Page 51 - Star Wars Insider #181

“Johnson modeled the traditional treatment of the values
character DJ, played
by Benicio del Toro,
after Sakura, one of
the three samurai in
Gosha’s fi lm.”
07
magistrate hostage. Rather than obey the normal
of honor and loyalty, Gosha veers codes of honor and rescue the girl, Shiba listens
toward nihilism, depicting a cruel to the grievances the peasants have against the
world of gruesome violence and tyrannical magistrate and decides to side with
them. As the film proceeds, two other samurai
shifting alliances. His action scenes
are wild and unexpected, and he join the peasant cause, though not without
often cuts from a shot of classical mortal consequences. When the three ronin
widescreen beauty to a close-up of walk down the road together at the end, they
a weapon’s violent—and bloody— have achieved no lasting victory, leaving only
death stroke. death in their wake.
“This is that era where they The film’s pulpy swordplay encouraged
were trying stylistic things that Johnson to push the melee combat in The
were a little funky or a little more Last Jedi and choreograph feats and acrobatics
out there,” Johnson explained not seen before in a Star Wars fi lm. Moreover,
to pop-culture website Uproxx. Johnson modeled the character DJ, played by
“Style-wise, it’s got something that Benicio del Toro, after Sakura, one of the three
was going to push it out beyond samurai in Gosha’s film. Gosha introduces the
what we maybe expected from a filthy Sakura as a prisoner in the magistrate’s
samurai film. The direction of that jail, just as Johnson introduces DJ in Finn and
movie is incredible. But then, also, Rose’s cell. Both men look nothing like what they
there’s the unexpected camaraderie, actually are—Sakura is an exceptional warrior
this uneasy alliance with these and DJ a talented thief—vindicating the ancient
samurai.” proverb that one should never judge a book by
Three Outlaw Samurai opens its cover—or a man by his clothes.
with a wandering ronin, Shiba, The Last Jedi also shares Three Outlaw
who encounters three peasants Samurai’s interrogation of heroism. Finn, Poe,
holding the daughter of a local and Rey make noble attempts to save the
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