Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

Yet Another Remake: "Seven Samurai"

Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

Yet Another Remake: "Seven Samurai"

Old 08-17-08, 11:43 PM
  #1  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nightmare Alley
Posts: 17,117
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
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.
Old 08-17-08, 11:45 PM
  #2  
DVD Talk Hero
 
PopcornTreeCt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,913
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
It's not really a remake. If it was about samurai then it would be a remake.
Old 08-17-08, 11:50 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nightmare Alley
Posts: 17,117
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
It's not really a remake. If it was about samurai then it would be a remake.
So The Magnificent Seven isn't a remake of Seven Samurai?
Old 08-17-08, 11:52 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 39,239
Received 598 Likes on 462 Posts
Yeah, that sound more of a reimagining like The Magnificent Seven.
Old 08-18-08, 01:08 AM
  #5  
DVD Talk Hero
 
PopcornTreeCt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,913
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by NoirFan
So The Magnificent Seven isn't a remake of Seven Samurai?
I've never really thought it was. I mean I think it's "officially" a remake with the rights issues and all, but to me it wasn't.
Old 08-18-08, 02:28 AM
  #6  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sitting on a beach, earning 20%
Posts: 9,917
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
I've never really thought it was. I mean I think it's "officially" a remake with the rights issues and all, but to me it wasn't.
It was. Still is, in fact. Everyone on The Magnificent Seven knew they were doing The Seven Samurai. James Coburn took the job because he loved the character of Japan's finest swordsman, and jumped at the chance to play his American equivalent.

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.
Old 08-18-08, 08:27 AM
  #7  
DVD Talk Legend
 
B5Erik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Southern California
Posts: 13,541
Received 457 Likes on 335 Posts
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.
Old 08-18-08, 08:46 AM
  #8  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Isn't that the plot of "A Bug's Life?"
Old 08-18-08, 09:15 AM
  #9  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Goat3001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 17,116
Received 23 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by B5Erik
If it isn't a Japanese farming village hiring 7 samurai to protect them then it isn't a true remake.
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.
Old 08-18-08, 10:28 AM
  #10  
DVD Talk Legend
 
islandclaws's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain
Posts: 20,085
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Sounds terrible. I'm sure Three Amigos will still be a better re-telling of that story than this film will ever be.
Old 08-18-08, 10:53 AM
  #11  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
visitor Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
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.
Old 08-18-08, 01:12 PM
  #12  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
lordzeppelin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA GO PENS!
Posts: 4,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by visitor Q
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.
You should see Stereo Future, if you haven't. Nakano is a pretty competent director, from what I've seen. I'm quite interested to see how this all turns out...

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...
Old 08-18-08, 05:08 PM
  #13  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
visitor Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
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.
Old 08-18-08, 05:24 PM
  #14  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,982
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would have thought with today's culture the plot would have been a town hires 7 navy seals to protect them from gang-bangers.
Old 08-20-08, 07:42 AM
  #15  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
lordzeppelin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA GO PENS!
Posts: 4,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by visitor Q
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.
You're welcome...I have Stereo Future, and I was under the impression it was a legit release at the time, but about a year later I realized that it is probably an HK boot of the Japanese release as an R0, or it's a 'rumored' Korean release that is supposed to be R3, but is actually R0. It's actually got English Subs...in all honesty, I've watched it with 2 other people, and I'm not sure I've ever talked with anyone outside of Japan that has seen the film. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The Japan release seems to be out of print too. Drop me a PM, perhaps I can let you borrow it or something (as if I'm netflix, ).

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.
Old 08-20-08, 07:43 AM
  #16  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
lordzeppelin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA GO PENS!
Posts: 4,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by wm lopez
I would have thought with today's culture the plot would have been a town hires 7 navy seals to protect them from gang-bangers.
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.

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.