Recently, due to the earthquake, tsunami and the subsequent nuclear accident at Fukushima, this blog (and everyone else) has been completely preoccupied with those events. Several regular readers have asked that I start the free Sunday Japanese cinema again.
You asked for it, you got it. Here is a well known story in Japan. It is called Satoichi - the Blind Swordsman. Wikipedia says:
Zatoichi (座頭市Zatōichi) is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa (子母澤寛Shimozawa Kan). This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios (now Kadokawa Pictures) and actor Shintaro Katsu, who created the screen version. A total of 26 films were made from 1962 to 1989. From 1972 to 1974, a television series of the same name was made. One hundred and twelve episodes were aired before the "Zatoichi" television series was cancelled.
Film number 17 of the original series was remade in America in 1990 (by TriStar Pictures) as Blind Fury, an action movie starring Rutger Hauer.
Today, we will watch, in full the 2003 remake starring Takeshi Kitano directed by Takashi Miike. Satoichi is a much loved character in Japanese modern day folklore and this samurai film is quite possibly one of the best of the modern samurai movies. It has a quite bizarre ending too! Enjoy!
Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 1/13
Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 2/13
Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 3/13
Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 4/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 5/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 6/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 7/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 8/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 9/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 10/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 11/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 12/13 Zatoichi - the Blind Swordsman 13/13
So many people seemed to like that Vampire Girl Versus Frankenstein Girl trailer (Yes, the music was extremely cool I must admit!) That I decided to show you this, er, "classic," Big Man Japan.
No special comment from me needed at all this time... Excepting, "Could this be the greatest Japanese film of all time?"
“Big Man Japan” has let slip a clip of it’s crazy insane Japanese stylings. The clip features some of the same archival style black & white footage that was in the trailer, as well as some interviews with a very morose young man. I have to say that as excited as I am about this movie, this clip doesn’t seem to work out of context. But I have every bit of faith that the film will indeed to hilarious and awkward in that way that only the best of the Japanese films can do. You don’t believe me? Check out the trailer as well:
“But while his predecessors were national heroes, he is a pariah among the citizens he protects, who bitterly complain about the noise and destruction of property he causes. And Daisato has his own problems - an agent insistent on branding him with sponsor advertisements, an Alzheimer-afflicted grandfather who transforms into a giant in dirty underwear, and a family who is embarrassed by his often cowardly exploits.”
Look, you have crazy monsters, mockumentary style interviews, all surrounding a down on his luck screw up for a hero. I honestly don’t know what else I could ask for. I wider release? Something tells me this isn’t going to be shown on too many screens. But do yourself a favor and watch the clips. Then make your way to one of those theaters come June 2nd.
“A wickedly deadpan spin on the giant Japanese superhero, BIG MAN JAPAN is an outrageous portrait of a pathetic but truly unique hero.”
Uh, yeah... So you can see that this is definitely a "classic"....
Ishiro Honda was the guy, depending on who you talk to, that destroyed Japanese cinema or made Japanese cinema world famous...
I think he helped make Japanese cinema crappy, but then again, when I was a kid, I liked Mothra and Godzilla movies (the early ones that Ishiro Honda directed). I remember watching the classic, "Destroy all Monsters" and being terrified at the scary woman who wanted to take over the earth!
I also recognize that without Ishiro Honda, Japanese pop culture most probably wouldn't be what it is today.
Original Japanese poster for 1968 "Destroy all Monsters!
No matter what you think - good or bad - I do believe that there is an evolutionary line between Honda's work and, say, today's more fantastic Japanese anime or even Hatsune Miku. Honda was definitely influential on Japanese pop culture.
For the first time in America, a book has been published on Japan's foremost director of Fantasy Films: MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN – The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda.
Known primarily for directing such classic Japanese monster movies as Rodan, Mothra, Attack of the Mushroom People and the original Godzilla, Honda has been a much-overlooked figure in mainstream international cinema.
MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN is the first book to cover in English print Honda’s life as well comprehensively evaluates all 25 of his fantasy films. It is also gives objective and critical analysis of Honda's filmmaking methods, themes and relationships with actors and technicians.
The book looks like an interesting read if you want to know who to blame, or thank, for today's Japanese "camp" or Anime.
And for your viewing pleasure, here's the trailer from the 1968 "Destroy All Monsters"
DOUBLE CLICK FOR FULL SCREEN!
DOUBLE CLICK FOR FULL SCREEN! --------
KEYWORDS: Ishiro Honda, Mike Rogers, Godzilla, Hatsune Miku, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Japanese cinema, Japanese anime, Mothra, Destroy all Monsters, Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men, Peter H. Brothers, Marketing Japan, Japan, Tokyo
