About le mime as a Supplement to Indefinable Things
In addition, le mime frequent use of tongue of saiping will lead to its short circuit, which will make it emit a lot of dirty words.
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Zatoichi (1989), aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally.
This was the last film in the original 26-film series featuring the blind swordsman, Zatoichi. It was released 16 years after the previous entry, Zatoichi's Conspiracy. In the intervening years, Zatoichi appeared in a 100-episode television series broadcast over four years.
Shintaro Katsu not only starred in the film, he directed it (his second in the series), co-wrote it, and produced it. It was his chance to say goodbye to the character he had most been associated with and which brought him the most fame and acclaim.
This is not the best film in the series by any means. It is overlong and the pacing is off; there are one or two scenes that were inserted just to appease Katsu-san's vanity; and many small bits are repeated from previous films that give the impression that this is a "best of..." compilation film.
On the other hand, it is not a terrible movie, either. Watching this film, albeit with a much older Zatoichi, feels like visiting with an old friend. And I still prefer it to any of the so-called Zatoichi films that were released years later.
Besides this being Katsushin's swan song as Ichi, the film's reputation will always be marred, at least in Japan, by a tragic death that occurred during production.
Katsushin's son, Ryutaro Gan, played the villainous yakuza Boss Goemon in the film. While filming a battle scene Gan, with what he thought was a prop sword, stabbed fellow actor Yukio Kato. The sword was real and, tragically, Kato died from his wounds.
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Rec: The Woman King (2022)
If you love movies like Braveheart, The Gladiator, The 13th Warrior, Troy etc, you will LOVE The Woman King. It’s got all that feel-good badassery you like from those movies:
Great swelling soundtrack/music designed to inspire and uplift
Historical fiction. Is it accurate? WHO CARES?! It’s EPIC AS HELL, JUST ENJOY THE DARN FILM and then you can internet history later
A lovable ensemble cast of characters you want to cheer for! The cool happy drunk, the cool mystic, the cool young upstart, the cool imperious King, you got it all here dude
Can’t forget the stoic, broken leader character bound by duty and honour that’ll make you puff out your chest and tear up (but don’t actually cry) and be like ‘YES I want to be her when I grow up’
Montage and/or training scenes where the protag Learns Stuff™
Surprise twist, almost Dickensian so you know it’s joy when it happens
Mythological callbacks to legends and myths about gods, it’s really cool and makes it feel larger than life
Comedy bits, awww omg lol they have fun sometimes amidst the battles! That’s cute.
Fortune-telling. It’s necessary and real in history ok.
BATTLES!! DID I MENTION BATTLES?? AMAZING BATTLES that leave you satisfied and cheering on the underdogs in the end
(no spoilers but) tragic, brave, strong conflict for a beloved character that makes you like nO? NO! NOOOO MY FEELINGS
The enemy is very evident, so there’s a lot of that yummy good vs bad schadenfreude that historical fiction movies require
White men die. Literally all these movies I’ve listed, white men die ok, so that’s not political it’s just a fact :)
Gorgeous vistas and loving details of complex and sophisticated cultural stuff that makes you feel really cool and majestic watching it. like oh hell yes, I’m immersed af and this is REAL and I want to be there
But wait, there’s more!
Maybe you’re like “but Gigi, I’ve seen enuf historical fiction movies about ‘exciting’ battles and ‘lovable’ underdogs, I want something new and different. Maybe something that subverts that trope without compromising the cool-factor of kickassery. Something to recapture my nostalgia for pseudo-historical cinematic sagas without pandering to me like I’m a basic child’.
Have I got news for you! Here’s the kicker, the bonus, the cherry on top. The main cast:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And in case you’re worried, this movie is as thematically violent as Braveheart or Gladiator, treated with that lens of heroic strength, rather than graphic victimhood. The tragedies in the plotline spur the story forward rather than mire you in titillating abject, disturbed despair. If you’ve watched enough shows/films about black/African history, you’ll know what I mean. It all comes down to the perspective the story is told from and this story is about being REALLY COOL AND AWESOME EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
So if you’re into this genre but tired of the same-old, same-old ( if you know what I mean, then you know what I mean) this movie will breathe fresh, clean air into the genre!
I want more historical fiction movies like this! Bring back this era but make it better and updated and 2020s cool!
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The New Tale of Zatoichi (1963)
Shintaro Katsu is back as Zatoichi in the third installment - and first in color! - of the 26-film series.
Zatoichi returns to his old village, and meets up with his master, Banno, the man who taught him the way of the sword. He also becomes reacquainted with the master's sister, Yayoi.
The revenge-seeking brother of a yakuza boss Ichi killed in the previous film also arrives in the village, intent on slaying Ichi. This complicates things immensely for our favorite anma, as Ichi and Yayoi are in love and plan to marry. Ichi has sworn off swordplay and violence in an effort to prove himself worthy of Yayoi's love.
Then things really get sticky when Banno finds out Ichi's and Yayoi's plans for marriage. To say he disapproves of the match would be putting it mildly.
A great entry in the series, especially as it builds on Ichi's backstory. It's a good idea - although by no means necessary - to watch this one, along with the fourth film, Zatoichi the Fugitive (1963), in order after the first two films to get a better understanding of Ichi.
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