Yet Another Remake: "Seven Samurai"
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Yet Another Remake: "Seven Samurai"
The IMDB plot summary looks like a real winner: "A town in Northern Thailand recruits seven Blackwater-type paramilitary contractors from around the world to defend against an imminent attack." Although it is co-written by the scribe of Young Guns II, so perhaps I should give it a chance.
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Yeah, that sound more of a reimagining like The Magnificent Seven.
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Now, there's been plenty of unofficial remakes of this, of course. Battle Beyond The Stars... Three Amigos... it's become one of those oft-told stories. But The Magnificent Seven is empirically an official remake.
#7
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I don't know. I consider The Magnificent Seven to be more of a reworking (or reimagining as Hollywood types like to say these days) than a straight remake.
If it isn't a Japanese farming village hiring 7 samurai to protect them then it isn't a true remake. Setting it in the Old West or modern Thailand is a pretty drastic and significant change. It may still have the same basic plot structure, but it's not the same story. It's not like King Kong where you can change it from 1933 New York to 1976 New York and not have it really change anything important.
If it isn't a Japanese farming village hiring 7 samurai to protect them then it isn't a true remake. Setting it in the Old West or modern Thailand is a pretty drastic and significant change. It may still have the same basic plot structure, but it's not the same story. It's not like King Kong where you can change it from 1933 New York to 1976 New York and not have it really change anything important.
#9
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Agreed. I always saw it as a reimagining than a straight remake too. You had the same plot but everything else was completely different. Either way, The Magnificent Seven was a pretty good movie. I'll likely give this one a chance going in with the assumption that it won't be nearly as good as Seven Samurai or The Magnificent Seven.
#11
I've seen Nakano's (director helmed for this project) Samurai Fiction film and the guy can pull off some visually stunning work, so this could be a plus. Rumors abroad seem to be painting the intent of this film as a reinvigoration of interest in the original works by a younger audience - never mind the cashing in. If that's the case, then it's quite possible that the magic and heart of the characters of the original could be completely lost if one, Fusco doesn't nail down a script and two, which direction the guy is given to go. And based on the clips it appears as if it will be a fairly stylized action film ...
http://www.7-samurai.jp/#/index
Seven Samurai is a top five film of mine and although I've given up caring about what is remade/re-imagined (whatever you guys want to call it) any more, so if I can remove myself just enough from the original material then I could enjoy it for what it is. But I have some serious doubts.
http://www.7-samurai.jp/#/index
Seven Samurai is a top five film of mine and although I've given up caring about what is remade/re-imagined (whatever you guys want to call it) any more, so if I can remove myself just enough from the original material then I could enjoy it for what it is. But I have some serious doubts.
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That said, Hark Tsui's "Seven Swords" was the last re-telling of the tale, and it wasn't too bad. Kinda standard, epic-ish. Good effects and fight sequences. The best re-telling of the tale I've seen, save for Mag 7, was The Samurai 7 Anime. That was pretty solid...
#13
Thanks for the recommendation Zep. The film appears to be an interesting patchwork of comedy that goes nowhere, sort of like anything from Katsuhito Isshi (Taste of Tea, Party 7) - but I enjoy material like that. Is there even an English subbed release of this film?
I'm about half way through Samurai 7 series and although I think it's scripted a little childishly (for instance the constant "we are samurai" references), I like what they've done. It's engaging, fairly intelligent, just an overall fun little tale. Nunky is a perfect representation of Kikuchiyo (Mifune's character) from the original. One of these days I'll finish it off.
If I had a kid I would show them something along the lines of this series instead of the 95% of garbage that is broadcast television.
I'm about half way through Samurai 7 series and although I think it's scripted a little childishly (for instance the constant "we are samurai" references), I like what they've done. It's engaging, fairly intelligent, just an overall fun little tale. Nunky is a perfect representation of Kikuchiyo (Mifune's character) from the original. One of these days I'll finish it off.
If I had a kid I would show them something along the lines of this series instead of the 95% of garbage that is broadcast television.
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Thanks for the recommendation Zep. The film appears to be an interesting patchwork of comedy that goes nowhere, sort of like anything from Katsuhito Isshi (Taste of Tea, Party 7) - but I enjoy material like that. Is there even an English subbed release of this film?
I'm about half way through Samurai 7 series and although I think it's scripted a little childishly (for instance the constant "we are samurai" references), I like what they've done. It's engaging, fairly intelligent, just an overall fun little tale. Nunky is a perfect representation of Kikuchiyo (Mifune's character) from the original. One of these days I'll finish it off.
If I had a kid I would show them something along the lines of this series instead of the 95% of garbage that is broadcast television.
I'm about half way through Samurai 7 series and although I think it's scripted a little childishly (for instance the constant "we are samurai" references), I like what they've done. It's engaging, fairly intelligent, just an overall fun little tale. Nunky is a perfect representation of Kikuchiyo (Mifune's character) from the original. One of these days I'll finish it off.
If I had a kid I would show them something along the lines of this series instead of the 95% of garbage that is broadcast television.
I agree on Samurai 7, but I just chalked that up to it being a TV series presentation, and they have to keep that continuity and such. It does get redundant when watching it on DVD, though. The last 2 discs are pretty solid, throw a twist or two in. At least the art and animation were top-notch.
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Or 7 mujahadeen to protect from the great satan, or 7 army rangers to protect from the mujahadeen, or 7 kvrdaves to protect from a pack of stray dogs...etc.