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2013/12/25 18:26:36
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
The trailer looks awesome. Even if it's a total cheesefest, how bad can it be? You don't go to action flicks expecting a script by Shakespeare.
That's what I said about Sucker Punch and I was half right.
Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do
2013/12/25 18:36:11
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do
2013/12/25 21:44:39
Subject: Re:"Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
The story of the 47 Ronin is an awesome movie in itself. That they randomly threw in all this fantasy stuff was enough to tell me that they weren't trying to make a good movie in the slightest.
Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century.
What was the first?
Probably Hiroshima.
Wrong century. Tsunami.
So not the Tsunami then? Perhaps Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 3rd and 4th? MrDwhitey is correct, wrong century indeeed.
Actually, I thought the article was speaking of cinema, not real disasters. I was wondering if that Godzilla movie a few years back with Mathew Broderick was what he was referring to.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/12/25 23:10:50
2013/12/25 23:11:36
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
Hey look, it's an Asian movie with a random white guy in it in a time when white people weren't allowed to run around Japan. Way to kill an actual, honest to god, historical story Hollywood.
I don't mind fantasy movie based on historical event as such: something like 300, not even remotely accurate historically, but watchable as exploitative fantasy flick. However, I have problems with forcefully adding a white guy to the story just so that Western audiences somehow can relate better to it. I think Maddox summed it up best in his review of "Last Samurai":
Imagine a movie about an honorable samurai clan filmed in New Zealand and starring an American. Am I the only person who sees a problem with this? Where do we draw the line? I mean, why not make a movie about Zulu warriors starring James Hong? Or a movie about US Marines starring drunken kung-fu master Simon Yuen?
Seriously, how do you think it'd go over if Japanese produce a movie about OK Corral, and had Takeshi Kitano playing Doc Holliday?
Mr Vetock, give back my Multi-tracker!
2013/12/25 23:50:04
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
The trailer looks awesome. Even if it's a total cheesefest, how bad can it be? You don't go to action flicks expecting a script by Shakespeare.
Maybe I'm weird but I can't enjoy an action movie if I'm not invested in the characters or setting as I won't care about the stakes involved and therefore feel no sense of tension during the action scenes as I don't care about the consequences.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/25 23:50:58
2013/12/26 00:01:46
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
Backfire wrote: Imagine a movie about an honorable samurai clan filmed in New Zealand and starring an American. Am I the only person who sees a problem with this? Where do we draw the line? I mean, why not make a movie about Zulu warriors starring James Hong? Or a movie about US Marines starring drunken kung-fu master Simon Yuen?
Seriously, how do you think it'd go over if Japanese produce a movie about OK Corral, and had Takeshi Kitano playing Doc Holliday?
The BBC does stuff like this all the time. Haven't had a civil war in England because of it yet. Also, in the TV show Sleepy Hollow, all black men and women in the colonies were apparently emancipated prior to the revolution. Makes you wonder why any of that that silliness in the mid 1800's ever happened.
2013/12/26 00:16:54
Subject: Re:"Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
Experiment 626 wrote: What's really amusing is that the production budget was rumored to have gone through the roof and that the director (who's apparently a rookie) ended up spending potentially just over $200,000,000 to make this movie!
Hey Universal, if you're throwing money at newbies I've got a movie that would cost a lot less than $200,000,000 to make, and would probably be more popular than this.
Is it called Scarlett Johansson Nude Scene? Because I know a studio guy who would love to make this happen.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
LordofHats wrote: The story of the 47 Ronin is an awesome movie in itself. That they randomly threw in all this fantasy stuff was enough to tell me that they weren't trying to make a good movie in the slightest.
Maybe they just weren't interested in making a traditional 47 Ronin movie?
I think 300 is really the closest analogy. We all know the Persians were not hideous orcs with knives for hands, but that sure made for an awesome movie.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/26 00:21:41
300 maintained a semblance of adherence to reality. For all its fantastic elements it was actually about the 300 Spartans. 47 Ronin isn't really about the 47 Ronin at all. It's a fantasy movie about Keanu Reeves swinging a sword with 47 samurai guys in the back ground.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/26 00:27:23
LordofHats wrote: 300 maintained a semblance of adherence to reality. For all its fantastic elements it was actually about the 300 Spartans. 47 Ronin isn't really about the 47 Ronin at all. It's a fantasy movie about Keanu Reeves swinging a sword with 47 samurai guys in the back ground.
According to one review I've read, Keanu appears in the movie less than American advertizements would lead Americans to believe. He thought this decption would backfire, but not in the way it apparently has.
Also, preeeeeeeeetty sure 300 and reality ain't talkin' to each other as much as you think they are. If you mean that the story is true to "kind of-Spartans fought some dudes and/or monsters", then I think 47 Ronin meets the same standard.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
LordofHats wrote: 300 maintained a semblance of adherence to reality. For all its fantastic elements it was actually about the 300 Spartans. 47 Ronin isn't really about the 47 Ronin at all. It's a fantasy movie about Keanu Reeves swinging a sword with 47 samurai guys in the back ground.
46 guys in the background. Also, reviews are stating that Keanu is not as much a main character as you seem to expect, so...
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/12/26 00:39:03
Looks just like 300 to me.
Based very loosely on events, but heavy on effects and entertainment.
Thing is, action movies sell alot more when they go overboard with effects.
If its remotely like 300, then ill give it a shot.
Also, since it was mentioned, sucker punch is a decent film
Hey look, it's an Asian movie with a random white guy in it in a time when white people weren't allowed to run around Japan. Way to kill an actual, honest to god, historical story Hollywood.
I don't mind fantasy movie based on historical event as such: something like 300, not even remotely accurate historically, but watchable as exploitative fantasy flick. However, I have problems with forcefully adding a white guy to the story just so that Western audiences somehow can relate better to it. I think Maddox summed it up best in his review of "Last Samurai":
Imagine a movie about an honorable samurai clan filmed in New Zealand and starring an American. Am I the only person who sees a problem with this? Where do we draw the line? I mean, why not make a movie about Zulu warriors starring James Hong? Or a movie about US Marines starring drunken kung-fu master Simon Yuen?
Seriously, how do you think it'd go over if Japanese produce a movie about OK Corral, and had Takeshi Kitano playing Doc Holliday?
It's like Sayuri (Memoirs of a Geisha). What with the main actors being Chinese which meant inaccurate mannerisms, horrid Japanese pronunciation, dancing, kimono....etc. What Hollywood seems to never be able to get is that there are actual cultures out there with honest to goodness history that means something and when you mess with it, you're just making yourself look stupid.
Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do
2013/12/26 01:00:02
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
I'm highly anticipatingstill waiting for dreading a film about the Rape of Nan Jing starring Chow Yun Fat and Daniel Dae Kim as the generals. Might as well throw in Keanu Reeves for ticket sales.
The story has been told and retold many times since it happened, and this is not the first time to stray from reality so the question, as always, is how well is the story told? It seems so far the answer is 'net very well'. From the reviews I've read and the people I have talked to the movie has some beautiful imagery but the story is bungled somewhat. It isn't horrible, but maddeningly mediocre and unengaged. Also, regardless of western marketing, Keannu isn't really the main character of the film. He is essentially there so the filmmakers have someone to explain things to as a proxy for the audience, which is another problem in that they spend to much time on exposition and not enough on doing.
I would recommend Keannu's directorial debut Man of Tai Chi if you want your Keannu fix. It doesn't set the world on fire, but it is solidly made with some well choreographed fight scenes and nice little moments.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
2013/12/26 05:33:38
Subject: Re:"Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
AlexHolker wrote: Hey Universal, if you're throwing money at newbies I've got a movie that would cost a lot less than $200,000,000 to make, and would probably be more popular than this.
Is it called Scarlett Johansson Nude Scene? Because I know a studio guy who would love to make this happen.
...Not specifically, but it would certainly appeal to that demographic.
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."
-C.S. Lewis
2013/12/26 07:59:24
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
It's Hollywood taking one of the most well-known, highly regarded stories in Japanese culture and turning it into a circus.
It is kinda what Hollywood does. Much as I like the story and history of the 47 Ronin (and even placed offerings at their graves this year), I'm just going to put this in the same category mentally of a lot of Hollywood films with historical names, that have proceeded to rape that history in the name of profiteering and entertainment.
I love the reception this is getting in Japan. They should totally make an anime titled The Last Temptation of Christ only to fill it with giant robots and school girls. Fair's fair.
You honestly think this hasn't happened already?
Kilkrazy wrote: 300, surprisingly, follows history in all the key points of the narrative, but the dramatization spins them to make it look more like a comic book.
Well, 300 was based off a comic book of the same name, and was loosely based off historical events. I'd say it's probably fair to theorize that the guys making 47 Ronin had a similar intent. They might have failed at it completely but the intent... >.>;
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/26 13:16:44
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long
I love the reception this is getting in Japan. They should totally make an anime titled The Last Temptation of Christ only to fill it with giant robots and school girls. Fair's fair.
You honestly think this hasn't happened already?
I believe it's called Evangelion.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/26 13:32:53
2013/12/26 14:39:05
Subject: Re:"Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
I think I might see this film this very afternoon, this or American Hustle (I plan to see them both).
I'm not especially averse to Keanu Reeves. Truth be told, I sort of like him. He's always struck me as an average actor with a comfortable understanding and acceptance of his own averageness. Maybe it's a BS persona but if so I bought into it.
also, monsters.
lord_blackfang wrote: Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.
Flinty wrote: The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
2013/12/26 15:41:11
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century.
What was the first?
Probably Hiroshima.
Wrong century. Tsunami.
So not the Tsunami then? Perhaps Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 3rd and 4th? MrDwhitey is correct, wrong century indeeed.
Actually, I thought the article was speaking of cinema, not real disasters. I was wondering if that Godzilla movie a few years back with Mathew Broderick was what he was referring to.
Still wrong century. 1998.
2013/12/26 16:20:21
Subject: "Possibly the second-worst thing to happen to Japan so far this century"
I love the reception this is getting in Japan. They should totally make an anime titled The Last Temptation of Christ only to fill it with giant robots and school girls. Fair's fair.
Easy E wrote: I think a better question is, "Does this go all "The Patriot" on the 47 Ronin?"
That implies that it makes up history and also sucks as a movie.
The Patriot was based on historical events. Gibson's character was based off of Brigadier General Francis Marion aka "The Swamp Fox", while Jayne's character was Colonel Banastre Tarleton, later General, and successful politician. The structure and some of the stuff in The Patriot was in fact BS (the burning of the church, Tarleton dying in the Americas, etc) but the core of the matter's quite real.
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long
