Promised Land (2012), Hara-Kiri : Death of a Samurai (2011)

Promised Land, In Brief: Steve (Matt Damon) is roaming the country convincing people to allow them to build Natural Gas wells on they're properties with his partner (Frances McDormand). During a town meeting, they are met with some resistance from the townspeople, and an environmentalist (John Krasinski) who has been burned by big corporation tries to encourage the town to reject the offer.

Hara Kiri : Death of a Samurai, in Brief: A Ronin (Kôji Yakusho) approaches the house of a fudal lord, requesting the use of his courtyard to die with Honour. The lords advisor recounts of another young Ronin (Eita), who requested the same service.


Promised Land:
There's a interesting story here, even from an outsiders point of view (Natural Gas and Fraking aren't really a thing in Australia). And Damon and Krasinski have done a good job writing they're characters, and they both come across as very likeable, although flawed. The Town members feel like they're just checking off a list of town traits and covering as many bases as possible.
Gus Van Sant's direction is very restrained, without being overly stylish, shots frequently displaying the rural landscape and lifestyle effortlessly without taking away from the events at hand. The score is largely intrusiveness'.
Ultimately, Promised Land is a nice little production, but never does enough to step up past that. Worth seeing, but you'll probably forget about it in a few weeks.

Hara Kiri:
Takashi Miike, Need I say more? Probably, cause there are alot of people who have no idea who Miike is. Think of the most Diverse and Reliable Director you can think of. Someone who has directed Gangster films, Horror Films, Kids Films. Comedies, Legal Drama's, Musicals and Period films. Think of someone that's been active since the early 90's, and has Directed 90 films, and frequently brings highly entertaining films to the floor. Match that to any Western Directors?
Miike has brought us another solid period drama, the year after his stellar 13 Assassins. But while it might share a similar time period, that's about it. Hara Kiri is a slow burning, dramatic and tense. The story gradually builds, leading us to guess what's going to happen next, and when the guillotine is about to fall on events. Performances are solid. It's Beautifully shot. It's a quality production, through and through.
The Film's available in 3D, if this is worth seeing in 3D is going to come down to the cinema. It add's some nice perspective to the film, nothing jumping out, but there are some beautiful scenes towards the end of the film, that the 3D elevates further. If your cinema ups the brightness of the projection to cover for the filter/lens  on the projector. It they don't, the films going to be overly dark for most of the film.