Rating: 
Summary: Incredible vision
Review: Some movie critics always describe a movie as: "Greater than the sum of the whole of its parts." To say this of Ghost Dog is a horrible fallacy. There are scenes within this movie that I believe are pure genius--in particular, the scene in which mobsters discuss Ghost Dog's name is one of the funniest and most surprising scenes in any movie I've ever watched. As for the rest of the movie, I can say with confidence that this film isn't for everyone. Fans of conventional action need to look elsewhere, for Ghost Dog is a heavy social critique. Jarmusche is nothing if not original in his choice of material, and this is perhaps his best work. Any fans of original art-house fare need to take a good look--this is about as "Art-house," an action picture as you get.
Rating:
Summary: This really should have gotten a bigger release
Review: Two ways of life that are ending, The way of the Samurai and the mafia. A samurai mafia hit man is being hunted by his employer and still defends the guy from other mobsters. Very cool, very funny movie which lots of little touches, that you really must watch or you'll miss all the fun.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful, Serene, Original....
Review: 'Ghost Dog' is by no means a conventional movie. People who dislike it are probably expecting something a little more along the mainstream format. Whitaker masterfully downplays the eponymous role, his physical bulk offset by graceful movement and deadpan cool. Excellent performances are also given in all the supporting roles, including the excitable ice cream van owner and some crazy mafioso. The movie combines the philosophical with the absurd to great effect. It's true strength lies in its originality - the contrast between Samurai, Gangster and Hip-hop culture is fantastic. Having said this, the slow paced style is not to everyones taste and if you're going to get hung up about realism or miniscule detail then don't bother. The point of the film is the exposition of themes and character. Personally I loved this movie. It is not really, despite the title, a Samurai movie. Although it is a major theme, people looking for a Samurai film should look elsewhere. If you are looking for an original and thoughtful movie, which puts a new twist on various old ideas, then i can give no higher reccomendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie
Review: To say the least it is like "The Professional" meets "The Seven Samurai". An excellent movie that tells a great story of a professional hitman/modern day samuai. A great crime drama that makes you think about the vows of honor that are involved in life.
Rating: 
Summary: ghost dog
Review: I've liked Forest Whitaker since (his bit part as a small-time hustler in) the 'The Color of Money'. But this is not a 'great' film, it's not even a good film. As much as I like Whitaker, he just can't pull it off. A deadpan expression and laconic demeanor is best left for Eastwood. What was that amateurish business with the sword and machete on the roof? Don't even try to hit me with that backhand. Read through the other reviews-- "existential, quiet, surreal, delicate, understated"...ya mean, like frogs falling from the sky in "Magnolia"? Yup, if I had to find an excuse for this movie, I'd use those words, too. And it's too bad--in a "samurai movie"-- no one at least thought to coach Forest in the pronunciation of the word 'samurai'. If you really want 'samurai', watch Nakadai Tatsuya in the movie "REBELLION". Sorry, Forest.
Rating:
Summary: Slooowwwww.
Review: The cover for this video has quotes from newspaper/magazine reviews saying how 'funny' and 'fresh' this film is. Don't believe it, it is so slow. Some scenes just drag on for ages and the whole film is really in slow motion. I'm afraid I could find nothing entertaining here. Where was the humour?. It's one of those films that critics/die-hard movie enthusiasts love, but the general public find boring. The film also has no visual appeal at all. I don't want to watch a film to be depressed, I want to watch a film that is uplifting. Forrest Whitaker has a glum expression nearly all the way through. God save us from arty film makers and character studies (especially when the character is boring)!
Rating:
Summary: The Way
Review: Most, if not all of the reviewers seem to have missed the important point of this film, even the ones that liked it, to me this film was about Buddhism. And I thought it was incredible the way they laced these ideas onto a wierd looking quirky film and sublime soundtrack. Every frame was full of meaning, but maybe a bit difficult for the average westener to pick up on. I'd recommend meditating on impermanence and suffering before watching it.
Rating:
Summary: Bad, doesn't begin to cover it
Review: I wonder how to say crap in Japanese? Another way to say it in English is Ghost Dog. This movie makes one wonder why it's supposedly so hard to break into the movie business. If this is the best that people can spend their money on then they have too much of it and deserve to lose it. You will be stupider and less of a person for watching this film. Save yourself and your IQ. "Howard the Duck" is intellectual compared to this crap. You've been warned
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievably Cool.
Review: Imagine a Kurosawa film with hip-hop attitude (thanks in part to the absolutely fantastic soundtrack by RZA). I found it hard to describe for friends in terms of genres; it moves far too slow for an action movie, too much violence and death for a character study; further confused by infrequent touches of comic genius; it comes off on the surface as a pastiche of beautiful images weaved in and out with passages from the _Hakagure_ (Way of the Samurai) but it is also highly-structured and very deliberate. Some of the scenes are simply amazing; for example, the training scene with Forest Whittaker on the rooftops practicing kendo and knifeplay in slow-mo is a superb adrenalin rush; I also liked the shots of Ghost Dog's bird travelling over the city backed with RZA's sparse rhythm tracks. And the way death is handled in this film is amazing - no dramatic flourishes or overacting, just death, raw, sudden and surprisingly businesslike. The cast is nearly picture-perfect - I especially like Henry Silva as a steely-faced mobster. And Whittaker has this amazing countenance which does absolute justice to the futile, insane, yet strangely balanced Ghost Dog character. One moment he's a steely-eyed sniper coldly hunting his target from afar, and then a sparrow flutters, landing on his rifle and blocking his view, and he stops to admire the bird and smiles in gentle affection for nature. This is the paradox of this film in a nutshell. Its not visceral but it is mind-blowing if you open up. Its a movie that demands multiple viewings and patience. But to paraphrase a friend : "Films that make you think are elite."
Rating:
Summary: Damn right
Review: This is a hip hop movie that finally gets it right. I belong to a fake street gang in Japan, and therefore know that this is the correct mixing of samurai ethics, yakuza decayment, and the tribal mixing that is America. The chunky, spunky and oh so funky soundtrack by RZA perfectly underscores the mood, becoming another character in the film in such a way not seen or heard since Henry Mancini gave "Touch Of Evil" a touch of earthy juke joint jazz. My favorite Jim Jarmusch movie.
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