Film Junk Podcast Episode #327: 13 Assassins and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
0:00 – Intro
4:38 – Headlines: Evil Dead Remake Gets a Director
11:50 – Trailer Trash: The Dark Knight Rises, Hugo, Contagion, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, John Carter, The Thing
35:30 – Review: 13 Assassins
58:25 – Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
1:10:15 – Other Stuff We Watched: Mulholland Dr., Insidious, Machine Gun McCain, The Long Riders, Dawn of the Dead, Zazie dans le Metro, Senna, Fake it So Real, Dark Days, Arachnophobia, Reign of Fire, Short Circuit, Cemetery Junction, Retro Game Master
1:47:15 – Junk Mail: Plot Synopsis, Non-Superhero Comics, Frank Oz, David Cronenberg’s Oldboy Remake, Frank Catching Jeter’s 300th Ball, Applause During Movies, Filing DVD Double Packs, Drunk Remix and Advice for Future Selves
2:26:00 – This Week’s DVD Releases
2:37:15 – Outro
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Comments (56)
Awesome, guys – can’t wait to hear what you thought of John Carter trailer.
Also, could one of you guys watch Masters of the Universe and/or Judge Dredd and discuss soon?
N.
Posted by Nick Robertson on July 18th, 2011I have to disagree that HP7 Part 1 was a cash grab. I agree that it has some pacing issues when certain things should’ve been emphasized to a greater point. You can’t condense what happens with them camping in the woods into less than an hour, it would mean nothing. That movie combined with HP7 Part 2 is 4.5 hours which works fairly well.
Posted by LiamH on July 18th, 2011Audition shows a lot of restrain. It is also a great drama.
Posted by antho42 on July 19th, 2011The swords on the floor is a realistic element. You need to replace swords after multiple contact with flesh.
You guys are clueless when it comes to samurai films (Harry Potter territory). The first half is very formulaic, morose to than the second half (for the genre).
The film is not about the fighting an evil person, it’s about samurai having the chance to fight. For over 200 years, samurai had no wars or battles to fight for (the Tokugawa order).
13 Assassins: 6 million dollars
Green Latern: 150 million dollars
Green Hornet: 150 million dollars
Knowing Miike, the CGI bull segment is a comedic touch. I found it to be funny.
The main character, Kôji Yakusho, is one of the best actors working today.
Posted by antho42 on July 19th, 2011So… I take it they didn’t like it?
…
Posted by Fatbologna on July 19th, 2011I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.
If anything, the film is fascist. A very idealized vision of the late Tokugawa era samurai.
It’s still a great action film,
Posted by antho42 on July 19th, 2011antho42:
I wasn’t arguing that the ’swords on the floor’ wasn’t a realistic tactic…I was saying that the fight itself felt unrealistic simply because of the unbeatable odds presented within the scenario (and the ease in which the enemy was cut down in that sequence). I didn’t really have a problem with that overall though.
While I wouldn’t argue that I’m clueless when it comes to samurai films, I think I made it clear that I felt the drama in the first half of the film WAS formulaic. I was directly comparing it to films like Braveheart, Gladiator, etc. I’m not sure what point your’e trying to make there.
Posted by Jay C. on July 19th, 2011“The film is not about the fighting an evil person, it’s about samurai having the chance to fight. For over 200 years, samurai had no wars or battles to fight for (the Tokugawa order).”
I don’t think anybody said 13 Assassins was explicitly about fighting an evil person. I’m sure it was clear to all of us that a big part of the film was the samurai facing a rare opportunity to die honourably in battle. However, I would say it is PARTLY about fighting an evil person because that evil person threatens a time of peace with a infatuation with war, and the samurai go out of their way to stop him; even if it assures that their actions will contribute to the irrelevance of the samurai.
Posted by Jay C. on July 19th, 2011This podcast is incredible. I look forward to Sean, Jay, Greg and Frank every week. It’s not something like Smodcast where I can hear one and skip a week every now and then. I hope you guys can keep recording, I will be back to listen until the end of time.
Posted by Jonny Ashley on July 19th, 2011can’t wait to listen, thanks film junk
Posted by mike v on July 19th, 2011“Where’s 122 and an 8?”
Posted by Dave on July 19th, 2011“You’re standin’ on it, dude.”
Great reference. Now I wanna see a Ninja Turtle mockumentary.
What a pity Jay hasn’t seen Harry Potter yet. Would have loved to hear his opinion.
Posted by FoxMulder on July 19th, 2011I don’t think the “swords on the floor” is a realistic tactic. I thought Miike did that as an homage to John Woo’s “A Better Tomorrow” in which guns are strategically placed in flower pots along a hallway.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 19th, 2011The Long Riders does have a cast of brothers, four sets in total. Keith, David and Robert Carradine were half brothers. Dennis and Randy Quaid are brothers, as are Christopher and Nicholas Guest, and also James & Stacy Keach.
Posted by Woogy on July 19th, 2011Scandinavia is officially Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Finland is not in Scandinavia.
Posted by Woogy on July 19th, 2011Bet you guys can’t wait for the inevitable Harry Potter remake series in 10 years. By the way, anyone want to see the Amazing Spider-Man trailer, its here: http://superheroshows.blogspot.com/2011/07/watch-leaked-amazing-spider-man-trailer.html
Posted by Hero Supreme on July 19th, 2011Driving from Sauga down to where you record the show is not that bad, depending on which 401 Exit you are close to. Where in Mississauga are you relocating to Sean?
Posted by Steve Kasan on July 19th, 2011It’s pretty close to the QEW but it’s still about a 45 minute to 1 hour drive depending on traffic. As Jay has pointed out, considering how long our podcasts are, that’s at least a 5 hour investment a week, but probably closer to 6.
Posted by Sean on July 19th, 2011I don’t know where Woogy comes from but Scandinavia is Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
Posted by swarez on July 19th, 2011Nobody puts magic in the corner like Greg.
Posted by RC on July 19th, 2011Another great episode. The last few months have been some of the best podcast ever. I hope you guys can work something out to keep filmjunk going. If not, thanks for the years of entertainment.
Posted by Gord on July 19th, 2011Has Reed ever considered hosting a podcast called, “Gerry Hates Movies” much like “Doug Loves Movies”? Cuz, you know… Reed hates movies. A lot. He really, really despises them.
Posted by RC on July 19th, 2011I’d like to say that the Drunk Remix was one of the best things I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t say much on the show because I was laughing for quite some time. Well done.
Posted by Greg on July 19th, 2011I have been predicting the batman death and here is my take. First remember the source material, the graphic novel and the direction of that take. Secondly, yes I think WB will allow Nolan to completely bookend his version. Third, based on the story Nolan presented in the AWESOME & POWERFUL end of Dark Knight; Batman on the run and a scapegoat. I see the final being a ultimate sacrifice story to save/motivate the people of Gotham. It fits so perfectly in the heavy themed/philosophy of Nolans film making.
Posted by rus in chicago on July 19th, 2011I had no idea that Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid were brothers. How obvious is that?
Also had no idea Robert Carradine was a half brother of David.
I thought Stacey Keach’s brother was only a part of the film as a co-writer, but it turns out he’s Jesse James himself!
Funny that I not only missed the casting gimmick but managed to erroneously point out that it was odd that none of them were actual brothers. Way off the mark there.
Posted by Jay C. on July 19th, 2011A better question is how did none of us question this? I was pretty sure that Quaid and Quaid were brothers but then for some reason I thought you were talking about the characters in the film not being brothers. Weird.
Posted by Sean on July 19th, 2011@Jay Keith Carradine, half brother of David and full brother of Robert plays another Younger brother. And Christopher Guest and his brother Nicholas were the Ford brothers.
Though i don’t think Walter Hill and George Roy Hill were brothers, but producer Tim Zinneman is the son of director Fred “Fucking” Zinneman.
Posted by Nat Almirall on July 19th, 2011I loved Insidious but agree with Jay that the McFarlane doll-izing of the demon was a huge mistake. The film still had me even when Patrick Wilson enters the “other place,” or whatever they called it, but seeing the demon in his little workshop was awful. Still, the rest of the film, especially the tension and the actual scares from the first half, earn so much goodwill for me that I can look past it. Definitely a buy for me when the Blu-ray comes down in price.
Posted by Andrew on July 19th, 2011@RC: I love movies! It’s just that I always get asked on the Film Junk podcast to review what I consider to be crappy films. Based on critic reviews in Rotten Tomatoes, I tend to like films that are actually crappy.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 19th, 2011They could not have condensed Deathly Hallows into one movie Frank. That would’ve been a disastrous clusterfuck. They needed to flesh out those “camping out/finding horcruxes” scene because they were necessary.
As for the turning back time thing, in the books its mentioned that the copies of the device (Time Turners) that is used to turn back time were all destroyed. So that’s that.
Posted by Napalm on July 19th, 2011“They needed to flesh out those “camping out/finding horcruxes” scene because they were necessary.”
why? to set-up jealously between friends and a “threes company” misunderstanding/ love triangle? sorry your wrong, frank is right, there are pacing problems in DH1 They obviously chose to put more of the action in the final and more of the character and plot in the first. problem is, it make the first part boring as a film experience.
Posted by rus in chicago on July 19th, 2011Please Sean make that six hour investment.
Are you still working in the video game industry?
Posted by rjdelight on July 19th, 2011before you quit the show, try subscription based. why not?
Posted by rus in chicago on July 19th, 2011Rus: The story of Death Hallows is pretty busy, especially with the Horcruxes. They could’ve compressed the story in one film…. if they did, it would’ve been a clusterfuck and the pacing would’ve been way more horrible. They needed to draw it out and emphasis on the time gaps between finding the Horcruxes and the process of finding them, in general.
I also don’t see how the trio’s relationship aspect isn’t an important part of the story. It’s been build up over the last 6 movies/books and it needed a final resolution (of sort).
Posted by Napalm on July 19th, 2011that may be true, but the way they divided it didn’t work. the first is boring, the second is not = failure and comments like Franks. And don’t give me they followed the sequence of the book; they have changed huge amounts of story elements for sake of the movies. they failed here, therefore, Franks “cash grab” comment is valid.
Posted by rus in chicago on July 19th, 2011Yeah, maybe it was a cash grab, but what ended up on screen worked for me and that’s all that matters. I guess I can appreciate the “down times” in the first film more because I’ve read the books. It was also a good change in scenery… just watching them interacting outside of Hogwarts was a refreshing change.
Posted by Napalm on July 19th, 2011no, what you liked was that camera angle when Hermione turns from Bellatrix Lestrange back in to herself and you see that cleavage for the first time in the series – now thats giving the fans what they want, LOL!
I also like how they followed that with a tease of Hermione starting to take off her cloths by the lake – cheeky devils
Posted by rus in chicago on July 19th, 2011I think we’re all praying, PRAYING, that the show won’t change. Fuck skype
Posted by Henrik on July 19th, 2011I think Henrik should pay all additional expenses!
Posted by rus in chicago on July 19th, 2011@Sean: I hope you don’t have to resort to Skype as I tend to avoid those types of podcasts with few exceptions. But, you gotta do what you gotta do to make it work so I can’t complain too much for something that is free.
I hope the transition goes smoothly with as few changes as possible.
Good luck with your new home.
Posted by RC on July 19th, 2011@Reed: I’m (half)kidding Reed
You have to admit, it’s an interesting idea for a podcast.
Posted by RC on July 19th, 2011This episode had me laughing so hard at work that I was sweating and totally embarrassed. Definitely a classic episode.
I agree with everyone else as well that I hope that the show continues, but I understand that it’s a big commitment and appreciate what all of you guys, especially Sean, have done this for so long. Good luck with the move and new job!
Posted by bard on July 19th, 2011swarez: Technically it only includes Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but these days it more or less just references the five nordic countries, which ofc. includes Iceland and Finland.
Posted by Kasper on July 19th, 2011Great episode, guys!
I thought that the 13 Assassins review was pretty damn fair coming from a group of non-Miike, non-samurai film fans. Japanese samurai films (and Japanese cinema in general, really) have a tendency to be a little impenetrable for western audiences in that they generally deal with historical elements unfamiliar to us. They’re a lot like American westerns in that they use a familiar historical backdrop-like the American Civil War-to frame most of their narratives and expect that you have an understanding of the political and social standing of the time.
They also usually have a similar narrative framework where the first half or 3/4s of the film will be a political or character drama with very little action that ends in a big showdown followed by a smaller solo duel. This formula is almost a given for at least 70-80% of samurai films. Miike seems to be having a small personal renaissance with this style of filmmaking as 13 Assassins is a remake of of a 1963 film and he also recently remade the classic, Hara-Kiri, one of my personal favorites.
I’d personally recommend that people wanting to get into Samurai cinema should start with the more palatable and comic book-y Lone Wolf and Cub films or the original Zatoichi stuff. The Sleepy Eyes of Death series is also pretty great and if you’re into the really crazy shit check out Hanzo the Razor! All of those films are a lot more easy to take initially as they’re fast paced, more action oriented and generally run 90 minutes or less. I’m a huge fan of the Jidai Geki and Chanbara genres and I own every damn samurai film available on DVD in North America but I admit that when I was first getting into them some of the stuffier period dramas were a downright slog to get through. Japanese films have a certain pace to them that’s up there with French New Wave as far as being an acquired taste.
Anyway, I enjoyed the review and I hope you guys check out some more of this stuff as I’d love to hear your opinions in the ‘What We Watched’ segment of the show… assuming there still is a show…
Posted by Fatbologna on July 19th, 2011Can you be more specific about the geography?
who lives where now?
Sean lives in Ontario
jay lives in St.C
frank lives in st.C
and Greg lives in a mall..?
So the guys can meet at Frank’s basement and Sean will learn to use SKYPE??
you should all rent a common place, a giant villa and live together like a gangster family..
Posted by kyri on July 20th, 2011^ Lmao
Rus: Shit. Got me!
Henrik: Being one of the oldest fans of the podcast it’s obligatory that you send the guys $$$ in these dark times haha.
Posted by Napalm on July 20th, 2011and Henrik can do that because he believes Art should be free in all cases and filmjunk is not art – more of a rash you can’t get rid of (or want to)
Posted by rus in chicago on July 20th, 2011By the way, just watched Red Cliff and would love Reeds (and others) view of it. very good, felt the ‘good guys’ could have been tested more.
Posted by rus in chicago on July 20th, 2011That drunk remix had me inappropriately guffawing at work. Amazing.
Posted by Andrew on July 20th, 2011@kyri: I’d love to live on a commune with the Film Junk guys and friends. The only friends I have nowadays are all through Film Junk. I’d even drink the Kool-Aid.
@rus in chicago: I saw the second part of Red Cliff several months after the first part. Overall, I was disappointed. It was a great cast. I think I was just tired of these kinds of historical epics. Nothing in the film stood out for me.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 20th, 2011If I had any money, I’d give some of them to these guys.
But nothing lasts forever anyway.
Posted by Henrik on July 20th, 2011Thanks for reading my Junk Mail regarding DVD sorting guys!
Posted by Rev on July 21st, 2011In reply to Jay no i dont live in a 3rd world country I am from England and I am most certainly not Reed Farrington.
Frank: I got the box set because it cost £3 and to buy the discs separately would have come to over £15 and money’s tight at the moment what with being a student and all.
Greg: I got the ‘piece of shit’ from HMV haha.
I´m swedish and I can confirm that Jay was correct.. Scandinavia is Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway.
Posted by patrik on July 21st, 2011You guys make me wish I was born in St. Catharines several years earlier.
I’ll be checking out 13 Assassins this weekend. I think the last decent ninja assassin movie I saw was… Ninja Assassin.
Does anyone else here remember the arachnophobia DOS game? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chdxb__NU8s
Posted by Joe on July 22nd, 2011I’m from England, and can confirm that I was right first time. Scandinavia is officially Sweden, Denmark and Norway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia
The more general term, the Scandinavian Peninsula, does indeed include Finland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Peninsula
Posted by Woogy on July 25th, 2011It’s interesting that you guys (well, Frank for sure) disliked HP7 part 1 so much. I liked part 2 a lot, but so much of it felt rushed. I agree that Snape’s arc was well-done (the flashback in the pensieve was one of the best parts), but a lot of other things had no impact. When Bellatrix went down in the book, it was a big awesome moment. Pretty sure I threw the book down and yelled in glee. In the movie, it was just like, oh, so that happened. Same when you saw the twins after one was gone, and Remus and Tonks. My friends and I were talking after, and we all pretty much thought that Yates does a good job with the quiet, impactful character moments (which there were a lot of in part 1), but is pretty anticlimactic with more action-y moments that SHOULD hit you like a punch to the gut, but don’t.
Totally right on the epilogue, though, that sucked in the book as well.
Posted by Jandy on July 27th, 2011Leave a Reply