View Full Version : Hollywood does Samurai
Just came across an article on CNN.com about hollywood remaking the seven samurai:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/News/03/01/showbuzz/index.html#4
Nothing personal to the makers of the movie, but there is a maxim that they drill into your head during the first year of film school: "...unless you want to make a fool of yourself you should only attempt to remake bad movies, never good ones" (True words are spoken.) http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif
I never saw 'the magnificent seven' - was that a worthy remake?
Tachikaze
03-09-2002, 09:21
The only thing good about The Magnificent Seven was Eli Wallach, otherwise it was very average.
They should leave The Seven Samurai alone. I feel it is a singular work of art. Remaking it is like repainting the "Mona Lisa". What's next, Citizen Kane starring Val Kilmer?
Doesn't Hollywood have any writers?
Quote What's next, Citizen Kane starring Val Kilmer?[/QUOTE]
The sad thing is, you may not be far from the truth.
It's the fad of this era: recycling. But as Kurando-san said you should re-hash bad movies or better yet leave them all alone.
Tachikaze: I also use the "Mona Lisa" example to get my point accross.
-"Imagine if DaVinci said: mmmh... I think I have to re-paint her smile..."
------------------
"Je vous repondrai par la bouche de mes canons"
-Frontenac
(I will answer you with the blast of my canons)
-Trad. libre
Is the seven samurai a great movie in its own right or do you have to have a real interest in all things samurai to like it ?
Just curious coz i was thinking of picking it up and haven't seen any of that era of samurai films.
Seven Samurai is a universal classic.
Ok thx Khan7...i'll try and pick it up then http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif
Papewaio
03-12-2002, 06:32
Quote Originally posted by Grim:
The sad thing is, you may not be far from the truth.
It's the fad of this era: recycling. But as Kurando-san said you should re-hash bad movies or better yet leave them all alone.
Tachikaze: I also use the "Mona Lisa" example to get my point accross.
-"Imagine if DaVinci said: mmmh... I think I have to re-paint her smile..."
[/QUOTE]
I agree with the idea that remakes of good movies should not be done and The Seven Samurai is definitly up there with Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia(sp chk).
It is like the idea of colourising the opening sequence of Wizard of Oz. Pathetic!
However the analogy to the Mona Lisa is probably incorrect as the number of artist proofs before the final piece of art would testify. I do admit that I am only speculating that the Mona Lisa is not the first shot but probably based on several iterations including sketchs.
------------------
Victory First, Battle Last
You know, regardless of how bad the plot or whatever of this movie is, Tom Cruise guarantees a big budget. A big budget doesn't make a movie, but if I am going to go to a movie containing samurai, I don't mind seeing some cool kimonos, cool swordfights, cool special effects and cool samurai battle scenes, even if the plot bites. For example, 'Enemy at the gates' was a pretty bad movie, but the big budget effects made for some cool battles nonetheless - all I ask the casting director is DON'T CAST JAPANESE-AMERICANS! Lets get Takenaka Naoto (Hideyoshi - 'Hideyoshi'), Jinnai Takanori (Sue Harukata - 'Mori Motonari'), Ogata Ken (Amago Tsunehisa, 'Mori Motonari') and other Taiga drama veterans. Even throw in Takakura Ken from 'Black Rain' for good measure.
Quote Originally posted by Rath:
Is the seven samurai a great movie in its own right or do you have to have a real interest in all things samurai to like it ?
Just curious coz i was thinking of picking it up and haven't seen any of that era of samurai films.[/QUOTE]
I have only watched two samurai movies, 7 Samurai and Ran. I was doing the usual commercial-skip when I switched over to a channel showing 7 Samurai. I missed the start (1 hrs or so), but really enjoyed the whole movie (its quite long I think). Subsequently I tuned in to Ran on time when I realised its the same director the following week. Cool movie too.
------------------
tootee the goldfish,
headmaster of Shogun-Academy (http://shogun-academy.tripod.com)
------------------
Quote Originally posted by CEWest:
...all I ask the casting director is DON'T CAST JAPANESE-AMERICANS![/QUOTE]
Be careful what you wish for...you may get it, but not in the way you intended...
They may just cast give you everyday americans with bad accents and makeup to make them look oriental...or worse...computer animation...
Tom Cruise is bad enough...
BakaGaijin
03-27-2002, 07:17
Tom Cruise, last I checked, was not Japanese.
------------------
"If your soul is imperfect, living will be difficult." -- Ryo Hayabusa, DOA2
Papewaio
03-27-2002, 09:51
If it is a contemporary version then it could just be seven mercs or AWOL soldiers who find the good within themselves and end up guarding some poor Afghan village from the evil Al Qaeda.
------------------
Victory First, Battle Last
Gregoshi
03-28-2002, 00:29
I think Kevin Costner would make a splendid samurai! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
------------------
Gregoshi
A Member of Clan Doragon
Toda Nebuchadnezzar
03-28-2002, 01:59
I just hope the film is good. Tom Cruise will have to cut his wavy hair and I can just laugh at him because of it. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
But anyway Casting Oriental Actors will be a lot better than casting American-Japanese ones, the accent will be proper.
For example - the guy who does all the movies for shogun, if he had an american accent or even a british one it wouldn't be right, but the japanese accent just makes the game better.
------------------
He is the Messiah
No i'm not the Messiah
Only the true Messiah would deny it.
Alright then I am the Messiah.
HE IS THE MESSIAH HOORAY!!!
I won't watch this film. I love the original too much.
------------------
Pain is weakness leaving the body.
http://members.fortunecity.com/argus1000eyes/fighter.gif
[This message has been edited by Gothmog (edited 03-28-2002).]
Quote Originally posted by BakaGaijin:
Tom Cruise, last I checked, was not Japanese.
[/QUOTE]
...Neither were the Americans who traveled to Japan in the mid/late 19th century, one of which pretty boy Cruise will be playing http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif. I just don't want to see Mako and the 3 other Japanese-American actors in it, and I also don't want to see John Lone, Joan Chen, and all those other non-Japanese asians playing Japanese people... that bugs me.
[This message has been edited by CEWest (edited 03-29-2002).]
The Seven Samurai is one of the greatest movies of all time and in my opinion the second best kuraowa bested only by yojimbo why change such perfection... even the magnificent seven was a little bit of a waste of time... the most interesting character being the knife fighter because of his reflection on japanese perfectionism but otherwise a pretty badly made movie
Tsunamisan
03-31-2002, 05:36
Oh no...here we go again..the bit that gets me is the word 'contemporary' when they talk about a remake in that CNN news bulletin. Sounds like its going to be Ghost Dog with 7 pro hitmen instead of 1. And if its Tom Cruise we'll be forced to accept Penelope Cruz as the female interest...oh my...
[This message has been edited by Tsunamisan (edited 03-31-2002).]
theforce
03-31-2002, 06:09
Hmmm imagine big scale fightings. Nuff said!
------------------
Don't use only honour, use theforce, too.
The magnificent 7 was a good stand alone western, as long as you don't compare it to T7S. On its own, it was a pretty good movie - entertaining. No citizen cane, but good.
ellewellyn
05-03-2002, 05:49
I thought the Mag 7 was was a good action
film, and had a great score (music).
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.