Four more hours in the dark with Mifune-sama

[gurdymonkey]

No x-wings. No robots. No special effects whatsoever, not even color film. The Hidden Fortress, made the year this writer was born,  is still superior to anything George Lucas has ever had his hands on. The greedy peasants are at once more sympathetic and much funnier than a couple of robots. No Darth Vader is needed when villainy exists in the numbers of the Yamana clan or the seedy innkeeper who bought a Akizuki girl for his clients to pay to sleep with. You think Princess Leia would sing when it was time to face the music? And the nine minute spear duel between Makabe and Takodoro is freaking gorgeous. Rent it. RENT IT!!!!!


Yojimbo is the first Kurosawa movie I recall being exposed to. I even know the date: July 4, 2000. Gaius decided to throw an "It's too hot to barbecue" party at his old apartment. I cooked, James brought a couple of videos. I was in the kitchen cleaning up so I missed the first few minutes of what got popped into the VCR, including titles. Several more minutes in, as the plot became apparent, I commented, "I think I've seen this movie. Only it was in color and I think Clint Eastwood was in it." I got the video box lobbed at me. Much further along I said something to the effect that Mifune makes Eastwood look like a pussy. Don't get me wrong, Eastwood has done some movies I enjoy a great deal, but, I still like Yojimbo better than the Sergio Leone remake and I still think Sanjuro makes Joe look like a pussy.

The light was pretty coming out of the theater at 7:20ish or so, so I yanked out my camera and shot the marquee, above.

Oh, and I want this Italian poster for Rashomon. The art is fabulous. WANT.


The beef stew has a sour Guinnessy tang which is not bad, but I think I still prefer red wine.

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

I saw part of The Hidden Fortress on a flight to Japan; unfortunately, it was an un-subtitled version, and also unfortunately, I did not get to see all of it. :(

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

Lovely shot of the marquee.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm moderately pleased with that, particularly as I shot it on a whim on my way out of the theatre. The sky was still relatively light, which meant the "natural light" setting on the Fujifilm could handle it without turning it all grainy.

[horsefriend2.livejournal.com]

Got to say my absolute favorite Kurosawa double bill! I own them both.

a/s

[sengokudaimyo.livejournal.com]

Rent it? I *own* that mo-fo.

I envy you, though. The only one of those classics I've seen on the screen was Seven Samurai, and I would *love* to have seen those on the silver screen. Sigh.

And of course, there's the Mighty Wurlitzer!

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised *you* own it, but not all my peeps are familiar with The Classics.

I am entirely cognizant of how special this is, which is why I'm making the trip down to Palo Alto twice a week to see the films in this series. I'll be forced to miss "The Idiot," "The Lower Depths," and "Ran" when I head to Annapolis.

Re: And of course, there's the Mighty Wurlitzer!

[sengokudaimyo.livejournal.com]

Ooooh.... Ran on the big screen. THAT is a thrill. Some of Kurosawa's later pics had a more... well, epic feel ("cast of hundreds!") and they really look bitchin' on the big screen.

Lower depths... for me, that's great on the TV. It's a claustrophobic film. Of course, the big screen really brings out the scope of the dumps in the wide shots, but it still feels claustrophobic.

Re: And of course, there's the Mighty Wurlitzer!

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see "Kagemusha!"