MovieChat Forums > Kiru (1968) Discussion > Genta, the vagrant!

Genta, the vagrant!

posted 20 years ago by pogo_sport
23 replies | jump to latest

This is one great samurai movie! Tatsuya Nakadai brought his normal incredible presence to the main character Genta. There is some similarities between this and two other great samurai movies starring another great leading actor... But make no mistake this movie is all original and has some great action! A former samurai now turned vagrant and claiming to be yakuza. A powerful government official, seven samurai with their backs against the wall. And a old temple priest who gambles. This movie has it all. Not as masterful as Yojimbo and Sanjuro (IMHO) but up there!

[–] Sensei_Tohru 20 years ago

Can I just ask how did you get hold of it? - Was it on T.V. or video?

[–] pogo_sport 20 years ago

Sensi_Tohru,

I'm glad you asked. I saw it on the IFC (Independent Film Channel). One great channel. A friend of mine had told me about this movie years ago and I have never been able to find it. So I had increased my Japanese cinema throughout the years and haven't been able to find this movie only hear about it. Then one Saturday morning like two weeks ago, I turn on IFC for there samurai saturday and Kill (Kiru) was on. I always watch IFC Saturday mornings (even though I have most of the old black and white Samurai flicks on dvd or old school vhs depending on the title.)

*A heads up for you, they will be playing Kill again on August 7 according to the IFC website. Hope you get a chance to peep this flick. If you enjoyed the two jewels Yojimbo and Sanjuro, you will no doubt like this movie. Make sure you record it! Good hunting!

[–] freaktrain44 19 years ago

I got lucky, as my local art theatre ran a samurai festival and showed this. Also, Criterion is releasing a DVD this month.

The freak has spoken

[–] MovieBro 18 years ago

I got the Criterion Rebel Samurai set and just finished this awsome movie. It really goes against the common cliches of chambara movies.I mean its like a speggeti western but its a comedy, only its a samurai movie ROFL.The charictors are amazing.You gotta a vagrant that used to be a samurai that just wants to be a vagrant and a farmer that just wants to be a samurai.Also a chamberlaine that just wants to sleep and eat.God this movies awsome.Its like the Monty Python and the Holy Grail of Samurai movies.Great set by Criterion.Awsome four movies.

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

[–] pogo_sport 18 years ago

MovieBro,

How are the prints for the Criterion Rebel Samurai set? The reason I asked is because Criterion has been known to sometimes have some crappy prints for some of their movies. Though I love the movies they have in their selection library some classics weren't given the proper dvd treatment. Would you recommend buying it? Also, I noticed you have a quote from Hard Boiled as your signature. Nice! I always thought it was funny the way Superintendant Pang said that quote to Tequilla. Hard Boiled was another movie Criterion could have done a better job at the print. Chow Yun Fat was great in that flick!

Tequila: I can't afford any of these apartments!
HK Cop: Why not live in a government apartment?
Tequila: No way, I make too much for that! Wait... jazz bar! I'll live in the jazz bar!
HK Cop: At least you'll get a lot of "sax".

[–] MovieBro 18 years ago

Pogo Sport,

The prints seem to be in great condition.Nice and crisp,most of there dvd's I have gotten seem to be in good condition.Not many extras but on a couple of the disks they talk to the directors.Which is pretty educational and entertaining.I bought them without even seein em before.Love em.Did Same thing with Sword of Doom and now its one of my favorite movies of all time. Ya I love Hard Boiled,even got the Criterion DVD.The condition is so so but its the only really good version of it on region 1.Plus it has tons of Woo extras.It is probubly my favorite action film of all time.Saw part of it on tv and just about #hit myself.Killer movie!!Tequila is one bad mofo detective!!Unreal Woo cinematography too.

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

[–] pogo_sport 18 years ago

Cool. Good looking on the info MovieBro! Sword of Doom is one great movie. "Evil mind, evil sword." By the way what did you think of Samurai Rebellion, Samurai Spy and Sword of the Beast? I really enjoyed Samurai Rebellion and Samurai Spy was okay. Haven't seen Sword of the Beast yet.

[–] MovieBro 18 years ago

Out of the whole set,Samurai Rebellion was probubly my favorite.It has a awsome plot and the ending is simply amazing.Also Mifune has such a presence in that film as I have not seen from him before.Plus it has some great Quotes and so does Samurai Spy.I liked Samurai Spy alot too although, the plot is pretty complicated and its hard to figure out whats going on.But it is all made clear in the end.Plus it has some awsome ninja stuff.Which you dont see to much of .Atleast good ones.

Sword of the Beast was my least favorite of the four.The dialogue bored me,although the charictors are pretty interesting.But overall the other movies seemed to have a more interesting plot and better sword duels.But all in all it is a fantastic set.

Have you ever seen Harakiri? I have never seen it and am thinkin about getting it.Sounds like its another Chambara classic.

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

[–] pogo_sport 18 years ago

You've never seen Seppuku (Harakiri)? Shame on you man. Seppuku/Harakiri is without doubt one of the best samurai movies ever made. Definitely one of if not Tatsuya Nadakai's best performances and movies. I read this book on the history of samurai movies and it said that all the fights in Harakiri were filmed using real swords. Great story, great characters, great movie. To be perfectly honest this is one of the only movies that I would tell someone to just go buy it. Don't ask to see if you can rent it or someone you know has it, just buy it. It's that damn good.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mac_alain 18 years ago

Seppuku/Harakiri is without doubt one of the best samurai movies ever made.

Not just Samurai movies IMHO. The structure of telling the story (moral of the story) is breath taking. And Tatsuya Nadakai, as the saying goes, is something else.

After Mizoguchi's "The 47 Ronin" http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Reviews/47_ronin.htm it is No. 2 on my all time great list, for whatever it's worth having such a list.

[–] RatedSophisticated 18 years ago

This movie is the best Samurai film, I've seen yet!!

[–] pogo_sport 18 years ago

And we can't forget the wonderful music by Sato Masaru! This man has done some of the best music for some incredible movies not just samurai flicks but Japanese movies period. I love this damn movie.

"I'm Genta. No introduction."

[–] RatedSophisticated 18 years ago

I love the theme song of this movie.

[–] mac_alain 18 years ago

This movie is the best Samurai film, I've seen yet!!

Do you mean, "Kiru"? Hmmmm... In that case, time to watch some more/others.

[–] RatedSophisticated 18 years ago

Who are you talking to? its posted on this board, aint it then thats what I mean.

[–] mac_alain 18 years ago

Who are you talking to? its posted on this board, aint it then thats what I mean.

I was talking to you as it was you who posted your comment *right after mine* about Seppuku. Never mind...

[–] RatedSophisticated 18 years ago

Oh, sorry, its cool, Brother, say I'll have to check out the Seppuku.

[–] mac_alain 18 years ago

Yes, you do

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056058/

[–] RatedSophisticated 18 years ago

Lol You know where I can find it?

[–] mac_alain 18 years ago

It's out on Criterion and there is also a not so good transfer available here http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002834783/code-j/section-videos/

Go with the Criterion, or else....

[–] RatedSophisticated 18 years ago

Did it say this movie was called Harikiri?

[–] mac_alain 18 years ago

Yes, it does. If the link does not work, just do a search on the yesasia.com site.