Akira Kurosawa Marathon
With the release of The Magnificent Seven, we decided to take a look at the man who inspired the classic Western. Akira Kurosawa is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Not only has he inspired The Magnificent Seven, but Star Wars and The Man with No Name trilogy, as well. We decided now would be the perfect time to marathon Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ikiru, High and Low, and Rashomon. We hope you enjoy the marathon. Let's talk about movies!
BRAD'S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: High & Low Gondo's Mansion
Best Character: Seven Kambei Shimada
Best Screen Duo: Seven Kambei Shimada and Shichiroji
Best Villain/Antagonist: High & Low National Shoes
Best Hero/Protagonist: High & Low Kingo Gondo
Best Kill: Yojimbo Sanjuro showcasing his abilities and killing two (maybe three) men
WTF: Ikiru Doctors lying to Kanji about his cancer
Best Score or Soundtrack: Yojimbo Masaru Sato
Best Quote: Seven Kambei Shimada: "This is the nature of war: By protecting others, you save yourselves, If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself."
Best Screenplay: Rash Akira Kurosawa & Shinobu Hashimoto
Best Cinematography: Yojimbo Kazuo Miyagawa & Takao Saito
Best Supporting Actress: Rash Noriko Honma
Best Supporting Actor: Seven Toshiro Mifune
Best Actress: Rash Machiko Kyo
Best Actor: Yojimbo Toshiro Mifune
Best Scene: Seven Kikuyicho climbing to the roof of the villagers hut and planting the 7 flag
Defining Moment: Seven Creating battle plans
Best Director: Seven
Worst Picture: Ikiru
Best Picture: TIE -Seven Samurai & High & Low
Total after deductions:
Seven Samurai: 8
High and Low: 4
Yojimbo: 4
Rashomon: 3
Ikiru: Negative 1
KYLE'S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: High & Low Gondo's Mansion
Best Character: Yojimbo Sanjuro
Best Screen Duo: Ikiru Kanji and Toyo
Best Villain/Antagonist: Ikiru Cancer
Best Hero/Protagonist: Yojimbo Sanjuro
Best Kill: Seven Heihachi death (for bringing out the samurai in Kikuchiyo)
WTF: Yojimbo Drum-playing bad guy
Best Score or Soundtrack: Yojimbo Masaru Sato
Best Quote: Ikiru Novelist: "How tragic that man can never realize how beautiful life is until he is face to face with death."
Best Screenplay: High & Low Akira Kurosawa, Eijiro Hisaita, Ryuzo Kikushima, and Hideo Oguni
Best Cinematography: Yojimbo Kazuo Miyagawa & Takao Saito
Best Supporting Actress: Rash Noriko Honma
Best Supporting Actor: Seven Takashi Shimura
Best Actress: Ikiru Miki Odagiri
Best Actor: Ikiru Takashi Shimura
Best Scene: Yojimbo Watching the two gangs battle
Defining Moment: Yojimbo Arms in hakama, sword by side
Best Director: Seven
Worst Picture: Rash
Best Picture: Yojimbo
Total after deductions:
Seven Samurai: 3
High and Low: 2
Yojimbo: 7
Rashomon: 1
Ikiru: 5
NATHAN'S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: Rash City Gate
Best Character: Yojimbo Sanjuro
Best Screen Duo: Seven Kambei Shimada and Gorobei Katayama
Best Villain/Antagonist: High & Low Ginjiro Takeuchi
Best Hero/Protagonist: Seven Kambei Shimada
Best Kill: Yojimbo Showdown finale
WTF: Ikiru Dancing the Charleston
Best Score or Soundtrack: Yojimbo Masaru Sato
Best Quote: Rash Commoner: "They are common stories these days (horror stories) I even heard that the demon living here in Rashomon fled in fear of the ferocity of man."
Best Screenplay: Ikiru Akira Kurosawa & Shinobu Hashimoto
Best Cinematography: Rash Kazuo Miyagawa
Best Supporting Actress: Ikiru Miki Odagiri
Best Supporting Actor: Seven Toshiro Mifune
Best Actress: Rash Machiko Kyo
Best Actor: Ikiru Takashi Shimura
Best Scene: Ikiru Gondola Death Song
Defining Moment: Yojimbo Unosuke's death
Best Director: Rash
Worst Picture: High & Low
Best Picture: Yojimbo
Total after deductions:
Seven Samurai: 3
High and Low: 0
Yojimbo: 5
Rashomon: 5
Ikiru: 4