Samurai Fiction (1998) SF: Episode One
Samurai Fiction (1998)
DVDRip | MKV | 682x462 | x264 @ 1946 Kbps | 111 min | 1,66 Gb
Audio: Japanese (日本語) AC3 2.0 @ 192 Kbps | Subs: English (embedded in MKV)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
DVDRip | MKV | 682x462 | x264 @ 1946 Kbps | 111 min | 1,66 Gb
Audio: Japanese (日本語) AC3 2.0 @ 192 Kbps | Subs: English (embedded in MKV)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Hiroyuki Nakano
Writers: Hiroyuki Nakano, Hiroshi Saitô
Stars: Morio Kazama, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Tomoyasu Hotei
Three centuries ago, a precious sword has been stolen by Kazamatsuri – the sword, which historic and symbolic value is priceless for the clan (Shogun Tokugawa donated it to clan 80 years before that, at the same time that he established them as the local rulers). Lord's counselor's young son Heishiro goes to retrieve the sword himself to protect the clan from the shame or possible demise. He is accompanied with two friends, Shintaro and Tadasuke, and followed by the ninjas of the clan. After Kazamatsuri wounds Heishiro and kills one of his friends, the young aristocrat still wants revenge more than sword itself, but meanwhile have to recover from his wounds, in the small forest house of a lonely samurai and his daughter. At the same time, Kamazatsuri stays in nearby town in the entertainment center run by Okatsu and falls into her. The older samurai tries to dissuade Heishiro from fighting with Kamazatsuri, but is himself gradually drawn into the conflict.
IMDB - 4 wins
"Samurai Fiction": Definitely worth watching - I thought it was a little slow at first (and a little sparse and inconsistent with the humour), but it definitely got better at the end. It won't make you more of a Hotei Tomoyasu fan (boy, he looks weird - almost like a manga character… like "Jei" in Stan Sakai's "Usagi Yojimbo"), and the swordplay won't exactly blow you away, but the adaptation of the black & white (with selective colour, a la "Rumblefish") genre is excellent. Being a Kurosawa fan, I especially liked the general "feel" of the cinematography and the video transfer, as it was digitally modified to add graininess and capture that circa-1950's TOHO ambiance. Critical attention was paid to camera angles, set design, character development and mannerisms, all playing true to the Kurosawa-esque model and at the same time sparing no opportunity for the sight gag and comedic element. Yes, for the Hirosue Ryoko fans-in-denial, the female lead (Ogawa Tamaki) bears a somewhat close resemblance (slightly less boyish), but that's besides the point. The movie felt like it was part of an Ulfuls music video at times (I think it was "Guts Daze"), which was exactly what made it so good. Highly recommended.
(click to enlarge)
Samurai Fiction (1998) SF: Episode One
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