Honor Above All Things

[skreidle]

Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. Thought-provoking. Moving. Fascinating. Amusing. Impressive. Riveting. Brilliant.

The Last Samurai.

Don't be surprised if you question your own values by the end, and be surprised if you -don't- question historical American values. I walked to my car troubled by the utter lack of honor in far too much of American history..


If you're in the NoVA area, go see it at the University Mall Theater before they drop it.

There are a few more things I could talk about, but they can wait.

Comments

[yoopie.livejournal.com]

So, this movie was really that good?
I will add this to my NetFlix queue and get back to ya on it. =)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

I'd buy it, and I'd definitely recommend renting it--or if you're in the NoVA area, see it at the University Mall theater. :)

[dotgirl.livejournal.com]

I had a thought similar to that this weekend, although it was prompted by something entirely different. (A discussion of the way in which Ben Franklin screwed Nikolai Tesla, and how Edison was a patent thief prompted it.)

But everyone talks about how America used to be so honourable and ethical .. I just can't buy that. It's just that America writes the history books that Americans read, you know?

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Didn't help that I saw Hidalgo recently, showing another senseless slaughter of "Red Indians"..

Who says America was honorable/ethical?

[weeping-angel.livejournal.com]

well worth the effort of seeing the movie. It's been put on my "buy" list.

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

I'll second that--and it's not many movies that make it onto that list for me.

[idoru.livejournal.com]

.. though matt did point out to me that 'lack of honor' is prevalent in the history of ALL cultures, including japanese. don't get so caught up in the movie's values that you forget that.

[i still need to see it. chris loved it.]

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Sad but true. However, I don't believe there's an society analogous to the Samurai in the US, on such a broad (chronological and geographical) scale..

[weeping-angel.livejournal.com]

There isn't. They were a particular legal class in Japan that ended in the 1700's (IIRC).

The closest you could say in western culture to a samurai (or the Bushido code) is (the code of) chivalry. (and even that might be a bit of a stretch)

and even then - there are many diffrences.

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was thinking more along ideological/philosophical lines than legal.

Chivalry seems in its original form--medieval knighthood--seems to bear the closest resemblance to the Samurai, as far as valor/skill/honor/service to a lord/bravery/courtesy are concerned, though they differ on behavior towards women--and drastically differ in reaction to shame or defeat in battle.

[moosegrl42.livejournal.com]

the samurai were far more concerned with perfection of their fighting form than were the midieval knights

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

The knights had much more impenetrable armor, and thus probably felt that they could be lax in their offense and just carry heavier weapons. (Hell, a knight who fell from his horse was often as good as dead if he didn't have help to stand up again.)

[weeping-angel.livejournal.com]

next time you are home remind me.

[shogunmouse.livejournal.com]

yes. i loved that movie.

[elf.livejournal.com]

Dances with Wolves! In Japan!

[idoru.livejournal.com]

.:snrk
at least it was not kevin costner!

[elf.livejournal.com]

but kevin costner has such a great english accent?

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Certainly!

..from time to time. Minute to minute, even. ;)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

And no Tom Cruise ass!

[elf.livejournal.com]

Well, they didn't want anyone to confuse it with Eyes Wide Shut.

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Man, what a piece of Kubrick.

Shameless Plug

[fuzzyamy.livejournal.com]

Did we ever see his exposed rear in that film? I only recall a stunning Nicole Kidman, accompanied by a stunning lack of eroticism between the two of them.

Give me Tom Cruise in Risky Business over any other role he's ever done. I don't believe Cruise has ever quite outgrown the overly cocky 17-year old persona in him. As for the film I'll throw praise at, I don't think I know any other movie that quite captures the sensation that some may feel during a critical period in high school -- every day you feel the pressure of 'one false move, and my entire future will be ruined'.

Plus, that train scene is *really* hot.

Ahem.

"I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp!"

Re: Shameless Plug

[weeping-angel.livejournal.com]

no tom rear in eyes wide shut - but I agree a stunning Nicole. I was amazed that the lack of chemistry or eroticism between them. 2 pretty people and not a damn thing going on.

how sad.

in other news,

I had forgotten about the train scene.

Ahem.

;]

Re: Shameless Plug

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Don't think I've seen it, suppose I'll add it to The List. :)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Well, yes. Only better. ;D

[hrodvitnir.livejournal.com]

Honor. How odd that a movie about that should surface these days.

Something else to question my values for...oh good. :)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Hidalgo actually touched on that theme, too.

[hrodvitnir.livejournal.com]

I'm going to see this movie.