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Pistol Opera
Pistol Opera (2001)
Pure cinema, nothing more, nothing less.
24 January 2004
Suzuki Seijun is a master of craft, and one of the greatest visual stylists ever. This film is a loose reworking of Branded to Kill, the jakuza clasic that marked the end of his career at Nikkatsu studios, whom Suzuki was a contract director. That film took many risks in narrative and presentation, and it was post modern before post modern became chic.

Before you complain about why you don't understand this film, just look at it less in terms of narrative and more in terms of the abstract. It's a spectacle of sight and sound, and one of the most beautifully shot movies in recent times. The photography alone is reason enough to see it.

This is a film that does not bother to explain it's convoluted story because it's very design DOES NOT warrant that path. It's cinematic style brings to mind elements of Kabuki and opera theater. The performances are mannered and exagerated, something that is understandibly strange if you are not japanese.

All in all, it's a film devoid of anything rational and a spectacle of sight and sound. A 10.
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The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai (2003)
Samurai cinema as portrayed by Tom Cruise
8 December 2003
I walked into this one with 0 expectations. I do like Tom Cruise as an actor and actually think he is underrated in that category, but as soon as the end credits rolled and the lights went up I hit the moment of clarity....

that this movie is just like dances with wolves, except with swords.

I really hope somewhere down the line that whorywood one day realises audiences are growing tired of another movie in which a white man infiltrates a foreign culure, chews it, and spits back out in the faces of those whose lifestyle is "celebrated". This I say as a great fan of samurai cinema and culture in general. It's just silly seeing this dude lecturing a Samurai army on how to be one!

I know it's just a movie, and it's not a bad movie. But the cliches stick out like a sore thumb and what it needed was an artist's touch to subvert some of these cliches and make a more interesting film. To it's credit, it's got good not great photography and a vast setting that 100 million can buy. What is missing is soul and purpose. It feels more of a producer's vision than a director's vision up there. Edward Zwick is a good director, but somehow it feels like a hackjob.

Let me take a moment to call out Tarantino on his onerrated "Kill Bill". That was another good movie that nevertheless has the good parts bogged down by a filmmaker whom is desparatelly trying to top the very filmmakers he's trying to emulate...All this yields diminishing returns.

Filmmakers in japan work with a fraction of the budgets and resources these brats have and are able to produce films in the same genre that are far more satisfying and free from the constraints of formulas that american audiences are used to. Here the more sensational and manufactured, the better.

I can picture Kurozawa turning over in his grave if he saw these films. These guys can't mess with the god of the samurai epic.

Well those are my two cents. If you want good samurai action rent Yojimbo or The Lone Wolf and Cub series, or you can wait until next year when Miramax releases a butchered version of Takeshi Kitano's very good remake of Zatoichi the blind swordsman.

I really love movies. Just movies that feel like cinema and not shameless product. Now I will watch Yojimbo and marvel at a good movie that earns it's greatness.
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Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Good movie, but an overrated one...
23 October 2003
Warning: Spoilers
This was a good and exciting movie, full of great moments that has a lot going for it. The Cinematography and score were the best ever. But the problems stick out just like one of Uma Thurman's sore toes. Stuff like this becomes forgetable and self indulgent to say the least. There are valid reasons why I think this one's vastly overrated. Read on, I put a lot of thought into it.

(WARNING, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!)

1# reason: Tarantino is having fun with himself at the expense of his audience. The audience I saw it felt cold and indifferent to the character of the Bride. Her logic, although justified, somehow seemed forced. For me the design of the story is the culprit, not Uma Thurman's performance. She was great but lacks the screen precense and charisma to truly make her an iconic character.

Bummer. #2 reason: Could anyone explain how can a skinny white girl survive that beating, awaken from a four year comma, suddenly remember what happened to her, and rehabilitate herself. All during the span of one day? Come on! The joke's on us and we bought it. This belongs in an 80's action movie and if it's intentional then I got lost on that one. If it's Arnold or Stallone then we I could beleive that, but Uma Thurman...No way.

#3 reason: The handling of the O ren ishi character. Bar none Lucy Liu is the best thing about this movie. Whenever she's onscreen the energy level goes up. Her story actually made me feel empathy for her character and I thought she was the superior swordswoman vs the bride. The bride beat her because of the Hanzo steel not the sword skills!

But after such a great set up why did Tarantino kill her off like that? Exposed brains cheapens the character and that's so unsatisfying. Why didn't he stick to the Samurai ethics and have her die a more honorable death is beyond me.

#4 reason: There is a fine line between theft and paying homage. I've seen everything in this movie done better and more effective in films of directors like Suzuki Seijun and Kinji Fukasaku. The fact that he copied their superior movies isn't the point, it's how he used the theft that cheapens it. It's like he went ballistic and tried to top these masters with his $55 million budget. He's all technique and sloppy execution.

#5 and last reason: The story. I reserve judgement till I see the resolution, but I say the story doesn't warrant a three hour movie. This is a trend of many directors who have final cut. PT Anderson comes to mind. As a genre movie about revenge it doesn't earn it.

As a whole, this movie could have been a smashing 139 minutes had they cut off Vivica Fox's character and peripheral stuff and just concentrated on the Bill and O ren Ishii characters. Miramax robbed me for paying twice to see one movie. Once again the joke's on us, the audience. But like I said, I give Tarantino benefit of the doubt and juicy stuff might come on volume 2.

There you have it. Those are my reasons. The movie will make a truckload of money but that won't hide the fact that this movie sucks. I'll skip vol 2 and rent Sword of vengance instead. Now that's a Samurai movie!
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