01-18-2023, 12:55 AM
Sorry I started my review but got interupted by work (had to finish up a tribute to GM Yu Hai).
I figured after my Kung Fu Rabbit debacle, I should watch something I know I've seen but haven't watched in a while so my memory is weak on it. And this was a perfect film.
I forgot how beautiful these films can be. Some of the composition just knocks me out - scenes of nature as LW&C traverse the lands. The structures, the landscapes, so lovely. And then there's the brutal rape and murder scenes.
This one has an odd tone. It's important for clans to distinguish themselves, whether they are mercenary, ronin, or work for brothels. There's codes of honor or lack thereof.
I love Tomisaburo's (Itto) work in these films. He's so ridiculously stoic. And his sword play is electric. He has one of the best noto in the genre (noto is the act of resheathing your sword). That's the hardest part for me. The whole theory and symbolism of resheathing only exists in Iaido, and noto is hard. Even with a dull blade, being that smooth and quite like Tomisaburo is a striking display of skill.
This film is fairly tame for a LW&C until the end when Itto must face an army. Then it gets ridiculous. Grenades, pistols, arrows, spears, and swords. So many swords. I love that whenever the grenades go off, you can see a foot or hand flying dismembered with the shrapnel.
Watched on Criterion
I figured after my Kung Fu Rabbit debacle, I should watch something I know I've seen but haven't watched in a while so my memory is weak on it. And this was a perfect film.
I forgot how beautiful these films can be. Some of the composition just knocks me out - scenes of nature as LW&C traverse the lands. The structures, the landscapes, so lovely. And then there's the brutal rape and murder scenes.
This one has an odd tone. It's important for clans to distinguish themselves, whether they are mercenary, ronin, or work for brothels. There's codes of honor or lack thereof.
I love Tomisaburo's (Itto) work in these films. He's so ridiculously stoic. And his sword play is electric. He has one of the best noto in the genre (noto is the act of resheathing your sword). That's the hardest part for me. The whole theory and symbolism of resheathing only exists in Iaido, and noto is hard. Even with a dull blade, being that smooth and quite like Tomisaburo is a striking display of skill.
This film is fairly tame for a LW&C until the end when Itto must face an army. Then it gets ridiculous. Grenades, pistols, arrows, spears, and swords. So many swords. I love that whenever the grenades go off, you can see a foot or hand flying dismembered with the shrapnel.
Watched on Criterion
Shadow boxing the apocalypse