Ichi, review

Ichi, the Blind Swordsmistress.

Image via Wikipedia

Director: Fumihiko Sori

Writer: Kan Shimosawa

Ichi: Haruka Ayase

Banki: Shido Nakamura

Toma: Takao Osawa

Toraji: Yosuke Kobosuka

The story begins at an establishment run by a blind woman, which houses a second. A man comes by to do business, and intended to rip off the establishment’s owner by not paying. She decided not to stand for this, and told him to pay her. He decided not to, and took to stepping upon her with two of his roughneck buddies.
They then notice the second woman, and decide to take her for what she’s worth. An unrelated samurai then happens upon the situation, and commands the bandits to stand down. They refuse, and prepare to do battle with whoever stands against them. Much to their amazement, the blind woman stands to face them, wielding a sword that was hidden within a stick.
She makes short work of all three.

Afterwards, the two leave the establishment. On the path, they speak of many things(Such as shoes and ships, and sailing wax. Of cabbages and kings.).  He remarks that the skirmish lost him a ten ryo promissory note, and claims that he did verily save her skin. She claims it was the other way around, to which she is told he could’ve taken them on.

They eventually make it to a town.  She insists upon finding a place to gamble, where the pair then head. It is revealed that she is the ultimate cheater at said form of gambling, and thusly wins him exactly ten ryo. A late meeting in the streets revealed her intentions, but also reveals that the roughnecks in the gambling area would not allow him to leave with his prize.

He attempts to defend himself, but finds he cannot draw his sword. Again, the woman slays every enemy with relative ease. Moments later, members of the local family happen upon the scene, and assume that the man is the one responsible. Desperate for an end to the bandits, they hire him.

At a feast held to honor their new found weapon, the woman show up yet again. This time, she is there for entertainment, and plays the group a song.  It is short lived due to the sorrowful nature, and she is commanded to play a more upbeat song. Overall, the greatest asset gained from the evening was her name, “Ichi”.

Afterwards, he seeks her out at the lake. He fishes, and they chat about the song that she didn’t get to finish. She tells him it’s about a girl abandoned by her father who would give anything just to see his face. The conversation didn’t last long beside that, and as they were walking back the man challenged the woman to a duel with sticks.

He won. It’s indeed a fact that he can handle himself in a fight, but is restricted by the fact he It cannot draw his blade.

The next day an inspector arrived, and on his back there was a hope for a peaceful solution to the bandit problem. This hope was quelled by a sudden raid, in which the male protagonist was easily defeated, and the inspector was frightened into inaction. Ichi looked upon the scene and overheard mention of her fighting style, and a man with one similar. Thusly, she requested that she be taken along with the bandits to find what they were speaking of.

Back at their camp, she met with and fought the bandit leader. It was entirely one sided. After defeating her, the bandit leader remarked that a man with a similar fighting style, presumably her father, had been struck down by disease. The bandits then imprison her, and go about doing nothing in particular.

It doesn’t take long for the male protagonist to rescue her.

Outraged by these actions, the bandits attack the town. A unified resistance is raised against them, and the bandits are evenly matched. The protagonist is then set to face off against the bandit leader, finding the strength to draw his blade. The duel ends in the protagonist’s death, after he severely injured the bandit. Ichi then happens upon the scene, finds her new friend to be dead, and finishes the battle he had started.

Her path ends as it started, with her wandering alone. However, this time a new destination is set: To return the man’s sword to his family.

Sam Glass: Ichi...

Divine_Malevolence: Dubs are the work of evil minds.

Sam Glass: Yea, I didn't like the voices.. you can't get the emotions that we have been getting out of the other movies.. and the voices didn't seem to match the characters...

Divine_Malevolence: Not really at all. @.@

Sam Glass: especially the bandits.. yakuza... and Toma. So Mr. Japanese - what is the difference between Toma and Tonma?

Divine_Malevolence: Toma's a name. Tonma was an insult, wasn't it?

Sam Glass: Yea, how?

Divine_Malevolence: I 'unno. He just didn't like being called it.

Sam Glass: Hmm.. yea and the kid kept saying it

Divine_Malevolence: Incessant child.

Sam Glass: So what ab out Ichi's opening line.. something about not really wanting love.. but a warm body at night was a necessity to keep her warm?

Divine_Malevolence: Lonely people are lonely.

Sam Glass: Yea, but she was a goze? Not lonely.. but her profession, when they have an affair.. are thrown out

Divine_Malevolence: Which doesn't mean all that much.....  Blind people will kick ya right in the -, ya know?

Sam Glass: lol, but to defend themselves.. didn't you feel for her?

Divine_Malevolence: Goze isn't a profession. It's pretty much "blind woman".

Sam Glass: Ahh

Divine_Malevolence: I felt bad for the people she was defending against.

Divine_Malevolence: Braindead monkeys.

Sam Glass: ? You were pulling for the bandits?

Divine_Malevolence: Naw. Just pitying them.

Sam Glass: Wonder how they became that way? Parents?

Divine_Malevolence: It's a hard knock life, for us!

Sam Glass: Us- are you a bandit?

Divine_Malevolence: Nawwww.

Sam Glass: ookkkkeeeyyy... and so what did u like about this movie?

Divine_Malevolence: The main swordsmaster wasn't the best at everything.


Divine_Malevolence: Ichi. She got owned.

Sam Glass: OK, so it was comforting for you to know when wasn't the best at everything?

Divine_Malevolence: Naw. It's just a break from the usual.

Sam Glass: Would you be worried she might miss and chop off something else?

Divine_Malevolence: Nope.

Sam Glass: So she was that good. or was it the backhanded technique.. kind of limits her, doesn't it?

Divine_Malevolence: The blind oft' see more than those with sight. Limitations weren't plentiful.

Sam Glass: But she always cut with the sword blade facing forward and cut up. Rather than the normal blade cutting down.. she seemed to limit her moves to one area.. and do them very well.. but gave up others

Divine_Malevolence: Simple and fast. If something works, why change it?

Sam Glass: Yea, it seemed as if the one guy who beat her.. got to see how she fought first.. that seems to be a good strategy.. but she remembered later and anticipated his moves... what was his name?

Divine_Malevolence: Burned guy.

Sam Glass: Banke..yea.. gruesome..and what about how the father greeted his son when he brought Ichi home..

Divine_Malevolence: The guy was druuuunk.

Sam Glass: "Are you lying to bring women home again?!"

Divine_Malevolence: >.> Such an odd pair.

Sam Glass: And the dice? She could hear them?

Divine_Malevolence: Gotta love super sense cheating.

Sam Glass: But is it cheating? I thought it was impossible... but samurai movies do stretch things in other areas

Divine_Malevolence: Weirder things have been done.

Sam Glass: if you have a super power is it cheating?

Divine_Malevolence: I wouldn't say so.

Sam Glass: OK.... then... so Toma is hired by the yakuza who runs an inn..  are they bad guys too?

Divine_Malevolence: Honest gang members, I'd say. The pops seemed alright.

Sam Glass: Honest... yea.. guess that is Japan.. what about those tattoos?

Divine_Malevolence: Tattoos are awesome so long as they're not on the face.

Sam Glass: U have any?

Divine_Malevolence: Nein.

Sam Glass: U know that tattoo removal is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the US.. been that way for many years...

Divine_Malevolence: 0,o

Sam Glass: Banke had the quote.. "once person fallen cannot ever go back to being respected especially one who is seeped in blood." True? Grasshopper?

Divine_Malevolence: That's ego talking. A loss can be overcome if you still have a head.

Sam Glass: Really? Do you think someone running for President can have that kind of background?

Divine_Malevolence: I don't think people would mind if Obama got beat up.  I mean, if he killed a bunch of people, then he'd be in some trouble. But I don't think that's what Mr. burn victim meant.

Sam Glass: Then what did he mean?

Divine_Malevolence: One who loses a battle loses the respect they'd otherwise have.

Sam Glass: I thought he left his past employ as a samurai because he made a mistake..and can't go back...

Divine_Malevolence: Hm?

Sam Glass: samurai have a code

Divine_Malevolence: Naw, he got burned and got kicked out because he was ugly.

Sam Glass: u'd better go back and watch that part again my friend...

Divine_Malevolence: Hm?

Divine_Malevolence: Or the main guy? Where he broke the sword and blinded his old woman?

Sam Glass: Banke.. how he became a bandit leader and not samurai

Divine_Malevolence: Banki got burned. Remember his face at the end?

Sam Glass: there were lots of things in the movie.. i think you missed this one too. U don't seem thrilled by this movie.. what was wrong with it?

Divine_Malevolence: Hm? It was a good movie. Just not as classic as some.

Sam Glass: OK. then anything you want to bring up?

Divine_Malevolence: Ichi's motivation!  As mirrored by her song.

Sam Glass: the mother?

Divine_Malevolence: Hm?  The blind swordswoman.

Sam Glass: what was the song.. there was the one she sang at the end.. and was going to sing to Toma.. what was it?

Divine_Malevolence: Not sure about the lyrics, but it was about a child who was cast away. She holds no resentment about it, and only wishes to see her parent's face.: Which tied into how she was traveling about lookin' for her pops.  And the entire reason she did anything about the bandit problem.

Sam Glass: well.. yes.. and to save Toma... but is that the song she sang at the end?

Divine_Malevolence: I believe it was. And saving Toma came second. She wanted news about the guy with her fighting style.

Sam Glass: Yea.. but the blind master swordsman at the inn didn't seem to be the one she was looking for...

Divine_Malevolence: He wasn't. Banki mentioned he knew someone that used her fighting style.  The person who taught her that style was apparently the only one who could use it.  Thus Banki implied he knew her father. Who she was looking for.

Sam Glass: Yea, I thought that was toe case too.. and why Banke beat Ichi the first fight.

Divine_Malevolence: Banke had previous knowledge of her style, and knew how to counter it.

Sam Glass: yea... OK.. anything else?

Divine_Malevolence: Not that I can think of.

Sam Glass: OK, Last Samurai next week...

Ran, review

Ran

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni

Hidetora Ichimonji, the main character: Tatsuya Nakadai
Taro Ichimonji, Hidetora’s eldest son:  Akira Tarao
Jiro Ichimonji, Hidetora’s middle son: Jinpachi Nezu
Saburo Ichimonji, Hidetora’s loyal son: Daisuke Ryu
Kaede, evil wife of Taro: Mieko Harada
Lady Sue, Jiro’s wife: Yoshiko Miyazaki
Tsurumaru, Sue’s blind brother: Takeshi Nomura
Kyoami, the jester: Shinnosuke Ikehata
Tango Hirayama, the wise:  Masayuki Yui.

The film starts in the aftermath of the hunt. It is noted that Hidetora is having a great bit of trouble compared to what he had been going about his entire life. In his younger days, he could route an army without breaking a sweat, but now he was having difficulty bringing down a boar. It is very clear that the seasoned warlord is aging, and will soon not be capable.

During the aftermath of the hunt, Hidetora has a nightmare. Convinced by the frightful aspect of it, he decides to abdicate his rule to his sons. Taro and Jiro offer no resistance to his plan, but Saburo regards it as foolishness.  Not wishing to be stood against, Hidetora banishes Saburo, diving his power between his other two sons.

It doesn’t take long for the situation to start going against what had been planned. Hidetora, while defending Kyoami, slays one of Taro’s guards. This irritates Taro, and prompts him to force his father into a contract. Hidetora reluctantly signs, before deciding to no longer stay in the lands of his eldest son.

He then goes to stay with Jiro. Jiro states that he will only accept Hidetora, and none of his men. Furious, Hidetora also refuses to stay with Jiro, and thus departs.

On the road, they had no place to go. Matters were made worse, as there had been a degree that punishment would come to any who assisted the old man.  His sons seemed to have something against him at this point, and Hidetora sensed it. He thus decided to take up residence in an empty fortress, hoping to avoid whatever negative will had been placed against him.

The fortress, however, turned out to be a trap. In an attempt to remove the old man permanently, Taro and Jiro launch an attack on the fortress, receiving very little resistance. Taro is slain in the chaos, and Hidetora simply walks out, with Jiro incapable of giving the order to finish him.
Hidetora is found yet again by Kyoami and Tango, and the two begin taking care of him in his emotionally weakened state. They suggest that he go to Saburo, but Hidetora refuses due to shame. They take him first to the house of Tsurumaru, whom Hidetora had earlier demanded be left blind. Oddly enough, this man had no qualms with taking care of the man who had made his life hell.

Back with Jiro, Kaede comes to him furious about her husband’s death. She threatens him, leaving him alive with the promise that she will stay in her family’s castle. To further her foothold, she demands that she be his wife, and thus demands that lady Sue be slain.
Hidetora, by this time, had been moved to a fortress that he burned. Lady Sue had been preemptively warned and escaped to the same place with her brother. Things were needed elsewhere, however, so Sue went to retrieve Tsurumaru’s flute and Tango went to retrieve Saburo.

Saburo then enters the stage, determined to take his father back. Jiro refuses to let him. A minor farce of a battle ensues as the search for Hidetora is carried out, ending with Jiro retreating and Saburo finding Hidetora. The happy ending is cut short, however, when Saburo is shot, and Hidetora collapses out of grief. Back at the castle, it is revealed that Lady Sue has been slain, and that Kaede had been hoping to drag the situation down into the dirt. Kurogane, Jiro’s general, takes it upon himself to slay her, and give some rest to the Ichimonji’s.


Divine_Malevolence: The old guy was a very interesting fellow. Strict one second, overly open with his boys the next.

Sam Glass: ? strict one?

Divine_Malevolence: They mentioned something about his normal behavior being that of directing.

Sam Glass: the old lord? he conquered his territory by authoritarian methods.. we heard all through the movie how he killed and tortured his enemies

Divine_Malevolence: He was mean to his enemies, and he was more of a leader to his kids than a father. They wern't used to him being nice.

Sam Glass: yes. true.. but was interesting to me about his sons was that the one was most afraid of, and the one he was the worst to when it came time to divide up his land... Sanjuro.. ended up being the nicest to him

Divine_Malevolence: Sanjuro was the fake name of Mifune's character in Yojimbo and Sanjuro. He was Saburo.

Sam Glass: aha, Grasshoper

Divine_Malevolence: And it was because he was honest. The other brothers were merely attempting to remain on his good side.

Sam Glass: the other brothers were more interested in power and land.. Saburo was more interested in his relationship with his father.. like in the end.. when they were going to have that long father to son talk.. and he was shot

Divine_Malevolence: 'Twas a good guy, Saburo. Saw no need in falsehoods, and remained honest to the end. Where he met the wrong side of a rifleman.

Sam Glass: but the same issue with the blind man.. sister to Taro's wife and another of the conquered.. he was nice to the Old Lord.. even though the old man was afraid

Divine_Malevolence: Poor blind man. There was resentment, and I think he would've done something if he could see. But, alas, he had no eyes.

Sam Glass: But he gave anything to the Old Lord.. even though he had nothing to give... and he played the flute.. how is his playing compared to yours?

Divine_Malevolence: Different styles of flute. And he really had no reason not to. It wasn't effecting him negatively, and they would've forced it out of him if he refused.

Sam Glass: But he was so kind and relaxed..  and Juro's wife... also a victim of the Old Lord's cruelty... seems unwise to let her live and marry his son or she will just come back and get him in the end... and she did.

Divine_Malevolence: The evil one? Kaede?

Sam Glass: I have them backwards.. Taro was oldest with evil wife victim of Old Lord.. and Juro had Buddhist wife who was sweet... and the blind brother.

Divine_Malevolence: Poor Sue.

Sam Glass: Yes evil. She must really have some kind of skill under the sheets if Juro would agree to cut his wife's head cut off...

Divine_Malevolence: Or Juro was just a moron.

Sam Glass: That is obvious! But thinking with the "little head" is a common joke amongst men... was she that good?

Divine_Malevolence: I 'unno.

Sam Glass: Yea, got to think rationally there.. always millions of other fish in the sea.. especially if you are lord.. I liked what Juro's advisers said as he was leaving for battle "A Man doesn't run to his wife when leaving for battle.."" or something like that.

Divine_Malevolence: She was very manipulative indeed.

Sam Glass: Yea.. and what about the Fool?  Clown?

Divine_Malevolence: I'm surprised only one person tried to kill 'im.

Sam Glass: But he was entertaining.. and wise

Divine_Malevolence: And was wondering what his gender was for most of the movie.

Sam Glass: Aha.. not me.. obvious male.. no confusion here..

Divine_Malevolence: But he broke down into tears one too many times.....
[
Sam Glass: "When a man's born he cries, when he's had enough he dies."  And something in the end about the Lord being the one that doesn't make sense and he wasn't.. and now roles were reversed.

Divine_Malevolence: Striving for immortality with a never-ending stream of tears.

Sam Glass: ? Quote? Or your thoughts?

Divine_Malevolence: My thoughts.

Sam Glass: OK.. overall.. what was the movie about to you?

Divine_Malevolence: The power hungry destroy what's good in the world.

Sam Glass: Build and destroy! I thought it was about how things you do in life can come back to bite you in the ass.. and how difficult it is to transfer power to multiple sons who want to rule... and how a good person who loves his father is there no matter - interesting Saburo told his father what was on his mind?

Divine_Malevolence: Ah, yes, there was a bit of karma about it.

Sam Glass: Karma.. good.. but Saburo told his father he was wrong.. to his face and in front of others... courage

Divine_Malevolence: Though karma doesn't exactly explain why Tsurumaru lost his sister.

Sam Glass: his sister was the Buddhist.. she was at peace with herself

Divine_Malevolence: And she got her head chopped off going back for his flute.  After he pleaded to not be left alone. Poor dude.

Sam Glass: Yea.. but Saburo... telling his father how it is? What about it dude? Would u ever be able to do that?

Divine_Malevolence: Saburo didn't suck up enough to stay in favor.  And what favor is there to stay in? If anything that'd have a negative effect.

Sam Glass: The other brothers didn't say anything and they got the power.

Divine_Malevolence: Because they didn't stand up against their pops.

Sam Glass: Yea.. but the good son did. And my unanswered question to you? Could you say it to me?

Divine_Malevolence: I 'unno. Maybe? Would such a situation arise?

Sam Glass: Always. We always need people beside us to tell the truth.. no matter how hard it is. As you saw.. yes men can't be trusted. I believe this is another message of the movie...

Divine_Malevolence: Cannot trust people. Like with Rashomon.

Sam Glass: But you can trust some.. that is the point.. who can you trust and who can't you..

Divine_Malevolence: You can usually trust the people who say it like it is.

Sam Glass: Exactly... courage.

Divine_Malevolence: Heart. Speak one's mind even when negative consequences are about. Care more about the truth than security.

Sam Glass: or feelings.. so back to you again... Grasshopper.. see my point about us? Hard isn't it?

Divine_Malevolence: Not quite sure.

Sam Glass: I've never heard you critical of me... and I'm not perfect.. granted I'm not looking for someone to be negative all the time.. but like in the website... your opinions and ideas? very very valuable to me...

Divine_Malevolence: I'm not critical of anyone. People aren't perfect, and callin' 'em out on every negative aspect isn't a way to get things done.

Sam Glass: We're not talking about all negatives.. but you see the point of the movie above.. you even admitted it.. the "yes men" aren't trusted and the ones that go along are not...  something to work on...?

Divine_Malevolence: But one shouldn't just say no for the sake o' saying no. If something's sensible, there's little trouble going along with it.

Sam Glass: True.. but assertiveness is a skill and something to be honed.. like a sword.. it can't be used unless it is ready.

Divine_Malevolence: But one musn't be needlessly assertive. Putting too much pressure on breaks things.

Sam Glass: Brick wall! But if one is never assertive, it is quite another story.

Divine_Malevolence: Thus one must find balance.

Sam Glass: Grasshopper! Great.. anything else on Ran?

Divine_Malevolence: Nicht that I can think of.

Sam Glass: OK, any suggestions for next week?

Divine_Malevolence: Dis Kagemusha that you mentioned?

Sam Glass: Yea.. OK good..