James Clavell's Shogun
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Movie Reviews of James Clavell's Shogun
Movie Review: Shogun on DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
First aired over 20 years ago, this well done mini-series probably changed forever America's perception of Japan. The new DVD version is presented on 4 DVD's, with the fifth DVD for the bonus features (interviews with the surviving members of the cast, the directors, and historical notes). The video quality is decent (if less than outstanding) and the opening scenes of the Erasmus have edited so that the anachronistic shadow of a helicopter is seen only for a fraction of a second. I have not seen the VHS version, but I recall another brief scene that also has been edited out on the DVD version. The production is faithful to Clavell's novel, and well done. In both Shogun and Gaijin, Clavell changed the names of the actual historical figures: Toronaga Yoshi is Tokugawa Ieyasu, John Blackthorne is Williams Adams, Ishido is Ishida Mitsunari, and -mentioned briefly in the story- Kuroda is Oda Nobunaga, and Nakamura is Toyotomi Hideyoshi. What is called "Osaka Castle" in this production is actually Himeji Castle, the most often filmed castle in Japan, but I do not recognize the one used as Toranaga's (Edo) Castle. A weakness of the bonus material is that it gives no information on any of the sites used. For example, historically Himeji Castle had been awarded by Tokugawa (again, Toranaga in this story) to his son-in-law, and is not only one of the most beautiful buildings in Japan, but also a National Treasure as one of the few original castles remaining.
If you enjoy Shogun, you may enjoy Kurosawa's Kagemusha, currently only VHS in the US. One of the characters in this film is Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Movie Review: Great DVD Set But Lack of Chapter Index on Packaging Makes it Hard to Find Scenes
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw Shogun on TV when I was in high school and the movie inspired me to read the book. I loved both.
I loved watching Shogun again. Once I start watching it I can't stop. "The Making of Shogun" included as an extra on disk five is great.
I do have one major gripe about the packaging. One reason I love DVD's are the chapters which allow me to quickly find a scene in a movie I really enjoy. While the five DVD's in this set have chapters when inserted into a DVD player, there is no guide on the packaging or in the five DVD set which lists all the chapters in the series. As a result I am forced to put each disk in my DVD player and look at the chapters on my TV screen to see if a particular scene is on the disk.
There are a number of scenes in Shogun I want to watch over and over. I loved when Blackthorne was imprisoned and learns about Japan from the Franciscan priest or the time when Blackthorne saved Toranaga from the earthquake or when he became a samurai. I loved some of the scenes with Mariko. I loved when Rodrigues tried to kill Blackthorne during the typhoon and when Rodrigues visits Blackthorne with the intent to kill him. Since four of the DVD's cover the series (with the fifth being devoted to some nice extras) it is hard to guess which DVD has a scene I want to watch.
It would have cost so little to include a piece of paper with a chapter index for the entire collection. The set is not cheap either.
I am glad I bought Shogun. I just wish someone had created a chapter list somewhere.
Movie Review: Clavell's Shogun DVD set - Re-Broadcast Version
Summary: 5 Stars
It has been nearly 30 years since the original broadcast of this superb miniseries, and my recollections of that and the subsequent re-broadcast are still vivid.
This is an excellent set, and highly recommended. I have watched these DVD's several times now, and the set wears well. Certainly, it is one of the finest and most faithful adaptations of a book you will ever see.
This DVD set was made from the re-broadcast version. Compared to the original version, several short, minor scenes have been cut, and voice-over narration added in places. Take for example the scene in which Lord Toranaga confronts Lord Yabu. In the original broadcast, there was only a single subtitle at the beginning of the scene: "Lord Yabu's treachery revealed". From the action and the actor's expressions, a viewer immediately can understands what is happening, and in my opinion the word-for-word voice over narration of the actual dialogue detracts more than it adds. I understand that the director's intent originally was for the viewer to experience the scene as Blackthorne with his limited fluency in Japanese would have.
I've been to Japan a number of times since I first saw this series, and I am now amused to understand where and how some scenes were filmed. The scene in which Blackthorne goes to to Osaka-Jo (castle) was filmed at both Himeji-Jo and Hikone-Jo: the procession enters at Himeji-Jo, walks under the bridge at Hikone-Jo, then returns to Himeji-Jo. The scene with Blackthorne, Mariko, and Toranaga was filmed at Hikone-Jo.
Movie Review: brilliant historical and cultural television
Summary: 5 Stars
One of he best things on TV ever. A phenomenon when it first aired in the 80s, the production value is still unparalleled. This extraordinary mini series about japan that was shot in japan with japanese actors and, somewhat frustratingly (but intentionally so), with lots of real japanese dialog. Chamberlain is the only reasons this piece is not one of televisions best moments ever. He is so outclassed by the rest of the fantastic cast and must overacts all the time.
The series' depiction of the culture of the time is accurate and in a way can save you feudal japan 101. The constant suicides everywhere might seem overdone or even silly, but are actually quite in keeping with the times depicted. Visit one of the actual castles in japan and you will find a rediculous selfslaughterfest among some of its regal inhabitants (if a lord kills himself a good dozen woman around him do the same and there are many "goodbye" poems on display, ah there is so much our culture could learn...). I found this knowledged made the series more enjoyable to watch, knowing that this was very real and giving some insights into the origins of this behaviour.
So much has been said about the movie I only want to add that this is a shortened version of the original 12.5 hour piece. This is very frustrating, because having additional material never shown on tv (the great american fear of nipples)seems ideal for dvd releases. If ever there was an opportunity for added value dvd this was it. That is why I gave only 3 stars, well and Chamberlain.
Movie Review: SIMPLY AMAZING!
Summary: 5 Stars
Definitely a great epic movie, Shogun, brings to the screen the story of John Blackthorne, an English navigator/pilot whose ship, flying the Dutch colors, sinks off the coast of Japan washing him and part of the crew on Japan's shores.
Stranded there, he gets entangled in the shady factional politics of Medieval Japan, while becoming accustomed to the culture and traditions of the "Land of the Rising Sun."
The film combines romance, drama, action and adventure making it one of the best of its kind!
Moreover, the clash between the Dutch/England and Spain/Portugal is as fascinating as the conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism, and both are presented very well in the film.
The plot is extraordinary and opens a window into the mysterious Orient.
Furthermore, shot on location it provides for some amazing scenery.
Needless to say, Richard Chamberlain, Hiromi Senno, Toshiro Mifune, John-Rhys Davies, and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least, especially Hiromi Senno's character who as Fujiko, steals the show!
The actors' great talent and chemistry clearly shows, thus providing an entertaining film that can be watched over and over again.
The setting, the dialogues, the music and the costumes are all wonderful!
It is a movie definitely worth owning, yet alone watching, especially for those with a soft spot for History, and especially Eastern/Oriental enthusiasts.