23 days before Christmas.
Today I am…
… thankful for the tingly sensation of an early December morning.
… wishful that we can attend the Peyups party this coming weekend.
Tonight is again, work night. Just taking a mini-break from the pencil-pushin’. While I’m at it, here’s my wishful movie thought for today:
| The Last Samurai. I hope this movie turns out good. Wonder when it’ll show here in Manila? It shows on the 5th in the States. I am very fond of these sort of period movies. (Mind you, Titanic should’ve stayed on my list if not for the teenybopper-hysteria that followed. I’m quite sure Leo isn’t very fond of that either.) Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Woodrow Algren (Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor, Meiji, as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor’s new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from their leader, Katsumoto, which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on. — (Filmography from www.yahoo.com) |
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To continue my raving, I listed below the movies of this genre that I favor. I wrote a little about what the story is about, and why I listed the film. Forgive me if there are incorrect information, it’s all impromptu. If you’re reading this, maybe you can get some little ideas to watch any of the films here if you think you’ll like them too. Or just see it, not necessarily to like it.
1. Michael Collins.(1994) Liam Neeson; Aidan Quinn; Alan Rickman; Richard Harris.
Story about: Michael Collins, a man of Irish history. The politics of early Irish government during what seems to be the civil war in Europe. Collins is part of the reformist group… which leads to a sad end.
Reason: Mostly because I adore the Irishfolk. Sad to think this story was true.
2. Braveheart.(1995) Mel Gibson.
Story about: William Wallace, a man of Scottish folklore. Wallace, as a boy, loses his father in the war against the oppressors of their land. As a young man, he loses the love he found from the same force that continues to kill the freedom and hope of his people. Wallace ignites a flame that spread among his folk, his own force to drive out their oppressors, his enemies. What he starts ran deep through the veins of his people. A hero born and made.
Reason: I shan’t forget the surround sound cinema I watched this movie in. Every flesh-striking wave of an ax was so gruesomely genuine.
3. Rasputin.(1996) Alan Rickman; Ian McKellen.
Story about: Rasputin, a nemesis of the Romanov Russian royalty. He is often referred to in history as the “Mad Monk”. This movie depicts Rasputin as precisely that– a mad monk. Much legend has been told about what happened to Rasputin, although none are confirmed.
Reason: First time I saw
Alan in a movie. And first time I learned to really HATE the character Rasputin. Reading about this utterly evil-minded person just isn’t enough until you see Alan play him.
4. Schindler’s List.(1993) Liam Neeson; Ralph Fiennes; Ben Kingsley.
Story about: World War II Holocaust survivors.
Reason: Chilling movie. Though I may need to rewatch this.
5. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.(1991) Morgan Freeman; Alan Rickman; Kevin Costner, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
Story about: Robin Hood, a legend retold in a very creative screenplay. As he returns from the Crusades, Robin finds his home burned to the ground and his father murdered by the evil Sheriff. The King of England is still not back and the Sheriff is slowly taking over the land. Robin turns out as hero and finds love in a childhood friend.
Reason: Mr. Freeman as a man of Islam is a pleasure to watch. Although the lines seem to have an unnatural flow when the cast try too hard to sound medieval-ish. I let myself be fooled into liking this, although I’m a sucker for medieval times so… can’t help it. Besides, Alan is here again in an effectivelly portrayed villain role as the Sheriff of Nottingham– an ambituous man who wants to have it all. (spoiler) Sean Connery also appears in a cameo role as the King of England at the very end of the movie.
6. Man in the Iron Mask.(1998) Gabriel Byrne; Jeremy Irons.
Story about: The Three Musketeers.
Reason: Delightful movie, though with a sad end to it, it is still adorable to watch over and over.
7. Zorro.(1999) Banderas; Hopkins.
Story about: Zorro. The young and the old.
Reason: Laaaah. Zeta-Jones can sure dance. I’m a lot amused with Banderas’ accent so however mababaw(shallow) this screenplay is, I’d buy it. Heheh, I buy anything, even corny jokes.
8. Dances with Wolves. (1990) Kevin Costner.
Story about: Dances with wolves, a Union Army Civil War officer turned Sioux tribesman-friend.
Reason: I hated “indians & cowboys” story themes as a child. So I learned very little about them. This film opened the doors to understanding. After watching it, I started to read about the Sioux. Even the Apaches. How I wished I had kept the books about them that my uncle left us when we were kids.
9. Legends of the Fall. (1994) Aidan Quinn; Anthony Hopkins; Brad Pitt.
Story about: A family against a WWI backdrop.
Reason: The scenery was magnificent.
10. Mists of Avalon. (2001) Anjelica Houston; Julianna Marguiles.
Story about: An Arthurian legend, retold from a woman’s perspective.
Reason: Arthurian legends are another of my faves. I actually read the book by Marion Bradley(about an inch and a half thick). Refreshing, and different, to read about Arthur from a feminist point of view.
11. The English Patient (1996) Ralph Fiennes.
Story about: Lovers in the backdrop of WWII.
Reason: Nope, I am no war-movie-freak. It was a good movie, and I haven’t re-watched it since 1996.
12. Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella) (2001) Roberto Benigni.
Story about: Victims of the Holocaust. A man’s optimism saves a boy’s life, and memories of his own in the minds of the people most important to him.<
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Reason: I cried a river the first time I watched this film from start to finish. It was incredibly human.