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Samurai Fiction Actors: Morio Kazama, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Tomoyasu Hotei Director: Hiroyuki Nakano Number of Items: 1 Format: Color Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 111 minutes Studio: Media Blasters, Inc Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-09-30 Buy from Amazon |
 "An Okashii Samurai Epic (Cool, Funky, Peace)"The MTV adds in Asia sold this movie as 'Cool, Funky, Peace' which pretty much sums up what makes this movie remarkable. Samurai movies are a dime a dozen, and the quality of these films varies widely. Everyone likes films for different reasons, so there is probably a perfect Samurai film for every different kind of person. This would have to be the perfect one for me. Some people like 'cult classic' movies, and try to find the cheesiest, worst-made or gorriest films. The Samurai genre is ripe with these, but I am not of this school, so for a long time I had a bad impression of the genre. In fact, I am of the exact oposite type: I look for haunting visual beauty, artistic vision, and deeply philosophical conception, and if possible - some rock & roll. As such, my loyalties in Japanese film lie with Kurosawa and Kobayashi, and it is in these film makers that I see the roots of Samurai Fiction. Akira Kurosawa, in films like The Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo, produced very subtle films mocking the macho ethos of Samurai culture, and ultimately moving towards the essential message that violence and conflicts are not solutions, but in fact just greater problems. When it comes to humanism and wit, Samurai Fiction, with it's anti-Samurai non-violent message, is the intellectual heir to Kurosawa. It is also, at least to me, much more accessible. Kurosawa's humor was very, very, very subtle and philosophical, and although I can appreciate it, it seems very dry and formal. Samurai Fiction, on the other hand, is unusualy straightforward for a Japanese film, which adds to it's hip, young feel. It also embodies the Japanese notion of 'Okashii' which sort of translates as 'silliness' but it might as well just mean fun, or light-hearted, or funny. The sincerity of this kind of humor contrasts vividly with much of the bitter cynicism that has saturated comedey these days that one can't help but like it. Masaki Kobayashi, on the other hand, who directed "Kwaidan" and "Samurai Rebellion" is perhaps the most visualy stunning of Japanese filmakers. His films are genraly brooding and dark, but tragicaly beautifull, where every shot is very carefully constructed as a work of art. Samurai Fiction is also the modern heir to this legacy, providing a film that is singularly visualy oriented. Some directors view the camera as merely a mechanism and the visual part of a film as simply a way of telling the story, but as a photographer myself, I disagree. Light, color, composition and even sound all strike emotional nerves. The elegance of the filming, the fluidity and dynamism of the actors' movements, and the overal visual experience is as fantastic all the way through the film as it is in the dramatic cover photo. In all of this, there is a deliberately modern, rock & roll feel to the movie, through which it not only mocks the pompisity and violence of the Samurai, but also the pompisity and traditionalism of the Samurai film makers. In the end, this is to Japanese Martial arts films what Zhang Yimo's latest film ("Hero" - only marginaly available in America) is to Chinese Martial arts movies: A soulfull and beautiful portrayal of the elegant and peacefull core of martial arts. "very cool movie"I agree with most of the other reviews--I just wanted to add that I thought the movie was very well done, beatifully filmed, and just very cool overall. The soundtrack was amazing and the visuals were just perfect. Get it and you'll agree. "If you have to see one Samurai movie this year...."See this one. Forget about the one with Tom Cruise - this is so much better as to be not even a comparison. Hotei's acting and hot guitar licks make for a pleasing sound and sight. It's almost a mime performance - he has so few lines. I'd call him the Japanese equivalent of Clint Eastwood - cool and tough. Nakano's use of black and white and color make this film as beautiful and artsy as it is well told and acted. It proves that you don't necessarily need a huge budget and millions of bucks to make a great movie. It's also wonderful because it doesn't take itself to seriously. I will say it again - if you have to see one - see this one. "A classic in it's own right."I'm not sure why this movie is as far under the radar as it seems to be, but here's hoping it doesn't stay there. I bought this film sight-unseen, which is pretty rare. Like most people, I like to have some idea of what I'm plunking down my money for. For some reason, though, this movie sort of snuck off the shelf, took the twenty-five bucks out of my pocket, and came home with me before I'd even realized it. Maybe it was the cool, minimalist cover, or maybe I was still coming down off my "Kill Bill vol. 1" kick and wanted a Samurai film, I don't know. Either way, I found myself watching it last night, and I was floored by what I was seeing. You know those happy coincidences, where you realize you wound up with a lot more than you thought you were going to get? Like when you go to a new sushi place and realize they've got the best stuff around for less money than that other place you've been going to for years, plus you get more maki roll for your money? This movie brings a similar feeling to mind; "This is great! I'm glad I took a chance here." The story revolves around a young Samurai named Heishiro Inukai, who is on a quest to retrieve a clan treasure stolen by a wandering, steely-eyed Ronin by the name of Rannosuke. It's classic Samurai fare through and through, and for a Japanese film is remarkably straightforward, though it's never dull. Quite the opposite, actually. Director Hiroyuki Nakano uses the relative simplicity of the story as a blank canvas, and paints in a masterfully blended portrait of a classic Akira Kurosawa Samurai epic lovingly clothed in a hip, MTV Asia-style update. The effect sounds overwrought on paper, but Nakano pulls it off without seeming to bastardize the source material. In fact, it's one of the more respectful homage films to date, cinematography wise. Kurosawa film buffs (and I'll just get this out of the way right now, I am a MASSIVE Kurosawa fan) will instantly pick out the lifted scenes, from the busy, always-moving village shots of Seven Samurai to the dark, packed-earth barren landscapes of Throne of Blood. There's even some subtle references to Kurosawa's editing style, with extremely longs shots arranged horizontally, reverse-field cuts, and even a single (and therefore very obvious, and also very funny if you get it) horizontal wipe. Of course, it goes without saying that the movie is almost completely shot in black and white. Because really, why would one make a color Samurai Film? The best part about the movie, however, are the characters in it. Every cast member turns in a fantastic performance, and the people they portray are as memorable as you could want in a film. We've got your headstrong young Samurai on a quest for honor and glory with his two friends (one of whom is actually named Kurosawa, go figure) and along the way they come up against a conniving brothel mistress, a retired master fencer, his ridiculously attractive daughter, and the super-powerful, taciturn, skilled, very tall, and possibly gay antagonist. We also get an old master ninja who steals every scene he's in, and his two bumbling ninja students who manage to seem like they know what they're doing...Most of the time. It all blends in a great way because the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. It's not goofy or silly, and the fighting is quite realistic, but it's also a very funny movie. Heishiro's aptitude to spring nosebleeds at inopportune moments (and his love interest's apparent ignorance as to what that means) made me chuckle, and the movie's playfulness over the sexual orientation of Rannosuke is hysterical -- but you have to be quick or you miss some of it. The old ninja master is my personal favorite; you can't beat a guy who makes his first appearance by basically falling out of a hole in the ceiling. I don't want to ruin any more of the movie than I already have, but suffice to say that nearly everyone can enjoy Samurai Fiction on whichever level they like. It's simple and funny enough that even young kids can watch it (provided they don't mind subtitles - there is no dub, thankfully) but there's plenty of depth here to satisfy veterans of the genre. On a final, technical note, the DVD transfer is very good, though there is no surround sound, only Stereo Japanese. No matter, however, since the stereo mix is perfectly clear. One of the best things about the disc is actually the subtitles; they absolutely nailed it. My Japanese is admittedly quite poor, but it's good enough that I can pick out poorly-translated subtitles from a mile away. Thankfully, no such problems exist here. The titles flow well and keep the pace of the movie to right where it should be. There are a few extras that come with the film, one of which is inexplicably on Disc 1 while the rest are regulated to Disc 2. The main draw here, called "Samurai Non-Fiction", appears to be a spot shown on Japanese television regarding the making of the film. It's worth watching, and rounds out a nice package that is of much higher quality than a film like this would normally get with a U.S. release. Grab a copy of this film as soon as you can. This is one of those rare movies that has blanket appeal without diluting it's core concept, and looks great in any collection. "Encore! Encore!"Just about the most entertaining film I have see so far this year!! This is such good stuff!! It's reassuring to know that less can certainly be more in a movie. The black & white approach to the film was a nice "retro" touch. The soundtrack was enjoyable as well. A little jazz a little spaghetti western and a little surf music?!? Oh well, sounds strange but it certainly enhanced some scenes. The story line was typical but the dialogue certainly wasn't. Who ever wrote the script certainly wasn't going for that purist kinda thing, refreshing it was!! What really made this film work was the obvious pleasure the actors displayed in making it. That's always a big plus and also infectious!!! At least it infected me!!! |
