This was the first murder I can remember seeing in a movie. I think I was like five or six years old. The goopiness of the blood was what stood out most; I couldn't get it out of my head.
I think he was screening it for a history lecture or something, and thought I'd enjoy it because samurais and castles. I remember it was a double-feature; Ran and Zulu.
I have to disagree with Oswald, though. The greatest death scene of all time was from Throne of Blood.