QUO VADIS (1951)

Based on Henryk Sienkiewicz's bestselling 1896 novel of the the same name, QUO VADIS is a mammoth historical epic set in ancient Rome (around 64 A.D.).  It tells the story of a high-ranking Roman military hero (Robert Taylor) who falls in love with the beautiful Deborah Kerr, the adopted daughter of a retired general.  She also happens to be a Christian.  That's the main story, but while their relationship is entertaining the far more interesting relationship of the film is the one between Peter Ustinov's totally unhinged Emperor Nero and Leo Genn's level-headed Petronius, Nero's most trusted adviser who also happens to despise Nero.  Ustinov is spellbinding as the childlike Nero and Genn does a impressive job of portraying a man who must walk the extremely fine line of not only keeping Nero happy but somehow preventing Nero from doing psychotic stuff non-stop.

I doubt that QUO VADIS is even close to being historically accurate, but I don't care because I was looking to be entertained and QV did a great job of it.  A 171 minute runtime that simply flies by, good acting (especially Ustinov!), strong direction by Mervyn LeRoy, massive crowd scenes, Christianity that's not too heavy-handed, beautiful photography and some of the best matte paintings I've ever seen.  The craftsmanship that it took to get this film to look as good as it does must have been monumental.  It's easy to see how QUO VADIS was the #1 box office draw for 1951 and the main kickstarter for the whole historical epic boom of the 1950's.  Recommended.

Interesting poster that features a "Not Suitable for Children." warning.

This line is interesting because in Mervyn LeRoy's 1931 film LITTLE CAESAR, Edward G. Robinson's final words were "Is this the end of Rico?".

YAKUZA DEMON (2003)

Made only a year after DEADLY OUTLAW: RIKKA, YAKUZA DEMON is very similar in story: Foot soldier Seiji (Riki Takeuchi) looks to the boss, Mr. Muto, of his small yakuza family as a father.  So when Mr. Muto owes the larger Date Family money, he agrees to personally kill an executive of the rival Tendo Family in payment for his debt. Seiji knows Mr. Muto will be killed so he calls the cops and they arrest him on minor gun charges. The Date Family believes Mr. Muto chickened out and called the cops himself. Seiji is angered by this insult...things escalate and before long Seiji and his faithful yakuza brother begin attacking the heads of the Tendo themselves. He has become a "stray dog", a "demon".

Despite the colorful title there's nothing excessively bizarre going on like in some other Miike films.  That said, there are a few moments that did stick out for that unique Miike touch: the Date Family bosses are having a meeting and the one boss (Kazuya Nakayama from DETECTIVE STORY) doesn't move at all for 100 seconds!  He just sits there completely motionless, like he's frozen.  Another clever bit was when a yakuza guy goes to eat with his girlfriend.  They're sitting outside under a umbrella and rain (a lot of rain) splashes up on the camera lens, then some dramatic stuff starts happening and suddenly the action is being filmed from a camera shooting the action on a computer monitor!!!  At one moment it even shows the top of the video player!  I don't think I've ever seen that before: a camera recording a monitor displaying the movie we're currently watching and the original camera lens is covered in rain.  When the one guy fires his gun the muzzle flash reflects on the water on the camera lens!  Absolutely brilliant.

Amazing cast, quick pace, brilliant editing, a Miike cameo(?), cinematography that should be studied in film school and, of course, great direction.  Highly recommended.  Double feature with DEADLY OUTLAW REKKA.

Also make sure to watch the extremely funny alternate ending which is a play on the insane ending from DEAD OR ALIVE.  I liked it even better than the real ending.