Once I saw the Zatoichi Blu-ray set from Criterion was on sale at Barnes & Noble it immediately became a hot item on my Christmas wish list. Thankfully, even at the ripe age of 36, my mother still asks what I would like for Christmas… Zatoichi it was and I couldn’t be happier, the set is amazing!
I can’t remember exactly, but I think I watched the first six Zatoichi films on Hulu Plus earlier this year, but once I received the set there was no chance I wasn’t starting from the beginning and working my way through. I managed to watch the first three so far — The Tale of Zatoichi, The Tale of Zatoichi Continues and New Tale of Zatoichi — and I really can’t wait to get to Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo, but that’s still 16 movies away.
Speaking of Yojimbo, or Toshiro Mifune to be more accurate, I also just received for review, Criterion’s upcoming releases of Throne of Blood as well as Rififi. I started watching Throne of Blood already and will have reviews of both as soon as I can.
Additionally, I watched Frozen once again with the family over the holidays as well as Frances Ha and American Hustle, both for a second time. I also watched, for the first time, Riddick and my god what an awful film. Terrible in fact. I never would have thought it could be a bona fide contender for one of the worst films of 2013, but it most certainly is. Yikes.
Other than that, I am finishing up reading Sam Kashner and Jennifer MacNair‘s “The Bad and the Beautiful” and next up is Mark Harris‘ “Pictures at a Revolution” and I also picked up Dennis Lehane‘s “Live by Night” for only $1.99 on sale yesterday at Amazon. That’s the one Ben Affleck is going to direct for 2015 once he finishes with Batman vs. Superman.
Now, it’s your turn, what did you watch this weekend?
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