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BRAIN DEAD BUT STILL WRITING

THE LAST SAMURAI has an opening scene that seems as if it was written by a seven year old child who has been brain dead for three days, but no one wants to pull the plug. It should have been pulled. The writer must have flash-backs from being whupped on the behind as a boy. It did not do him much good (when, oh when, dear God, will Hollywood quit punishing us for Wounded Knee, as if we of this generation have a collective guilt for it)

If that sounds extreme, it is because I hate stories (films) with an inane opening scene as it spoils or tarnishes the rest of the film for me.

Great photography though. So often you can forget all about the phony parts of a script if the camera work is good, and that's lucky for the financial backers of the film.

The Japanese countryside, buildings, armor and costumes, and battle scenes well make up for silly parts of the story, like the Emperor's lines and actions that seemed implausible to me.

Once they arrive in Japan things change dramatically, thank goodness. If could have begun right there, eliminating the circus in the beginning.
***** *****

CHAP. III - DINNER CONVERSATION WITH A MASS MURDERER.

Scroll down to my Dec. 19th Blog, where you'll find it all in order, Chap. I to Chap. III.

My sincere thanks to Cong. Sam Farr for the inspiration.