Last Samurai (not the Tom Cruise One)

I had to view this 2 disk film in fast forward (but paused for the
fight scenes)....

LAST SAMURAI (by Samurai Entertainment) Takahashi Hideki
purchased from an online merchant...can't recall address

hmmm what can I say...
the film is about several characters whose paths cross several times
before the Bakumatsu all the way to the Seinan War (in which the
last character dies)....it's not a spoiler folks the movie ain't
pretty but what struck me is that this must've been very
controversial because it offers many *interesting* opinions on the
founding of the new era. I can imagine some viewers lifting their
eyebrows at certain points in the script....

1) the story is about how a Satsuma Hitokiri became a respected
military man in the new government....his friend tries to save him
from marching on Tokyo (Seinan War) by saying..."Saigo is a big old
fool!"

2) Okita Soujiro (there is a FABULOUS indoor fight scene between
Okita and the main character---easily the [BEST] I've seen in
Japanese cinema---and I've seen plenty...the actors were splendid)
All of the moves were very clear to see and the choreography offers
ALOT of variety...truly worthy of depicting Okita S. one of the
foremost swordsmen of his day...just this scene alone makes the film
worthy buying ^_^

Shinsengumi (the most INTERESTING interpretation on their uniform
I've ever seen) vs. Mimawarigumi tension
a bit of Toba Fushimi
a tiny bit of Hakodate and Takeaki Enomoto

3) the main character = master swordsman decent guy who's outlook on
life changes alot...an important lesson learned from this
film...don't go blabbing about what you did during the revolution
especially to seemingly harmless barbers....

4) a couple of interesting female characters...

***this film covers alot of ground ^_^ (and includes even little
things like the retainers crying their eyes out as the Shogun
departs from Edo) but it was well written and filmed skillfully and
the director never lost sight of the fact that it is supposed to
ENTERTAIN as welll (humor here and there some romance too)....I
highly recommend it!!!! However, if you purchase it there is a
chance that it may not play on your PC....so no screencaps of the ---
different--- Shinsengumi uniform (-_-)...it seems to depend on what
version of Powerdvd you own

secretary wrote:

>I had to view this 2 disk film in fast forward (but paused for the
>fight scenes)....
>

No why didn't I think of that? I only watched the first 45 min or so
when I got ti because I haven't' quite been in the mood to sit through
an almost 3 hr movie.

>
>
>
>3) the main character = master swordsman decent guy who's outlook on
>life changes alot...an important lesson learned from this
>film...don't go blabbing about what you did during the revolution
>especially to seemingly harmless barbers....
>

Post Revolution barbers = men who like to wield sharp pointy things =
questionable past and allegiances. = Beware

>
>However, if you purchase it there is a
>chance that it may not play on your PC....so no screencaps of the ---
>different--- Shinsengumi uniform (-_-)...it seems to depend on what
>version of Powerdvd you own
>
>

I have WINDVD so I will attempt the uniform screen cap within the next
day or two.

--
Barbara Sheridan
http://www.barbarasheridan.net

As promised I got some screenshots of the Shinsengumi uniforms form the
1974 non Tom Cruise version of The Last Samurai they're here

http://www.shinsengumihq.com/uniforms.htm

I thought I got one of Okita who was wearing a white version of
Kondou's jacket but I didn't.

--
Barbara Sheridan
http://www.barbarasheridan.net

the guy in the red jinbaori/vest is [Saigo] not Kondou...pretty sure
but I did watch the movie in fast forward

***the main character's sword style is Mugai Ryu (Okita I believe says
that the original/form is located in Edo however the hero clarified
and said that his sensei used derived forms---think back to the theme
of crosstraining and mix and match whatever technique you
like---unorthodox but whatever works is what important)

***(good scene) when someone tells Okita that "it" is on display at
(insert location)...and then emphasizes that "KONDO's HEAD" is on
display...the actor who portrays Okita, although not attractive did a
good job of conveying unspeakable anguish

***the movie does the whole black cat story too

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, BarbaraSheridan wrote:
> As promised I got some screenshots of the Shinsengumi uniforms form the
> 1974 non Tom Cruise version of The Last Samurai they're here
>
> http://www.shinsengumihq.com/uniforms.htm
>
> I thought I got one of Okita who was wearing a white version of
> Kondou's jacket but I didn't.
>
> --
> Barbara Sheridan
> http://www.barbarasheridan.net