I really like Hiroyuki Sanada.

But he’s no Toshiro Mifune.

I read the book sometime in the 70s. It was excellent. I missed the miniseries unfortunately. I may have to watch the new series.

read the book and watched the first mini series. It looks good!

From the looks of the trailer, yes, they're going to screw it up.

quote:

Originally posted by AUTiger89:
From the looks of the trailer, yes, they're going to screw it up.

How so? Looks pretty good to me.



My favorite YouTube historian seems pretty jazzed about it.

Trailer looks good. Lots of action. I just hope that all of the action isn’t in the trailer and the series is an actually a lot of slower and more boring stuff. Willing to give it a shot.

I remember the old series from the late 70’s(?) with Richard Chamberlain, I think. Wasn’t it notable for for showing violence like beheadings or seppuku, that typically wasn’t shown on TV at the time?

Interesting tidbit, when Japanese viewers first saw the early beheading scene, they thought it unrealistic. Not that someone was killed for forgetting to bow, rather they found it hard to believe that a Japanese person would ever forget such a basic and automatic courtesy.

Read the book, all with the others in the group, and thoroughly enjoyed the original mini-series. Will be interesting to see what changes have been made and how CGI enhances or detracts from the original.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Interesting tidbit, when Japanese viewers first saw the early beheading scene, they thought it unrealistic. Not that someone was killed for forgetting to bow, rather they found it hard to believe that a Japanese person would ever forget such a basic and automatic courtesy.

There's certain cultural characteristics that are automatic, for the French its saying hello and goodbye, for American call-in radio shows its asking the host how they're doing, for Japanese its bowing during initial greeting.

I have the book but admit it's been 20 years since I've opened it. I was enthralled by the original mini series when I was younger. Being young at the time it didn't take much to leave an impression but I still have vivid memories of many scenes.

I'm a little conflicted about this one. Generally I don't like remakes of great movies. They never quite compare. Toshiro Mifune was amazing. Richard Chamberlain was perfect in my opinion as well.

However, over the years I've become a big Hiroyuki Sanada and couldn't imagine this movie without him.

With that said I'm definitely going to watch it. I'm very curious to see if they take the cinematography to the next level.

Just watching those trailers I'm getting the all-too-familiar and tiresome GURRRRRRLLLL POWERRRR! vibe again. Strong female lead prominently shown? Check. Small female taking on big group of burly men and kicking their asses handily? Check.

I'm sorry but it appears they may have woked this one up too.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Just watching those trailers I'm getting the all-too-familiar and tiresome GURRRRRRLLLL POWERRRR! vibe again. Strong female lead prominently shown? Check. Small female taking on big group of burly men and kicking their asses handily? Check.

I'm sorry but it appears they may have woked this one up too.

Maybe I’m the unique one in the group, but I find the “strong female lead” who kicks all kinds of ass, sexy as hell.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Just watching those trailers I'm getting the all-too-familiar and tiresome GURRRRRRLLLL POWERRRR! vibe again. Strong female lead prominently shown? Check. Small female taking on big group of burly men and kicking their asses handily? Check.

I'm sorry but it appears they may have woked this one up too.

Have you read the book and know the part where Mariko attacks the guards but they are all scared to really fight back?

^Yep, the novel was published in 1975 and contains Mariko kicking A long before wokeage was a thing.

Women samurai had to learn combat skills since it fell to them to defend the village when the menfolk were away.

Lower rank Samurai and servants would never dare to touch anyone above their hierarchy.
Would likely hesitate if ordered by a superior.

Such remains their society.

0-0

I JUST finished the book, so I’m eagerly anticipating this series. I may grab the old version though first, as the entire mini-series is available, and the new one will be released weekly, I’m assuming.

I’ll be floored if they don’t fuck this new one up. Which is stupid, because if you read the book or know history, chicks back then were hard as coffin nails, mentally if not physically too. It wasnt just life in 1600 that required steely resolve, but Japanese culture as well. For example, I didn’t know that wives/consorts did all the property and wealth management behind the scenes.

God I hope I don’t hate it.

I just finished the first episode (the first 2 epis were released today, it's a 10-episode series). Definitely NOT fuckaged. It's GOOD.

More details later...

So far, I think it outdoes the original. Blackthorne has a more riveting portrayal, with a very Russell Crowe like vibe that I think is closer to the book character. Sanada as Toranaga anchors his scenes, filling admittedly large geta in the wake of Toshiro Mifune. The action is pretty close to the book, and the direction nice and taut. Very strong supporting cast as well.

Beautifully filmed. The CGI is breathtaking without being heavy-handed or self-conscious.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kkina,

I just finished the two episodes shown tonight. It seems to move at a faster pace than I recall from the 1980's series. I like the way they unfold Toranaga's story in parallel. The cinematography so far has met the mark. Sanada has not disappointed.

I read the book in about 1986 and can't remember the story at all! I'm going to watch the series, and it will be an all new story for me!