Re old and new values: we were watching the Criterion Collection’s issue of Sanjuro, and the description of the old and new Japanese cultures was fascinating.

If you do get that DVD, a warning: while it is an excellent overview of Kurosawa’s film-making, it turns the final powerful duel into high comedy.  Kurosawa originally got away with THE rule of comedy: “Quick movement in or out of the scene = comedy,” when Nakadai sinks out of the scene, eyes bulging.  Now we know what REALLY went on during that scene, we’ll laugh our brains out from now on.

Kurosawa’s actors are interviewed about the movie, and all of them are wonderfully funny.  And Nakadai looks like Michael Caine!  No, go look.

(The WordPress Spellcheck caught DVD, WordPress and Spellcheck as misspelled — but not Kurosawa or Kurosawa’s.  THAT’s fame!)