#Three Outlaw Samurai

[chernobog13]

THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI (1964)

This was director Hideo Gosha's first feature film, and it's a masterful one at that. Three samurai from different backgrounds get involved in a battle between a local magistrate and the peasants he is overtaxing. The three warriors end up siding with the peasants and defend them from the samurai forces sent to put down their revolt.

The film is a prequel to Gosha-san's successful Three Outlaw Samurai television series that was broadcast in Japan in 1963. The series told the tale of the three samurai wandering from village to village, battling the injustices they encountered in their travels. The three actors from the series - Tetsuro Tanba, Isamu Nagato, and Mijikirō Hira - reprised their roles for the film, showing the story of how their characters first met.

The concept was so popular that Gosha-san revived the television series in 1970. Only actor Isamu Nagato of the original trio returned, and his character Sakura Kyujiro is joined by two new samurai, but the first two episodes (the only ones I've viewed), under Gosha-san's direction, are terrific.

I hope to be able to track down the rest of the 1970 series, as well as the original from 1963.

[omercifulheaves]

Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)

[cinemajunkie70]

If Hideo Gosha only had made Three Outlaw Samurai, that would have been enough, but he also made Sword of The Beast, Hunter in the Dark and another personal favorite, Goyokin! And there are still so many I need to watch and more importantly want to watch! Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday in the afterlife to the very great Hideo Gosha.

[swantonbomb]

and were you very very sad the week you watch a samurai movie every day?

but the little prince did not reply

[shinkleitus]

Três samurais fora da lei (1964), dir. Hideo Gosha.

O filme de estreia de Hideo Gosha nos cinemas, já mostrava que era um diretor que sabe como poucos lidar com o preto e branco, transmitindo uma linda fotografia. 

Em enredo, é um que difere um pouco do que Gosha irá desenvolver em seus futuros filmes. Neste, conseguiu trazer discussões sociopolíticas muito parecidas com os filmes do Kurosawa, não é nada muito extravagante, é a famosa história de um samurai errante que vem em auxílio de camponeses, mas junto de uma atuação sólida e boa direção, apresenta um excelente filme para quem busca excelente cenas de ação com uma direção de ponta.

[isy-simmering]

So I add anime characters in my game, usually as my neighbors who live regular lives with no goals. I got bored of that. So I thought of five challenges/storylines that are based off of five different anime for The Sims 4. Hopefully, they give you something to do with your sims, whether they're the characters or not :> (the original video where these are showcased are linked way below)

♢ Tokyo Revengers

In another timeline, your sim has lost the one they’ve cared about most, due to a targeted murder. It's up to you to have your sim climb their way to the top of organized crime and use their influence to protect their loved ones.

Goal: -Become a top delinquent/gangster -Complete your sim’s aspiration (Can be any of the aspirations of how your sim wants to live their life)

Mods/Packs Required: Basemental Gangs, Basemental Drugs, Extreme Violence

Rules

❥ Have a young adult sim (only young adults/older can create gangs with the mod)

❥ Have an existing criminal gang that's level 10

❥ Your sim can have many connections with family, friends, and romantic partners

❥ Your sim must have a “stalker” who plans to murder you and your loved one/s (with the Extreme Violence “stalk” option, and “autonomous killing” setting which is optional)

❥ Your sim must max out any of the drug dealing skills in order to create a gang (Cocaine Dealing, Cannabis Dealing, MDMA Dealing, etc.)

❥ Two main skills your sim should prioritize is their Fitness and Charisma. You need to be level 10 at both skills before competing with rival gangs

❥ You cannot kill your sim’s stalker or get them arrested until they are at level 10 of their gang

❥ Your sim’s rivals should not be associated, or know any of your loved ones

❥ Your sim can not get arrested

❥ You cannot let any of your sim or your sim’s loved ones be killed

♢ Ouran Highschool Host Club

Under whatever circumstance, your sim managed to run into a host club and get into a debt of 500,000 simoleons. But who just has that money laying around? The only option here would be to work as a host yourself to cover this hefty fee, as an inexperienced specimen yourself.

Goal: -Have at least 500,000 simoleons in your business funds by the end of the sims-year (long calender recommended -Have at least 500,000 simoleons in both your household funds (optional)

Mods/Packs Required: Get Together, Get Famous, Get to Work /or Dine Out

Rules

❥ Have your sim join or create a club, with a requirement of level 2 Charisma and romantic social activities (Except Whoohoo, this is a classy business after all!)

❥ Have your sim create a restaurant or retail business and set it as the Host Club’s gathering

❥ Your sim must have the “Unflirty” trait or any other negative social trait

❥ Both your sim’s household funds and business funds must start off with 0 simoleons

❥ Your sim is allowed to have romantic meters with many sims, but cannot be in an official relationship

❥ Your sim is not allowed to marry until their debt is paid

❥ Your sim should prioritize their Charisma skill (maybe build their skill before joining the Host Club)

❥ Only 25% percent of the business’ profit can go to your household funds

❥ As your business goes up a rating, so does your sim’s fame

❥ If your sim’s fame and business rating is at three stars, then you can give your Host Club the Popular perk

♢ Samurai Champloo

An outlaw, a ronin, and a waitress. They all must travel across the world in search of a simurai who smells of sunflowers–or a hermit who owns a hundred cowplants. The goal here is not so much finding their samurai, more about scraping by, and trying not to encounter old foes.

Goal: -Live in every world in the game -Complete all three sims’ aspirations -Two of the fighters maxing out their sword skills -Have at least 60,000 simoleons for the three sims to split individually -Your trio must have at least 100 friendship by the end of their journey

Mods/Packs Required: Kysutso Path Of Legends, Extreme Violence, any packs with their own world

Rules

❥ You must have two fighter sims, with only one of the two sword-styles each

❥ Your third sim is not allowed to have either of the fighting skills, or have more then level 2 Fitness skill

❥ Your sims can only start with 500 simoleons

❥ You cannot let your third sim be killed! They’re supposed to be in company of bodyguards

❥ None of your sims can have a full-time job, and if they have a part-time job, it can only be for one week

❥ One fighter can only have a maximum of level 2 of the Fishing skill

❥ One other fighter can only have a maximum of level 2 of the Logic skill

❥ Each of your fighter sims must have enemies (with autonomous killing) that are littered across the maps, in which they must avoid

❥ If either of your fighter sims come into contact with these enemies, your household needs to move to a new map within 2 sim days

❥ If either of your fighter sims run into any of their enemies a second time, they must kill them

❥ Your sims must move into a new map every week, with the challenge ending either where you started, or the last world you choose

♢ Attack on Titan (Junior High!)

In Attack on Titan’s Junior High spin-off, Eren is obsessed with ‘cheesburgs’ and titans are always eating them. I thought it would be funny to mix junior high Eren with season 4 Eren. If his cheeseburgers aren’t appreciated by humanity, then humanity shouldn’t remain.

Goal: -Get your restaurant to a 5 star rating -Keep most of the sims population alive

Mods/Packs Required: Dine Out, Extreme Violence (optional)

Rules

❥ Create Eren Yeager, and any of the AOT cast you’d like

❥ Create Eren’s cheeseburg restaurant, starting the business/household funds off with 0 simoleons

❥ Have a mascot promoting the restaurant (preferably Armin in a bunny suit)

❥ If Sasha Braus is in your game, do not let her eat any of the food

❥ If a customer leaves the restaurant with a two star rating, Eren must beat them

❥ If a customer leaves the restaurant with a one star rating, Eren must kill them

❥ If a customer is rude to staff or your household, Eren must beat them

❥ If a customer or employee kicks a trash can, Eren must kill them

❥ If an employee is rude to customers, Eren must beat them

❥ If an employee is overall incompetent, Eren must kill them

❥ If the restaurant’s rating doesn’t go up in 3 sims’ days, Eren must kill every sim in one of the maps

♢ Danganronpa

Your sims have been accepted into an academy/university for particularly gifted students. Little do they know–it's been a year, and they’re all trapped in the school by an unknown mastermind. Only one can leave, unless they can overtake the mastermind first.

Goal: -Have your main sim max out the most skills -Avoid your main sim getting killed -The rest of the storyline is up to you :)

Mods/Packs Required: Extreme Violence

Rules

❥ Create eight sims or more if you have MCCC (Can be teens or young adults)

❥ Each sim must have a specialty that is incorporated in their aspiration, traits, and skill starting in the game

❥ Pick a sim you will be prioritizing and only taking care of needs for

❥ Your sims are not allowed to leave their lot

❥ Provide your sims with many activities in the lot so they can build skills

❥ Each sims week, whoever has the lowest amount of skills and skill levels must be set to “autonomous killing”

❥ You are not allowed to make the Blackened clean blood or themselves up (must be autonomous)

❥ Provide your sims a day of investigation

❥ An actual trial session is optional. If the Blackened is witnessed killing or covered in blood, they will be executed

❥ For each trial that goes on, take away a section that provides skill-building activities or any other luxuries that would keep your sims sane

❥ Any sim who finds their way outside the lot, invites other sims over, or calls police must automatically be killed

[bluntblade]

One thing I keep asking myself now in relation to Ahsoka is: does Filoni like samurai films? Does he have thoughts about any of them? And if he does, why isn't any of it in the show?

For contrast, regardless of anyone's views on The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson engaged with the genre. Rather than just pull from things that had already been used by Star Wars, he explored. He understood the themes of Rashomon and Three Outlaw Samurai, and understood why those films work. You can tell that he has a relationship to and appreciation for the material. He borrows Rashomon's "three versions of the story" and echoing that film, the truth lands in a murky in-between which exposes a critical error by a character, but also incites them to an act of real moral courage. The energy of Three Outlaw Samurai, meanwhile, comes through in the slovenly DJ and the frantic, scrappy melee combat.

In the same way, Andor and Rogue One are applying more than just the aesthetics of espionage thrillers and modern war movies to SW (also they understood what those aesthetics are for). For that matter, TCW's Umbara arc used Vietnam War film nods pretty well.

The Mandalorian, I think, has increasingly lost the sense of having anything to say with its Western elements, and in Ahsoka and its repeated riffing on samurai movies, it's even more frustrating. Characters pose with their lightsabers in ways that mimick the likes of Toshiro Mifune, there are musical echoes, the framing vaguely evokes those films at times... yet it stops there, at the surface. They're not doing anything more than The Jedi was when borrowing frames from Yojimbo back in Mando S2. It begins to feel solely performative, doing homage to the things which influenced Lucas because they influenced Lucas (and missing the fact that Lucas adored these films because they are terrific works of art).

And that doesn't even get into how much of Kurosawa's actual style isn't imitated at all here. Kineticism, the thing which the master did better than basically anyone else, is pretty much absent, let alone his dramatic use of weather and smoke.

The reason I'm harping on about this is that Filoni and his writers room could really have made hay if they dug into these stories, because they would've found themes that informed the story they were ostensibly setting out to tell. Plenty of Kurosawa films are about ronin (sometimes left masterless by a war that destroyed their clans) and their ambiguous, often fraught relationships with the rest of the world.

Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Sanjuro all get into this stuff. The former also asks searching questions about what place there is for a warrior in a land at peace, which Masaki Kobayashi's Harakiri explores through a much darker and more cynical lens. All of that feels extremely applicable to an Ahsoka who is meant to be scarred by her experiences and feels a gap in her life, where so much of the Jedi's traditional role as peacekeepers and protectors was meant to go. (There is a similar struggle at the heart of David Kirk's wonderful Musashi Miyamoto novels).

But instead we end up with this very shallow attempt at doing homage, which comes out as rather disrespectful in itself when you break it down.

[bigupsdog]

Intro dialog for every Guilty Gear character day 3: Johnny

Sol: Your bounty is high enough to pay for my trip to the moon three times over.

Johnny: You ain't the first person to try to claim that bounty, you ain't gonna be the last.

Ky: You were also orphaned by the Crusades?

Johnny: That bloody war took many a good man's life.

May: When are you going to let me pilot the May Ship again?

Johnny: The last time I let ya drive her ya nearly crashed into Illyria Castle.

Axl: Out of curiosity what's the craziest thing you've ever stolen?

Johnny: Alright, now I wont say which, but one of the Kings of Illyria’s crown is a fake, if you know what i'm saying.

Chipp: Come on, you're wearing all black and you wield a katana, just take the full plunge and become a ninja.

Johnny: Sorry buddy, but if I became a ninja, I would just be too cool for the world to handle.

Potemkin: I'm here to retrieve stolen property from Zepp.

Johnny: What are you talking about? I haven't taken anythin from you guys… recently.

Faust: How’s… May’s… Condition???

Johnny: She’s doing a lot better thanks to you, Doc.

Milia: I work for the government now, so I have to take you in.

Johnny: I’m sure ya asked for this job personally, to see good old Johnny.

Zato: This is nothing personal, I'm just doing my job.

Johnny: And when I cut ya down, it also won't be anythin personal.

Ram: I'm confused, I thought pirates were supposed to be in the ocean, not the sky.

Johnny: Ya don't have to have such strict definitions for everythin sometimes a spade is just a spade.

Leo: A lawbreaker stands before me, and I will be the mighty judge, jury and executioner.

Johnny: I’m startin to think this ain’t no jury of my peers.

Nago: Your swordsmanship, it reminds me of samurai from ages past.

Johnny: You lookin to relive some of your glory days? Because I'm more than willin to help.

Gio: Look I have my orders to take you in, but I still owe you one, so even if I win I'll just say you gave me the slip.

Johnny: Ah that's sweet, looks like it ain't a dog eat dog world after all.

Anji: Steal from the rich, give to the poor, you’re a real Ishikawa Goemon.

Johnny: First time I heard that one, normally I get Robin Hood.

I-No: Don't even try it lover boy, I'm way out of your league.

Johnny: Damn, and I had a great witch related pick up line and everything.

Goldlewis: Outlaws like you give us cowboys a bad name.

Johnny: Nah, lawmen like you ruin the real spirit of the cowboy.

Jack-O: Is that a cowboy costume? Shouldn't you have a gun not a sword?

Johnny: It ain't no costume, I'm the bona-fide real thing.

HC: Ah the showdown, the best part of any western movie.

Johnny: In a quick draw it all comes down to who's faster, unfortunately for you.

Baiken: Put that sword down, you ain't no damn samurai.

Johnny: Cowboy, pirate, samurai, what can I say I have a lot of feathers in my cap.

Testament: I hear you've adopted many an orphaned child from the Crusades.

Johnny: I'd like to think your old man Kliff woulda been proud of me.

Bridget: Your bounty is HOW MUCH!!!

Johnny: Run along now lass, bounty hutin ain't nothin you want to involve yourself with.

Sin: Hey man, your ship looked so cool while I was riding next to it on a dragon!

Johnny: You did what now?

Delilah: Your ship was nice… um, thanks for letting me ride in it.

Johnny: Ah much alleged, good old Johnny's always willin to lend a helpin hand.

Asuka R#: I am not the real “That Man” I am simply a clone.

Johnny: So the coward made a fake to hide from his past, I see how it is.

Asuka R Kreutz: I am deeply sorry for all the pain my past actions have caused.

Johnny: Ah ain't that sweet, ya apologized, to one person who you helped make an orphan, what about all the rest?

Elphelt: Is that a noble outlaw, coming to steal this fair maiden's heart?

Johnny: Normally I'm the one who uses the cheesy pick up line, feels weird, the shoe being on the other foot.

ABA: Your ship is a whale, yet you didn't paint it blue, what is wrong with you?

Johnny: I didn't paint the May Ship, she was just born that way.

[readingwreck-omen-dations]

Kindling by Traci Chee

Once, the war was fought with kindlings—elite, magic-wielding warriors whose devastating power comes at the cost of their own young lives.

Now, the war is over, and kindlings have been cast adrift—their magic outlawed, their skills outdated, their formidable balar weapons prized only as relics and souvenirs.

Violence still plagues the countryside, and memories haunt those who remain. When a village comes under threat of siege, it offers an opportunity for seven kindlings to fight one last time. But war changed these warriors. And to reclaim who they once were, they will have to battle their pasts, their trauma, and their grim fates to come together again—or none of them will make it out alive.

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Drama

Age: 16+

TW: violence, character death, cultural genocide, child soldiers, substance abuse, racism, sexual content, PTSD

Spoilers under the cut

Following the tradition of Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven (neither of which, I admit, have I watched), this book follows seven members of a defunct order, seeking one final battle.

The book is told in second person, and following a revolving point of view, which at first threw me for a loop, until I realized it's really meant to be told from the perspective of the characters' dead Kindling brethren. This was an interesting take that I grew to appreciate more the further I got in the book.

The characters are instantly charming, and since there's so many of them I'll limit it to two or three adjectives each. Leum is standoffish but kind; Ket is seductive and wild but charming; Emara is roguish but deeply sentimental; Amity is stern and selfish but caring; Siddie is naive but brave; Kanver is irresponsible but sweet; Ben is cowardly but clever. As well as these seven Kindling, there's also the non-magical but no less gutsy Tana, a resident of Camas — a village targeted by a fierce Kindling warrior and her band of raiders — who contracts the band of rogue Kindlings to defend her home, and takes a strong liking to the free-spirited Ket in the process. It was impossible for me to pick a favorite as each of their stories unfolded, and motivations both selfish and noble were revealed.

I'm also gonna be real here: this book made me cry. A lot. At a lot of different points. For a lot of different reasons. I won't tell you not to get attached to characters, because it's impossible not to, but...attach with caution. There's a lot of heavy topics, as it's very primarily a story about trauma and child soldiers feeling lost in a world post-war, with the nationalism they clung to through the war now obsolete, and their singular purpose and chance at glory in life gone — and realizing, too late in some cases, that the glory was never worth it. (This was one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much — I'm never not thinking about "and how did these chosen heroes and child soldiers handle peacetime?")

On the lighter side of things, it was very deeply moving in its portrayals of friendship and found family; the only romantic or sexual relationships are sapphic, integrate seamlessly into the plot, and serve as a lovely form of character development; the moments of levity are very effective in breaking the tension between the heavy plot points.

I give it ten out of five stars, highly recommend, no other notes

[beardedmrbean]

Ah the rumors are true (and these gaming companies coordinate)

https://x.com/xbox/status/1785308276063633588?s=46

I already figured out given last year Xbox revealed Star Wars outlaws and next day we had a gameplay reveal at the Ubi forward

Remember that leak AC red menu I sent? Well that was taken down to copyright, but I think that was a Xbox not a Ubi move.

Because the leak show the build being April third and most press conference game builds are usually a few months old as they are the most stable

So I heard original red would have it reveal in May 31st…hmmm if that still true

May 31st- a press event where we get a pre render cgi trailer, proper Yasuke and Naoe reveal, details, in game screenshots. And title reveal

June 9th- Xbox will have a gameplay demo showing off the capabilities of Xbox (and if Xbox bribed them enough. Ac red will be the first day one ac game on gamepass as the last three ac rpgs on it)

June 10th- a story trailer and “bts” video where they show how yes finally we are going to Japan and their ideas and inspirations for it

With probably the nice explanation why Yasuke was chose for the second playable character

Because people want red to be reveal at Ubisoft forward…but people need to digested Yasuke at first

Like my theory craft on how to use Yasuke in a what if continuation is interesting…but modern writers are not exactly smart.

Also there a fundamental difference between my black teen dad Jrpg idea vs writers who have critical theory plaguing their minds

Not to mention they think having more non whites will bring black people into fantasy games.

When the last time they went to the cookout? The vast majority of casual players only enjoy playing Cod, GTA, tekken and other fighting games, and the occasional license hero game

Okay okay fornite

Like here my pitch

Hey casual black gamers (who barely desire to play Normie games. WHAT I still deal with it) you remember Afro samurai? Well here a game where you play as the weapon bearer Yasuke in this game Assassin Creed Shadows (that is what some people saying the game is going called) where you help a secret ancient order unify Japan. And there more it’s a RPG where you can spend over 100 hours into and explore the beautiful recreation of feudal Japan!

Warning your dumbass might become a pseudo historian and desire more knowledge

(Or you might be interested in more ac games. Hmm here an Egypt one! Now might give you more! HEHEHEHE)

And noting bad wait- okay probably will be 70 dollars…..oh great a season and battle pass!….wdym online only?!

Ubi you now got 5-6 months to reform red market system (most ac game comes out on October or November) because you seen how your own game skulls and bones and SS kills JL flopped

Ugh why I had to be born during the hard times of gaming?

Maybe in May I get more leaks

Also college educated students, people do like organic diversity.

But white people don’t like the demonization of themselves from people who make more money they do in their lifetimes

Seriously what the fuck is the culture in California and New York where it socially acceptable to treat white people like fictional characters

June 10th- a story trailer and “bts” video where they show how yes finally we are going to Japan and their ideas and inspirations for it With probably the nice explanation why Yasuke was chose for the second playable character.

This all was the official timeline then, nice of them to post it, probably gonna be a few more leaks tho

Like my theory craft on how to use Yasuke in a what if continuation is interesting…but modern writers are not exactly smart. Also there a fundamental difference between my black teen dad Jrpg idea vs writers who have critical theory plaguing their minds Not to mention they think having more non whites will bring black people into fantasy games.

They need to stop with all the tokesism crap, even a MC can be a token if it's all just stereotypical nonsense. Then again certain parts of the audience that's all they want.

Gay guys need to be flaming, lesbians are lipstick or mega dyke, Latinos are gardners, and black people are thugs or you're doing it wrong.

If Yasuke breaks into a Undercover Brother type monolouge at some point I would laugh and cry.

When the last time they went to the cookout? The vast majority of casual players only enjoy playing Cod, GTA, tekken and other fighting games, and the occasional license hero game.

Oh I miss the cookouts, had a few friends that would invite me to different ones, damn fine food. Sometimes I acted extra white just to be funny too.

Prev and Warning your dumbass might become a pseudo historian and desire more knowledge (Or you might be interested in more ac games. Hmm here an Egypt one! Now might give you more! HEHEHEHE)

I like it, I also like tricking people into learning, makes things fun and interesting.

And noting bad wait- okay probably will be 70 dollars…..oh great a season and battle pass!….wdym online only?!

Grrrrrr

Ugh why I had to be born during the hard times of gaming? Maybe in May I get more leaks Also college educated students, people do like organic diversity.

There really was a golden age for it, late late 90's till the 10's when things all started to go online, get really good complete games and y you could hit up gameFAQ's if you needed help with something (used to have to know someone who knew or call the Nintendo Power hotline at $1.99 a min if you were stuck.

Think most college educated people like that too, it's just the loud ones that are the issue.

Seriously what the fuck is the culture in California and New York where it socially acceptable to treat white people like fictional characters

Speaking as a Californian let me say, fuck those guys doing that.

this is more like it

[rose-colored-hearts]

Here is my Summer Historical Movies/Series Marathon!

This marathon is in Chronological Order and is focused on British/Western European History.

Not all of these Films/Series will be historically accurate!!!

PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR TRIGGERS https://www.doesthedogdie.com/

- Beowulf (2007) (Saxon England)

- The Last Kingdom (2015-2022) (Saxon England)

- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2007) (Arthurian Legend)

- The Green Knight (2021) (Arthurian Legend)

- The Lion in Winter (1968) (Richard The Lionheart)

- Kingdom of Heaven (2005) (Crusades)

-The Hollow Crown Season 1 (2013) (Richard II-Henry V)

-The King (2019) (Henry V)

- The Hollow Crown Season 2 (2016) (War of The Roses)

- A Knight’s Tale (2001) (Medieval England)

- The Outlaw King (2018) (14th Century Scotland)

- The Name of the Rose (1986) (14th Century)

- White Queen (2013) (War of the Roses)

- White Princess (2017) (War of the Roses)

- Spanish Princess (2019-2020) (Cathrine of Aragon)

- The Tudors (2007-2010) (Tudor Dynasty)

- The Other Bolelyn Girl (2008) (Henry VIII)

- Anne Boleyn (2021) (King Henry VIII)

- Wolf Hall (2015) (King Henry VIII)

- Lady Jane (1986) (Lady Jane Gray)

- Becoming Elizabeth (2022) (Elizabeth I)

- Anonymous (2011) (Shakespeare)

- Reign (2013-2017) (Mary Queen of Scots)

- Mary Queen of Scots (2018) (Queen Elizabeth I)

- Cromwell (1970) (Stuart Dynasty)

- The Favourite (2018) (18th Century)

- The Duchess (2008) (Georgian Dynasty)

- The Madness of King George (1994) (King George III)

- Queen Charlotte (2023) (Georgian Dynasty)

- Bridgerton (Regency Era)

- Young Victoria (2009) (Victorian Era)

- 1917 (2019) (WW1)

- The Kings Speech (2010) (1936)

- Dunkirk (2017) (WW2)

- The Crown (2016-2023) (Queen Elizabeth II)

- Spencer (2021) (Princess Diana)

Looking for More? Here’s selections from across time and space!

- [ ] Solomon Kane (2009) (1500’s Fantasy England)

- [ ] Six The Musical (Henry VIII’s Wives)

- [ ] Horrible Histories (2009-2014)

- [ ] Medici (2016-2019) (Renaissance Italy)

- [ ] Versailles (2015-2018) (1600’s France)

- [ ] Valhalla Rising (2009) (Viking Era)

- [ ] The Northman (2022) (Viking Era)

- [ ] Vikings (2013-2020) (Viking Era)

- [ ] The Last Duel (2021) (1300’s France)

- [ ] The Assassin (2015) (8th Century China)

- [ ] Red Cliff (2008) (China’s Three Kingdoms period)

- [ ] The Untamed (2019) (Fantasy Historical China)

- [ ] Seven Samurai (1954) (Feudal Japan)

- [ ] Love Under The Crucifix (1962) (Japan 1587)

- [ ] Dororo (2019) (Feudal Fantasy Japan)

- [ ] Hotel Rwanda (2004) (Rwanda, Africa, 1994)

- [ ] Hotel Mumbai (2018) (2008 Mumbai Attacks)

- [ ] Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020) (India, Mughal Empire)

- [ ] Alexander (2004) (Hellenistic Greece)

- [ ] Medieval (2022) (14th Century Czech Republic)

- [ ] Ran (1985) (Feudal Japan)

- [ ] The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) (Medieval France)

- [ ] Cabaret (1972) (Weimar Germany)

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Death Shadows

[The following review contains MINOR SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

The Criterion Channel’s synopsis of Hideo Gosha’s Death Shadow’s reads:

After their executions are faked by the authorities, three criminals are forced to become assassins under the command of the Shogun.

Technically, this is an accurate summary… of the film’s prologue. The actual story is significantly more convoluted—and I mean that as a compliment. The narrative is an intricately constructed puzzle that constantly reassembles, reconfigures, and recontextualizes itself; every scene introduces new characters, complications, and even entire subplots. If you ever find the subject matter objectionable or distasteful, just wait; the movie will be about something completely different within fifteen minutes.

This unconventional structure would be infuriatingly disjointed—were the central themes not so elegantly cohesive and clearly articulated. Like all of Gosha’s work in the chanbara genre, Death Shadows is staunchly antiauthoritarian, condemning any man that would abuse his power—including the secretive spymaster that “recruits” the eponymous assassins. After all, the corrupt clan officials, greedy merchants, and bloodthirsty gangsters that manipulate, exploit, and discard their subordinates deserve to be punished—but exceeding the limitations of the law in order to deliver “justice” is equally unethical (especially when this “necessary evil” is motivated by pragmatism rather than morality).

Beyond its deliberately puply premise, Death Shadows also represents the pinnacle of Gosha’s craftsmanship: this is the director’s style at its most economical, purposeful, and precise. He favors long, continuous, unbroken takes, repositioning the camera and performers to seamlessly transition from master shot to coverage (yes, this is very similar to Spielberg’s modus operandi)—a gracefully choreographed ballet that strikes a delicate balance between theatrical mise-en-scène and cinematic composition.

Gosha’s relatively restrained blocking and framing stand in stark contrast to the film’s unapologetically maximalist imagery. Much of the action unfolds on elaborately designed studio sets; hand-painted backdrops depict impressionistic sunsets and overcast skies, creating a surreal, hypnotic, dreamlike atmosphere—a dramatic departure from the grounded, gritty, naturalistic tone of the auteur’s earlier jidaigeki efforts (Three Outlaw Samurai, Sword of the Beast).

Thus, Death Shadows is a beautiful contradiction; serving as both the culmination of Gosha’s previous accomplishments in the industry and an evolution of his artistic vision, it resides comfortably at the intersection between avant-garde experimentation and popcorn entertainment.

[sanguine-salvation]

[🧂 What is a staple in your kitchen? and/or💅 Do you have a comfort show, game, or book?]

[ Another Munday Ask Prompt - ACCEPTING ]

PAPRIKA. We must always have paprika. I will become the saddest bean if we don’t have any. Writing this I just realized we used to last of it I NEED TO GO TO THE STORE.

and

Oh gods do I. For shows, it’s Forensic Files (I grew up watching it), Batman the Animated Series, Lupin III, pokemon, Outlaw Star, Samurai Jack, Clone Wars, sometimes Star Trek??? I gotta be in a mood??? and very much Courage the Cowardly Dog! Also my boyfriend made Bob’s Burgers one, we’re on our second watch through shfsjgskgd

Games? Spyro, so much Spyro the dragon. Also Tomba!, Jak & Daxter, the Oddworld series, Zelda (but specifically Majora or Link to the Past), Batman Arkham Asylum, and Tetris. Sims and ARK, too, but like Star Trek, I gotta be in a mood. And then it’s three days straight of mood. Sleep optional, oops.

Books? Hitchhiker’s Guide, Catch-22, the young adult Boba Fett series (I dunno if it has a specific name???), and also I have this huge book of Edgar Allan Poe works that I go through cover to cover sometimes 💖

[macchiatolatte]

My favorite period of time next to the Edwardian era (1901~1910) is Victorian, so you're right on point! I've seen like 5 variations of the "cowboys and samurais are contemporaries" post, so here's my two takes:

1) It's funny how both cowboys and samurai are romanticized in pop culture when both are incredibly different in reality by this point.

The cowboy of this era is just a cow-herding lad, driving cattle across the glorious plains of the West. What you're looking for is the outlaw, ranger, or any other armed folk out there. And by the 19th century, the Tokugawa shogunate and the various samurai daimyo (clans) are well-solidified in their rule for about three hundred years now. The romantic bushido-following katana-wielding warriors in pop culture samurai were gone in that time: the Edo period was mostly a peaceful period of time, save for the beginning, the Bakumatsu period, and the Shimabara rebellion. The samurai you're likely looking for are either Sengoku Jidai era (16th century) or Genpei War era (12th century). To say that both met their end in/around 1868 is… inaccurate, I'd say. 1868 is indeed the legal end of the samurai (with the Meiji restoration and the end of Bakumatsu), but the people who were samurai still retained their social and economic sway. Many samurai sided with the pro-imperial forces, and many opposed it in the case of the more pop-culture-esque Shinsengumi. That's also not to say the general adoption of the bushido fantasy by the Imperial Army. And 1868 is still only 3 years after the end of the Civil War. By this point, the cowboy/frontier is just beginning its heyday. The West between the Mississippi and California is still an "untamed" (if you ignore the Natives) wild, and it really only ends by the 1890 census. Even then, you can stretch cowboy stories well up to World War I. Just look at Red Dead.

But! The time difference doesn't make the combo any less cool. 2) Ronin and outlaws together are fuckin' awesome!

The Bakumatsu didn't come quietly. As I've mentioned before, the Shinsengumi gives you a nice ground for samurai at the end of an era. Plenty of them survived long after the restoration. Saitou Hajime is a great example: he lived well into the Meiji era (he passed in 1915!) and ended up serving as an agent for the Imperial government in Tokyo. And there were plenty of samurai in the pro-Meiji factions. Sakamoto Ryouma, hero of the restoration. Man was a badass that strutted around with both a revolver and katana on his hip, and went out in a battle against Shinsengumi assassins. I recommend you read his story, he's one of my personal heroes. Many of the samurai that sided with the restoration later fell in their own battle against Imperial forces which matches that narrative of the dying code during the Battle of Shiroyama, which you've probably heard of before thanks to the Sabaton song.

However, the romanticized ideals of the bushido code and the samurai never really left until the end of World War II. The Imperial government is a touchy subject considering it leads to the fascist state of the 30s and 40s, but it's where the idea of bushido starts and has its main foothold. Those who enlisted in the Imperial Army believed in the idea of this code as a justification for their actions, and of course that can lead to the eventual outlaws and vigilantes. Ronin, you could say.

So, imagine it. An Imperial Army deserter finding their way boat-side to the American frontier, finding their ronin fantasy running with an outlaw gang. Sure, you're still on the run, but the open air of the Rockies beats marching and dying in a trench in Manchuria. The weapons and guns flow smoothly here, too-- there's no way you would've been able to ever touch one after your conscription ends. You never really liked the smog in the cities, anyway. A former Shinsengumi agent trying to relive their glory days as a bounty hunter. They heard that a nephew was living in San Francisco, and knew that those across the Pacific were more… brutal with their criminals. They always missed the feeling of riding into battle on horseback. So, don the white-mountain and blue-sky haori once again, a bright warning amongst panchos and suits. A shishi, a follower of the late Sakamoto Ryouma, searching for the modern republic that he dreamed of. The barbarians across the sea might have the answer, and the more scholarly among the restorationists are already opening diplomatic missions as part of the Meiji government. Maybe a journey through lands more wide and vast may bring a new perspective.

But cross-cultural pollination isn't a one-way street: it's an ongoing exchange. A former sheriff disgraced by the collapse of his town with the construction of railroads eliminating the need for the frontier town, now finding themselves recruited as an advisor for Osaka's police force. The prefectures themselves are finding their footing, being the replacement for the Tokugawa's provinces, and Westernization is the big new thing in town. Maybe there is enough space in this town for the two of us. An outlaw skipping the country altogether and winding up still doing the same trade they've always done. The yakuza are finding their footing in these chaotic times, with the country still licking the wounds of Bakumatsu and the transition away from the Tokugawa government. Maybe it's not as wild as you'd like, but the depths of the cities still offer a haven to those looking for it. A Lakota warrior fleeing far beyond, after Sitting Bull's surrender, and finding themselves across the Pacific, and finally in Hokkaido. A land much like their home, free yet now encroached by waves of colonizers. Another dream of freedom, if fleeting.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries is a fascinating time to me, and it's ripe with potential. I apologize for a bit of lackluster sources, but I recommend you do your own research on the societies of the time! The world's in the midst of transitioning to its modern environment, and there's plenty of space for more wild crossovers.

Also: go read Golden Kamuy! It gives a wild west vibe in Hokkaido and it's sick.

every western movie ever made: The wild west is dying. theres no more room left for cowboys anymore…

me everytime: :(

[la-appel-du-vide]

10•22•23

We had quite possibly the most perfect day at Frightmares ever. The weather could not have been better. It was warm enough to feel completely comfortable, even when it got dark, and I loved feeling the sun all day but not getting too hot.

We got there early so we could jump in line for the newly opened ride, Primordial. They've been constructing it for years, so we were excited to try it! The line was still pretty long, even that early, and it took us like an hour and a half or so to get through it. It's a mix of a roller coaster and a VR shooting game. I thought the roller coaster portion was fun, and the unexpected drop and the backwards part was great, but the shooting experience was only so-so, and I blame Disney for that. Theirs are top notch. The story was impossible for me to follow, but I enjoyed it. Not worth a long wait though.

We rode Samurai after, which is my number one favorite, and our first ride through was SO boring. No one was screaming or having any fun. It was just slowly rotating us through the air, and I was so mad. Luckily, after they brought us down, the employees came around to check if we'd want to go again for a better experience, and absolutely we did. The second time through was an insane ride, and I loved it. Back on top!

Jason had never ridden Cannibal, so we had to do that, and then all the normal favorites. Since Beach doesn't like roller coasters, she mostly waited for us while we went on the rides, and having only three on the Spider was so fun. The off-balanced weight made it so we never stopped spinning! And since everyone was trying to get on Primordial, the rest of the lines weren't bad at all. Beach did want to ride Wild Mouse, so we did that all together and that was super fun.

One of my main motivations for wanting to go this year was to get a friend picture at the Pioneer Photo Gallery. I haven't done it since I was a kid, but Mikayla's group always goes and it looks like a blast. Kena and Glen were supposed to be there, but decided not to come, so it was just the four of us, but it was still a good time and I love the pictures. I was a Saloon girl, and everyone else was an outlaw. I love the one where we are all serious and Beach is sticking her tongue out hahah, she kills me. They are a very efficient machine in there, getting people in, dressed, and out so quickly! It was a highlight of the day for sure.

I got mint Oreo dippin dots and a churro, so we were clearly living our best lives. And of course, we ended the day with some haunted house walk-throughs, and a final ride on the Colossus, since Beach figured she could just go home and rest if it made her sick.

We had just the best time, and I'm so glad we got to all go together!

Beach Quote of the Day: "The Mouse giveth and The Mouse taketh away." Hahahah, this was said after we got off the ride and my pants got caught on the turnstile and ripped.

[gertlushgaming]

Fate/Samurai Remnant Review (Playstation 5)

For our Fate/Samurai Remnant Review, it is the 4th year of the Keian Era, Edo Period. It has been several decades since the end of a turbulent, blood-soaked era. People were enjoying peace and tranquility. But, a battle between seven pairs of Masters and Servants is about to begin, as the "Waxing Moon Ritual" unfolds in the shadows. Miyamoto Iori, a young man in Asakusa, finds himself caught in the violence of a Holy Grail War.

Fate/Samurai Remnant Review Pros:

- Anime graphics. - 29.02GB download size. - Platinum trophy. - Action RPG gameplay. - You get the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5 versions of the game. - 21 save slots. - Three difficulties - sword novice, sword fighter, and sword expert. - Dialogue speed - slow, average, fast, and instant. - Blood - on/off. - Controller settings - Invert the axis for vertical and horizontal. Control assist, rebind controls, and battle camera sliders for sensitivity. - Auto saves regularly. - You can skip and pause cutscenes. - Remarkable cutscenes that feature both Anime and in-game sequences. - Opening tutorial section then ongoing pop-ups. - 3rd person view. - Save and load when you want. - Display settings - brightness slider, display HP (on/partial/off), map display, and map rotation. - Text conversations can be fast-forwarded, paused, slowed down, or auto-scrolled. - Stance change changes your fighting style and you start off with Earth and Water. - Red enemies are about to do a heavy attack, you can attack them and stun them quick enough, when stunned they take double damage. - Moves at a fast pace. - With combat the basics are you have a light and heavy attack and doing any combo with them performs a different attack. - Deal damage to fill your Valor gauge and do an insane over-the-top attack. - Afterglow is when you fight for a time as one stance and then change to another. Depending on which stance you go between determines what happens. - Handy camera reset button. - The full 3D world with 360-degree camera control. - Powerful soundtrack. - Duels can trigger and it's a button mash to bush the bar in your favour. - Magecraft spells - consume a gem to cast a spell assigned to your face buttons. - When you get in trouble or low health, a servant can come in and help you temporarily. - Affinity techniques are powerful attacks and you build the bar and then unleash one with your face buttons and affinity button. - The map shows all destinations, mission markers, and points of interest. - General stores are available to buy items and equipment. You buy from them to increase new stock. - Trials can appear and these vary from fights to tasks. - Outlaws can appear for fights, they can even show on the map. - Outside of the combat you get free reign of the world and can explore and interact with NPCs. - Earn EXP and level up to get skill points that then get put into the massive skill tree. - You can have up to four spells assigned at one time, but you can freely swap them out. - Your house is the hub where you can acquire skills, rewatch/read the story so far, and more which unlocks as you play the story. - Memorable characters. - Excellent character and enemy designs. - The combat is very fast, Devil May Cry/Bayonetta speed but with the enemy on-screen count of a Dynasty Warriors game. - Find items within the game world. - Handy mission markers that are easy to follow. - Fantastic artwork. - Saber can call out interesting finds in the world as you explore. - You can reread tutorials. - Saber, Lancer, and Rider are your starting servants who accompany you and can jump in and help in combat. - The biography menu fills in with details of all encountered characters. - Place your own markers on the map. - Gems for casting spells can drop from enemies. - Slow Mo final kill. - Mountings are where you add/edit the four types of swords - scabbards, guards, handle wrapping, and decorations. These add and change the stats of the sword. - She'll gauges on enemies are basically Shields so you have to do techniques and heavy attacks to deplete it. - You can pet the cats and dogs for a healthy regen. - Substitute is the act of changing who you control when in combat. - The world map lets you leave and go to whole new locations. - Fast loading times. - Saber gets her own skill tree and skill points. - Combat is good from the start but as you unlock more techniques and skills it opens up even more and is just so much fun to not only pull off but to watch. - Saber learns new abilities during the story and you just have to equip the ones you like. - Link strikes are callouts where you go near your servant and press the button prompt to do a crazy tag team attack. - The technique attacks look so cool and over the top. - I find myself constantly getting lost in the world and just exploring and chatting with people. - When you start fighting over servants the difficulty goes up but it's such a spectacular fight. Fate/Samurai Remnant Review Cons: - The combat takes a lot of learning because getting the dodge and techniques to flow is a game in itself. - The start of the game is slow with stop-start action and huge cutscenes. - Using health items is a shortcut but it brings up a menu and you have to click it, this slows the lightning-fast combat right down. - The icons on the map are not selectable. - So much to take in. - Outside of combat, the game is quite dry, with a lot of fetch questing and little fights. Related Post: PAYDAY 3 Review (Steam) Fate/Samurai Remnant: Official website. Developer: KOEI TECMO Publisher: KOEI TECMO Store Links - PlayStation   Read the full article