When a painter offers a ride to a popular singer on a mountain road, a photograph hits newsstands and the two are branded a secret item. Embarrassed and angered, they sue the publisher in this, a harsh criticism from Kurosawa of corrupt, slandering tabloid culture.
October 10, 2008
Scandal (1950 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Ryuzo Kikushima and Akira Kurosawa.
When a painter offers a ride to a popular singer on a mountain road, a photograph hits newsstands and the two are branded a secret item. Embarrassed and angered, they sue the publisher in this, a harsh criticism from Kurosawa of corrupt, slandering tabloid culture.
When a painter offers a ride to a popular singer on a mountain road, a photograph hits newsstands and the two are branded a secret item. Embarrassed and angered, they sue the publisher in this, a harsh criticism from Kurosawa of corrupt, slandering tabloid culture.
October 9, 2008
Stray Dog (1949 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Ryuzo Kikushima and Akira Kurosawa.
While I've enjoyed many of the Kurosawa films I've gone through up until now, this right here is the first one I'd call a masterpiece. It's so simple, so powerful, so elegant, so... masterful.
While I've enjoyed many of the Kurosawa films I've gone through up until now, this right here is the first one I'd call a masterpiece. It's so simple, so powerful, so elegant, so... masterful.
October 4, 2008
The Quiet Duel (1949 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Senkichi Taniguchi and Akira Kurosawa. Based on the play by Kazuo Kikuta.
In the days leading up to the war, Kiyoji Fujisaki (Toshiro Mifune) was a successful surgeon with a promising future and a loving fiance. But after he spends several years in a combat medical tent, he returns to post-war Japan a different man. He takes up residence in a shabby ghetto clinic which caters to those who can rarely afford treatment. He builds around him a staff of volunteers or people who owe him favors. And he refuses to marry his dedicated fiance because of a devastating secret: while working on a patient wounded in combat, he caught his finger on a scalpel and became infected...
In the days leading up to the war, Kiyoji Fujisaki (Toshiro Mifune) was a successful surgeon with a promising future and a loving fiance. But after he spends several years in a combat medical tent, he returns to post-war Japan a different man. He takes up residence in a shabby ghetto clinic which caters to those who can rarely afford treatment. He builds around him a staff of volunteers or people who owe him favors. And he refuses to marry his dedicated fiance because of a devastating secret: while working on a patient wounded in combat, he caught his finger on a scalpel and became infected...
October 1, 2008
Mantech: Robot Warriors #1 (1984 comic)
Written by Rich Margopoulos. Illustrated by Dick Ayers and Chic Stone.
Chapters titled: "Seige of the Renegade Robots", "Tomb of the Robots", "Aquatech: Hero or Traitor?", and "Aftermath: Tales of Planet Mekka".
Notable mainly for their oddly proportioned anatomy and detachable, interchangeable limbs, Mantech is a line of toys from the early 80s which completely escaped my attention until an awesome dude named Rebelwookiee featured them in a nostalgic article on his blog. Being a fan of media tie-ins, I just couldn't resist when I learned Archie put out four issues of a Mantech comic.
Chapters titled: "Seige of the Renegade Robots", "Tomb of the Robots", "Aquatech: Hero or Traitor?", and "Aftermath: Tales of Planet Mekka".
Notable mainly for their oddly proportioned anatomy and detachable, interchangeable limbs, Mantech is a line of toys from the early 80s which completely escaped my attention until an awesome dude named Rebelwookiee featured them in a nostalgic article on his blog. Being a fan of media tie-ins, I just couldn't resist when I learned Archie put out four issues of a Mantech comic.
Drunken Angel (1948 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Keinosuke Uegusa and Akira Kurosawa.
In a postwar ghetto on the edge of a disease-ridden cesspool, the lives of two men change when a criminal pays a visit to a doctor.
In a postwar ghetto on the edge of a disease-ridden cesspool, the lives of two men change when a criminal pays a visit to a doctor.
September 20, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008 film)
Directed by Stephen Spielberg. Written by George Lucas, Jeff Nathanson, David Koepp, and Lawrence Kasdan. Created by George Lucas.
After a wait of nearly 20 years, everybody's favorite fedora-donned archaeologist leaps back to the big screen in a new adventure... which flops around like a mortally wounded baby seal begging for the club to drop a second time and put it out of its misery.
After a wait of nearly 20 years, everybody's favorite fedora-donned archaeologist leaps back to the big screen in a new adventure... which flops around like a mortally wounded baby seal begging for the club to drop a second time and put it out of its misery.
September 14, 2008
Hancock (2008 film)
Directed by Peter Berg. Written by Vincent Ngo, Vince Gilligan, John August, Akiva Goldsman, and Peter Berg.
Man, what a frustrating film. It usually only takes me 10-20 minutes after getting home from a picture to hack out a review. This sucker's taken me all of two days, mainly because I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it.
Man, what a frustrating film. It usually only takes me 10-20 minutes after getting home from a picture to hack out a review. This sucker's taken me all of two days, mainly because I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it.
August 28, 2008
Midnight Meat Train (2008 film)
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura. Written by Jeff Buhler. Based on the short story by Clive Barker.
Leon Kauffman is a young photographer trying to capture the heart of New York City. But, try as he might, he can't sell his work, so he and his waitress girlfriend struggle their way along. Until one night when he photographs a girl who goes missing and finds himself drawn into an ages old conspiracy.
Leon Kauffman is a young photographer trying to capture the heart of New York City. But, try as he might, he can't sell his work, so he and his waitress girlfriend struggle their way along. Until one night when he photographs a girl who goes missing and finds himself drawn into an ages old conspiracy.
August 24, 2008
One Wonderful Sunday (1947 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Keinosuke Uegusa and Akira Kurosawa.
Now why doesn't this movie get more play on TCM?
In the years immediately following WWII, Japan is still pulling itself together amidst bombed out streets and economic recession. A young couple, too poor to get married, meets every Sunday to do whatever they can on as much pocket change as can be spared.
Now why doesn't this movie get more play on TCM?
In the years immediately following WWII, Japan is still pulling itself together amidst bombed out streets and economic recession. A young couple, too poor to get married, meets every Sunday to do whatever they can on as much pocket change as can be spared.
August 22, 2008
No Regrets for Our Youth (1946 film)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Eijiro Hisaita and Akira Kurosawa.
Imagine an idyllic day. Young students skipping through fields of grass and flowers, singing songs, exuding the joy of youth and innocence. The moment is interrupted suddenly by machine gun fire and the body of a dying soldier. This masterful sequence is our introduction to a tale of personal and political turmoil.
Imagine an idyllic day. Young students skipping through fields of grass and flowers, singing songs, exuding the joy of youth and innocence. The moment is interrupted suddenly by machine gun fire and the body of a dying soldier. This masterful sequence is our introduction to a tale of personal and political turmoil.
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