Samurai Marathon: Kill!

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Kill! (Kihachi Okamoto, 1968)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Samurai, Action, Adventure

Kill! is essentially another version of Sanjuro--both films borrowing from the short story 17 Days at Fort Mountain. The plot gets a bit confusing here and there, but the characters are so memorable that they help you along. You just have to love the determination and grit of Genta and the goofiness and simplicity of Hanji.

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Samurai Marathon: Zatoichi

Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano, 2003)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Comedy, Action

A fun film--a departure from the very serious samurai films we'd been watching. Zatoichi pays tribute to samurai films, but also lightens the mood with silly and even outrageous moments. There is extreme blood and gore, but also music and dance and great gags. Pure escape.

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Samurai Marathon: Samurai Rebellion

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Samurai Rebellion (Masaki Kobayashi, 1967)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Action, Drama, Complex Relationships

I was not expecting to be so thoroughly engrossed in this film, but I really was. Kobayashi is a brilliant storyteller and knows exactly how to create tension. And there is so much of it! A timeless (unfortunately) of what happens when power goes unchecked. We all need to watch this film and remember its message.

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Samurai Marathon: Sword of Doom

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Sword of Doom (Kihachi Okamoto, 1966)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Action, Drama, Psychological

Okamoto takes us on a ride in Sword of Doom. This is the story of a man utterly obsessed with mastering his swordsmanship that it costs him his mind, is intense. This film has some of the most eerie and visually stunning sequences and scenes in cinema.

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Samurai Marathon: Seven Samurai

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Action, Adventure

I had seen many versions of this epic story, perhaps most notably the Magnificent Seven and a very fun episode of the Mandalorian series. Nothing compares to this original, though. All the performances are stirring and memorable, the cinematography is breathtaking, the music is powerful. It is inspiring and bittersweet filmmaking.

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Samurai Marathon: Hidden Fortress, revisited

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

The Hidden Fortress (Akira Kurosawa, 1958)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Action, Adventure

Hidden Fortress is the inspiration for Star Wars and each time I watch it I enjoy it more. That's actually saying a lot for an action/adventure film--for me, many action films lose some of their appeal on repeat viewings. This one is tense, hilarious, beautiful, and sad. The story is timeless.

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Samurai Marathon: Yojimo and Sanjuro, revisited

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Yojimo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Samurai, Drama, Action

Yojimo stands out, for me. And not just as a samurai story, but as a drama. It is loosely based on Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. It has been remade many times, most notably (and notoriously) as Fistful of Dollars. We all likely have encountered the theme and plot, perhaps without even knowing it. I think this is because the story is so succinct and tells such a valuable lesson of the evils and consequences of corruption. Brilliant film.

Sanjuro (Akira Kurosawa, 1962)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Drama, Action

I really enjoy Sanjuro, but for very different reasons from Yojimbo. While it is a sequel, these two stories don't feel that connected. I like this tale because it focuses on the consequences of immaturity and rash decisions and exposes that what a samurai means and what he is are two different concepts. It is also very funny.

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SPECIAL: Coen Brothers Films, Ranked

This spring we felt like watching as many Coen Brothers films as we could in chronological order. I had already seen 11 of the 18, which actually surprised me. Four films didn't get viewed, sadly, due to not being able to easily watch (and we didn't want to pay a fee to rent). But I did watch four films for the first time. My favorite of the bunch is still O Brother Where Art Thou, simply because of the glorious combination of Homer's story, the 1930s time period, and the incredible music. All in all, it was a fun experience. Here's the complete list of all Coen Brothers feature films, followed by my rankings. We didn't watch the films highlighted in yellow.

• Blood Simple (1984)
• Raising Arizona (1987)
• Miller's Crossing (1990)
• Barton Fink (1991)--we weren't able to watch
• The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
• Fargo (1996)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
  
• The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
• Intolerable Cruelty (2003)--we weren't able to watch
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• No Country for Old Men (2007)
• Burn After Reading (2008)
• A Serious Man (2009)--we weren't able to watch
• True Grit (2010)
• Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
• Hail, Caesar! (2016)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

#14 The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

#13 Blood Simple (1984)
Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

#12 Burn After Reading (2008)
Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

#11 Miller's Crossing (1991)

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

#10 The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

#9 Raising Arizona (1987)

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

#8 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

#7 Hail Caesar! (2016)
Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

#6 Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

#5 The Big Lebowski (1998)
Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

#4 Fargo (1996)
Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough
Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

#3 True Grit (2010)
Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Comfy Old Standard
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

#2 No Country For Old Men (2007)
Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Can't Get Enough
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

#1 O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession
Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

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Anora

Anora (Sean Baker, 2024)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Drama, Complex Relationships, Romance, Dark Comedy, Sex Industry

Sean Baker finds a way to blend sobering realism with ridiculous insanity in Anora, the Oscar Best Picture winner from last year. Mikey Madison is magnificent and inspiring in her role. I loved Ani from the start. Inside her escort world--where she has a chosen family and admirers and is good at her work--she is confident, brash, sassy, and funny. She is in charge. But outside of this world, she feels different and is supremely naïve. It makes sense: Ani has defined herself by her work. She is an escort. She uses her body for money. Society considers this vulgar or despicable or low... she must be those things, too. Once her make up and lingerie are off, she is riding the subway home to a shabby apartment she doesn't even own. So, when a ostentatiously rich boy walks into her work and offers her more, she can't resist. She desperately wants what she has been told she can't and never will have. She wants to wave it around and scream it in everyone's face. She needs recognition and validation that badly. Unfortunately, her needs overpower her reason and judgement in a really big way.

Profound story with so much between the lines and scenes. Beautiful film.

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Andor Season 2

Andor, Season 2 (Tony Gilroy, 2025)

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Rating: DSQ=12, SP=8 / Decadence

Scale A=4, Scale B=4, Scale C=4, Scale D=4, Scale E=4

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Star Wars Universe, Epic

I had high expectations for Season 2 of this amazing show. I knew what the ending would be (Rogue One) and anticipated a lot more tension and depressing moments. And I wasn't wrong. I was blown away and left ruminating about the series for days.

Tony Gilroy knows Star Wars and knows how to write suspense and tension. Andor brings the gritty realism and relevancy to the Star Wars universe that no other Star Wars movie or show has. At times, I felt like I was watching a true story. That happened yesterday. Here on Earth, not in a galaxy far far away. And I think that is the real success and power of Andor. This science "fiction" story feels real. The characters seem like people you know. The emotions are palpable. The urgency makes your heart pound and sets your thoughts whirling--How can I help? What can I do?

How everything from earlier Star Wars shows and movies ties together is very satisfying for a true Star Wars fan--for example, I immediately watched Rogue One after Andor Season 2 and so much changed. I cried in a different way. The viewing experience was entirely changed. But you also don't need to have any context or prior history to get something truly meaningful out of Andor. It stands alone and fits in the timeline. And this is because the writing is masterful. Andor is timeless and important. It tells a story we humans keep experiencing and keep allowing to happen again and again.

Click here to read my post about Season 1.

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Disenchantment Season 5

Disenchantment Season 5 (Matt Groening, 2018-)

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Animation, Comedy, Middle Ages, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Adventure

Check out how I rated Season 1 and 2 & 3, and 4.

Season 5 Rating: CSS=5, CSS=5 / The Giggles

Scale F=2, Scale G=2, Scale H=1, Scale I=3, Scale J=2

    Favorite from Season 5 = Who Shot Elfo?

Well, season 5 of Disenchantment...I'll be honest: I didn't remember almost anything from Season 4 when I started watching Season 5, despite having watched a recap. The recap confused me even more than I thought possible. Oh well! This show started out promising and really delivered in the first two seasons. Then it just became visual cacophony.

I would have liked a slower pace, maybe, or perhaps just fewer storylines. I lost my interest in Bean and her destiny and her friends well before the end. Maybe I'll try watching it all from the beginning again without breaks, but not for a long while. Still, overall it is a fun comedy and I'm glad I did watch it.

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The Dig

The Dig (Simon Stone, 2021)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Historical, Archaeology, War, Grief, Complex Relationships

The Dig is so much more than just the story of the archaeological dig site, Sutton Hoo, in 1939. It is a story of why we study anthropology--to remember and honor the humans that have come before us. This film is marvelous in how it juxtaposes the digging up of relics--true buried treasure-- with the reality of human mortality. It is beautiful to see Edith Pretty's story and watch the unfolding of both her decline and the discovery of the past beneath her land. We see how strong the human desire for legacy is --especially in the face of war or disease or age. I find this story revelatory and poignant in so many ways. It is a striking reminder or how we are all one family of humanity and we all will leave our legacy and impact in our own way. As Basil Brown says, "From the first human handprint on a cave wall, we're part of something continuous. So, we... don't really die."

Photo from:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2021/03/02/200759_1348636.jpg.1500x1000_q95_crop-smart_upscale.jpg

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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2022)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Comedy, Satire

Another hilarious murder mystery romp from Rian Johnson. I loved his first film and found this one even more fun (and definitely more crazy). I love mysteries that are escapist and not too realistic--so you can focus on the puzzles and clues and weird characters. Glass Onion definitely has all of this. Enjoyable film!

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What We Do In the Shadows, Seasons 1-6

What We Do in the Shadows, Seasons 1-6 (Taika Waititi, et al 2019-2024)

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Rating: CSS=12, CSQ=7 / Double Whoopee

Scale F=4, Scale G=4, Scale H=4, Scale I=3, Scale J=4

Comedy, Horror, Mockumentary, Fantasy

Vampire stories don't usually interest me. I enjoyed reading Dracula and watching many film versions of the tale, but never got into Buffy or Twilight or any other. I don't dislike macabre or Gothic stories, but perhaps the over-saturation of vampire (and other undead) films and TV shows is just too much...which means many of them aren't very good. Anyway, when I first heard of Taika Waititi's film What We Do in the Shadows, I didn't initially look into it or stop everything to watch it. I thought, I'll eventually get around to it. But then I later heard the about the TV series and that Matt Berry was in the cast... well, that did it. We started watching. It took us a few months, but we watched the entire six seasons and laughed A LOT.

This show is one of the best comedies of recent years. I'd put it in the category with my favorite British comedies from the 2000-2009 era (Black Books, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, etc.). It really is bust-out-laughing hysterical. Much of the humor is crude, profane, gross, or even smutty, but it is also witty and wacky and awkward. Each character has their thing--their sense of humor and style. And all of them together make a weird and beautiful family. A very strange, insane, hilarious family.

It's impossible to say which season or episode is my favorite. SO many good ones to choose from. Each season finale is epic, but there are some great moments in every episode. Brilliant show. I have a special fondness for Nandor the Relentless and find Colin Robinson's character simply perfect with all his energy-sucking awkwardness. But I love them all together.

Image source: https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-fx.jpg?w=1000&h=562&crop=1

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Oscar Dash 2025: The Results

And the winner for Best Picture 2025 is...Anora!

I can't wait to watch this film from all the things I've read and now after so many accolades.

Image source: https://static1.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/this-easter-egg-connects-anora-to-a-previous-sean-baker-film.jpg 

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Roald Dahl Short Stories by Wes Anderson

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson, 2023)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

The Swan (Wes Anderson, 2023)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

The Rat catcher (Wes Anderson, 2023)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Poison (Wes Anderson, 2023)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

This collection of Roald Dahl shorts is very entertaining--weird, unexpected, and poignant. Each story leaves you with questions but not necessarily wanting more. They are beautifully visualized by Wes Anderson's striking style. While Henry Sugar is clearly the best of these shorts, they all have moments. I especially liked the choice to have the actors narrate and act much like a stage production.

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Image from: https://medium.com/@kaethish/review-of-the-wonderful-story-of-henry-sugar-c3902d82333c 

Oscar Dash 2025: The Nominations

It's that time of year again...The Oscar nominated films were released. Like the last few years I'm not compelled to do an Oscar Dash. I just hope to watch all the films eventually. And I do plan to post about each one once I do watch, so you can anticipate those throughout the year and beyond. And don't forget to watch the awards on March 2, 2025!

Here are the nominees for best picture:

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Perez

I'm Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance

Wicked

Skeleton Crew

Skeleton Crew, Season 1 (Christopher Ford and Jon Watts, 2024)

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Rating: DSQ=10, SP=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale A=4, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Star Wars Universe, Epic

Unlike the most recent Acolyte series, Skeleton Crew was a breath of fresh air. Yay, back to another good, well-written Star Wars show! Sure, this one is lighter and more family friendly, but it felt like pure escape and not heavily bogged down by Star Wars lore and rules, etc. It is still within the Star Wars universe and has tons of Easter eggs for fans, but it also holds its own and feels fresh. I loved the adventure, the character development of the kids as individuals and also as a team, trying to figure out the mystery along with them, and the great places and people they met along the way. Does it need more? No. Would I like more? Not necessarily. Maybe a related, separate story about Jod. But I'm satisfied with this lovely story. It is just right.

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Happy 2025!

Happy 2025! I watched a lot more fantasy, adventure, and some excellent new shows and seasons again this year. Started revisiting Hitchcock, Coen Brothers, and favorites. My favorite film I saw this year was Furiosa. Favorite show was Shogun.

Other highlights were Bad Batch season 3 and starting to watch Skeleton Crew. Also A Complete Unknown as a pleasant surprise this last week.

My goal for 2025 is to continue watching old favorites, forgotten classics, and dig into more Dickens adaptations. There is just so much to watch!

Best wishes!