Sanjuro Kawabatake. "Thirty-year-old mulberry field." That's the name our hero, played by Toshiro Mifune, introduces himself by, though he quickly follows it with the admission that it's complete fiction. The field is one he passed on his random trek into this small desert town. As for the age, with a stroke of his stubbled chin, he admits he's more than just a tad older than thirty.
December 31, 2008
Yojimbo (1961 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Akira Kurosawa and Ryuzo Kikushima.
Sanjuro Kawabatake. "Thirty-year-old mulberry field." That's the name our hero, played by Toshiro Mifune, introduces himself by, though he quickly follows it with the admission that it's complete fiction. The field is one he passed on his random trek into this small desert town. As for the age, with a stroke of his stubbled chin, he admits he's more than just a tad older than thirty.
Sanjuro Kawabatake. "Thirty-year-old mulberry field." That's the name our hero, played by Toshiro Mifune, introduces himself by, though he quickly follows it with the admission that it's complete fiction. The field is one he passed on his random trek into this small desert town. As for the age, with a stroke of his stubbled chin, he admits he's more than just a tad older than thirty.
December 30, 2008
Red Harvest (1927 novel)
Written by Dashiell Hammett.
The Man With No Name, the one who sweeps into a story and causes all sorts of hell before departing, is a convention which goes way back. But rarely has it been used to quite as much effect as here.
The Man With No Name, the one who sweeps into a story and causes all sorts of hell before departing, is a convention which goes way back. But rarely has it been used to quite as much effect as here.
December 26, 2008
The Bad Sleep Well (1960 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Akira Kurosawa, Eijiro Hisaita, Ryuzo Kikushima, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni.
It opens with a day of merriment, of celebration, as Public Corporation Vice President Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori) marries off his beloved daughter to his new secretary and son-in-law Koichi Nishi (Toshiro Mifune). Despite a gaggle of reporters in the lobby sharing whispers of some brewing event, the large, formal ceremony goes off without a hitch. But then an ominous cake is rolled into the room. It's modeled after a partner company's office building and, in an office window remembered for a mysterious suicide five years ago, there rests a red rose.
It opens with a day of merriment, of celebration, as Public Corporation Vice President Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori) marries off his beloved daughter to his new secretary and son-in-law Koichi Nishi (Toshiro Mifune). Despite a gaggle of reporters in the lobby sharing whispers of some brewing event, the large, formal ceremony goes off without a hitch. But then an ominous cake is rolled into the room. It's modeled after a partner company's office building and, in an office window remembered for a mysterious suicide five years ago, there rests a red rose.
Hamlet (1599? play)
Written by William Shakespeare.
When King Hamlet of Denmark suddenly dies during a time of war against the invading forces of Norway, his brother Claudius quickly assumes the throne and takes Queen Gertrude as his wife in a marriage hastily designed to keep the monarchy stable. Everything seems to be going well, until young Hamlet, son of the former King, starts to suspect his father's death was murder. Thus begins a long, tormented journey of madness, despair, and revenge.
When King Hamlet of Denmark suddenly dies during a time of war against the invading forces of Norway, his brother Claudius quickly assumes the throne and takes Queen Gertrude as his wife in a marriage hastily designed to keep the monarchy stable. Everything seems to be going well, until young Hamlet, son of the former King, starts to suspect his father's death was murder. Thus begins a long, tormented journey of madness, despair, and revenge.
December 22, 2008
The Hidden Fortress (1958 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Akira Kurosawa, Ryuzo Kikushima, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni.
When the majority of the Akizuki clan is killed during a time of civil war, General Rokurota Makabe (Toshiro Mifune) does his best to smuggle the surviving Princess Yuki (Misa Uehara) and a pile of gold across occupied borders with the hopes that her house can one day be rebuilt.
When the majority of the Akizuki clan is killed during a time of civil war, General Rokurota Makabe (Toshiro Mifune) does his best to smuggle the surviving Princess Yuki (Misa Uehara) and a pile of gold across occupied borders with the hopes that her house can one day be rebuilt.
My Own Worst Enemy #9 "Henry and the Terrible... Day" (2008 episode)
Directed by David Straiton. Written by Tyler Mitchell, Rafe Judkins, Lauren LeFranc. Series created by Jason Smilovic.
Aw, bugger.
Well, this is it, folks. The last episode of one of the most consistently strong series I've had the pleasure to follow.
Aw, bugger.
Well, this is it, folks. The last episode of one of the most consistently strong series I've had the pleasure to follow.
December 13, 2008
The Lower Depths (1957 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Akira Kurosawa and Hideo Oguni. Based on the play by Maxim Gorky.
The Setup:
A tinkerer with a dying wife. An alcoholic actor. A prostitute who dreams of romance. A vendor with the hots for a bumbling cop. A shogun stripped of his fortunes. A gambler. A pilgrim just passing through. A thief in the midst of an affair with his landlord's wife, even though his heart is dedicated to the woman's sister.
The Setup:
A tinkerer with a dying wife. An alcoholic actor. A prostitute who dreams of romance. A vendor with the hots for a bumbling cop. A shogun stripped of his fortunes. A gambler. A pilgrim just passing through. A thief in the midst of an affair with his landlord's wife, even though his heart is dedicated to the woman's sister.
The Lower Depths (1902 play)
Written by Maxim Gorky.
The Setup:
A locksmith with a dying wife. An alcoholic actor. A prostitute who dreams of romance. A vendor with the hots for a policeman. A baron stripped of his fortunes. A pair of middle eastern brothers. A cap-maker. A shoe-maker. A tramp just passing through. A thief in the midst of an affair with his landlord's wife, even though his heart is dedicated to the woman's sister.
The Setup:
A locksmith with a dying wife. An alcoholic actor. A prostitute who dreams of romance. A vendor with the hots for a policeman. A baron stripped of his fortunes. A pair of middle eastern brothers. A cap-maker. A shoe-maker. A tramp just passing through. A thief in the midst of an affair with his landlord's wife, even though his heart is dedicated to the woman's sister.
My Own Worst Enemy #8 "Love in All the Wrong Places" (2008 episode)
Directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton. Written by Scott Murphy. Series created by Jason Smilovic.
The Setup:
While on a mission to kidnap a brutal African dictator, Edward discovers a batch of hostages that will surely be killed. One of them is Alexander De Santos (Michael O'Neill), an old flame of Mavis Heller.
The Setup:
While on a mission to kidnap a brutal African dictator, Edward discovers a batch of hostages that will surely be killed. One of them is Alexander De Santos (Michael O'Neill), an old flame of Mavis Heller.
My Own Worst Enemy #7 "Down Rio Way" (2008 episode)
Directed by Michael Watkins. Written by Daniel Knauf. Series created by Jason Smilovic.
The Setup:
Henry has a gun in his hand and is face to face with the man who killed Edward's parents, but he doesn't know if he can pull the trigger.
The Setup:
Henry has a gun in his hand and is face to face with the man who killed Edward's parents, but he doesn't know if he can pull the trigger.
December 6, 2008
Throne of Blood (1957 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Akira Kurosawa, Ryuzo Kikushima, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni. Based on the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare.
The Setup:
In a time of feuding houses, Washizu, a general to the Lord of Spider's Web Castle, turns what promised to be a crushing military defeat into a decisive victory. While on his way to receive praise from the Lord, Washizu gets lost in a fog and encounters a forest spirit who tells him he will quickly rise the ranks until he himself is Lord of the Castle.
The Setup:
In a time of feuding houses, Washizu, a general to the Lord of Spider's Web Castle, turns what promised to be a crushing military defeat into a decisive victory. While on his way to receive praise from the Lord, Washizu gets lost in a fog and encounters a forest spirit who tells him he will quickly rise the ranks until he himself is Lord of the Castle.
My Own Worst Enemy #6 "High Crimes and Turducken" (2008 episode)
Directed by Adam Kane. Written by Mark Rosner. Series created by Jason Smilovic.
The Setup:
When Edward steals a valuable hard-drive which he hopes to exchange for information about the death of his parents, Henry finds himself in a sticky position as he grapples with whether or not to help in the committing of high treason.
The Setup:
When Edward steals a valuable hard-drive which he hopes to exchange for information about the death of his parents, Henry finds himself in a sticky position as he grapples with whether or not to help in the committing of high treason.
Macbeth (1603? play)
Written by William Shakespeare.
I'll be honest, the last time I had to read Shakespeare was in high school, and even then I largely cheated my way through with cliff-notes. But my tastes and abilities have improved a great deal when it comes to my reading, so it was with a surprising amount of anticipation that I once again approached the final subject of my Senior Year English class.
I'll be honest, the last time I had to read Shakespeare was in high school, and even then I largely cheated my way through with cliff-notes. But my tastes and abilities have improved a great deal when it comes to my reading, so it was with a surprising amount of anticipation that I once again approached the final subject of my Senior Year English class.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)