Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic:
Always will be point break. The stunts, the chases the over the top acting.
I was watching Anthony Cumia’s podcast and they were making fun of one of John Wayne’s last movies “Branigan”. Apparently they tried to take a way over the hill John Wayne and make a Charles Bronson type movie.
Wayne made two of those types of films late in his career. McQ and Brannigan. Westerns were dying in the early 70s and the gritty cop movies were popular like Dirty Harry. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Fishpicker:
100% practical effects
Yeah, I'm a fan of old fashioned stunt work too. It's the difference between seeing Michael Jordan dunk on someone and seeing an (almost) lifelike drawing of MJ dunking on someone.
There was a 1970 film called the Adventurers, I believe I was in the Army when I saw it and never saw it again on TV, but it stuck with me. It's a very strange, foreign film about a tyrant and a revolution, I believe a young and good looking at the time Candace Bergen was the only American star. I just never forgot the film since it was so unusual. It's available on youtube for free.
In the mid 80's I was watching the Academy Awards and best foreign film was a Japanese war movie called Ran. I tried to get it at Blockbuster in Savannah, but they didn't have it. I ended up buying the VHS because I was so intrigued. Couldn't understand a word they were saying, but imagine Gladiator with the horses and thousands of soldiers but in Japanese. Every unit has different color flags, a lot fire, lot of blood and a lot of long swords. It you want action, this has it. It was really great and I even loved the soundtrack so much I bought the record.
"Ran" is actually a pretty famous Akira Kurosawa movie. I agree that it's very good. It's actually based on Shakespear's King Lear. If you like that one you might also want to check out Kurosawa's Throne of Blood (1957); it is based on Macbeth.
Also worth a watch: Rashomon, Seven Samurai (remade as The Magnificent Seven), Yojimbo (inspired Fist Full of Dollars) and The Bad Sleep Well.
The Adventurers looks interesting. I've never heard of it before, but I'm always game for a young, hot Candice Bergen.
There are some other familiar names in the cast too: Ernest Borgnine, Olivia de Havilland, and John Ireland. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DeepPurple:
There was a 1970 film called the Adventurers, I believe I was in the Army when I saw it and never saw it again on TV, but it stuck with me. It's a very strange, foreign film about a tyrant and a revolution, I believe a young and good looking at the time Candace Bergen was the only American star. I just never forgot the film since it was so unusual. It's available on youtube for free.
In the mid 80's I was watching the Academy Awards and best foreign film was a Japanese war movie called Ran. I tried to get it at Blockbuster in Savannah, but they didn't have it. I ended up buying the VHS because I was so intrigued. Couldn't understand a word they were saying, but imagine Gladiator with the horses and thousands of soldiers but in Japanese. Every unit has different color flags, a lot fire, lot of blood and a lot of long swords. It you want action, this has it. It was really great and I even loved the soundtrack so much I bought the record.
Ran is a great movie. it has been described as the most beautiful movie ever made. I didn't consider it an action movie, but it does have a great action payoff in the third act. Mennonite has given some great recommendations for you.
there aren't many movies like Ran. but I would recommend you check out Kagemusha. it is done by the same director and it was produced by George Lucas. I love Ran but the story in Kagemusha features historical daimyo/clans. the plot to the story is historically accurate too. Akira Kurosawa treated this as a rehearsal for his masterpiece which is Ran.
there is another movie called Ten to Chi To/Heaven and Earth
this is a samurai battle action movie. the acting is good but not transcendent. it is historically accurate for the most part and it has larger battles than Ran and Kagemusha. the movie focuses on the rivalry between Takeda, the red Demon, and Kenshin, the god of war. Takedas army consisted of expert cavalry specialists while Kenshins army was made up of fanatical Buddhist monks with state-of-the-art matchlock guns and armor. [Reply]
there is another movie called Ten to Chi To/Heaven and Earth
this is a samurai battle action movie. the acting is good but not transcendent. it is historically accurate for the most part and it has larger battles than Ran and Kagemusha. the movie focuses on the rivalry between Takeda, the red Demon, and Kenshin, the god of war. Takedas army consisted of expert cavalry specialists while Kenshins army was made up of fanatical Buddhist monks with state-of-the-art matchlock guns and armor.
This looks interesting. I may have to check it out when I get some free time.
Have you seen Seppuku (1962) by any chance? It's been years but I remember it being pretty good. [Reply]