the Seven Samurais

[Henry]

I thought that the bandits were pretty dumb. After you're down to 13 guys from 40, the leader might have said "You know what guys ? Effed this darn rice, we're outta here !".

Ever seen the otherwise-forgettable Martin Lawrence/Danny Devito Movie "What's the worst that could happen?" It chronicles this kind of behavior, and it's a perfectly all-too-human one. When you get so emotionally and pridefully invested in something that you can't recognize when to cut your losses, you WILL drive onward in that desire to see it through, even if you subconsciously recognize you have no hope in HECK of accomplishing it. "War of the Roses" had that same kind of theme, too. I find it fascinating to watch, and I've done it myself on a smaller scale (like the time I hurt myself trying to fix a broken clothes dryer even though I have zero electrical skill.)

 

[ledded]

Ever seen the otherwise-forgettable Martin Lawrence/Danny Devito Movie "What's the worst that could happen?" It chronicles this kind of behavior, and it's a perfectly all-too-human one. When you get so emotionally and pridefully invested in something that you can't recognize when to cut your losses, you WILL drive onward in that desire to see it through, even if you subconsciously recognize you have no hope in HECK of accomplishing it. "War of the Roses" had that same kind of theme, too. I find it fascinating to watch, and I've done it myself on a smaller scale (like the time I hurt myself trying to fix a broken clothes dryer even though I have zero electrical skill.)

You are *so* correct Henry. This kind of thing happens so often, on every scale from a global basis down to everyday life (WWII's Hurtgen forest down to me trying to do the same clothes dryer repair and almost requiring stiches afterwards).

I've had arguments with my wife life this, where I find myself sticking to my guns even though that little squeaky voice in my head tells me I shouldnt (which calls itself "reason", of all things. Go figure).

 

[barsoomcore]

Wait... so kurosawa was influenced by westerns to make The Seven Samurai which was then later remade in america as a western....

gah... somebody get me off this ride before the spinning makes me throw up...

It gets better. Yojimbo was based on a Dashiell Hammet novel Red Harvest, originally filmed as Roadhouse Nights in 1930. After seeing Yojimbo Sergio Leone decided to do a version of it as a western -- A Fistfull of Dollars. Most recently the story turned up in Bruce Willis' Last Man Standing. Whee!

 

[ledded]

It gets better. Yojimbo was based on a Dashiell Hammet novel Red Harvest, originally filmed as Roadhouse Nights in 1930. After seeing Yojimbo Sergio Leone decided to do a version of it as a western -- A Fistfull of Dollars. Most recently the story turned up in Bruce Willis' Last Man Standing. Whee!

<POP> head explodes...

Yup, that is certainly true, though personally I'd rather forget the Willis movie was even connected to the others.

 

[CCamfield]

Toshiro Mifune is a great actor. His early movies have a large noh influence, yet his range and the characters he plays makes him one of the best actors I've ever seen. My sig from Rashomon tells you I'm a big Kurosawa fan. His turn at Macbeth in Throne of Blood is classic. After all, anyone who actually has arrows shot at him to give the performance that dread and fear is someone who is willing to do anything for the part.

Kurasawa used a lot of clichés with his characters. Like you say, however, many of them began, in film, with Kurasawa. Yojimbo and Sanjuro have Mifune playing a loner, similar to Lone Wolf. In Sanjuro there are some young samurai he helps, and of course he's the mentor to their novices even though they are already samurai.

Hai!

Anyone who enjoyed The Seven Samurai, like Trainz, will probably also enjoy Yojimbo and Sanjuro and probably Throne of Blood too. Although I think I like Ran (which sadly did not have Mifune in it, as he and Kurasawa had a falling out eventually) better in the "adaptation of Shakespeare" department. Plus it's in colour and is more "epic".

 

[Piratecat]

Ever seen the otherwise-forgettable Martin Lawrence/Danny Devito Movie "What's the worst that could happen?" It chronicles this kind of behavior, and it's a perfectly all-too-human one.

I cry when I see this referenced, because the book (by Donald E. Westlake) is fantastic. The movie savaged the characters, the plot, the mood and the humor. Arrgh.

 

[Trainz]

Ever seen the otherwise-forgettable Martin Lawrence/Danny Devito Movie "What's the worst that could happen?" It chronicles this kind of behavior, and it's a perfectly all-too-human one. When you get so emotionally and pridefully invested in something that you can't recognize when to cut your losses, you WILL drive onward in that desire to see it through, even if you subconsciously recognize you have no hope in HECK of accomplishing it. "War of the Roses" had that same kind of theme, too. I find it fascinating to watch, and I've done it myself on a smaller scale (like the time I hurt myself trying to fix a broken clothes dryer even though I have zero electrical skill.)

When I play Risk with my son, I give up as soon as I can see very little chance of me making a come back. He knows this, so when he's on the winning side, he holds back a bit, to better finish me a few turns later.

He shouldn't.

I guess I'm not that type. As soon as it's apparent that I'm losing, I cash-in my chips. I'm definitely not a gambler. But I can understand the behaviour.

 

[Paka]

I remember reading that Toshiro Mifune was supposed to originally play Ben Kenobi but had another film comittment and so couldn't.

Sometimes I try to imagine him in that role, saying Kenobi lines in his voice to make myself giggle.

 

[Henry]

I guess I'm not that type. As soon as it's apparent that I'm losing, I cash-in my chips. I'm definitely not a gambler. But I can understand the behaviour.

I don't see it as gambling, so much as emotional investment. Remember Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Enga died pursuing a folly, Indy almost followed Enga's path due to the emotional investment in his dad - until it was his dad who helped him snap to his senses.

Make no mistake though - being able to willingly cut your losses is a character strength.