June Discussion Group - Samurai Movies

[kitsuno]

The next discussion group will start in about a week - examinations of various Samurai movies against their western remake counterparts. This is the official sign up thread, so post here if you want to join. Msr. Iaidoka will be a facilitator, and I've sent a PM to Takuan to see if he wants to help out as well, as this is his specialty.

[msr.iaidoka]

Greetings all,

The specific focus for this discussion will comparing and contrasting two pairs of movies. The first set will be Kurosawa's Shichinin no Samurai (Seven Samurai - 1954) and John Sturges' The Magnificent Seven (1960).
The second set, time permitting, will be Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1961) and the classic "spaghetti western," Sergio Leone's Per un Pugno di Dollari (A Fistful of Dollars - 1964).
The plan is to look at all aspects of the movies; characters, setting, scenes, storyline, and overall effect within their genres. Also, for the western remakes, we will discuss whether or not they were effective as remakes.


平和、

マット
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鋼鉄の海軍

[Wave Tossed]

Yes, yes, yes!!!!! Sign me up!!!!!!
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"Walk the thousand mile road, step by step" -- Miyamoto Musashi

[msr.iaidoka]

Wave Tossed,

Glad to see you will be involved. I will try to keep track of everyone who signs up.


平和、

マット
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鋼鉄の海軍

[kitsuno]

I'll keep track so I can let them into the secret room I just put "A Fistful of dollars" at the top of my NetFlix queue. I've never seen that before.

[msr.iaidoka]

kitsuno,

It is entertaining. Not great as far as I am concerned, but I have never really been a fan of old westerns.


平和、

マット
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鋼鉄の海軍

[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

DUDE!!! Like how can you be saying this and then be fair moderator of these discussions? ARGH!!!! The fact that you didn't watch the Magnificent 7 until a few weeks ago really raised my suspicions about which direction this study group is going to go, and now this??? We are talking about classic movies here and I am a devout fan of the samurai film genre as well as classic seibu geki. Oh man, I think I'm gonna sit this study group out. You are one of my favorite folks on the SA forum but I’m afraid that if I do sign on, I *may have to* go after you with my katana in one hand and my 1860 model Colt Navy revolver in the other. Damn!

Well pilgrim, good luck! I’m just going to mosey on over to the airport lounge now and drown my sorrows about this. Oh, how dry I am, how dry I am….

[msr.iaidoka]

Obenjo Kusanosuke,

Worry not, I can be impartial. Bear in mind that my historical studies are aimed as much towards the mid-19th century United States as they are towards the focus of this forum. Plus I own a replica 1858 Army Remington so it would be a fun firefight.
I am more of a fan of modern westerns (Open Range, Tombstone, et cetera). There are some older westerns that do excite me, just neither of the two in this topic. It probably has to do with the fact that I saw the Japanese movies first so I see them as "remakes."
Please do not sit this one out on account of me, you are one of my favorites on this forum as well.


平和、

マット
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鋼鉄の海軍

[heron]

Sign me up! I'm a huge fan of both movies. At one time (when it first came out, back in the dark ages) my friend and I knew the entire dialogue of The M.S. by heart (not that there is much of it...)

[msr.iaidoka]

heron,

Excellent! I am looking forward to your input.


平和、

マット
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鋼鉄の海軍

[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

EDIT: Please delete this post. It was a misfire from my non-existent 1860 model Navy Colt!

[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

[msr.iaidoka]

Obenjo Kusanosuke,

Glad to see you decided to join us.
As for whether or not you will be a good poster, I am sure you will do just fine.
What part of the States will you be coming to?


平和、

マット
_________________
鋼鉄の海軍

[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

I'll be in Detroit for a few days before going to Brazil. On the way back from Brazil, probably Detroit again with some time in Indiana and possibly a night a day/night in northern Georgia.

I've got to board my plane now. I'll catch up with you and the rest of the gang from China!

[msr.iaidoka]

Obenjo Kusanosuke,

Sounds groovy, man. If you make it to North Carolina at any point, let me know.


平和、

マット
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鋼鉄の海軍

[ltdomer98]

I'll play, as much as I can.
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The Sengoku Field Manual Blog

[Tatsunoshi]

I'll give it a try. I'll balance out Matt since I think 'Dollars' is a better film than 'Yojimbo' (they're both great, though).
And Obenjo-I have an original 1860 Colt Navy revolver which you can borrow for the big showdown (but you'll have to bluff Matt with it-it doesn't fire).

[msr.iaidoka]

Tatsunoshi,

I like those odds!


平和、

マット
_________________
鋼鉄の海軍

[Wave Tossed]

[takuan]

[takuan]

For the record, there are other samurai film remakes which may or may not merit discussion here. Rashomon was remade as the so-so western The Outrage (1964) starring Paul Newman, Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom, Edward G. Robinson and William Shatner. Then there's The Master Gunfighter (1975), another western starring Tom Laughlin (Billy Jack); this one is supposed to be a reworking of Goyokin, but I have yet to see it.
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Keep yourself to yourself, and so preserve your dignity.
-- Fujiwara no Morosuke

[cbubacz]

I will be here as often as time permits.

It is worth noting that I was a huge fan of The Magnificent Seven well before I ever watched Seven Samurai, but I watched Yojimbo before [/i]A Fistfull of Dollars[/i].

THis should be great fun.

[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

[kitsuno]