Yojimbo/The Bodyguard

     This review is a bit different from what I normally write; however, I was not able to see the entire film, and was stuck up to the ending point you will get to. Hopefully I will be able to see it over the summer and will be able to post a 'Part two' review of it. Much of this review may seem like the retelling of the story but, I had been typing while watching, hence the reason for the different writing style. Enjoy! :-D


     The samurai picked up a stick and threw it in the air. It pointed in on direction of the road and he walked around the stick, as if the stick was leading him to his destiny. He then comes across a father and son fighting at their house. It is unfourunate though, that when he is allowed a drink of water, the father, who has just unfortunately lost his son thinks of him as a beggar or stealer. Shots of people looking out their windows at him gives the impression of fear. Then, a dog walks down the road with a hand in his mouth and a happy beat is sounded, because the dog has something to eat. However, it is not so happy for the person whose hand it is. It is quite unfortunate. The same music is played when a man quickly comes out and approaches him and offers him a deal, and is excited. The samurai is still just somber in his stance. The man thinks he is scared but he is just hungry. Unsi-Tori is a wild pig according to his name and Sukasa bangs his prayer drum all day in hope that Unsi-Tora, Unsi-Tori's brother, the good guy,will win. The humour in this movie, even though only 15 minutes into it, is already picking up, and very dark. It is very catchy and interesting.


     The shot of the samurai walking down the middle of the town is similar to that of western films, as with the music playing with the shot. For whatever reason, he keeps his arms folded in his jacket constantly. It is also funny that they show him their tattoos, when they want to fight him because he ends up killing him, cutting off the body parts that have the tattoos on it. He then tells the copper of the need for more coffins, and the music is played again. The lighting in this movie is hard to differentiate because most of the shots are lit throughout the scene. It is odd, though that when the men sit, or stand a certain way, their undershorts show.


     With the samurai's host being as greedy as he can be, they try to fight Ushi-Tori's men, He ends up turning them down and climbing a ladder to watch the fight for amusement. Which is amusing to me. The fact that both sides go towards each other than back off one by one is also adding to the humour. The shot from the ground of the samurai sitting on the tower and the two sides just feet away from each other, swords pointed/aimed, is my favourite. They must then act as if nothing happened because of an official inspection. S, they all pretend to get along fine. It is quite hilarious.


     Now, we can finally see some different lighting, focused on the actors, since there are only two in the shot. You can see the light shining off of the old man's forehead, highlighting his wrinkles, aging him more. In reality, it doesn't seem as if he would be that old, though. Here now, the same music as from before when the dog had the hand is being replayed, while they observe another's actions towards one of higher ranking, as if the music is acting as our insight to their minds and their amusement.


     Hopefully I can see the rest, as I said before. Keep an eye out for a part two review from me on this film. So, until next time--