MovieChat Forums > Kiru (1968) Discussion > Why is this a comedy?

Why is this a comedy?

posted 18 years ago by HoppingBunny
20 replies | jump to latest

Why is this movie a comedy? I see some funny bits and odd characters, but I can't think of any reason why this is a comedy. In any case, I hated all things about Samurai and its culture. I hate the silly honor system that gets twisted as time passed. And I have never understood why so many veteran American directors like these old japanese movies. I have been fortunate enough to watch some of these 50s and 60s movies and I am impressed. I can see why people were so impressed with these old japanese movies. They are innovating and awe-inspiring in many many levels. I highly recommend Kill, Samurai rebellion, Sword of the beast, and sword of doom. These films are fantastic. I still haven't watched really good colored version of Samurai movies (musashi sucked big time and all Akira Kurosawa's films were okay, but nothing to write home about). Twlight Samurai was good and Zaitochi series have been terrible. Any way, I recommend these B&W version of 60s Samurai movies.

My life isn't any better than yours.

[–] MovieBro 18 years ago

It is a comedy simply because all the charictors mock the ideals of most samurai movies and charictors.They act over the top.

Give a guy a gun, he thinks he's Superman. Give him two and he thinks he's God.

[–] jbeth18 18 years ago

you
are
immature

[–] jyasutein 18 years ago

"Akira Kurosawa's films were okay, but nothing to write home about"

BWAHAHAHA

yeaaaah NO

[–] imwithstupid_35 18 years ago

I cannot think of anything more badass than a samurai.

my ymdb site

http://www.ymdb.com/mehsuggeth/l35858_ukuk.html

[–] Blam_Mel 18 years ago

Most of the humor is subtle, and would probably be above you if you're not well versed in sphegetti westerns and samurai films. It's a funny movie but it also works as an action film. It's just a fun movie.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] FZ-FX 18 years ago

If you don't understand why this is a comedy then it's pointless to try to explain it to you. Love the pointless jab at Kurosawa without anything intellegent to back up your opinion.

[–] farzhan 17 years ago

I love many of the old Japanese films, especially those by Kurosawa. Japan has been a very "civilized" orderly culture (though violent as well) for so long I find it fascinating. That is one of the reasons why they were so quick to adopt the western style after wwII. They had a solid foundation of order in their civilization and when the Americans came in with their outline for democracy and capitalism they were able to transition and maintain their national identity at the same time, though it maybe would not have seemed so at the time to traditionalist Japanese. The same can be said of Germany though their culture is not so deeply rooted as Japan. Now Iraq... that's different.

[–] Hraybabegurltastic1 17 years ago

Yeah - Kurosawa's a piker...

Moron.

[–] Trouter2000 17 years ago

Kurosawa's films surpass anything coming out of Japan before or since. His B&W films of the 40s, 50s and 60s, up to his color films of the 80s and 90s.
His talent shines best with samurai, but he is talented with almost any film.

[–] dude_guy99 17 years ago

what the hell?!?!?!
Musashi SUCKED?!?!?!?!
INSANITY! BLASPHEMY!
the whole Samurai Trilogy was amazing!
and Kurosawa is someone to write across the UNIVERSE for!

you got about 1 f uckin second to live buddy- Frank Booth,Blue Velvet

[–] legio-yow 16 years ago

I'll give an answer: The movie is, largely, a subtle parody of Samurai movies. However, Okamoto wasn't content to leave it at that, so he embedded this parody into a legitimately good jedai-geki. That way, it works both as a winking parody and as a good action movie.

Really, Tatsuya Nakadai's character embodies this. Half the time he is being a smart ass, the other half he is being mournful.

[–] blue2gnt 16 years ago

Both Genta and Tabata are absolutely hilarious throughout most of the film, Tabata particularly.

Some noteworthy "punchlines": (may contain spoilers)

1) when Tabata goes to the brothel and finally has time alone with the girl, and he starts tossing her into the air.

2) Prior to that, he picks up one of the wooden supports to the building in a show of his strength that is ridiculously over the top (not to mention after he's done his business with the girl, he can no longer lift it).

3) When Genta 'accidentally' helps Tabata kill his first man...and how nonchalant he is about the whole thing.

4) That little leap into the air that Tabata does in the final battle when he starts going wild on everyone with the sword. That one really got me.

5) Tabata attempting to sneak up on and subsequently kill the chicken at the beginning because he's so hungry...and the look he gives the bird when he first sees it.

If you don't find these things funny, you won't see why this is such a great comedic samurai film.

[–] jigrig 16 years ago

Dont forget, the bird is still alive & the last thing You see at the end.
In responce to Kurosawa being nothing to write home about, who would you write home about?
Tarrintino? a *beep* hack!
Spielberg? Please!
Lucas? see above.
M. Night Shamalangadingdong? Watch HULK SMASH his The Happening this weekend & we all know that isnt going to be listed in the top 100 films of all time!
Kurosawa is easily in the top 4 directors of all time in my book along with Hitchcock & Leone, after that there are about 7 more who could be mentioned.
You however are entitled to Your own opinion & in the end thats all that matters.
Just another rant.
Have a great night, it's hotter than hell here in Jersey right know so I had to let off steam.
Feel free to comment with NJ jokes.

[–] dark_frances 14 years ago

he picks up one of the wooden supports to the building in a show of his strength that is ridiculously over the top

...Which is followed by him looking happily at the people around him, asking "any objections?", and dashing for the girl. I actually LOLed thoroughly at that.

and how nonchalant he is about the whole thing

...Followed by Genta trying as hard as he could to lift Tabata's backpack while saying "I wish [tries to lift it, turns head towards backpack in surprise] the worm [tries to lift it] had lived a little longer [lifts it a little and slowly falls on his side]". Actually come to think of it, was *this* a hint to Hidden Fortress, I think there's a scene there about a heavy backpack and how the peasants couldn't lift it, but Toshiro could?...

Yeah, I see now, I must have taken the film a bit too seriously on this first viewing. Of course I caught the funny little things, but I didn't realise that the WHOLE movie was made in good fun, which is why the slight issues of the plot don't matter THAT much (such as what exactly was Ayuzawa's complete plan and to whom had the lord given the order to "retire" the Chief Vassal, why Genta doesn't explain Jurota and his ronin party that the whole thing was a set-up, why Shimada lets the 5 remaining samurai go in the end and so on).

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http://tinyurl.com/Tribu-de-Dana

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hbadra2885 15 years ago

Tatsuya Nakadai's face acting....nuff said. If that didn't make you laugh enough then I don't know what would. Maybe the next installment of the Scary Movie franchise.

*ROFLMAO* at "Akira Kurosawa's films were okay, but nothing to write home about".