Wow, Snatch and Ran would make a great movie title, but they’re actually two different movies. The first, Snatch (2000), was made by the up and coming director known as “the guy who married Madonna,” and, let me tell you, the guy who married Madonna knows how to make a fun movie. Lot’s of firearms and lot’s of humor and a wacky cast of characters with cool nicknames (Brick Top, Boris the Blade, Bullet Tooth Tony) makes for a good time had by all. If you’re wondering about the plot, it’s something about a diamond and unlicensed boxing and what not, basically, it’s a bunch of plot lines that run in parallel and then collide. Its story really isn’t that important as this is one of those style over substance movies that I’m not smart enough to see through. Anyway, all the (really) bad people get killed in the end, so it’s a happy movie. 5 stars.
Ran (1985) is a much more serious film directed by a man who never married Madonna, the famed Akira Kurosawa. The plot is based on my favorite Shakespeare play I was forced to read in high school, King Lear, but instead makes all the main characters Samurai. If there was one thing I’ve always said about Shakespeare, it’s that it could be a bit better if there were just some Samurai in it… or some ninjas or a terminator from the future. And, for the most part, I was right. Added to the story of a king trying to retire with dignity and then seeing his kingdom torn apart by his children is some great war scenes with arrows and old style firearms. Two essential samurai things were missing, though: a katana fight and Toshiro Mifune. Also, if Kurosawa was going to change the plot by making it take place in feudal Japan and using sons instead of daughters, he might as well cheered up the ending while he was at it. Tragedies make me sad. 4 stars.
Kim broke a rib laughing (literally) the first time we saw Snatch.
Peoples, if you liked “snatch”, then check out Guy Ritchies first hit “lock, stock and two smoking barrels”. and if that gets you going, another hillarious brit gangster flick is “To love,honour and obey” I don’t know who directed it, but the dialouge is brilliant, apparently, about 2 thirds of the script was ad lib. The big gang gunfight near the end will have you rolling.
Two words…FIX BAYONETS!! lololol
Just to add. If you’re a fan of samurai epics. You may be pleased to hear that they are remaking
“the 7 samurai”. Filming has already begun down here in little ole New Zealand. The only scary part about the remake is that Tom Criuse is starring as the hero (sigh!). Oh well, hopefully that won’t detract from the end result.
My favorite part of Ran is where the psycho-scary Lady Macbeth character whips out a wicked-looking knife and uses it to “persuade” her wavering hubby to carry out the murder. Scared the crap right out of me…she came across as seriously dangerous. That’s some good acting.
Channeling Joe Bob Briggs again, eh Frank?
I second Peter’s comment on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. I think I liked that one even more than Snatch. Hilarious fun. Guy Ritchie also directed on of those BMW films, which stars his famous wife, in one of her better acting jobs. It’s under season one, if you go to the website, it’s called ‘Star’, and it’s pretty funny too.
Remaking. The 7 Samurai. With Tom Cruise.
There is no god. I’m going to shoot myself now.
Okay, I have regained my will to live. It’s not a remake of the Seven Samurai, it’s a movie called The Last Samurai. The plot sounds like a combo of Dances with Wolves (ugh) and Shogun (eh). (Jesus, don’t scare me like that!)
Yeah, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is next on my queue for Netflix.
I also had heard about the Tom Cruise samurai film. American film makers need to get off their asses and start making more samurai movies because all the Japanese seem to make these days are ultra-violent, porn filled cartoons.
Toren,
I liked the part where the she-devil got hers (though too late to save anyone). That was the only real sword use in the film. Incidentally, Kurosawa made Macbeth into a samurai movie called “Throne of Blood” but it’s not on DVD.
Ken,
I used to love Joe Bob Briggs late night movies on TNT; he could make the worst B flick fascinating.
‘The guy who married Madonna’ did his best work with ‘Lock, Stock…’ but then he lost me when he made ‘Swept Away’.. I think his wife stepped on his testicles before filming..
Hopefully he’ll make it up in his next film ‘The Seige of Malta’.. we’ll see.
For all who aren’t in the know, go watch ‘Boondock Saints’. Now. I am done.
Yah, I’m going to say I was pretty darn near dead when you said Tom Cruise in a remake of the Seven Samurai. I heard about this Last Samurai thing, explain this to me: why would you get sword experts who know nothing about japanesse fighting styles? (Mifune would have been rolling around in his grave). Oh, I saw Throne of Blood on DVD the other day. Other great Samurai Movies by Kurosawa: Sanjuro, Yojimbo (remade into “last man standing” with bruce willis), The Hidden Fortress.
Also, pick up the DVD version of the Seven Samurai if you haven’t already – the retranslation is excellent.
What’s so wrong about Tom Cruise??? He’s a good looker, a good guy, and a hell of a good actor! Haven’t you seen Rain Man, born on the fourth of july, A few good men, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, Eyes wide shut or Vanilla Sky? He’s a risky actor, very versatile and can pull off any role if he desired. You don’t know the first god damn thing about acting.. so shutup!
i hate bush what a fuken monkey faced degenerate…u all rag on kerry for lying, but we already know that Bush lie’s so lets give some one else a chance to lie and see who’s the better lier. Maybe Kerry wont get caught in his lie’s.
Ps. VOTE NADER