a passionate epic that’s equal parts tender love story and bloody action.