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SAMURAI REBELLION
(proper viewing/write-up)
Strictly following the unwritten rules of the MoFo law and keeping with my promise of perfectionism by revisiting a movie I already saw once before in relation to this Hall of Fame, only to make sure of my rating and ranking so I won't cause a rebellion on the forum...
First of all, I'm sad to say the film didn't rise much higher in terms of rating or ranking, but it did raid my mind more and changed in terms of understanding. I feel like I saw the same movie, but I was more invested and thereby rewarded with a greater more profound viewing experience. 'Samurai Rebellion' is nicely crafted, though a little rough around the edges, yet the sharp humanistic core and the thematic elements such as honor, law, strict social orders and off-putting policies do keep things interesting on an implicit and more interlectual basis. The film is very slow and the plot progresses with great patience, which does seem to be rewarding in places, but the bleak and static approach of the writing and direction does tend to bore or at least feel bland from time to time and the lack of music or background noise throughout most of the film also added to that - I did like the added sound of the wind to a number of scenes, working as a "calm before the storm" most of the time. The dialogue is also based on a lot of commands, demands, requests and fullfillments, which makes everything feel very monotone, only saved by the past mentions of a good human story and some underlying politically and personally conflicted drama.
I loved when the movie set up the scene of law and way of life seen from different sides and with different points of view. When the heads of the clans bend the rules to their advance and even set up a set of rules, that are both wrong and absurd, to get what they want. I love this look into how different mindsets handle different matters and how different outcomes affect what comes next. The movie is a nice and thoughtful comment on the subject of things like honor and law for example, as well as the humane aspect that is sandwiched in between. I also love the emotional core of different relationships, especially all of those in the family; the father, the mother, the brother and the bride all handle the situation differently and it gives a nice diverse discussion in the film and in our mind. I also like the almost Romeo-and-Julie-esque aspect to the story, mostly towards the end. The actual ending felt like an epilogue to the climax and clinged on a few clichés and came off as an unneccessary lengthy extension to me. Most of the performances in the movie were really good and especially those of Tatsuya Nakadai and Toshirô Mifune spoke to me on different levels and were masterfully subdued as well...
Overall, a really good nomination that I admire more than enjoyed, but nevertheless I found great joy in many aspects of the film and it was nice to see this one picked instead of the more popular samurai flicks.
++
(proper viewing/write-up)
Strictly following the unwritten rules of the MoFo law and keeping with my promise of perfectionism by revisiting a movie I already saw once before in relation to this Hall of Fame, only to make sure of my rating and ranking so I won't cause a rebellion on the forum...
First of all, I'm sad to say the film didn't rise much higher in terms of rating or ranking, but it did raid my mind more and changed in terms of understanding. I feel like I saw the same movie, but I was more invested and thereby rewarded with a greater more profound viewing experience. 'Samurai Rebellion' is nicely crafted, though a little rough around the edges, yet the sharp humanistic core and the thematic elements such as honor, law, strict social orders and off-putting policies do keep things interesting on an implicit and more interlectual basis. The film is very slow and the plot progresses with great patience, which does seem to be rewarding in places, but the bleak and static approach of the writing and direction does tend to bore or at least feel bland from time to time and the lack of music or background noise throughout most of the film also added to that - I did like the added sound of the wind to a number of scenes, working as a "calm before the storm" most of the time. The dialogue is also based on a lot of commands, demands, requests and fullfillments, which makes everything feel very monotone, only saved by the past mentions of a good human story and some underlying politically and personally conflicted drama.
I loved when the movie set up the scene of law and way of life seen from different sides and with different points of view. When the heads of the clans bend the rules to their advance and even set up a set of rules, that are both wrong and absurd, to get what they want. I love this look into how different mindsets handle different matters and how different outcomes affect what comes next. The movie is a nice and thoughtful comment on the subject of things like honor and law for example, as well as the humane aspect that is sandwiched in between. I also love the emotional core of different relationships, especially all of those in the family; the father, the mother, the brother and the bride all handle the situation differently and it gives a nice diverse discussion in the film and in our mind. I also like the almost Romeo-and-Julie-esque aspect to the story, mostly towards the end. The actual ending felt like an epilogue to the climax and clinged on a few clichés and came off as an unneccessary lengthy extension to me. Most of the performances in the movie were really good and especially those of Tatsuya Nakadai and Toshirô Mifune spoke to me on different levels and were masterfully subdued as well...
Overall, a really good nomination that I admire more than enjoyed, but nevertheless I found great joy in many aspects of the film and it was nice to see this one picked instead of the more popular samurai flicks.
++