Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa

If you don’t yet know the work of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, you should. His films have influenced many American directors, including George Lucas. Yojimbo ($24) is an excellent film in its own right, a story of a drifting samurai for hire, but also serves as an excellent introduction to Kurosawa’s style. Black and White, English subtitles, it just doen’t matter — this one’s a classic.