Posts Tagged ‘Akira Kurosawa’

Happy 100th Kurosawa

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

If you had asked me last year who Akira Kurosawa was I would’ve replied “some old Japanese dude that all these snobby people keep telling me is awesome”.  However, after being harassed by the friends (namely Damion) and many people across the internet (namely Univarn) I’ve now seen a respectable amount of his films, enough to be able to agree with the film enthusiast club that this man was a brilliant filmmaker. (more…)

The Kurosawa Marathon – High and Low (1963), Stray Dog (1949) & Seven Samurai (1954)

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

It’s been two week since my last update on my Kurosawa watchings and I’m here to report that I have since then completed my planned marathon.  I did finish a month later than planned, but really who cares?  In the last two weeks I’ve watched High and Low (1963), Stray Dog (1949) and Seven Samurai (1954).  Here are my thoughts on each. (more…)

The Kurosawa Marathon – Madadayo (1993)

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

After 30 years of working Hyakken Uchida [Tatsuo Matsumura] decides to retire as a professor and live out his retired life as a writer.  The Professor finds himself going through ups and downs at home in Japan during the war in the forties and as he enjoys his birthdays along with his former students who always want to know “Mahda Kai?” (Not Yet?) as after downing a massive glass of beer replies “Madada Yo!” (No Not Yet!). (more…)

The Kurosawa Marathon – Throne of Blood (1957)

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

After Taketori Washizu [Toshiro Mifune] and Yoshiaki Miki [Minoru Chiaki], Commanders of the First and Second Fortress respectively, help suppress a surprise attack from Inui they have been called to meet with the Great Lord.  On the way to the Spider Web Castle they become lost in the maze of a forest that surrounds the castle.  In this forest they meet a spirit [Chieno Naniwa] that tells them of their future and this leads them on a path of betrayal and murder to reach these goals that were foretold for them. (more…)

The Kurosawa Marathon – Ran (1985)

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Lord Hidetora Ichimonji [Tatsuya Nakadai] after many years of battle and eventually becoming the ruler of his vast lands has decided that he has done enough and would like to retire from his life.  He decides to bequeath his kingdom to his three sons: Taro [Akira Terao], Jiro [Jinpachi Nezu] and Saburo [Daisuke Ryu].  After his third son, Saburo, speaks up frankly his father takes offense and decides to disown Saburo and banish him from his lands.  Tango [Masayuki Yui], Lord Hidetora’s assistant, defends Saburo and receives the same treatment as Saburo.  Shortly after Lord Taro and Jiro takes power of the land Lord Hidetora finds himself quickly being shunned out of his world by his sons due to their inability to put up with his ways anymore now that they no longer need to answer to him. (more…)

The Unnamed Movie Podcast [Episode 39 - Ikiru]

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

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This week our three hosts try find something good to do in their lives after being sentenced to death with cancer, so we go and watch a Kurosawa film. (more…)