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Post by filmbuff on Jan 9, 2007 11:25:53 GMT -5
Annie9820, I don't need much encouragement to do just that. Here's a suggestion. Did you visit those two links in my first post? They are fan sites. You can learn a lot there. He is known to be extremely private, even in Japan they don't get much news on him. As a result, there is a pretty tight network of fans who communicate and spread info (like the car accident)
The two listed here are interviews. The first is an article and the second a filmed interview.
hogacentral.com/Special_HS_TWC.html
www.ifilm.com/video/2723260 (this is a fantastic interview. you REALLY should watch it.)
Also, as you've seen TLS and TS which are "period" pieces, try The White Countess (although it takes place in 1930's and I guess some people would call it a period piece) You can find it for rent or for sale. This will be your first time to see him in modern clothes and speaking English (though he has made others in English like East Meets West and Emergency Doctor)
Many of the others I can recommend cannot be rented.
I'll dig out links to other interviews and post later. Just don't skip these two, they are really nice.
BTW, there is always a running debate among US fans - which samurai role is your fav. The tough, handsome Ujio or the gentle, loving Seibei. Hands down for me its Ujio! But its a tough choice.
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Post by annie9820 on Jan 9, 2007 23:55:27 GMT -5
Thank you,filmbuff! Actually I knew Sanada-san firstly from film "Ring". He was very cool and charming with his mustache in this film. And in the TLS he impressed me deeply although he wasn't the main character. I have to say because of his great performance, he made Tom Cruise less splendid in TLS. As filmbuff said,I can't get much information about Sanada-san now. I just know he is filming Rush Hour3 with Jackie Chen in LA, and at same time he is filming The City of Your Final Destination with Anthony Hopkins in Buenos Aires. In 2007, he will have three new moive. I am so looking forward to.
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Post by marilyn on Jan 10, 2007 4:31:24 GMT -5
Only know him from a couple of films, but Mr. Sanada was fantastic in the original Ring and possibly the best thing in the Last Samurai.
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Post by filmbuff on Jan 10, 2007 14:21:15 GMT -5
Ditto on best thing in TLS
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Post by annie9820 on Jan 14, 2007 2:26:04 GMT -5
I have watched the film "the White Countess", but I couldn't understand the whole story very well actually. But I do like the looking he spoke English. His English pronunciation impressed me. He will also speak in English in next three films in 2007. He is actually going to expand his career to Hollwood. But it is very difficult for a east actor to make film in the west. I really hope he can get some important charactors that are suitable for him.
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Post by issy on Jan 14, 2007 16:39:25 GMT -5
Hello minna SO glad to read such a wonderful posts about Sanada san. i discovered Sanada san in 2001 when i saw the movie Ringu (ring) for the first time and two years later i saw The Last Samurai and found out that he was the same person. i liked TLS a lot but to me Twilight Samurai is Hiro's best movie (although i love all of his work) if any of new members and guest would like more information about our hero, jamie's site and Misty's site are great source of information. we also had a great forum site which was Hiro Talk forum but sadly it was hacked recently. if you are interested please join our forum. we really are nice people and we all worship hiro-sama. take care
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Post by punctuator on Jan 15, 2007 4:47:30 GMT -5
Just watched "Ringu" and "The White Countess." The behind-the-scenes materials for "White Countess" are playing right now-- great commentary from Sanada-san (is that the correct styling?), Ralph Fiennes, and the rest of the cast. Oddly, though, I almost found "Countess" more frightening than "Ringu": I'd heard so much about "Ringu" that I'd really over-built it in my head, and it turned out to be much more subtle, whereas the thirties in China were so turbulent, I spent much of "Countess" on edge, waiting for something awful to happen. Sanada-san was excellent in both of them: his quiet focus played particularly well against Mr. Fiennes' subtle intensity. Good movies!
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Post by annie9820 on Jan 22, 2007 20:01:43 GMT -5
I didn't see Sanada-san in the trailer! Disappointed!
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Post by Starry_MelC on Jan 23, 2007 9:58:01 GMT -5
Am I the only one who missed The Last Samurai??? Last time, I wanted to watch but everyone watched it already and won't accompany me... :*0 Anyway, will get my hands on it a.s.a.p. (although I dont really like tom cruise) I watched 2 of Sanada-san's movies. Royal Warriors and The Promise... Although I had to say, I cant recognize him I love Royal Warriors alot (for all the obvious reasons). As for the promise, I'm sorry, not a fan. Maybe because I dislike Cecilia, Nicholas and Jang Dong Kun, they ruin the movie... Are there any other movies that you can suggest (aside from TLS and TS) that hopefully is in English?
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Post by filmbuff on Jan 23, 2007 14:02:33 GMT -5
Oh Starry, you MUST see TLS. Just ignore Tom C if you don't like him. Have some tissues handy - you WILL cry. :*0 Hiro's portrayal of Ujio is masterful (his body language is amazing, his hands are always in a fist, full of hate). And be certain to rent or buy the 2 Disc set and watch the interviews with Hiro and also watch the movie with Ed's commentary and listen to the things he has to say about Hiro. As for other films, sorry you didn't care for The Promise. I love it, the original version, not that edited US version. And, I've seen both MANY times. Did you like Twilight Samurai? And you mentioned Royal Warriors, although the part where Hiro's character has a bunny for his daughter is cute, its overall not my fav film. You don't mention ever seeing Ringu, get that! You may not like his character but he is terrific. Also he has small roles in Ringu2 and Rasen. Well worth renting if you are a true fan. Do rent The White Countess, check out the hats he wears. And much of the time he is in a tux (outstanding). His character is an interesting mix of kind and dangerous! I know you can find Onmyoji (he is FIERCE in this) and Minna no lie (All About our House) for rent . He has a very small part in all About Our House but its a GREAT cameo. Both have subtitles. Many of his really early films (the samurai, ninja things) can be rented and do have subtitles. Another with subtitles is Aimless Aegis (2005). I bought this as soon as it was available in Japan and I've not seen it for rent ---but I would imagine that by now its for sale on ebay. Also with subtitles but you may need to purchase are: Mayonaka made (Round 'bout Midnight) from 1999 Lover's Lost from 1982 First Love from 2000 Tsugumi in the mid eighties I think A big favorite of mine is Hero Interview, no subtitles, and you would need to purchase (and have a region-free DVD player as with some of the others). He is very handsome in this and terrifically funny. Its about a baseball player, divorced with a young girl, down on his luck, meets a reporter.... I don't speak Japanese but its fairly easy to follow. You ever run across a copy of East Meets West its sort of fun. Made in New Mexico. Mostly in English. Others that can be hard to find and DO NOT have subtitles: D-Zaka (this gets a BIG WOW!) Tadon to Chikuwa (strange, strange part) Nemuranai Machi - Shinjuku Zame - (Sleepless City - Shinjuku Shark) a detective story. Hiro really pushed the envelope on this performance. I don't want to give too much away. Recently I found that cdjapan had reissued an older film Mahjong Horoki - (Mahjong Vagrant Life). This was Hiro's break out role and earned him his first big Japanese acting award - something like their version of the Oscars. No subtitles though so it takes a die hard fan to get through it, especially when you don't understand the game that is being played! He has some great TV roles in what are called doramas: Unmarried Family Tabloid Story of Love High School Teacher Sometimes you can find these with English subtitles. As I've said before, never ask me questions about Sanada san unless you REALLY want a good answer. HA!
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Post by Starry_MelC on Jan 25, 2007 1:42:19 GMT -5
Wow! I'm impressed!! But maybe if you asked me about Michelle, I might just come out with something like that too... I'm sorry, but I watch almost all genres except Horror, so Ringu is out of the question. Right now, I'm looking for 1. TLS (I'll ignore TomC. Not so sure about the crying part though, kinda cold hearted I am) 2. Twillight Samurai (I didn't mention it earlier cause I haven't watched it yet) 3. The White Countess (I like Natasha too so this is definate, but is his role a small role? cause I can't see his name in the cast list in imdb) 4. Aegis The rest will depend on how much budget I have left...
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Post by filmbuff on Jan 25, 2007 10:51:28 GMT -5
Odd about The White Countess/Hiro's credit on imdb.com--'cause in all ads for the film his name was prominent. He was prominent in the trailer which was wonderful. His is not what I'd call a small role, in fact, Matsuda is very important to the story. Check out the trailer, and theme music was haunting film.virgin.net/player/play.asp?url=/film/fid2812/trailers/trid2091/wm/bb.asx&filmid=2812&partner=virgin&sec=trl
Very funny that you say your posts would be long if asked about Michelle. I've always liked her and especially now to see a woman of a "certain" age be so popular and not just for her acting if you follow my drift. (I'm well past 30 so I like to see that!)
Anyway, for the first 3 on your list, you should be able to rent them. As for Aegis, try to find it on ebay 'cause on cdjapan.com its expensive. I know all too well ' cause I couldn't wait and ordered it as soon as the DVD was made available.
As for the tears and TLS, I'm one tough cookie (great old American expression I haven't used in a long time) as well but there are a couple of scenes that make it VERY difficult to maintain a stoic composure. Spoiler, even if you don't care much for Tom C when he talks with Higen about fighting, death and fear --Higen has tears on his checks and Algren gives him the most wonderful hug - I think you will be teary eyed. Or when Taka watches Algen sitting fireside, learning Japanese from her boys - the look on her face. OMG it's amazing. Please get back to me after you've seen it. I love to chat about TLS with people who watch it for the first time!
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Post by Starry_MelC on Jan 29, 2007 8:57:49 GMT -5
Gomenasai for the late reply.... I was watching TLS.. I have to say, the movie is simply beautiful!! Everyone did a splendid job in it! Especially Sanada-san , Shin and Koyuki! And I absolutely fell in love with all things japanese!! (as I did during Memoirs) I'm really looking forward in watching TS (I still can't find it yet) Although the movie had it's touching moments, as I said I am really cold hearted, I couldn't shed a tear... I have some favourite scenes in the movie though... like the one you mentioned with Taka and Algen, the first fighting scene between Algen and Ujio while it's raining, when Nabutada died and also when Taka's son told Algen he was scared that Algen will not return... Right now, I'm still searching for the next 3 movies... I can't buy things online, you see. The link for the trailer of The White Countess can't buffer, I wonder why.... Oh and I absolutely agree with what you say about Michelle! She's great, isn't she? And I think her acting skills has been overshadowed by her fighting skills (even though she's great in both)... But hopefully in Sunshine (as well as the movies she's been filming and has yet to be released) is able to bring people's attention to her acting!!
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Post by filmbuff on Jan 29, 2007 10:03:50 GMT -5
The fight in the rain is my favorite scene. (Well, maybe Ujio's Dance of Death near the end). :*0
Just the look of hate in Ujio's eyes and the way the rain drops make him blink.
The director says in the comments that filming in the rain was planned and I must say its simply a stroke of genius. That rain and mud make everything even more brutal.
I'm sorry you can't find TS. I'm surprised, it was such a big hit. Keep looking, its worth the effort.
On The White Countess, the trailer is good. Maybe if you just do a search for all things TWC you might find the direct link and it would work.
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Post by Starry_MelC on Feb 1, 2007 5:41:31 GMT -5
Well, I am in Malaysia..... and it's a Japanese movie.... so a bit tricky in finding it.... *sigh* I'm actually more surprised that I can't find TWC, since it's an English movie... Oh well, gotta go dig up somemore...
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