Samurai

This Saturday marks the first day of "Samurai Season" at Pacific Cinematheque (1131 Howe Street), a mini samurai film festival with all the classics.

When I was busy partying my ass off in university, the only thing that would make me feel better on a sketchy, hungover day was a good samurai film. Or a bad one, really. Some of the worst ones are really the best when it comes right down to it. So as soon as I saw the promo for this, I was stoked. Big screen! No head-spinning! I guess the test will be if they now stand up to my ever-critical mind, but they are tired and true classics, and I know Pacific Cinematheque won't disappoint.

The first one (this Saturday at 7:30 PM), is Seven Samurai, Kurosawa's beautiful epic about 7 samurai hired to protect a village. Kurosawa has a reputation for perfection and Pacific Cinematheque nods at this in their write-up: "Seven Samurai was over a year in the making (the original production schedule called for three months), and became the most expensive movie ever made in Japan, nearly bankrupting Toho Studios." However, let me be the first to say that it was well worth it.

The samurai theme continues on until April 17th with "Harakiri", "Throne of Blood", "The Hidden Fortress", "Samurai Saga", "Yojimbo", "Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman x 3" with "New Tale of Zatoichi", and "Zatoichi on the Road". Check out the site for film specs and plots. Phew! That's going to be great.

You can buy tickets online. $8.50 for a single bill and $10.50 for a double bill.