Bob Barnes wrote:

Hiro will definitely be an interface between Jack and the rest of the
cast. That was his role in "Chasing the Wind," and he's well suited to
it. One of the things to remember about Hiro is that several cast
members do not know him, and vice versa. (Cologne, Shampoo, Mousse,
Happosai, plus the lesser members.) Bridget has suggested that the two
of them form a companionship similar to the two truck drivers "Goro" and
"Gun" in that most excellent Juzo Itami film on food and sex, "Tampopo."

Actually, "Tampopo" is about _everything_ and how it can all be related to food.

Very true, but since the Yakuza and his Moll keep making appearances
throughout the film with sexual overtones (or just good clean(?) sex
involving whipped cream/egg yolks/live crawfish) sex is a major theme in
the film.
 

Anyway, interesting idea!  Remember the big fight scene between Goro and...
Shoot! My brain seized up and I can't remember... the business man.  Itami's
homage to "The Quiet Man" IMHO.  Anyway, there's the fight between Jack and
Ranma.

I could see it, only I think David Johnston has a point: Jack Burton
would never admit that he was outclassed. I'll work on it.

Heh. and if you are thinking about slipping in something of Itami... how
about the main character from "A Taxing Woman" meets Nabiki?

Gonna have to ask B-ko about that one, she's the Japanese Film Expert of
the house.
 
Anyway, since I've gone and changed the subject line, here's why:

B-ko and I watched "Tampopo" last night (after we put The Mouse to bed
of course!) and we started laughing as Goro issues "The Fish Cake
Challenge" to some toughs in Tampopo's ramen shop, thus calling them
outside for the fistfight that brings Goro into the story. The scene was
so eerily similar to Ranma's challenge to Mikado Sanzenin, that we began
to wonder which came first? "Tampopo" was released in 1987. Does that
put it before or after Takahashi wrote/drew her scene?

Also, the bit where the dying woman gets up from her deathbed to cook a
final meal for her family before finally expiring to the glowing praise
of her food reminds me greatly of Kasumi. 

And finally, a line was uttered that I can only see coming from Tatewaki
Kuno:

"They live deeply; these vagabonds."

Jamie
-- 
  _____________________________________________________________________
 /---------------------------------------------------------------------\
|---------------J. Austin Wilde and Bridget Ellen Engman---------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Super Critical Reactor Axe Man.    | Proofreader, Fission Park Press.|
| Head Ranger, Fission Park Press.   | "Helen Keller is alive and well,|
| Hired-Gun, P-P-P-Chan Productions. |  and driving in Tucson..."      |
| "If you cooperate, we'll reduce the|    -Printed on a bumper-sticker.|
|  charges from Hit-and-Run Murder   | "'Motorcycle Cop' is a sweet    |
|  to Littering..." -Lord Barons     |  nothing?"         -Miss Piggy  |
 \_____________________________________________________________________/