knowing Shinoda, i shouldn't have expected this to be a typical samurai film.

this film not only has a very different approach to action compared to its contemporaries, but same goes for the story telling. i've watched samurai films with stories that revolve entirely around political conflict, i've watched samurai films that were probably more complicated than they should've been, i've watched samurai films without heavy emphasis on violence. but this film still manages to stand out.

but that being said, i wish i got more out of it. i just couldn't connect with it the way i wanted to.

knowing Shinoda, i shouldn't have expected this to be a typical samurai film.

this film not only has a very different approach to action compared to its contemporaries, but same goes for the story telling. i've watched samurai films with stories that revolve entirely around political conflict, i've watched samurai films that were probably more complicated than they should've been, i've watched samurai films without heavy emphasis on violence. but this film still manages to stand out.

but that being said, i wish i got more out of it. i just couldn't connect with it the way i wanted to.

Confusing as fuck plotline
Actually felt like they didn’t even want me to follow the story at all
I’m pretty sure there was one and I picked up on enough so that the next scene didn’t always feel like a struggle 
That said 
Surely it just did not need to be like this at all 
Same with Assassination 
Just chill out 
Also the combat and choreography was dookie 
It was real bad 
And I’m pretty sure I was following well enough to pick up that it wasn’t that great of a story anyway
Okay well wow
A lot of negatives 
What could possibly save this film ??

Duuuude
This is my favourite looking jidai-geki I think I’ve ever seen 
Like what the hell 
If you muted it and forgot how to read English I wouldn’t blame you for thinking this is one of the best films ever made sort of type thing 
Yeah it has its wavers and genre-appealing shots that don’t feel so groundbreaking 
But this moves so so in tune with what I’ve wanted to see from these chanbara films for so long 
It is kinetic but not afraid to sit still and observe 
And that lighting is on CRACK 
It gleams and sears through the screen and brings out some of the most visually stunning shapes that a monkey brain could ever hope to see 
Actually amazing
And just ahead of its time in general
So many ambitious shots that feel so out of place in a much older film, but weave in so well bc they are what the rhythm demands 
It’s just managing to match that far earlier in the timeline of film than I thought it could 
I found it very impressive 
Also just nice to see something that appeals to my personal tastes enacted like this 
I can’t say I’m sure everyone would agree with me when I say it’s the best looking thing ever 
But
I really found it to be 
And to be honest that does a lot of the heavy lifting 
It teaches you things about characters and plot and vibe that the writing just isn’t managing to do 
So it’s a bit of a god sent 
Same with Assassination how it seamlessly sprinkles in something quite groundbreaking and fresh and experimental in some lobotomised plot line 
So cool defo watching more from this guy

Overall, not a waste of time but definitely dumb and silly in a lot of places 
Just thankful any disappointment is more than made up for with the aesthetics of the dam thing 
I only worry I won’t ever find one to possess this beauty and magnificence as well as an incredible plot line or deeply compelling and/ or distressing huge epic amazing moment or something 
Is that too much to ask ?
If it’s out there, it’s out there and there’s only a finite number of places it could be so I’ll hound it down
If it’s out there that is

Confusing as fuck plotline
Actually felt like they didn’t even want me to follow the story at all
I’m pretty sure there was one and I picked up on enough so that the next scene didn’t always feel like a struggle 
That said 
Surely it just did not need to be like this at all 
Same with Assassination 
Just chill out 
Also the combat and choreography was dookie 
It was real bad 
And I’m pretty sure I was following well enough to pick up that it wasn’t that great of a story anyway
Okay well wow
A lot of negatives 
What could possibly save this film ??

Duuuude
This is my favourite looking jidai-geki I think I’ve ever seen 
Like what the hell 
If you muted it and forgot how to read English I wouldn’t blame you for thinking this is one of the best films ever made sort of type thing 
Yeah it has its wavers and genre-appealing shots that don’t feel so groundbreaking 
But this moves so so in tune with what I’ve wanted to see from these chanbara films for so long 
It is kinetic but not afraid to sit still and observe 
And that lighting is on CRACK 
It gleams and sears through the screen and brings out some of the most visually stunning shapes that a monkey brain could ever hope to see 
Actually amazing
And just ahead of its time in general
So many ambitious shots that feel so out of place in a much older film, but weave in so well bc they are what the rhythm demands 
It’s just managing to match that far earlier in the timeline of film than I thought it could 
I found it very impressive 
Also just nice to see something that appeals to my personal tastes enacted like this 
I can’t say I’m sure everyone would agree with me when I say it’s the best looking thing ever 
But
I really found it to be 
And to be honest that does a lot of the heavy lifting 
It teaches you things about characters and plot and vibe that the writing just isn’t managing to do 
So it’s a bit of a god sent 
Same with Assassination how it seamlessly sprinkles in something quite groundbreaking and fresh and experimental in some lobotomised plot line 
So cool defo watching more from this guy

Overall, not a waste of time but definitely dumb and silly in a lot of places 
Just thankful any disappointment is more than made up for with the aesthetics of the dam thing 
I only worry I won’t ever find one to possess this beauty and magnificence as well as an incredible plot line or deeply compelling and/ or distressing huge epic amazing moment or something 
Is that too much to ask ?
If it’s out there, it’s out there and there’s only a finite number of places it could be so I’ll hound it down
If it’s out there that is