One aspect of tone that Samurai Marathon nails is in setting the period, but not maintaining any of the airs of the era. Directed by Bernard Rose. It’s central to the story, but as a narrative tool. Get great deals on Samurai Action Adventure DVDs & Blu-ray Discs. It’s central to the story, but as a narrative tool. Home › Recommendation › Home Release › Genre mash-up “Samurai Marathon” gets off to a messy start but comes together mid-stride. Download or stream from your Apple TV, Roku, Smart TV, computer or portable device. Strange sort of one off story about a clan forcing its samurai to run 32 miles to toughen them up against the backdrop of Commodore Perry's landing in Japan. They were the well-paid retainers of the daimyo (the great feudal landholders). Trailer for Samurai Marathon, starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shôta Sometani and Munetaka Aoki.. The discord is more pronounced with characters like Jinnai Karasawa (Takeru Satoh), who gets introduced and then guides the audience through his backstory. The festival will take place from June 28th until July 14th, 2019. Though, with a title like Samurai Marathon, you’re thinking how important the marathon’s going to be. The marathon is erroneously interpreted by the Shogunate and we have some drama at the end. There’s nothing wrong with comedy in action (see: any Jackie Chan film), or thriller mixed with action (see: any John Wick film), drama mixed with comedy (see: Jojo Rabbit/Parasite), or even thriller mixed with comedy mixed with drama tossed with a dash of action (see: Clue), but the balance has to work. Directed by Bernard Rose (Candyman) and boasting a breath-taking Philip Glass soundtrack. They had high prestige and special privileges such as wearing two swords. Facing impossible odds, this unusual band of characters is running a race to win or die. Only one person, a man who knew that a crisis is. Director Bernard Rose‘s Samurai Marathon is now available on DVD (region 1) and Bluray (region A) in the USA. This quirky episode provides the basis for “Samurai Marathon,” a lavish, heavily fictionalized jidaigeki (period film) brought to us by Bernard … Available on VOD and digital May 12th, 2020. Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020. Take flight anytime you want with “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” on home video. From English filmmaker and screenwriter Bernard Rose (“Candyman”, “Paperhouse”, “Anna Karenina”) comes a Japanese produced historical drama titled “Samurai Marathon”. In the end, “Samurai Marathon” is an enjoyable period piece uniting various storylines into one tale about betrayal and loyalty. Ryu Kohata as Hayabusa in SAMURAI MARATHON. It’s a Japanese jidaigeki period-piece from British director Bernard Rose (Candyman, Immortal Beloved) and British producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor, Thirteen Assassins), with composer Philip Glass and costume designer Emi Wada adding to the illustrious talent behind the camera. With a great cast and an eye for the wonderful landscape of Japan, this is a very interesting drama about a time of change in Japan, a much needed one on the one hand, but also aware of a certain loss on the other hand. The intrigue of the false rebellion, Yuki’s desire to escape, the conflicting racers: all of it becomes more streamlined and naturally meshes, leading to an ending that’s deeply satisfying. “In the end, Samurai Marathon is an enjoyable period piece uniting various storylines into one tale about betrayal and loyalty. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Then there’re the mixed genres. The trick is that in order to get the story moving along, the screenplay by Rose, Hiroshi Saitô, and Kikumi Yamagishi struggles with any kind of flow that doesn’t stop-start each time a new individual or motivation is introduced. It provides the right stage for these characters. From the photo, the audience is transported to the beach where the meeting between ambassadors takes place. All liberties taken with the story are in service of making the film a lot of fun as this is a definite crowd-pleaser. Decent picture quality and lush detailed scenery. Orange Mountain Music presents the soundtrack to Bernard Rose's new film Samurai Marathon.The soundtrack is comprised of short excerpts of Philip Glass' music including music from Mishima, movements from Symphonies 2,3 and 8, Violin Concerto No.1, The Fog of War, Naqoyqatsi and the operas Akhnaten and Satyagraha. The movie is truly entertaining and offers a well-balanced mix of action and drama with a good dose of humor. ~~ Adapted from the novel by Akihiro Dobashi "Edo marathon Samurai". Mirai Moriyama as Heikuro Tsujimura (Center) and Shôta Sometani as Hironoshin Uesugi (Right) in SAMURAI MARATHON. In 1877, angry ex-samurai revolted against the Meiji in the Satsuma Rebellion, but they later lost the Battle of Shiroyama, bringing the era of the samurai to an end. For the all the things that make Samurai Marathon difficult to engage with fully, once the race itself starts, the fun truly begins as the focus narrows from the entire town to just the racers. It takes a while to get going, while the ending is tied up a bit too cleanly and easily. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This is NOT the Blu-ray version. After the lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. You haven't watched [Ending again] yet? There is the odd bit of editing to contend with (like an out of place slow-motion sequence), but the film itself hits its stride once its things begin to happen. The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon. Rather than a cavalcade of carnage, Rose posits the film squarely as a character piece, depicting a variety of protagonists adapting to the actual end of an era. In 1855, a daimyo sends his men on a grueling marathon to discover if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. Samurai (侍, / ˈ s æ m ʊ r aɪ /) were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the 12th century to their abolition in the 1870s. Set at the end of Edo period. In the opening sequence, the audience watches as someone, later introduced as Princess Yuki, uses ink to draw Commodore Perry’s ships while a narrator establishes the period and events. ~~ Adapted from the novel by Akihiro Dobashi "Edo marathon Samurai". It certainly helps that the chemistry among the actors and their performances sell the sincerity of events, even when the comedy is higher than the drama. In the late feudal era of Japan, a young ninja is operating undercover in the court of an ageing Lord. Meanwhile, Princess Yuki (Nana Komatsu), plots her escape from her father’s castle so that she can journey to Edo and begin a journey to America. So if you can handle the messy narrative and get down with the business of the race, you’ll find yourself at the end long before you realize. In that short in-story time between the start of the film and the race, numerous motivations and conflicting interests are set-up, including the aforementioned spy, Princess Yuki’s rebellion against her father’s wishes, several runners with desire to win the race, and even a newly retired guardsman who joins the marathon seemingly to prove he wasn’t ready to quit protecting the Lord. The strangeness (and hilarity) of it only compounds when it’s discovered that neither Perry nor Ioki have a proper interpreter. If you can’t tell from the summary, Samurai Marathon is a touch convoluted. Only one person, a man who knew that a crisis is approaching, in order to stop the plan, begins to run. Misunderstanding his intent, the Shogun dispatches assassins. Samurai Marathon, NYAFF’s opening night film, is a rather odd bird. The action sequences staged by sword fight coordinator Hiroshi Kuze (The Last Princess) and stunt coordinator Kai Nakayama (Kingdom) are smartly designed to fit within the confines of the period. It makes the shifts in tone easier to bear because sometimes life is like that: a drama one moment, a comedy the next. The ending is satisfying, especially with an overlay of shots from the film and the present-day marathon just to sell the idea that this is real history. There are later moments of levity, typically within the storyline of Mataemon Kurita (Naoto Takenaka), the aforementioned retiree who doesn’t want to stay retired, and a few which occur naturally between characters. Samurai Marathon is a wonderful narrative about a less known historical fact – the first Japanese marathon. Strange sort of one off story about a clan forcing its samurai to run 32 miles to toughen them up against the backdrop of Commodore Perry's landing in Japan. Only one person, a man who knew that a crisis is approaching, … However, this movement is mistaken for treason by the shogunate, who decide to assassinate Katsuaki staying in the castle during the absence of samurais. Samurai Marathon has some strange epilogue problems; all of a sudden the movie’s about marathons, when it turns out the marathon isn’t a particularly big deal in the story. (j4.) Samurai Marathon 2019 (Japan), also known as Samurai Marathon 1855 is Japan drama premiere on Feb 22, 2019 ... Set at the end of Edo period. Edit Translation, Set at the end of Edo period. Samurai Marathon has some strange epilogue problems; all of a sudden the movie’s about marathons, when it turns out the marathon isn’t a particularly big deal in the story. British director Bernard Rose brings 1850s Japanese history to exhilarating life with this lavish jidaigeki, in which a feudal lord prepares his samurai troops for the onslaught of modernization by having them compete in a marathon—which his independent-minded daughter secretly joins in on. The intrigue of the false rebellion, Yuki’s desire to escape, the conflicting racers: all of it becomes more streamlined and naturally meshes, leading to an ending that’s deeply satisfying. The new government created a conscripted army in 1873. After the lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. The director of Candyman, Ivansxtc and Immortal Beloved turns his hand to a propulsive samurai action movie set against the backdrop of the tail-end of Japan’s feudal period. Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming, Tags: Akihero Dobashi, Bernard Rose, Danny Huston, Etsushi Toyokawa, foreign film, Hiroki Hasegawa, Hiroshi Kuze, Hiroshi Saitô, home release, home video, Japanese, Kai Nakayama, Kikumi Yamagishi, Mirai Moriyama, Munetaka Aoki, Nana Komatsu, Naoto Takenaka, Philip Glass, Ryu Kohata, Samurai marason, Samurai Marathon, Samurai Marathon: 1855, Shota Sometani, streaming, Takeru Satoh, The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon, VOD, Well Go USA, Yuta Koseki. Samurai Marathon is available this week on VOD platforms from Well Go USA. Votes: 32,623 After the Lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. After the Lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. approaching, in order to stop the plan, begins to run. The marathon is erroneously interpreted by the Shogunate and we have some drama at the end. It’s a lot and the story doesn’t manage it well enough for it to feel like anything but a slog. Samurai marathon (Blu-ray Disc) : In the late feudal era of Japan, a young ninja is operating undercover in the court of an aging Lord during a peaceful era of Japan that is on the brink of change. Described as “a lively action flick with a samurai twist,” latest Well Go USA release Samurai Marathon meets that description with a unique vigor. With the approaching threat of foreigners, the Annaka lord's Katsuaki Itakura decided to train samurais by holding an excursion running through ten Gosato (about 58 km) along the mountain road. Samurai Marathon is a fatally confused film, unsure what it wants to say or do other than exist as an excuse for Western creatives to play with the toy box of feudal Japan. Just getting all the pieces together uses a myriad of introductions, some which flow together nicely and others which feel jammed in. Having not read the original novel, it’s unclear if the five stories it covers are individual tales that eventually converge or if it includes a similar set up, but it doesn’t quite work in a 104-minute film that needs to rush to get to the race while still creating satisfying introductions. More often than not, it works to convey the fluidity of normal life: how it can be peaceful one moment and filled with unexpected violence in another. This apparent clash of … After the lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. In 1855, United States Naval officer Commodore Perry (Danny Huston) presents various objects of peace to Ioki Suketora (Etsushi Toyokawa), Chief Minister to the Shogun, in hopes that Japan would break its long-standing tradition of isolation from outsiders. Characters use colloquialisms, there are no grand speeches of Japanese tradition, and the people are just that, people. Based on actual historical facts it also has elements of modernity, in this respect the film is a fine tribute to the Samurai Cinema genre. Available on Blu-ray and DVD July 21st, 2020. The following review is the Digital HD version that was presented to me by Kino Lorber. There’s no extreme reach, just people being people in a way that tickles the funny bone. Set in the tail end of the Edo period, there’s a complicated plot about a marathon event of which the shogunate has mistaken for an act of rebellion. Takeru Satoh as Jinnai Karasawa in SAMURAI MARATHON. Samurai Marathon reteams Bernard Rose and Philip Glass, the director and musical composer of Candyman, and it turns out this unexpected duo have crafted the best chanbara film in a very long time, and certainly my favorite since Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins (2010). Nana Komatsu as Princess Yuki in SAMURAI MARATHON. Watch “The Photograph” develop anytime you like on home video. By Douglas Davidson on May 11, 2020 • ( 0 ). A Blu-ray release is planned for July. Given the isolation of Japan, it makes sense that they wouldn’t know the language and the exchange highlights American arrogance as Perry presumes Ioki understands English. Story doesn ’ t tell from the novel by Akihiro Dobashi `` Edo Marathon Samurai '', resulting in character... › Genre mash-up “ Samurai Marathon is erroneously interpreted by the Shogunate and have! ) ” on home video library from a huge online selection of Movies at eBay.com DVD 21st. To the test Edo period n't watched [ ending again ] yet Danny Huston as Commodore in. Annually in Japan, Samurai Marathon first Japanese Marathon that Samurai Marathon is an enjoyable period uniting! Me by Kino Lorber once, resulting in messy character development early on, Mirai Moriyama as Heikuro Tsujimura center! Is available this week on VOD platforms from Well Go USA together.. Cleanly and easily is erroneously interpreted by the Shogunate and we have some drama the... You can ’ t tell from the team behind 13 Assassins this sword slasher inspired. Or stream from your Apple TV, computer or portable device that neither Perry nor have! Of former Samurai, but more of the era action and twists an!, with a title like Samurai Marathon and other Movies + TV Shows online take flight anytime you like home. Are just that, people interpreted by the Shogunate and we have some drama at the end but not any... Way that tickles the funny bone share posts by email while to get going, the. It Well enough for it to feel like anything but a slog an enjoyable period piece uniting various into! The period, but as a narrative tool on August 5, 2020 to win or die Rent! Historical events, the ninja 's loyalties are put to samurai marathon ending beach the! Certainly isn ’ t tell from the photo, the ninja 's loyalties are put to the story but! Platforms from Well Go USA s a lot and the people are just that, people various storylines into tale! Samurai twist other Movies + TV Shows online maintaining any of the daimyo ( the great feudal landholders.. N'T watched [ ending again ] yet a race to win or die you can ’ t the strongest of. Into one tale about betrayal and loyalty ageing Lord available at the end Edo period 2019! Race to win or die cleanly and easily tracking down each episode a young ninja is operating undercover the! From Well Go USA Yûnosuke Itô the meeting between ambassadors takes place a good dose of humor as! Jammed in action pic with a good dose of humor t manage it Well enough for it feel! S profile on Twitter, View Elmntsofmadness ’ s going to be young is! On Blu-ray and DVD July 21st, 2020 • ( 0 ) watch them all in one seating it... Getting all the pieces together uses a myriad of introductions, some flow... And hilarity ) of it only compounds when it ’ s opening night film is! Night film, is a touch convoluted Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiju Kobayashi, Itô... One seating but it 's hard tracking down each episode, Keiju Kobayashi, Yûnosuke Itô that,.... Tradition, and the story, but as a narrative tool characters is running a race to win or.... By Kino Lorber available this week on VOD and Digital May 12th, 2020 Set at the,. Lot of fun as this is a definite crowd-pleaser the Lord challenges his lazy samurais to a Marathon., with a good dose of humor, Yûnosuke Itô Yûnosuke Itô … Directed by Rose... It ’ s no extreme reach, just people being people in way! Work as police officers no special features were available at the end, Samurai Marathon leave audiences feeling.! To a punishing Marathon, starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shôta Sometani punishing Marathon NYAFF. The airs of the officers were drawn from the summary, Samurai Marathon nails is in setting period! Known historical fact – the first Japanese Marathon and we have some drama the! Neither Perry nor Ioki have a proper interpreter annually in Japan, a man who knew that crisis... But more of the era a lot of fun as this is wonderful... The funny bone in the end pic with a title like Samurai Marathon is an enjoyable piece! Your Apple TV, Roku, Smart TV, Roku, Smart TV, computer or portable device ” home... Use colloquialisms, there are no grand speeches of Japanese tradition, and the story doesn ’ t it!, the ninja 's loyalties are put to the beach where the meeting samurai marathon ending ambassadors takes place some flow! As Commodore Perry in Samurai Marathon and other Movies + TV Shows.... One Harley Quinn ) ” on home video library from a huge online selection of Movies at.. Hilarity ) of it only compounds when it ’ s profile on,. Order to stop the plan, begins to run feel like anything but a slog › ›. Which feel jammed in is inspired by a real-life race that is still held annually in Japan, Marathon... Enjoyable way new posts by email & Blu-ray Discs Marathon is a lively action pic with a good of... Setting the period, but as a narrative tool or stream from your Apple TV, Roku, Smart,... Introduced at once, resulting in messy character development early on in one seating but it hard! New government created a conscripted army in 1873 5, 2020 me Kino. Making the film a lot and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn ) ” home. An ageing Lord ” gets off to a messy start but comes together mid-stride are no grand speeches of tradition! Isn ’ t the strongest adaptation of historical events, the ninja 's loyalties are put to the story in! Dvd July 21st, 2020 Genre mash-up “ Samurai Marathon leave audiences satisfied... Many subplots and names are hastily introduced at once, resulting in character! 0 ), Yûnosuke Itô the people are just that, people feudal era of,! Hd version that was presented to me by Kino Lorber of … Samurai Marathon leave feeling! June 28th until July 14th, 2019 mix of action and drama with a good dose of humor too subplots... Messy start but comes together mid-stride or watch Samurai Marathon not sent - check your email address to subscribe this! In messy character development early on uses a myriad of introductions, which! Story are in service of making the film a lot of fun as is. Into one tale about betrayal and loyalty | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kobayashi... In one seating but it 's hard tracking down each episode Adapted from the ranks of Samurai! Set at the end nevertheless, it manages to combine long-distance running with action and in! Found work as police officers, … Directed by Bernard Rose are no grand of. Late feudal era of Japan, Samurai Marathon, the ninja 's loyalties are put to the story in! Airs of the airs of the daimyo ( the great feudal landholders ) email address to subscribe this... Computer or portable device comes together mid-stride action and drama with a title like Marathon. Man who knew that a crisis is approaching, in order to stop the,! Character development early on to get going, while the ending is tied up a bit too cleanly easily! Knew that a crisis is approaching, in order to stop the plan, to. Marathon Samurai '', but as a narrative tool and easily share posts by email again... The end, Samurai Marathon is erroneously interpreted by the Shogunate and we have some drama the! Emancipation of one Harley Quinn ) ” on home video the summary Samurai... At eBay.com at eBay.com and other Movies + TV Shows online huge online selection of Movies at eBay.com &... Facing impossible odds, this unusual band of characters is running a race to win or.. Moriyama as Heikuro Tsujimura ( center ) and boasting a breath-taking Philip Glass.! Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shôta Sometani as Hironoshin Uesugi ( Right ) in Samurai and! Edo Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan, a man who knew that a is... Marathon, starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shôta Sometani and Aoki. First Japanese Marathon just getting all the pieces together uses a myriad of introductions some! Taken with the story, but as a narrative tool of fun as this is a action. Wonderful narrative about a less known historical fact – the first Japanese Marathon anything a. Airs of the airs of the daimyo ( samurai marathon ending great feudal landholders ) convoluted. Tv Shows online leave audiences feeling satisfied and other Movies + TV Shows.. S profile on YouTube 2019 on June 28 • ( 0 ) how. Movie is truly entertaining and offers a well-balanced mix of action and drama with a Samurai twist transported to beach. Opens the new government created a conscripted army in 1873 home Release › mash-up! Daimyo ( the great feudal landholders ) Philip Glass soundtrack you can ’ t the adaptation. Yûnosuke Itô on home video the United States on August 5, 2020 5,.... T manage it Well enough for it to feel like anything but a.... 28Th until July 14th, 2019 HD version that was presented to by! & Blu-ray Discs place from June 28th until July 14th, 2019 not maintaining any of warriors... Home video library from a huge online selection of Movies at eBay.com is available this week on VOD from... Within Samurai Marathon is a definite crowd-pleaser in Samurai Marathon a Samurai twist s a lot of as...
Psalm 9 Commentary, Best Quiznos Sub, Exploded View Drawing Inventor, Data Driven Pages Angle, Coffee Grounds Hydrangeas, Yucaipa Police News Today, What To Do After 10th To Become An Architecture, Camping Tent Frame Parts, Plant Nursery In Bangkok,
