by twinklelie, December 14, 2013
22

twinklelie's Movie Picks:

The Samurai edition


Let's talk about samurais for once, shall we? hehe 
I've always liked a good samurai movie, that's why I wanted to present you a couple of them. 
Wished I could have chosen more than a couple, but oh well.

So without further delay, here there are!


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vxzwO9ahfhI/UqngLF3aTGI/AAAAAAAABfk/JDbAyFPnzT0/s512/Z.jpg

Year: 2012
Set 10 years after the Boshin War (Civil war that occurred between 1868 & 1869), it tells us the story of Himura Kenshin (Sato Takeru), formerly known as Hitokiri Battosai, who changed his convictions after the war, and now refuses to kill anyone who opposes him. One day, he meets Kamiya Kaoru (Takei Emi), a young girl, owner of a dojo. Admiring his sabre skills, she insists on that he stays for a while to teach her the way of the sabre.


Kenshin and Kaoru daily life suddenly changes when an unknown samurai decides to usurp Kenshin's former name and kills anyone who crosses his path... 


Is Kenshin going to stay there and do nothing? 


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Jf8AZbjhi-U/UqoYojv50rI/AAAAAAAABgQ/6QyPOzyYbq8/s912/rurouni_kenshin.jpghttps://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XFpQuNYqF-I/UqoYn7naJuI/AAAAAAAABgA/ybUDEd9fK7Y/s800/Japanese-movie-Rurouni-Kenshin-stills-wallpapers-1366x768-14.jpg

I love the manga, and I was really relieved that they made something so good out of the manga.

The actors don't overact. I usually like the overacting in Japanese productions, but I think that it wouldn't have fit in this movie. Sato Takeru interprets Kenshin with charisma. He also has a troubling resemblance with Kenshin and he fully understood his personality. I have to admit that I was really surprised by the quality of the movie. Both the acting and realization were of great quality. The only thing I regret is that the relationship between Kenshin and Kaoru wasn't really developed. But maybe that will happen in the upcoming movies.





https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bS7U1ar3Mhg/UqoYon2ZRXI/AAAAAAAABgU/mjZwlKIaIKQ/s500/002.gif


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EVMmfxIeGWI/UqngLCB2MsI/AAAAAAAABfc/_c1KZB9hvik/s512/Zatoichi.jpg

Year: 2003

Set during the 19th century, it tells us the story of Zatoichi (Kitano Takeshi, a blind man who earns his living from gambling and his work as a masseur. Behind the appearance of an old man, it hides a skilled swordsman who strokes as fast as lightning. While wandering in the mountains, he reaches a village where he will assist two geishas (Okinu and Osei). They are seeking revenge on those who killed their entire family. The village is completely controlled by a gang whose leader Ginzo kills anyone who's going against him. At the same time, a Ronin named Hattori (Asano Tadanobu) arrives in the village with his sick wife in the search for a job. Since he handles very well the sword, he's hired by Ginzo as bodyguard. One day he crosses path with Zatoichi ...



https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IqoVC939AfE/UqokdE5KluI/AAAAAAAABgk/OXE9m9L5YwY/s640/Zatoichi (1).jpghttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F3OjEpk2Mto/Uqokc75kbXI/AAAAAAAABgo/VgcyNSioFQY/s540/zatoichi_kitano2.jpg
                     People tried to draw eyes on him lol

How to describe this movie? Hmm, good question... I have no idea haha
Okay, this movie is brilliant. This movie has lots of genres, and it's always something that must be handled with care. But Takeshi Kitano, who also happens to be the director, managed to find a good balance between them. In this movie Kitano doesn't go in half measures and serve us in his film with worthy graphic violence of the 70s, humor, chambara (typical samurai & ninja movies from the 50s to the 70s), and you even get to have a tap dance scene (not kidding about the tap dance).

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-49e2neMkiD4/UqngK0p5UPI/AAAAAAAABfU/p75XMyTBN70/s405/l_89881_6d7a0210.jpg

Year: 1985
In the 16th century, in a war-torn Japan, the old Daymio, Hidetora Ichimonji, decides to share, with the neighboring lords as witnesses, his fief among his three sons and thus expects to end his days happily and in peace. But the sad reality took over as the three brothers entered into conflict, and plunged their families and homes in chaos ...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L-euBtX28v0/UqorzP2D9sI/AAAAAAAABhE/TJ2Ej54RwW0/s673/ran-colors.jpghttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nsIqSndxx4k/UqorzEwSWEI/AAAAAAAABhA/mdibaA_UOiQ/s630/11-ran-1985-630-75.jpg

You might say: since you're mentioning a Kurosawa movie, you could have mentioned The Seven Samurais (which is also a great movie, by the way).
Yes, I could have had, but no.
I'm talking about this one because it's my very first samurai movie hehe
When I first watched it, I was mind-blown. The color, the atmosphere, and the battle scenes were spectacular! I had little sparkles in my eyes after finishing it *-*
I'd say that it's a very Shakespearean kind of movie. When I rewatched it years later, it reminded me a lot of King Lear.

And this is it for this weekend's movie picks ;)