I have considered cutting my facial hair to resemble his style in Throne of Blood.

Yes, I have seen many of Kurosawa's films. I believe I began with Seven Samurai, but was initially attracted to him because of my love for Sergio Leone and I'd heard of his borrowing the script of Yojimbo. (I came to realize that he borrowed the style and feel of the movie, as well. The gritty, split-second action is similar in both, and at times the two are nearly shot-for-shot.) Anyway I actually like Sanjuro more, which is a pseudo-sequel. Hidden Fortress is really cool, and is notable for its influence on Star Wars. People also laud Rashomon for its innovative narrative (and is apparently the first time a director pointed the camera at the sun?) Outside of the samurai aesthetic, though, I really liked High and Low. It was slower paced, but the cinematography was of course brilliant, and the mood of the story was so grim and intense.

I have been lucky to see several of the above-mentioned at the local student-run theater. They are amazing to behold on a big screen. Some of his films are so brilliantly composed that any particular still frame is almost a classic painting, or work-of-art in itself. The composition of <I>Sanjuro, in particular, stands out to me.