In Japan, 3D films get kicked by samurai flicks

TOKYO - Hollywood 3D movies may be huge in Japan, but a wave of new samurai films threatens to tarnish their image by dazzling audiences with old-school action and some clever new twists to the sword-and-kimono stories.

From the works of filmmaking legend Akira Kurosawa, such as Seven Samurai, to dramas aired on public broadcaster NHK, samurai fare has long been a staple of Japanese entertainment.

But several films in the genre are hitting theaters in a big way this autumn, led by Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins, fresh from its Venice film festival world premiere last month, kicking off a run of six major releases over three months.