Lone Wolf and Cub Original vs Remake
This week let's check out Lone Wolf and Cub. We compare Road to Perdition and the Mandalorian as unofficial remakes of the original.
SPOILER ALERT - there will be plot elements related to the endings for both movies. If you haven't seen them, go watch them now.
Where to watch online (current as of 04/13/20) -
Lone Wolf and Cub -
https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/d...
Shogun Assassin - https://archive.org/details/ShogunAss...
Road to Perdition - https://tubitv.com/movies/314542
The Mandalorian - https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the...
Rick and Morty parody - • Samurai & Shogun (Rick and Morty) | adult ...
To watch a ton of great originals AND remakes check out HDFY -
try them for free: https://bit.ly/try-HDFY
"Show notes":
01:06 - why some parodies work and others like Scary Movies series not so much
02:10 - how Rick and Morty parody of Lone Wolf and Cub series (2:54 - link)
03:12 - today’s use of memes and emojis as meta conversation
04:16 - views of medieval Japan through Lone Wolf and Cub
06:24 - us vs them in ruling class of samurai vs peasants,
07:48 - we see main character aka “Lone Wolf,” Ogami Itto interacting with different classes
08:24 - how Lone Wolf reflects ideas of honor and justice like westerns such as True Grit
09:54 - why Lone Wolf’s individualism is a Japanese fantasy where belonging is everything
11:02 - minor characters reflect “disposable” minions of video games before “final boss’
13:18 - favorite game with endless boss battles: Warning Forever https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
14:56 - what was a surprising insight into Japanese culture from Lone Wolf and Cub
17:32 - why innocence of Cub is such a contrast with Lone Wolf. and how
21:30 - pros and cons of Shogun Assassin as a remake of Lone Wolf and Cub series
and how it fits into overall franchise
22:22 - samples of Shogun Assassin on sword play GZA album, Liquid Swords
24:20 - 80’s influence of Japanese culture vs Chinese kung fu movies
25:48 - how James Clavell’s Shogun gave the West a look into medieval Japan
26:50 - manga creator Kazuo Koike and decline of family values / depiction of contemplation in shots
28:54 - how Kenji Musumi’s style contrasts with filmmaker Akira Kurosawa
30:30 - Japanese films of quiet serenity punctuated by extreme violence
32:52 - sensory overload in Japanese culture and games like Fist of the North Star and what it means https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fist_of...
34:52 - why we need healthy outlets for violence and darker natures
36:32 - art reflecting trauma in society’s psyche
38:12 - ** short break **
38:12 - how creator of Road to Perdition Max Allan Collins found inspiration from Lone Wolf and Cub
40:58 - “no honor among thieves” vs code of mob seen in pop culture
41:50 - Daniel Craig as “loose cannon” heir apparent to mob boss
42:54 - why even psychopaths and sociopaths need rules, e.g. Dexter and Harry’s code
44:30 - Jude Law playing psychopath villain hunting “lone wolf” executioner Sullivan played by Tom Hanks; small detail of rotting teeth showing his lack of self-control
47:18 - how Road to Perdition shows father-son theme
49:22 - Paul Newman playing gangster leader with benign appearance
51:20 - gangs providing artificial family for lost youths / Sullivan trying to hide his life from his son vs Lone Wolf
54:04 - influence of westerns on Road to Perdition and Disney series, The Mandalorian vs Lone Wolf
55:56 - why Baby Yoda will have to suffer and how the Force provides the father son bond
58:06 - how the Mandalorian is more Western than Japanese samurai
59:54 - where the father-son Star Wars universe lacks mother figures
1:01:02 - lack of revenge vs survival drives episodes, Lone Wolf and Cub vs The Mandalorian
1:03:16 - will inventiveness of Lone Wolf series show in The Mandalorian
1:05:14 - will actor playing Breaking Bad villain Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) signal darker times ahead
1:07:02 - why Baby Yoda will not become a warrior - Lone Wolf and Cub vs Road to Perdition
1:10:32 - was Esposito chosen as devious plotting or cartoon villain
1:12:20 - how casting signals what writers and filmmakers have in mind
1:13:40 - does Tom Hanks work as mob hitman / family man
1:17:50 - coming up: Thomas Crown Air / Always as remake of A Guy Named Joe / Andromeda Strain