"It's not easy hating evil. You have to stoke your own fury until you become evil yourself." - Koichi Nishi As many people know, Akira Kurosawa is a massive fan of the playwright William Shakespeare. And movies like Throne of Blood — inspired by Macbeth — are his way of honouring that revolutionary English playwright, … Continue reading The Bad Sleep Well (悪い奴ほどよく眠る/Warui Yatsu Hodo Yoku Nemuru) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (Co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer)
Tag: 黒澤明
Stray Dog (Nora inu/野良犬) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer)
"They say there's no such thing as a bad man. Only bad situations..." - Detective Murakami Before his international success with Rashomon, Akira Kurosawa did a motion picture called Stray Dog. An excellent 1949 production starring the director’s two most iconic actors: Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. A detective thriller set amidst the post-war climate. … Continue reading Stray Dog (Nora inu/野良犬) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer)
I Live in Fear (生きものの記録/Ikimono no Kiroku) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer)
"Even worry has to be done in moderation." - Mr. Kuribayashi Amidst Akira Kurosawa's movies, I Live in Fear is one of his most socially-conscious productions. One of his most disturbing, frightening, and realistic. With an atmosphere and storyline that remain important; set in actuality. The culture of fear and its impact on our society. … Continue reading I Live in Fear (生きものの記録/Ikimono no Kiroku) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer)
Ikiru (生きる/To Live) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), and Leon Tolstoy (original novella)
"I don't know what I've been doing with my life all these years." - Kanji Watanabe Among Akira Kurosawa's filmography, his motion picture Ikiru is considered one of his masterpieces. It stars Takashi Shimura, one of his frequent cast participants, performing the role of a business man who lives his last months the best way … Continue reading Ikiru (生きる/To Live) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), and Leon Tolstoy (original novella)
Red Beard (赤ひげ/Aka Hige) -Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Masato Ide (井手雅人) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (Co-writer), Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer) and Shugoro Yamamoto (山本周五郎) (original novel’s author)
"Poverty's a political problem they say. But what has politics ever done for the poor? Has a law been passed to get rid of poverty and ignorance?" - Dr. Kyojo Niide From the moment Toshiro Mifune did motion pictures with Akira Kurosawa, starting with Stray Dog, an important friendship and partnership occured between them. As … Continue reading Red Beard (赤ひげ/Aka Hige) -Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Masato Ide (井手雅人) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (Co-writer), Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer) and Shugoro Yamamoto (山本周五郎) (original novel’s author)
Hakuchi (The Idiot) (白痴) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (Co-writer) and Fyodor Dostoevsky (original novel’s author)
"In this world, goodness and idiocy are often equated." - Akira Kurosawa Last year, and also during the renovations of my work space, I watched many times this peculiar production from Akira Kurosawa. His adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot; set in post-war Japan. Set at almost three hours. Through this film adaptation of The Idiot, … Continue reading Hakuchi (The Idiot) (白痴) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (Co-writer) and Fyodor Dostoevsky (original novel’s author)
Scandal (醜聞 (スキャンダル)) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-screenwriter) and Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島 隆三) (co-screenwriter)
"Man is an extremely tragic creature. And so weak." - Otokichi Hiruta Before Akira Kurosawa obtained worldwide success thanks to Rashomon, he did several movies in the 1930s and 1940s. Among them Scandal, one of those stories that stay relevant today. For its main topic is tabloid rag culture & their lies affecting innocent people; … Continue reading Scandal (醜聞 (スキャンダル)) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-screenwriter) and Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島 隆三) (co-screenwriter)
Seven Samurai (七人の侍) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer), Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (co-writer), and Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (co-writer)
"Danger always strikes when everything seems fine." - Kambei Shimada Anybody who claims to be a fan of Akira Kurosawa and his incredible movies needs to see Seven Samurai. Lasting over 3 hours, this movie remains a pinacle not only of his filmography, but also a masterpiece of Japanese Cinema. One of the best productions … Continue reading Seven Samurai (七人の侍) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer), Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (co-writer), and Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (co-writer)
High and Low (天国と地獄) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer), Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島 隆三) (co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (co-writer), Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (co-writer), and Ed McBain (Original story)
"I have no time for lies. I want the truth!" - Kingo Gondo To most cinegoers, Akira Kurosawa is famous for his Samurai stories. Classics like Rashomon, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress, The Seven Samurai and other masterpieces that amazed the world. Many of them starring Toshiro Mifune, important figure of Japanese … Continue reading High and Low (天国と地獄) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer), Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島 隆三) (co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (co-writer), Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (co-writer), and Ed McBain (Original story)
The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer) Ryûzô Kikushima, (菊島 隆三) (co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小国 英雄) (co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本 忍) (co-writer)
"Hide a stone among stones and a man among men." - General Rokurota Makabe Among the many movies Akira Kurosawa did, The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人) stands among his most important successes. Not only for its public reception, but also for its influence on pop culture. Especially on artists like George Lucas who referenced it in … Continue reading The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer) Ryûzô Kikushima, (菊島 隆三) (co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小国 英雄) (co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本 忍) (co-writer)
Omnes's Oasis 