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The Zatoichi series ran 26 movies (1962-1982) and a television series ran for five years (1974-1979). Twenty years later, Takeshi "Beat" Kitano reinvented Zatoichi with his version of the character. This was easily one of my favorite movie at the time, I saw it at the independent theater twice in 2003 and ordered a region 3 release of the DVD as soon as it was available on import. Incidentally, to show support for the US market, I also bought the US edition of the DVD, which came with a bonus Sonatine movie (which was originally released in the states by Quentin Tarantino's Rolling Thunder productions).
Considering the movie did quite well, critically and (I'm assuming) in sales, I was hoping for a follow-up movie by Kitano, but unfortunately there's no such plan. However, interestingly enough, one of my all-time favorite Japanese director, Takashi Miike* directed a stage adaption of Zatoichi for live performances in 2007.
I'm happy to report that, I saw a very good re-imagined of the familiar character, reinvented as a female protagonist, called Ichi. I wish the producers had kept the brand of "Zatoichi", as people who hear "Ichi" does not always associate the name with the blind swordsman. To be fair, Ichi is the original character's name. The term "zato" means low-ranking blind person (low-ranking in the Todoza guild). Logically, they could've named this movie Gozeichi, because Goze refers to blind musician women of that time period.
Anyway, beside my gripe about the Ichi name as the movie title, I also didn't like the idea that a model (Ayase Haruka) is playing the part of the protagonist. All that was really not worth worrying, because the whole movie is quite entertaining and enjoyable, and there is only once where Haruka is seen 'dolled up' for a music performance (most of the movie, she's covered from head to toe in dirty rags). However, there are at times when the director Fumihiko Sori choose to stay too long on Haruka's beautiful unblemished face. We get it, she's cute.
The story is uncomplicated, Ichi wanders into some town with an inept sword-drawing samurai Toma (the name is close to a slang "tonma" for idiot or fool). The town is in trouble from the Banki gang, and in Zatoichi fashion, Ichi and Toma saves the town. During the course of the film, there are the tried-and-true Zatoichi moments like slashing out the lights and Ichi triumph in complete darkness, the use of sound to throw Ichi off, and, of course, the Cho-Han Bakuchi dice gambling.
What made the film interesting, at least to me, is that the soundtrack is by Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard! So throughout the movie, you do hear that ethereal vocals, similar to her efforts on Ridley Scott's Gladiator. I suspect she only wrote the vocals, the credit I have for composer is Michael Edwards, who previously worked with Gerrad on her solo material. The soundtrack was a bit of a surprise to me, generally these J-movies' music and production team are usually kept inhouse. Although, having said that, the one outro credit song is by Korean J-Pop singer SunMin.
Ichi the movie will be made available in the US market via Bluray and DVD in two days (December 22nd), just in time for last-minute xmas shoppers. Hopefully those Best Buy tonmas will be smart and order some copies for their store (however, if it costs over $25, I'd rather order it online, or not own it at all - hey times are tough!).
* I love all three billion of his movies! Audition, City of Lost Souls, One Missed Call, Ichi the Killer, Fudoh, The Happiness of the Katakuris, Zebraman, Sukiyaki Western: Django, etc.
12/20/2009 02:06:34 ♥ vu (
) ♥funimation.com/ichi
- 01:05:21: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Marvin Gaye – When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You: http://www.last.fm/musi... http://bit.ly/D5k7U
- 01:05:22: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Jesse Johnson – Slave 2 R Freedom: http://www.last.fm/music/Jesse+Johnson http://bit.ly/SdbFW
- 01:05:22: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Vanessa Haynes – Drive: http://www.last.fm/music/Vanessa+Haynes http://bit.ly/DssGZ
- 01:35:45: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Billy Paul – Me And Mrs. Jones: http://www.last.fm/music/Billy+Paul http://bit.ly/PQgK4
- 01:35:46: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Peven Everett – Don't Go: http://www.last.fm/music/Peven+Everett http://bit.ly/3OQmKX
- 02:06:38: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Prince – So Dark: http://www.last.fm/music/Prince http://bit.ly/7UpWDi
- 02:06:38: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Slique – Your Body: http://www.last.fm/music/Slique http://bit.ly/4qAP5i
- 02:06:39: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Mint Condition – On & On: http://www.last.fm/music/Mint+Condition http://bit.ly/3aneNT
- 02:06:40: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Tears for Fears – Shout: http://www.last.fm/music/Tears+for+Fears http://bit.ly/xx2C
- 02:37:16: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Donny Hathaway – She Is My Lady: http://www.last.fm/music/Donny+Hathaway http://bit.ly/rrymU
- 02:37:16: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Beats Antique – Dope Crunk: http://www.last.fm/music/Beats+Antique http://bit.ly/18zf61
- 02:37:17: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Astrud Gilberto – Who Needs Forever (Thievery Corporation Remix): http://www.last.fm/music/As... http://bit.ly/5scEHm
- 02:37:18: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Booker T. & The MG's – Comin' Home Baby: http://www.last.fm/music/Booker%2BT.%2B%2526%2BThe%2B... http://bit.ly/woYIV
- 03:07:43: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Samantha James – Deep Surprise: http://www.last.fm/music/Samantha+James http://bit.ly/ONoVp
- 03:07:43: #lastfm VoxEarCandy The Jacksons – Walk Right Now: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Jacksons http://bit.ly/JnXNd
- 03:12:12: Photo: perlamoda: http://tumblr.com/xb34snoxx
- 03:37:57: #lastfm VoxEarCandy International Pony – Superyou: http://www.last.fm/music/International+Pony http://bit.ly/epDg7
- 03:37:57: #lastfm VoxEarCandy New Sector Movements – Never Been Closer: http://www.last.fm/music/New+Sector+Movements http://bit.ly/8nnO83
- 03:37:58: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Simple Minds – Don't You Forget About Me: http://www.last.fm/music/Simple+Minds http://bit.ly/UUPCq
- 03:37:59: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Michael Jackson – Rock With You: http://www.last.fm/music/Michael+Jackson http://bit.ly/Mnt7Z
- 03:38:00: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Brownstone – Grapevyne: http://www.last.fm/music/Brownstone http://bit.ly/ZkLXY
- 04:24:50: Flickr Update Seeing Stars - Day 244: √oхέƒx™ posted a photo: Model Mayhem ~ Photography/Travel Blog ~ Fli... http://bit.ly/5sBPB8
- 04:30:23: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Prince – I'm Yours: http://www.last.fm/music/Prince http://bit.ly/OoOCp
- 04:30:24: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Chris Botti – No Ordinary Love: http://www.last.fm/music/Chris+Botti http://bit.ly/4sR6HA
- 04:30:24: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Marvin Gaye – Feel All My Love Inside: http://www.last.fm/music/Marvin+Gaye http://bit.ly/eOrLC
- 05:00:36: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Minnie Riperton – Memory Lane: http://www.last.fm/music/Minnie+Riperton http://bit.ly/8hSEpA
- 19:15:57: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Teena Marie – Lovergirl: http://www.last.fm/music/Teena+Marie http://bit.ly/42SL4c
- 19:35:42: Flickr Update View from Front Door: √oхέƒx™ posted a photo: My back already hurts thinking about it =( Mo... http://bit.ly/6xfWdx
- 19:35:43: Flickr Update Sledding in backyard: √oхέƒx™ posted a photo: Model Mayhem ~ Photography/Travel Blog ~ Flick... http://bit.ly/90BX9W
- 19:46:45: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Anita O'Day – Strawberry Moon: http://www.last.fm/music/Anita+O%27Day http://bit.ly/3DRBAn
- 19:46:46: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Diana Ross – Upside Down: http://www.last.fm/music/Diana+Ross http://bit.ly/imt24
- 19:46:47: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Whitney Houston – A Song For You: http://www.last.fm/music/Whitney+Houston http://bit.ly/10T2Hm
- 19:46:48: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Silk – Always and Forever: http://www.last.fm/music/Silk http://bit.ly/B27ue
- 19:46:49: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Lazy – Darkest Hour: http://www.last.fm/music/Lazy http://bit.ly/XmjjQ
- 20:17:16: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Prince – Private Joy: http://www.last.fm/music/Prince http://bit.ly/Z0WST
- 20:17:17: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Orchestra Baobab – Gnawoe: http://www.last.fm/music/Orchestra+Baobab http://bit.ly/2THFJN
- 20:17:18: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Calima Shatiday – Akila: http://www.last.fm/music/Calima+Shatiday http://bit.ly/IkOMZ
- 20:47:34: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Trüby Trio – High Jazz: http://www.last.fm/music/Tr%C3%BCby+Trio http://bit.ly/M0DQk
- 20:47:35: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Seal – Killer: http://www.last.fm/music/Seal http://bit.ly/CDTi
- 20:49:55: View from Front Door http://ff.im/-d88SG
- 21:18:17: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Gladys Knight – License To Kill: http://www.last.fm/music/Gladys+Knight http://bit.ly/54guLA
- 21:18:18: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Joss Stone – Lady: http://www.last.fm/music/Joss+Stone http://bit.ly/ulVmx
- 21:48:52: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Cayetano – Notre Dame: http://www.last.fm/music/Cayetano http://bit.ly/uSRgQ
- 21:48:53: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Philip Bailey – dear ruby: http://www.last.fm/music/Philip+Bailey http://bit.ly/zcdj5
- 22:19:35: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Art of Noise – Moments in Love (From Battle to Beaten): http://www.last.fm/music/Art+of+Noise http://bit.ly/8TmyCN
- 22:19:35: #lastfm VoxEarCandy De-Phazz – Godsdog: http://www.last.fm/music/De-Phazz http://bit.ly/a7pq3
- 22:19:36: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Stephen Simmonds – Judgement Day: http://www.last.fm/music/Stephen+Simmonds http://bit.ly/wPgi5
- 22:19:37: #lastfm VoxEarCandy Shalamar – Make That Move: http://www.last.fm/music/Shalamar http://bit.ly/cYpKR
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After seeing and being out in all this:
Tweet Treats =) ff.im/-d5WzK
Flickr Update I Love Music - Day 243: √oхέƒx™ posted a photo:
Model Mayhem ~ Photography/Travel Blog ~ Fli... bit.ly/7y6Lkg
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Marvin Gaye – When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You: www.last.fm/musi... bit.ly/D5k7U
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Jesse Johnson – Slave 2 R Freedom: www.last.fm/music/Jesse+Johnson bit.ly/SdbFW
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Vanessa Haynes – Drive: www.last.fm/music/Vanessa+Haynes bit.ly/DssGZ
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Billy Paul – Me And Mrs. Jones: www.last.fm/music/Billy+Paul bit.ly/PQgK4
#lastfm
VoxEarCandy Peven Everett – Don't Go: www.last.fm/music/Peven+Everett bit.ly/3OQmKX
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Prince – So Dark: www.last.fm/music/Prince bit.ly/7UpWDi
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Slique – Your Body: www.last.fm/music/Slique bit.ly/4qAP5i
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Mint Condition – On & On: www.last.fm/music/Mint+Condition bit.ly/3aneNT
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Tears for Fears – Shout: www.last.fm/music/Tears+for+Fears bit.ly/xx2C
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Donny Hathaway – She Is My Lady: www.last.fm/music/Donny+Hathaway bit.ly/rrymU
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Beats Antique – Dope Crunk: www.last.fm/music/Beats+Antique bit.ly/18zf61
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Astrud Gilberto – Who Needs Forever (Thievery Corporation Remix): www.last.fm/music/As... bit.ly/5scEHm
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Booker T. & The MG's – Comin' Home Baby: www.last.fm/music/Booker%2BT.%2B%2526%2BThe%2B... bit.ly/woYIV
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Samantha James – Deep Surprise: www.last.fm/music/Samantha+James bit.ly/ONoVp
#lastfm VoxEarCandy The Jacksons – Walk Right Now: www.last.fm/music/The+Jacksons bit.ly/JnXNd
Photo: perlamoda: tumblr.com/xb34snoxx
#lastfm VoxEarCandy International Pony – Superyou: www.last.fm/music/International+Pony bit.ly/epDg7
#lastfm VoxEarCandy New Sector Movements – Never Been Closer: www.last.fm/music/New+Sector+Movements bit.ly/8nnO83
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Simple Minds – Don't You Forg
et About Me: www.last.fm/music/Simple+Minds bit.ly/UUPCq
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Michael Jackson – Rock With You: www.last.fm/music/Michael+Jackson bit.ly/Mnt7Z
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Brownstone – Grapevyne: www.last.fm/music/Brownstone bit.ly/ZkLXY
Flickr Update Seeing Stars - Day 244: √oхέƒx™ posted a photo:
Model Mayhem ~ Photography/Travel Blog ~ Fli... bit.ly/5sBPB8
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Prince – I'm Yours: www.last.fm/music/Prince bit.ly/OoOCp
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Chris Botti – No Ordinary Love: www.last.fm/music/Chris+Botti bit.ly/4sR6HA
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Marvin Gaye – Feel All My Love Inside: www.last.fm/music/Marvin+Gaye bit.ly/eOrLC
#lastfm VoxEarCandy Minnie Riperton – Memory Lane: www.last.fm/music/Minnie+Riperton bit.ly/8hSEpA
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For this Christmas, I did buy myself Swords deluxe edition via my favorite store, amazon. It was a bit pricey for a CD/DVD combo ($23 vs $12 for the standard disc), but I'm worth it.
I actually have had a digital copy of the B-Sides compilation since late October, thanks to pen pal friend Mel, as it was a "bonus" if you had preordered tickets to see Morrissey in live in 2009. And of course, like most fans, we still buy the physical release anyway, so it's a bit of a win-win situation for everyone.
I'll briefly summarize Morrissey's history: he's a bit of a sensitive, indie songwriter with The Smiths. He went solo in "nineteen-eighty-hate" with some classic modern rock hits with "Suedehead" (aka that "I'm So Sorry" song) and "Everyday is like Sunday". He went a bit rockabilly with Your Arsenal (his previous album Kill Uncle was heading to this direction, especially with the B-Sides and singles from this era), and pretty much stayed in this "muscular" rock type music since. As I previously mentioned, I think this has to do with his musical collaboration with Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte.
If you're new to Morrissey, I don't think Swords would be a good starting point for you. I would recommend starting with Bona Drag, a weird mix of b-sides and oddities. Most of the songs on Swords were co-written by Alain Whyte, and there's a nice cohesive feel to each song as they have similiar song writing structure. When you do run into a non-Whyte song, such as "Sweetie-Pie", it just feels out of place. In fact, I think this is possibly one of the worst Morrissey song, right up there with "Michaels Bones".
There is one non-Morrissey-penned song, and it's a live recording of "Drive-In Saturday" (live at Omaha on 11 May 2007). Morrissey's music obsessions tend to be from the 60s and 70s era, so it didn't surprise me to hear him doing a David Bowie cover from the Aladdin Sane time period. But the two are friends, I know that Bowie showed up at a Morrissey show in Los Angeles in the early 90s to do a duet of a T.Rex's song for "Cosmic Dancer", and, of course, Bowie would later record a soul-ish version of Morrissey's "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" in 1993.
Also, it seems in post-2008, Morrissey's songs have been about fatherhood and retirement. Just looking over his titles: "Good Looking Man About Town", "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice", "Teenage Dad on His Estate", "Children in Pieces", that "constipated look" for Swords, and that controversially album cover for Years of Refusal ... you would think that he's married with kids. Maybe that's not a bad thing, with Morrissey's heath in question, maybe he should take it easy. We all can't be like James Dean, you know.
12/19/2009 03:47:04 ♥ vu (
) ♥itsmorrisseysworld.com ♥ truetoyou.com ♥ morrissey-solo.com
- 03:26:18: From Twitter 12-17-2009 http://ff.im/-d54qT
- 10:06:44: Tweet Treats =) http://ff.im/-d5WzK
- 19:20:56: Flickr Update I Love Music - Day 243: √oхέƒx™ posted a photo: Model Mayhem ~ Photography/Travel Blog ~ Fli... http://bit.ly/7y6Lkg
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The moods on this sample cover a broad range of emotions and situations - Celebration, Romance, Sombre and a Bridal sendoff in styles across the spectrum in the Indian musical domain. Though this package is titled "Classic Bollywood", do not assume that its use is restricted. It can be used for dance clubs, wedding parties, social gatherings or any occasion which call for an ethnic taste.
Instrumentally this demo has been arranged to a nicety. The Orchestral string section involving Indian violin and viola personify what Bollywood has incorporated for a long time in its music.Throughout this demo, the Indian Flute figures prominently. The Flute generally evokes a feeling of rustiness and this is no different for the Indian Flute. An ideal instrument for most settings, the Indian Flute adds a distinct "warm" feeling. Percussive instruments such as the Tabla provide the ideal backdrop for the various rhythmic grooves that are used on this demo. Stringed instruments such as the Sitar add an element of mysticism.
The vocals, both leads and backups have been executed with a flair and a touch that can only be described as authentic Indian. The lyrics are in Punjabi, language of the state of Punjab in Northern India. This compilation by Gaurav Dayal will please any diehard Bollywood fan or Indian music aficionado."
Review By Vijay Fernandes, MusicDish LLC
Download Classic Bollywood Demo Track:
http://fairtilizer.com/track/classicbollywood
Classic Bollywood - Specifications:
3,5 GB (Total Data)
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Apple Loops/AIFF
REX
Reason Refill
WAV
Files include Key+BPM
44.1 kHz / 24-Bit
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Price and Availability:
Classic Bollywood is available for instant download now for £69.95 GBP / 78,59 EUR / $100.81 USD.
You can find out more and purchase this product at: http://www.producerloops.com











