Holy, Shogun Assassin, Ronin, it's Samurai Swordplay Month-ish at Fully Operational! We're delving into some samurai classics and deep cuts (get it?), starting with the Rza/Wu-Tang Clan approved, Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance. But before we start slicing off legs at the mid-calf, we have to talk about what we watched this week.
Dre continued his spaghetti western pilgrimage with Il Mercenario (or The Mercenary), starring Franco Nero, Tony Musante and Jack Palance as Curly (way before he was Curly in City Slickers), and the samurai-adjacent classic, Ugetsu. (He also officially finished Formula 1: Drive to Survive.)
While, Goodman, on the other hand, continued his Step Up danceathon with Step Up Revolution, a movie that posits, can flash mob protest dancing change the world? And, more importantly, will Moose show up in this one?
Then it's time to sever some limbs with the Shogun's executioner, turned ronin, turned baby cart pusher, Itto Ogami—played with a patient, furious fortitude by Tomisaburō Wakayama. We get into the cast (not much), the quotes (none), the trivia (some) and a whole lot of other stuff (definitely).
Then, join us next week in the weeds (technically miscanthus or Japanese silver grass, known in Japan as susuki), for a hell of a samurai time with Onibaba.
SONG CREDITS:
Theme music: "70s Funk" by Frank Cogliano
Closing music: "This is My Jam" by Will Van De Crommert
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