What was the last movie you've seen?

[The Last Horseman]

I read Michi's write up, and one thing popped out at me.

The price of Pepsi. I would not even pay that much for that dirty dishwater tasting shit they try to sell as soda.

I recently rewatched 300. Woot.

[AdamGomez1987]

Black Mario for the win.

huh?

From the Wizard, the black guy that looked like Mario

[Michi]

I read Michi's write up, and one thing popped out at me.

The price of Pepsi. I would not even pay that much for that dirty dishwater tasting shit they try to sell as soda.

I was referring to the price, not necessarily the product (though I honestly don't have a preference either way).

Black Mario for the win.

huh?

From the Wizard, the black guy that looked like Mario

AdamGomez is referring to Spanky, aka this guy:


AKA Frank McRae. AKA That guy from *batteries not included








Moving on....

Sansho the Bailiff (Sansho Dayu)


Let me start off by saying that this is not a happy movie. In fact, it can be downright depressing. So if you're looking for something lighthearted or heartwarming you're probably going to want to watch something else.

Sansho the Bailiff, named, oddly enough, after the antagonist, is a historical film set in feudal Japan during the Heian period. A local governor is being banished, his wife, Tamaki, and two young children, Zushio and Anju, being forced to live with her brother. His crime? His compassion for his subjects clashed with the royalty's taxes on rice. Six years later the family, including their maid, travel to visit him,



the parting words to him by his father still memorized in Zushio's mind.

“Without mercy, man is like a beast. Even if you are hard on yourself, be merciful to others. Men are created equal. Everyone is entitled to their happiness."

Zushio has taken these words to heart, but they are soon put through the ultimate test when the family is tricked and quickly captured by slave traders, the maid being killed in the process. Separated, the children are sold to an estate administered by the cruel Sansho who encourages brutalization, horrific working conditions and branding whenever they try to escape while their mother is forced into prostitution on a different island.



Years pass and the hardship has caused Zushio to forget the teachings of his father, instead turning into a cruel henchmen, often carrying out the torture of other slaves.


That would be a branding iron he's holding

Still hopeful and not yet ready to give up Anju often encourages him to run away with her to try to find their mother. They finally get their chance when they're both ordered to desert a sickly woman in the hills and Anju finally manages to re-spark the humanity within her brother, ordering him to escape so that he can one day return and rescue her and their mother.


Wondering what she's doing? Hint: She's not going swimming

This is a film that focuses on the depressing inhumanity of the times and the internal battle between doing the right thing and fighting against the (much more) powerful majority. This is a film about adversity, separation, and grief with a heart wrenching conclusion that is both hopeful and incredibly painful.

[noiseredux]

From the Wizard, the black guy that looked like Mario

ooooh. Didn't occur to me.

...

I watched Human Centipede II tonight. The first was a lot better. As odd as that might sound.

[Luke]

Watched BLACK SWAN and PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE last night. I've seen each movie multiple times, and both come off as still fresh.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Went to the new Sherlock Holmes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the first one.

[Stark]

Watched BLACK SWAN and PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE last night. I've seen each movie multiple times, and both come off as still fresh.

Talk about polar opposites.

[AppleQueso]

I haven't actually watched it recently, but I learned that El Mariachi was made on a $7,000 budget.

...that's $20,000 less than it cost to make Clerks of all things. That's incredible.

[o.pwuaioc]

Went to the new Sherlock Holmes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the first one.

That's what I was afraid of.

Btw, where'd House go? Would have thought that was more appropriate, since you just saw Sherlock Holmes and all...

@Michi: How does Mizoguchi compare to Kurosawa?

[Gamerforlife]

I haven't actually watched it recently, but I learned that El Mariachi was made on a $7,000 budget.

...that's $20,000 less than it cost to make Clerks of all things. That's incredible.

Yeah, a lot of people were shocked by that when it originally came out. I think it made people love the movie more. Who doesn't want to support some indie movie made on a shoe string budget? Ever listen to any of the commentaries or special features on the DVDs or Bluerays for Robert Rodriguez's movies? Guy's a master at making movies on a budget. The guy is very resourceful. He treats these DVD features as lessons for film students, pretty educational stuff