Seven Samurai and Ikiru do not benefit any more from a big screen presentation to any other, in my experience, the framing’s beautiful in any size and being blown up does not provide too much more detail you’d miss in smaller sizes.
Ran seems like the best choice of the one’s you’ve watched, since it’s gorgeous widescreen cinematography can be rediscovered.
Of not watched but owned, Hidden Fortress might be fun to compare but isn’t really essential.
I’d watch Throne of Blood, The Lower Depths, Dreams, High & Low, and Kagemusha. Those are the ones I’ve seen that I can tell a big screen presentation would be great, except High & Low, which I actually have seen in big screen presentation and it was great.
Personally, the ones I haven’t seen that I’d check out are Dersu Azala, Dodes’Ka-Den, and Rhapsody in August, Many of the rest I’ve seen or I’d like to see but there’s so much else showing that it falls second tier to more important things (In the Realm of the Senses, you say!)
—PolarisDiB
I’d make sure to at least see:
Ran
Throne of Blood
High & Low
Dersu Uzala
I like Dersu Uzala over any other, impressive on the big screen.
Kagemusha
Dersu Uzala
Throne of Blood
No Regrets for Our Youth- For some reason I thought this was an Ozu film!
Ikiru
Hidden Fortress
Throne of Blood
Stray Dog
High & Low
Kagemusha
Dersu Uzala
Out of the ones you don’t own, I think that Dersu Uzala would be the most appreciated in theaters.
Kagemusha and Dreams are two movies that may not be his greatest—but I think would be the most enhanced by a big screen. Almost all his films color would probably be best seen in a theater. Kurosawa was a gifted painter, and you can certainly see that in his colored films.
Out of the black and white ones you do not own or haven’t seen, I would recommend Throne of Blood and Hidden Fortress. Throne of Blood is by far the better film, but I think that Hidden Fortress would look the best on the big screen, simply because it is a bigger movie, with lots of chases and sword fights and gunfights and stuff. The first scene is my favorite (the first scene in Kagemusha is great too).
If I could see ANY movie on the big screen—and I mean ANY— it would probably be RAN.
Twenty-nine of them? Very cool. Only seventeen of them are playing here, so gotta say I’m more than a little jealous. I just walked in the door from Kagemusha. Wonderful, of course. That makes a baker’s dozen at the film center so far, and I have enjoyed every one of them!
Of them all, I would say Seven Samurai is a must. I have it on DVD and, frankly, the picture is crisper, clearer, and richer than in the theater. I watched the DVD on a Thursday and went to see the film screening that Saturday where it was just, well, better. C’mon, it’s Seven Samurai—gotta do it. (Of what I’ve seen so far, I have five on DVD, which I watched soon before or after the screening. In all cases, the picture quality was better on DVD, but the theater experience was more gratifying.)
Dersu Uzala was magnificent—highly recommended.
I have to wait until next week to see Ran. I watched the DVD a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed. I can only imagine how spectacular and more impressive it will be on the silver screen.
I think color and scale benefit most on the big screen. If I really had to prioritize, after the above three, I would put wide-screen color first, followed by wide-screen black and white, color, and black and white.
I do have a warning though: to see one is to want to see them all. At first I tried to prioritize, thinking I would catch a couple I have on disc and a couple I’ve never seen before. I missed the first one, Drunken Angel, but caught the second in the series, The Hidden Fortress, one I had yet to see. I was hooked! Who knows when an opportunity like this will come again. I just had to see them all after seeing one, so I adjusted my expenses to do so (a film center membership as a birthday gift and double feature discounts has helped greatly). Thus far I’ve made it and I only have three left. My only regret is missing Drunken Angel. (I’ve since caught it on a download, but still…)
Anyway, good luck. Whatever you do see, you will not be disappointed.
Thank you all for the suggestions. I would of course like to see every film but as I don’t drive any more (health reasons) it’s difficult to get around as much as previously. This is in fact the main reason DVDs have become my primary source of visual entertainment.
‘Ran’ is one of the first that came to mind. Its beauty was apparent on DVD, so it’s a must see. ‘Throne of Blood’ and ‘Seven Samurai’ have already played. ‘Seven Samurai’ was actually the first Kurosawa I ever saw, due to its connection to ‘The Magnificent Seven’. I’ve seen it on the big screen as well, but not recently.
‘Dersu Uzala’ has always flown beneath the radar for me. The multiple recommendations here certainly have made me more aware of it.
@ Edward McDonald
Congrats on maximizing the benefits of your membership. You are a lucky guy. Where are you located? I’m in Toronto. Your warning isn’t so much a warning as it is incentive. “To see one is to want to see them all!”
Maverick, I’m in Chicago. My favorite haunt is the Gene Siskel Film Center. I used to live walking distance from it and it was incredibly convenient. I suppose it is still walking distance, but not for these lazy bones, so it’s just a short train ride now. Next month they are showing 8 1/2, which was my introduction to the Criterion Collection, which opened up a whole new world of film to me, so I’m really looking forward to that. Their next big series is QT, comprised of 15 films; his, those that influenced him, and those he influenced. I’m sure I won’t get as obsessive about that as I did Kurosawa, but it made me realize that with the exception of Grindhouse, I haven’t seen any of his films on the big screen, so might have to check out one or two others; probably Pulp Fiction and/or Reservoir Dogs and maybe True Romance. Grindhouse was a treat, and it has never been released on DVD, so I may give that another look-see.
There are a few other movies houses in town too, but they’re not as convenient as the Siskel, and don’t show the sheer quantity of films, so haven’t ventured to them yet. I may soon when Godard’s Breathless plays at one of them. I think that would be great to see on the big screen.
I’ve only lived here a year and a half. Where I was before, the closest venue of anything like this was over fifty miles away, and their selection didn’t hold a candle. I’ve been like a kid in a candy shop!
Yes, do see Dersu Uzala if you can. I’ve put some remarks in the “Last movie you saw and rate it” thread on the last four I’ve been to, if you wanna check ‘em out; they may help you in your decision. They’re very recent, so I think they’re all still on the last page, Dersu included.
Polaris, I disagree: “Seven Samurai” is one I define as a mandatory big screen experience.
I’ve seen a handful of Kurosawa films on the big screen; in fact most of his films I’ve seen have ONLY been viewed by moi on the big screen.
“The Hidden Fortress”…I heard much chattering behind me after this film, courtesy of filmgoers who were trying to match every character in the film with a “Star Wars” counterpart. It works for some characters but not all, and I think these people miss things: opening scene is reminiscent of “Return of the Jedi” and closing scene is very similar to that of the first “Star Wars” film. But it was never going to be so similar to the “Japanese Star Wars” people make it out to be.
Good to see Chicago has a Gene Siskel film centre. Maybe it would be an idea to lobby to have the Alfred Deakin Building’s name (Federation Square, Melbourne) changed to something like the Peter Finch Building.
It should at least be named after someone cinematic. Plus I think we have enough things named after dead prime ministers who lived more than 120 years ago.
Maverick:
Don’t get your hopes up for Michael Powell’s “Age of Consent” with James Mason and Helen Mirren: the latter’s “charms” aren’t really so apparent. And I didn’t find the film exceptional.
I just finished watching Ran again on a big telly, I seriously NEED to see this film on the big screen, it’s probably the most beautiful looking film I have ever seen, absolutely awesome, no other of his films I have seen compare. I agree with Joe and Karen, if I could see any film on the big screen it would be this one, followed closely by Once Upon a Time in The West and Lawrence of Arabia I think
“Once Upon A Time In The West” had a season last year at the Astor and now plays regularly at the cinema. “Lawrence of Arabia” had similar treatment several years ago. I’m very pleased old time theatre houses still operate because they are the antithesis of the silly “postage stamp television screen” culture the Pod People have adopted.
Problem is the only cinema available to me is a shitty mainstream fair one, I cannot see great films on the big screen where I am, begins to cry
@ Mark
Aw, you’re just jealous. ‘Age of Consent’ was filmed off the Great Barrier Reef and nobody introduced you. Mind you, Helen was 23…when? Maybe the name of your theatre should be changed to Dame Mirren’s name (no disrespect to your dead prime minister). Could draw a more attentive crowd.
You feel Ms. Mirren didn’t display enough of her charms? What’s the matter? No imagination? haha! You are right about the movie itself. Not terrible, far from great.
What I enjoyed about The Hidden Fortress was how different it was from Star Wars. I don’t think there’s been much, if anything, written about The Hidden Fortress that doesn’t mention Star Wars since 1977, and I must admit it was that relationship that most compelled me to the theater in the first place.
I enjoyed The Hidden Fortress very much on its own merits. I enjoyed recognizing the elements used in Star Wars, too, but was most glad that they weren’t terribly many, that Star Wars wasn’t merely a retelling of this story in an outer space setting, that once upon a time George Lucas did have imagination. In light of how he shit upon it all with the prequels, it was nice to be reminded of that.
On a side note, with the Quentin Tarantino series coming to town, Once Upon a Time in the West isn’t among them. That’s a bit of a surprise.
E. McD.
There’s a lot of interest on similar topics, so I’m wondering what your thoughts are on Toews. Personally, I would have liked to have seen Seabrook there.
Are you switchin’ gears to hockey?
Thought it would be cute. There’s all kinds of comments on the World Cup throughout MUBI, but there was nary a word about the greatest game in the world IMHO. Could just see some folks scratching their heads, saying “what’s a toews, what’s a seabrook?”
Chicago won this year’s championship. Jonathon Toews was playoff MVP. Brent Seabrook is the other player mentioned.
The other 29 teams combined didn’t get as much bad press as Robert Green has, these last two days.
You crazy Canadians and your hockey! I’m not gonna be much for conversation on this one. I’m a fair weather fan originally from Michigan. That means I tend to not jump on the bandwagon until the Wings make it through the first round of the playoffs.
This oughta really break your heart: I live only four blocks from the United Center. I could tell when the Hawks won when I heard the cheers, cars honking, and fireworks after the games. I can’t imagine what the ’hood would have been like if they had won it all at home. But, the city in general is pretty damn happy they won the Cup, to say the least.
I did go to the ’09 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, Hawks vs. Wings. I wore my Stevie Y. jersey. It was a blast, and very cool that the Wings won.
My only other real hockey experience was a brief conversation with Chris Chelios nearly twenty years ago, you know, back when he was just in his forties. I was visiting Chicago and wanted to drunk dial some friends. This was long before cell phones, so I had to wait for a pay phone. There was a guy already busy drunk dialing someone else. I went to ask him if he was going to be a while. If so, I would find another phone, if not I would just wait. His only response was, “fuck off,” repeated several times. The phone across the alley freed up and I thanked him for his time. He slurred, “fuck off,” again. It was only afterwards that someone told me who he was, and I said, “He sure as fuck ain’t no Bob Probert!” When he was done on the phone he needed help from his friends just to walk across the street. I think that’s the only thing that kept him from pummeling me into the ground.
So, really, that’s all I got on hockey. Sorry to disappoint. You may appreciate this though: the first big concert I ever went to was Rush at Joe Louis arena.
E. McD.
Great anecdote!
My orders have been placed for the following:
Kurosawa
- Rashomon (saw last week)
- Ran
- High & Low
- Dersu Uzala
- Kagemusha
James Mason
- Age of Consent (Michael Powell: saw opening week)
- A Star is Born (George Cukor)
Robin Wood
- Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks)
- Days & Nights in the Forest (Satyajit Ray)
Pasolini
- Mamma Roma
Rohmer
- My Night at Maud’s
- Love in the Afternoon
Julian Schnabel (Introduction)
- Pixote (Hector Babenco)
There are others that will have to wait. Chances are I won’t make it to some of these.
Thank you everyone for your feedback.
That thoroughly rocks! I hope you make them all.
I’ll be wrapping up this weekend with High and Low, I Live in Fear, and Ran. I won’t know what to do without my Saturdays with Kurosawa after that.
Rio Bravo will be rolling through next month. I suppose I should make the effort to see that.
Enjoy!
I’m sorry Mark, I saw Seven Samurai on the big screen once and the only thing that struck me about the experience is how it wasn’t really all that improved, being such a profoundly simply composed 4:3 movie in the first place. All of the information on frame can be seen at any size…
—PolarisDiB
^All the information may be seen, but it’s how it’s felt that makes a difference. Seeing a film in a movie theater brings out that true cinematic experience. I guess more “romantic” may be a way to put it. I watched Seven Samurai, the Criterion re-release, on a 42" plasma. The picture was incredible. Two days later I saw it at the theater, and the picture quality was noticeably inferior. But, still, it was just a better, more gratifying experience, even with the scratches, and flickers, and picture going out of focus on occasion. The dark, cool, voluminous space of a theater, the grand scale of the picture filling your entire field of vision, and sharing the emotions and feedback with strangers there for the same reason as you, all make for a more pleasingly intense viewing experience.
This doesn’t hold true for all films, especially those of a 4:3 ratio, but Seven Samurai is greater than its proportions. It deserves to be seen on the big screen if the opportunity presents itself.
Yojimbo benefited more to silver screen because of its wide aspect ratio. I’m sure I will be blown away when I get to see Ran in the theater next week. I saw Dersu Uzala on the big screen only, and I can’t imagine how much it would suffer to see on a small screen, whether 42" or 4.2" But I think this is an example where heart trumps the mechanical and technical. If someone were to say, “I can see one—and only one—Kurosawa flick on the big screen. What should it be?” I would say Seven Samurai. Just because it’s Seven Samurai.
^On the big screen vs little screen debate – well it’s subjective, I guess, but having just watched Seven Samurai on the big screen after having seen it (several times, with ever increasing pleasure) on a piddly laptop, it affected my viewing experience for the better. And the sounds – god, those horses are loud and scary! The experience of watching it on the big screen is like seeing the Sistine Chapel for real after having seen it only on postcards. The rain is rainier, the mud muddier, Mifune is madder and Shimura even more charismatic. I’m only sorry I didn’t book tickets for all four screenings.
‘I would say Seven Samurai. Just because it’s Seven Samurai.’
Yes, yes, yes.
Saw Howard Hawks’ ‘Rio Bravo’ last evening. It was the opening film in a series of movies touted as “A Tribute to Robin Woods”.
The film was introduced by Piers Handling, TIFF CEO, followed by Robin Woods’ partner of 30 years, Richard Lippe. Mr. Lippe, not a polished speaker, gave a heartfelt synopsis of Mr. Woods’ career, focusing on Robin’s love for films and his expertise in expressing his opinions through the use of the written word.
The film itself was preceded by Leo McCarey’s ‘Wrong Again’ featuring comedians Laurel & Hardy. Apparently Robin Wood appreciated films that showed positive relationships between members of the male gender…buddy films per se.
For me, the time lapse between my first viewing of Rio Bravo and yesterday’s viewing was a good thing. I am of the vintage that was around when Rio Bravo was originally released. With a lineup of John Wayne, Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson the movie smacked of the Hollywood Star system, indicating the other cowboys (the bad guys) had no chance whatsoever. They didn’t of course but the lustre of Hawks’ triumverate has diminished over the years, so one could view them only as the good guys, and not the guys that brought the women into the theatre.
If you folks here don’t know Dean Martin and Rick Nelson, the research will be worth it.
Like many Westerns of the time, there had to be singing cowboys (shades of Gene Autry) and there could not be any confusion over who the good cowboys were and who the bad cowboys were.
Times were simpler.
P.S. Walter Brennan steals the show. There were great lines for everyone. Brennan got the largest share.
MAVERICK
The summer program of our local Cinematheque is mindblowing! A James Mason retrospective (including a film with 23-year-old Dame Helen Mirren displaying her ample charms as an artist’s model), some of the late Robin Wood’s favourites, Pier Paolo Pasolini (including Salo), Catherine Breillat alongside Oshima’s ‘In the Realm of the Senses’ (her favourite film), and a tribute to the late Eric Rohmer.
And some films directed by Akira Kurosawa. Twenty-nine of them. I was going to rent a room across from the theatre for a few months but realized it wasn’t feasible.
So here’s the list of Kurosawa films. What to see? Input is appreciated.
Rashomon – Own on DVD, was present at Cinematheque screening
Seven Samurai – Own
Sanjuro – Own
Ran – Own
Yojimbo – Own
Bad Sleep Well – Own
Ikiru – Own, not watched yet
Hidden Fortress – Own, not watched yet
Throne of Blood
Stray Dog
Drunken Angel
Sanshiro Sugata
The Idiot
The Most Beautiful
No Regrets for our Youth
They who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail
The Lower Depths
Scandal
The Quiet Duel
I Live in Fear
Red Beard
One Wonderful Sunday
Dreams
High & Low
Rhapsody in August
Dodes’Ka-Den
Kagemusha
Dersu Azala
Madadayo