Do you like Yakuza movies?

Just wondering how many in here is into the actual Japanese made gangster flicks of the 60's and 70's, and not all this present day manga inspired nonsense. I mean flicks like

The Tattooed Hitman
Jingi No Hakaba (Death of Honor/Loyalty Onto Death)
Jingi Naki Tatakai series 1-18 (Fight Without Honor)
Violent Classroom (w. Yaksaku Matsuda)
Branded to Kill
Tokyo Drifter
Gendai Yakuza Series 1-4 (Modern Yakuza)
THE YAKUZA (American/Japanese Co Production)

Stuff like this. Because despite the Takeshi Kitano stuff like...

Violent Cop
Sonatine
3-4x10 Jugatsu
Brother

most of the stuff coming out now isn't all that great. The stuff of Toei, Dahei and Nikkatsu from the old days are the best in exploitation entertainment that could possibly be compared to the "Blackploitation" stuff like Truck Turner and Black Ceasar. So any fans of these films or know where more can be found? Or am I alone in this niche pasttime?

I diddn't know they existed until now the WOO was the only one I knew who made gangster flicks in the east (though they aren't Yakuza)

I know that there are Triad movies but didn't know that there are Yakuza movies also.

Yeah, all the Chinese stuff is great from directors like John Woo, Wong Tai Lo, Ringo Lam and David Lam... but YES, the Japanese have been producing some very interesting and down right odd at times (Tokyo Drifter, Branded to Kill) gangster films. Some of the first ones would be stuff like STRAY DOG by Akira Kurosawa w. Toshiro Mifune... it's more of a police detective story but I guess that could count as a Yakuza movie too. That particular film came out in 1946 if I remember correctly. Later during the late 50's through late 60's Japan had something close to the Golden Era of Cinema in America and made more gangster flicks than I could ever track down and watch. Most of this stuff I see untranslated but understand the gist of it. Once you've seen enough of these flicks it all begins to make sense. Though to those interested Video Search of Miami

<a href="http://www.vsom.com" target="_blank">http://www.vsom.com</a>

has some good Yakuza stuff translated into English, and the movies "Branded to Kill" and "Tokyo Drifter" are on Criterion Collection DVDs.

Evil Wasabi lent me Brother. I was totally blown away I really dug it and I want to see more.

Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive 2
Dead or Alive: Final
Ichi the Killer
Tiger on beat

There are alot of great yakuza movies even if most of the ones i mention here is crossovers.

Look out for the movie "VERSUS" as well. A mix between yakuza, kung fu, gore, zombies and swords. Great movie.

I've been wanting to pick up Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter because I heard that they were pretty damned good...plus they have Criterion releases as well

I wonder how YAKUZAS can play games if they don't have fingers anymore (?)