Guest kungfusamurai Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 I agree that Wakayama was probably the greatest on-screen swordsman. What always impressed me is how well he moved (quick, nimble, mobile, ect..) for a bigger guy. Yes, GwailoMF, this is another reason why I really like Wakayama. No body doubles for him. He was doing his own flips and tumbles, which weren't on par with say, Sammo Hung, but for a guy in Japanese cinema, that was unbelievable. No other samurai wielding guy, other than Chiba - who had a gymnastics background, did any acrobatics or over the top tumbles. Wakayama was on fire! I didn't know about the Bounty Hunter series. I liked Killer's Mission, even though it didn't have too much fighting. I'm hoping the TV series is more action packed. I used to watch the LW&C series as Iron Samurai. Back in the day, I thought it was really cool, but then I watched it recently (the edited movie version, the name of which escapes me right now), and I just couldn't get into Kinnosuke's swordplay (or lack of) style. I just saw heavy edits to hide the fact that he's slow and not as skilled as Wakayama. That's why I'm not in a huge hurry to get the TV series. KFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daisho2004 Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 In certain episodes Kinnosuke's sword fighting does look a little slow, but in other episodes he looks lighting quick, and sometimes they use slow motion which I really don't like. But the series is good for what I've seen of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daisho2004 Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 This was a post that was taken from Michaeltr over at the Dojo a very good one regarding the LW&C series. Quote: Actually the film series was canned because producer Katsu wanted to move the franchise to tv fast cheap and economical while big bro Tomisaburo wanted the films to be bigger and better re budget wise and the two brothers had another famous fight when Tomisoburo took his case to the media Katsu replaced him with Nakamura a great actor but unable to fight his way out of a paper bag a problem with most thespians from a Kabuki background. Kitaoji was also a decent Itto he can act and fight but he was a wee bit long in the tooth (age wise )for this role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinClo Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 Actually the film series was canned because producer Katsu wanted to move the franchise to tv fast cheap and economical while big bro Tomisaburo wanted the films to be bigger and better... This is partly misleading. While Katsu produced the first three movies and went on to be involved in the tv series with Nakamura, the Lone Wolf movies DID continue on without Katsu as producer. It was damaging, but they did not just stop making them just because Katsu left. So, in theory, they could have kept going until the completion of the manga, but like I had already said the 70’s were seeing the end of the genre. Like westerns, it was a lot cheaper to move from the big screen to the small screen. Movie companies were just not investing in these movies like they had been. KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GwaiLoMoFo Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 Your right that the LW&C movies did not do well enough to continue making them If they were not successful, how were they able to get 6 films made? Or did they just produce them so fast they didnt realize they werent popular? Doesnt make alot of sense to me. I could see making 1 or 2 then calling it quits. But making 6 films. Or did they start strong and slowly die off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daisho2004 Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 GLMF, good point I feel that they got better as they went a long all except for pt.#6 it was good but once it started with the Supernatural in lost its magic for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinClo Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 If they were not successful, how were they able to get 6 films made? The same way a lot of American sequels get made and then pretty much end. They made 4 of them really quick. Those were released in 1972 within in a few months time. The next two were released much later in 1973 and 1974. Again, remember that once we hit the early 70’s things start to change dramatically in regards to the genre on the big screen. Zatoichi went through the same phase where it finally ended and then went to the small screen. The movie companies just did not see these types of movies as worth the investment anymore. Even today this still exists in that we are lucky to get 2 big jidaigeki a year. Now, had these movies been made say 6-8 years earlier then it would have been different, but the manga started in 1970 so throw out that idea. Lol. KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VonHumboldtFleischer Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 I thought I had always heard the LW&C movies were not very sucessful in Japan and people didn't really like Wakayama as Lone Wolf and that his role he's most famous for are his small comedic roles in the Red Peony Gambler series where he shows up out of nowhere and offers some comic relief and sometimes kicks some ass for about 10-20 minutes. I can easily believe that he's more famous for RED PEONY GAMBLER in Japan. His comic performances in this series are brilliant, exuberant star turns. Also, he gets second billing in the second RPG movie despite only having less than ten minutes screen time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daisho2004 Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 This is a post that was quoted from Randy1974 over from the Dojo: Quote: Seriously, it must be said that on the DVD Extras for the USA release of Samurai Reincarnation with Chiba & Wakayma from the 1970's, that Sonny Chiba, makes it known that even he was in awe of Wakayama's screen presence and sword skills especially.Both practiced and trained seriously in the Martial Arts, but Chiba recalls the final confrontation fight with Wakayama in the burning castle and ststes that he was nervous and anxious to try to step up and match himself against the great Wakayama! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kungfusamurai Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Wakayama and Chiba have a rematch during the kage no gundan series, if I'm not mistaken. I think it's in Series 3. KFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daisho2004 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 This is a post that was quoted from Tsugumo over from the Dojo: Quote: A friend of mine from Tokyo writes: "First, keep in mind that most rank and file or normal, average Japanese regard the Lone Wolf movies as pure-B grade schlock. The Japanese movie industry was really in the doldrums at the time Katsu produced the movies and ticket box revenue wasn’t all that great, meaning people weren’t going to see these movies with great enthusiasm. I’d imagine this is part of the reason why he was in a hurry to get the franchise off the big screen and onto TV. Lone Wolf’s exposure to the majority of Japanese came via the small screen. The manga and the movies appealed mainly to fan boy types. Lone Wolf on the small tube was able to reach a much larger audience. Thus most people can relate to Nakamura better. My wife even remembers the TV theme song!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinClo Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 It is interesting to note is that the LW&C movies weren’t the only movies to stop production during this period. Most of those Animeigo movies you see being released had the same issues. Stuff like Shadow Hunters, Demon Spies, and the Mikogami movies could have continued on for more sequels had the companies thought they were worth doing. I suspect that had Raizo Ichikawa still been alive he would have made more Nemuri films, and then like Zatoichi, moved in some way to the small screen with them. KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Dragula Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 Was just watching Wicked Priest: Pilgrimage of Death yesterday, and was memorized by just how quick and effortlessly he slid his blade into its saya mid fight. That doesn't even account for how he whirled around his staff. Wow. When you watch Wakayama fight on screen, everyone else looks like they're moving in slow motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pressureworld Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 Im a fan of Lone Wolf and Cub, I know who isn't. I have the big guy in more than a couple of yakuza films but Im looking forward to more of Wakayama's swordplay. I have the Mute Samurai series on the way. Im really looking forward to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daisho2004 Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 "Mute Samurai" Great series I can't wait for Merlin to finish the rest of that series, Wakayama does a lot of hand to hand combat in this series as well, different from his LW movies but just as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shaolin student Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 He is the best I ever screne on screen. Everything about his style is believable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Le Peril Jaune Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Why did he use the stage name Kenzaburo Jo for some years in the sixties? I know it's common for rikishi to change their shikona to indicate a change of rank or improve their luck but I haven't heard of anyone changing it back again (like Wakayama did). Is it also common for Japanese actors, even when they're already established? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shaolin student Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Most of these work so much that producer and director could careless about their name. They know people will recognize their faces. I know it sounds silly, but it true. So many actor in Asia have more than one name, by no fault of their own. Most of the time directors and producer just give the actors name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vengeanceofhumanlanterns Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 shaolin student, what nationality are you? Just asking. : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shaolin student Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 American Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted June 7, 2013 Member Share Posted June 7, 2013 Kick ass news! In October Toei will release three Tomisaburo Wakayama chanbara action films. Don't expect subs, of course. 賞金稼ぎ (Shokin kasegi) (Killer's Mission) (1969) Director: Shigero Ozawa Cast: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Yumiko Nogawa, Bin Amatsu, Goro Mutsumi - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189089/ - http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd.php?num_sid=890572 五人の賞金稼ぎ (Gonin no shokin kasegi) (The Fort of Death) (1969) Director: Eiichi Kudo Cast: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Kanjuro Arashi, Goro Ibuki, Asao Koike - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187080 - http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd.php?num_sid=890573 賞金首 一瞬八人斬り (Shokin kubi: Isshun hachinin giri) (1972) Director: Shigero Ozawa Cast: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Shigeru Amachi, Maki Kawamura, Minoru Ooki - http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd.php?num_sid=890574 Shokin kubi: Isshun hachinin giri still and poster Killer's Mission is also available on dvd from Germany, but the release is unsatisfactory: the cut German print is presented only with a German dub, while the Japanese print is cropped to 1.78:1 and is a composite with some scenes taken from VHS. From Toei we can certainly expect uncut version in original (2.35:1) aspect ratio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member odioustrident Posted June 7, 2013 Member Share Posted June 7, 2013 Merlin from samuraidvd is subbing Fort of Death and Headhunter by the end of this year apparently. I found Fort of Death to be a solid film in raw format; one well done forest scene had some good use of lighting and some entertainment with flaming shurikens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member daisho2004 Posted June 7, 2013 Member Share Posted June 7, 2013 Awesome News, but it sucks there not going to be subtitled! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member usagigoya Posted June 7, 2013 Member Share Posted June 7, 2013 Why did he use the stage name Kenzaburo Jo for some years in the sixties? I know it's common for rikishi to change their shikona to indicate a change of rank or improve their luck but I haven't heard of anyone changing it back again (like Wakayama did). Is it also common for Japanese actors, even when they're already established? Wakayama Tomisaburo was under contract to Toei Studios for much of his career, so he used the name Kenzaburo Jo for roles at Daiei Studios.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted July 7, 2013 Member Share Posted July 7, 2013 Artworks for the Toei Tomisaburo Wakayama dvds: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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