So, I’ve stepped away from this for little under a year. I’ve
decided to step back for one reason. I’ve watched one of the stranger films I’ll
probably ever willingly see. This is a movie that I don’t think words can
possibly describe the thoughts I have in my head right now, which will make
writing this extremely difficult, for me, and probably more difficult for you
to read. That hasn’t stopped me before though, so let’s talk about the 1977
Japanese “Horror” film House.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Monday, November 9, 2015
I Saw A Film Today...Spectre
I saw a film today. Ok, not today, Friday. I’ve been busy. Point is I want to talk about all the movies I see, including what’s out in theaters. And I’ve been kind of lazy in some regards, and I’d like to get back into this, so here I am, getting back. And I have some thoughts about this particular movie.
*SPOILERS*
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight - 1964
Well, that was dark. I thought the ending of the last movie was dark.
That ending does not hold a candle (ha) to some of the things in this film. Fight, Zatoichi, Fight is the eighth
movie in this franchise and we're still rolling strong in terms of quality.
This is also the eighth movie in two years. Back in the day where you filmed a
movie in two weeks. But let's get back on point. This movie is dark.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword - 1964
Illustrated by Ricardo Venancio |
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword, we have the
startling distinct difference between the light humor and grim darkness this
series is known for. We open with some basic slapstick, and as the film
progresses along the plot, it gets darker and darker, until the final conflict
is down at night, with the only lighting source fireworks and a candle, with suspiciously
big flame.
Our film
begins with some light comedy, that ends with a young yakuza attempting to
shoot Zatoichi with a musket. He almost succeeds, but a young woman aids him.
He would then travel to her home town to give proper thanks upon his full
recovery. There finds two rival yakuza families, obviously, and thus must
choose a side in an upcoming battle over control of a ford and it's trafficking
across.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold - 1964
Illustraion by Evan Bryce |
This is Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold. What
could possibly be the most Serial of titles I've ever seen. Well, that and film
#12, Zatoichi and the Chess Expert.
But what can you do, American titles for Japanese films can be like that. And
don't ask me to translate 座頭市千両首. I only know 座頭市 is Zatoichi. And 千両 is sen ryō, 1000 ryō, ryō
being, as far as I can tell, the primary denomination of currency in this
films, if the subtitles mean anything. If anyone knows the last character. Do
tell.
Back to the
Chest of Gold. Zatoichi wanders into a town, where they finally get to pay off
their taxes after several years of drought. They're celebrating by getting
drunk. Well, tragedy inevitably occurs when the money gets stolen, a misunderstanding
leads Ichi to get blamed for the theft, as well as a local Yakuza boss, who
seems to be akin to Robin Hood.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Zatoichi on the Road - 1963
Illustration by Josh Cochran |
This film I
had the pleasure of watching with a friend. And the displeasure of having
massive issues with the laptop and disc, where the final 5 minutes wouldn't
play. It took some time to see the last five minutes, roughly a week. And it
leads to a very disjointed feeling I have for the movie. But I'll talk about
that shortly, let us instead talk about the movie itself.
Ichi comes
across a dying man who seems to have been escorting a young woman, Omitsu.
Omitsu is played by Shiho Fujimura. Omitsu is the daughter of a wealthy
merchant, and in the course of spurning the advances with a too grabsy samurai,
stabs him with a hair pin. This goes badly, and thus, Ichi arrives to keep her
safe along the way.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Zatoichi: The Fugitive - 1963
Illustration by Samuel Hiti |
This is the part where I let
you in on a little secret. Some time has passed since I saw this movie and am
writing this. This originally started as a quest to watch one Zatoichi movie
every day and ramble on about it on a forum where no one read it. Unlike here,
where I will ramble were no one listens, I just happen to be managing this
site. So my memories of this film are a bit sketchy, and I've lost all my first
impressions on if I liked it that much or not, but since I don't want to go
back three movies to watch it again, I'll make due.
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