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Barnaby Clay recommended Ikiru (1952) in Movies (curated)
Gareth Evans recommended Seven Samurai (1954) in Movies (curated)
Ryan Hill (152 KP) rated The Last Samurai (2003) in Movies
Jun 23, 2019
" I will tell you, how he lived"
The honour and code of the samurai has always been enticing to a Western civilisation that is far removed from such customs, which perhaps makes The Last Samurai such an enticing, enigmatic film. Edward Zwick crafts quite an epic adventure rich in mythology & thematic resonance that while traditionally Hollywood in its construction still manages to exist a cut above many such movies of its ilk, a touch of class surrounding how the story of Captain Nathan Algren is put together, based as it is on several real life legendary American figures who played key roles in the Satsuma Rebellion in Japan during the late 19th century. This isn't a direct re-telling of those events but serves as a leaping off point to construct a tale about a stranger in a strange land, of a man haunted by fighting an unjust war who rediscovers his honour & place in the world through a dying culture. Zwick's film is slick, sweeping, beautifully shot and frequently involving, backed up by a strong performance by Tom Cruise in one of those roles that remind you just what a good actor he can be.
In the role of Algren, Cruise begins a dejected man living out of a bottle, bereft of purpose & suffering post-Civil War nightmares of a man touted as a hero despite feeling the guilt of slaughtering Indians crushed under the might of a military machine; in that sense, The Last Samurai is very anti-war in its message, John Logan's story painting the Americans and specifically the Imperialist Japanese not in the greatest light. Cruise takes Algren on a traditional voyage of discovery, first pitted against the samurai code & eventually becoming consumed by it, consumed by the similarity of the way of the warrior between both cultures - and Ken Watanabe's dignified samurai 'rebel' Katsumoto learns from him, as well as the other way around, with Cruise remaining stoic & only getting flashes of a chance to display the usual Cruise charm, but that's OK - Algren isn't the kind of character to benefit from that, Cruise's natural magnetism is enough here. Wit is provided thankfully through, albeit briefly, Billy Connolly as a tough old Irish veteran & chiefly Timothy Spall as our portly 'narrator' of sorts, who serves to help mythologise Algren & the legend itself. Zwick is most concerned with that, you see, the idea of legends and how men become them, exploring that concept alongside digging into the cultural rituals and practises of a changing Japan.
Algren's story is placed at a time when the old ways of Japan were shifting, under the pressures of global politics & business; the Emperor here is a naive young man, sitting on an empty throne, looking to Watanabe for validation as his advisor's push to quash a rebellion fighting to preserve the old ways, preserve Japanese interests as America knocks on the door. That's why Cruise's role here is so interesting, his character learning of the samurai code & helping those around him remember their history, and Zwick explores well the concept of national identity alongside personal ideas of myth, legend & destiny. It all boils together in a careful script, never overblown, which neatly develops the relationships involved & helps you fully believe Algren's transformation into the eponymous 'last samurai'. Along the way, Zwick doesn't forget theatrics - staging plenty of well staged & intense fight scenes which utilise the strong Japanese production design, before building to a quite epic war climax with army pitted against army, with personal stakes cutting through it, backed up indeed by another superlative score by Hans Zimmer. It becomes more than just a historical swords & armour film, reaching deeper on several levels.
What could have been a slow paced, potentially ponderous movie is avoided well by Edward Zwick, who with The Last Samurai delivers one of the stronger historical adventure epics of recent years. Beautifully shot in many places, with some excellent cinematography & production standards, not to mention an impressive script well acted in particular by Tom Cruise & Ken Watanabe, Zwick creates a recognisably Hollywood picture but for once a movie that doesn't dumb down, doesn't pander and ultimately serves as an often involving, often damn well made story. Especially one to check out if you love the way of the samurai.
In the role of Algren, Cruise begins a dejected man living out of a bottle, bereft of purpose & suffering post-Civil War nightmares of a man touted as a hero despite feeling the guilt of slaughtering Indians crushed under the might of a military machine; in that sense, The Last Samurai is very anti-war in its message, John Logan's story painting the Americans and specifically the Imperialist Japanese not in the greatest light. Cruise takes Algren on a traditional voyage of discovery, first pitted against the samurai code & eventually becoming consumed by it, consumed by the similarity of the way of the warrior between both cultures - and Ken Watanabe's dignified samurai 'rebel' Katsumoto learns from him, as well as the other way around, with Cruise remaining stoic & only getting flashes of a chance to display the usual Cruise charm, but that's OK - Algren isn't the kind of character to benefit from that, Cruise's natural magnetism is enough here. Wit is provided thankfully through, albeit briefly, Billy Connolly as a tough old Irish veteran & chiefly Timothy Spall as our portly 'narrator' of sorts, who serves to help mythologise Algren & the legend itself. Zwick is most concerned with that, you see, the idea of legends and how men become them, exploring that concept alongside digging into the cultural rituals and practises of a changing Japan.
Algren's story is placed at a time when the old ways of Japan were shifting, under the pressures of global politics & business; the Emperor here is a naive young man, sitting on an empty throne, looking to Watanabe for validation as his advisor's push to quash a rebellion fighting to preserve the old ways, preserve Japanese interests as America knocks on the door. That's why Cruise's role here is so interesting, his character learning of the samurai code & helping those around him remember their history, and Zwick explores well the concept of national identity alongside personal ideas of myth, legend & destiny. It all boils together in a careful script, never overblown, which neatly develops the relationships involved & helps you fully believe Algren's transformation into the eponymous 'last samurai'. Along the way, Zwick doesn't forget theatrics - staging plenty of well staged & intense fight scenes which utilise the strong Japanese production design, before building to a quite epic war climax with army pitted against army, with personal stakes cutting through it, backed up indeed by another superlative score by Hans Zimmer. It becomes more than just a historical swords & armour film, reaching deeper on several levels.
What could have been a slow paced, potentially ponderous movie is avoided well by Edward Zwick, who with The Last Samurai delivers one of the stronger historical adventure epics of recent years. Beautifully shot in many places, with some excellent cinematography & production standards, not to mention an impressive script well acted in particular by Tom Cruise & Ken Watanabe, Zwick creates a recognisably Hollywood picture but for once a movie that doesn't dumb down, doesn't pander and ultimately serves as an often involving, often damn well made story. Especially one to check out if you love the way of the samurai.
David McK (3194 KP) rated The Wolverine (2013) in Movies
Jan 27, 2020
Hugh Jackman's second, more successful, solo outing as Logan, the mutant with the adamantium skeleton and healing power who is also known as The Wolverine.
Better than 'X-Men: Origins - Wolverine' (which really managed to mess up the character of Deadpool), but not as good as 'Logan', perhaps the strongest draw of this one is in its setting of Japan (at least, until the unintended comedy of the final act with the Silver Samurai)
Better than 'X-Men: Origins - Wolverine' (which really managed to mess up the character of Deadpool), but not as good as 'Logan', perhaps the strongest draw of this one is in its setting of Japan (at least, until the unintended comedy of the final act with the Silver Samurai)
Raul Castillo recommended Drunken Angel (1948) in Movies (curated)
Alec Baldwin recommended High and Low (1963) in Movies (curated)
Nathan Lee recommended Videodrome (1983) in Movies (curated)
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Seven Samurai (1954) in Movies
Aug 2, 2019
Powerful Movie With a Powerful Ending
When a small village is threatened to be overrun by bandits, they seek the help of samurai to defend them. Seven Samurai is quite long in the tooth, but if you’ve got an afternoon to kill, go for it!
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
Characters: 10
Cinematogprahy/Visuals: 10
I can’t say this for sure as someone who is still a Movie Pup, but it seems to me that this is where slow-mo was invented. On more than one occasion a man gets cut down and there is a slow pause before the man finally falls to his death. It’s very impactful, especially in one-on-one fights where you have the one warrior left standing. There were a number of impactful shots that made this movie a beauty to watch. I especially appreciated all the work captured in the torrential rain, particularly the battles. Whether it was real or special effects, it looked phenomenal either way.
Conflict: 9
Entertainment Value: 8
Had the movie moved a little faster, this would have been a perfect score no question and I would be speaking of it in the same breath as movies like 1952 classic Singin’ In the Rain. While cumbersome in spots, when it’s on, it REALLY on firing on all cylinders and keeping you excited to see what is going to happen next. This is a five-course meal in which you’re not going to like all the courses, but you’ll leave happy.
Memorability: 3
Pace: 6
Plot: 7
Decent storyline with not too much depth. From the finding of the samurai (and yes you will watch them collect all seven) to the training that ensues and preparation, they missed the mark in the story by not cutting into the meat sooner. For what it’s worth, I think this movie definitely set the stage for all action movies to follow. For that, mad props.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 80
For Seven Samurai to be as slow as it is yet as good as it is is a testament to the movie as a whole. It’s beautiful, meaningful, and is at least trying to win your heart. If it was indeed a five-course meal, four of those courses were delicious. I could have skipped the salad.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
Characters: 10
Cinematogprahy/Visuals: 10
I can’t say this for sure as someone who is still a Movie Pup, but it seems to me that this is where slow-mo was invented. On more than one occasion a man gets cut down and there is a slow pause before the man finally falls to his death. It’s very impactful, especially in one-on-one fights where you have the one warrior left standing. There were a number of impactful shots that made this movie a beauty to watch. I especially appreciated all the work captured in the torrential rain, particularly the battles. Whether it was real or special effects, it looked phenomenal either way.
Conflict: 9
Entertainment Value: 8
Had the movie moved a little faster, this would have been a perfect score no question and I would be speaking of it in the same breath as movies like 1952 classic Singin’ In the Rain. While cumbersome in spots, when it’s on, it REALLY on firing on all cylinders and keeping you excited to see what is going to happen next. This is a five-course meal in which you’re not going to like all the courses, but you’ll leave happy.
Memorability: 3
Pace: 6
Plot: 7
Decent storyline with not too much depth. From the finding of the samurai (and yes you will watch them collect all seven) to the training that ensues and preparation, they missed the mark in the story by not cutting into the meat sooner. For what it’s worth, I think this movie definitely set the stage for all action movies to follow. For that, mad props.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 80
For Seven Samurai to be as slow as it is yet as good as it is is a testament to the movie as a whole. It’s beautiful, meaningful, and is at least trying to win your heart. If it was indeed a five-course meal, four of those courses were delicious. I could have skipped the salad.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Magnificent Seven (2016) in Movies
Jun 26, 2020
The Deadly Seven
The Magnificent Seven- i haven't seen both Seven Samurai and the 1960 verison. I would like to see the 1960 verison cause it has Steve McQueen and Charlies Bronson in it. Its good to see a good western movie these days, cause we either dont see them to often or their not good. So to see a remake of The Magnificent Seven in 2016 was both a surpise and good. With a great cast, Antonie Fuqua directing, good action and Denzel Riding a horse. It was a good movie.
The plot: Looking to mine for gold, greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue seizes control of the Old West town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy, Emma Cullen and other desperate residents turn to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) for help. Chisolm recruits an eclectic group of gunslingers to take on Bogue and his ruthless henchmen. With a deadly showdown on the horizon, the seven mercenaries soon find themselves fighting for more than just money once the bullets start to fly.
Good action, good cast, horses and more, The Magnificent Seven lives up to both Seven Samurai and the 1960 verison.
The plot: Looking to mine for gold, greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue seizes control of the Old West town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy, Emma Cullen and other desperate residents turn to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) for help. Chisolm recruits an eclectic group of gunslingers to take on Bogue and his ruthless henchmen. With a deadly showdown on the horizon, the seven mercenaries soon find themselves fighting for more than just money once the bullets start to fly.
Good action, good cast, horses and more, The Magnificent Seven lives up to both Seven Samurai and the 1960 verison.
