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Samurai Marathon 1855 (2019) jidaigeki film


whitesnake

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Samurai Marathon 1855 is a "jidaigeki period pic" directed by Bernard Rose (Anna Karenina), from GAGA Pictures and Lionsgate Films.  It gets a Japanese theatrical release on February 22, 2019.  Cast includes Takeru Satoh (Rurouni Kenshin trilogy), Nana Komatsu (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable - Chapter 1), Mirai Moriyama (Seven Souls in the Skull Castle), Shota Sometani (Legend of the Demon Cat) and Munetaka Aoki (A Samurai Chronicle).  The story, based on the 2014 novel, Bakumasu Marason Samurai by Akihiro Dobashi, is "set at the tail end of Edo period when a feudal lord decides to prepare his warriors for incoming invaders with a marathon.  Junai [played by Takeru Satoh], a central government spy is sent in to investigate and report his findings.  But when a grave error convinces the government to deploy assassins to wipe out the Lord in wake of what they deem as an act of betrayal, it's up to Jinnai and the marathon's retainers to stop them."  Info from https://filmcombatsyndicate.com/samurai-marathon-1855-satoh-takeru-makes-a-run-for-it-in-the-official-trailer/,  

 

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There's a favorable review of Samurai Marathon here - https://filmcombatsyndicate.com/nyaff-review-for-the-destination-in-bernard-roses-samurai-marathon-1855-its-all-about-the-journey/  

Excerpt - "Rose crafts a delightful period adventure in Samurai Marathon 18545, unearthing a rare tale for the first time with great characters - excellently performed and with a sufficient score by Glass to foundate the story.  The action goers about 90% in terms of at least one key fight scene and some with a sharp eye will have a few notable nitpicks about the stacking (a fight choreography terminology employed when discussing the role cinematography plays in crafting an action sequence) but it doesn't take much away from what the film accomplishes by the end... the wildly entertaining feat that is Samurai Marathon 1855, one that'll have you cheering for the cast after the final lap."  

Official Well Go USA Trailer - 

 

 

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8 hours ago, Gaijin84 said:

Looks interesting... that era when Japan started trade with the West is fascinating

If you like that era where they open up to the West, then you would enjoy the Mifune series Muhogai Suronin.   It shows some Japanese wearing Western clothing. Especially the recurring actor Wakabayashi Goh who in every episode wears a cowboy hat and even a six-gun. 

In one episode, Toshiro Mifune even has a Swordfight against a Dutchman.  That is, a samurai sword against a rapier-blade.  The Dutchman had his own fencing school, so he thought he could beat Mifune.  But guess who wins.

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On 1/19/2020 at 4:43 AM, Shosetsu said:

If you like that era where they open up to the West, then you would enjoy the Mifune series Muhogai Suronin.

I’ll check it out, thanks!

For clarification, Muhôgai no Surônin = Ronin in a Lawless Town

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I went into this with little to low expectations to be honest. And to make a long story short I really enjoyed it!

There's even sword figths here and there... some of it quite bloody as well. Plenty of different characters and while most of them aren't discussed in depth they're all interesting enough to keep you engaged. Some really nice shots of landscapes, forests, rice paddies and castles. Good soundtrack. Also the marathon is used symbolic for a lot of different things, ending of an era (samurai), the changing/opening of a nation to the west, intrigue & war between the shogunate and the different clan lords. It's all rounded up nicely in a satisfying way. Recommended.

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On 1/20/2020 at 2:46 AM, Gaijin84 said:

I’ll check it out, thanks!

For clarification, Muhôgai no Surônin = Ronin in a Lawless Town

Yes, that's it. You'll notice that Wakabayashi Goh is one of the supporting characters.  He's the one with the Western hat.   I saw him the other night in an episode of Nemuri Kyoshiro--the version starring Takao Kataoka in the title role.  They had the plot thread, Conspiracy of the 8 Clans, running for very many episodes.  What surprised me was to see actor Toru Abe as the head of the Conspiracy in a Samurai series because Toru is known mostly for his Yakuza movies.  So it takes getting used to, in order to watch him in a Samurai role.

It's even more shocking to see actor Isao Yamagata in the role he took when he became elderly.  In the Toei studio movies Yamagata always acted as the ruthless villain.  But when he became elderly he played the role of a kindly Grandpa in a TV soap opera!!

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