Rating: 
Summary: A movie that will still be studied for decades to come
Review: This movie is a masterpiece.1. The DVD:
Good movie transfer and sound. Unfortunately the extras are disappointing - just one tier up from having no extras at all. A little bit of trivia is gleaned from the 30-minute 'in-depth study' feature; the feature is simply an interview with Jim Jarmusch, Forest Whitaker, and the RZA, along with screamingly bad editing and annoying camera angles. Not on a level with the 30-minute 'What is Brazil' which should be a model to all DVD producers. There is also an 'isolated music score' which is interesting if you're into how the music integrates with the film. Apart from that the extras are duds, only 1 deleted scene, no audio commentary, etc. But the movie is a classic, so the DVD is a must-have in my opinion. 2.The movie:
A powerful tale of a man (Forest Whitaker) living the Samurai code in a modern "nameless" city. A man who belongs to another time (or does he?). A sort of contrast between two ancient tribes, two codes - the italian mafioso code, and the way of the samurai. The film has been described as a fusion between many genres - samurai, urban hip-hop, gangster, and western. This is quite a challenge, and works for most of the film (although the humor and slapstick of the gangster characters goes a little far and doesn't integrate well with the other parts of the movie). I like the fact that Jarmusch didn't cast the 'usual suspects' for his gangster characters, but instead made an effort to use stage actors, actors that haven't been seen widely in these kinds of roles, etc.
In the end, this is one of those movies that I find myself thinking about long after having seen it. Not only that, it has inspired me to read Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai, and Roshoman. Jarmusch has outdone himself. Among his work I would rate this second only to Dead Man.
Rating: 
Summary: GHost movie....
Review: Boring. Endless. Moralless. There's absolute nothing attractive about Whitaker's character. He's as bad as the Mafia guys he's hired to kill... Absurd! Ok, it's different, it's an "independent" movie, but nonetheless is bad!
Rating:
Summary: dont waste your life
Review: This film, was by far, the worst way I could have spent 2 hours of my life. It would have been more productive to bore a hole in my arm, or watch a spider sleep. This man, who for most of the film you watch walk aimlessly around the streets, is in no way a samurai. There is little plot, and what exists is sketchy at best. At numberous points in the film I actually screamed for something to happen, perhaps for some character to develop, or for a line to be said.
I only award this film one star because the site will not allow a rating of zero. Life is a precious gift, too good to be wasted on this film.
Rating: 
Summary: cool flix
Review: Cool flix. A lil different then your average ninja style movie.
Rating:
Summary: Sad and poetic film by Jim Jarmusch...
Review: When my Dad told me about this movie I was quicky interested. I think that Forest Whitaker is one of the great actors of our time. I had never seen a Jim Jarmusch movie befor Ghost Dog and after seeing it I am a Jim Jarmusch fan. This is a very dark movie about a quiet man who studies the way of the samurai very seriously. He is also involved with the Italian mob. When his boss tells him that one of his fellow mob bosses is out to get him, Ghost Dog decides that he must kill or be killed. With a beautiful hip-hop soundtrack from the Wu-Tang's RZA this is a hauntingly poetic mnasterpiece by American film master Jim Jarmusch. A must for every fan of indie film.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: This brilliant movie by Jim Jarmusch is a classic. Check this one out, you will not be disappointed. The world of Ghost Dog is tremendous.. He lives in modern times but follows the ancient code of the samurai.
Rating:
Summary: a great movie for those who would partake of it
Review: This movie is truly a visual masterpiece - the scenes fit the action, the action fits the characters and there is not one wasted gesture or word in this movie. This is a great movie - not great in the sense that it has a feel good happy ending or that it ends how you might want it to end. It's great in a way that makes you think about life and loyalty, about how two different cultures collide and what honor is and how it might lead to your undoing. Forest Whitaker (a marvelous actor) is Ghost Dog, a samurai who has sworn his loyalty to a Mafia gangeter who once saved his life. Ghost Dog becomes a hitman for the Mafia, used when it's considered too dangerous for somebody else to do. He does his job well. but it confuses the Mafia simply because they don't understand his culture. Ghost Dog settles up his account with his boss once a year, he uses carrier pigeons to relay messages and lives simply - something the gangsters don't understand.
He reads from the "Hagakure" everyday, ontemplating the meaning of the way of life he has chosen. The gangsters are one messed up bunch - dysfunctional doesn't even begin to describe them - and thier idea of culture seems to be old cartoons on tv. (Although the one doing the rap song is hilarious.) A hit goes wrong - well, actually it goes right but it's a political disaster for the gangsters. It is determined Ghost Dog must die. But how do you kill a samurai - especially one that seems to materialize from nowhere, hos no known address or phone number? The rest of the movie concerns itself with that matter, as well as Ghost Dog's friendship with a Haitian ice cream vendor - though they don't speak each other's languages, hey seem to understand each other almost instinctively. And Ghost Dog befriends a young girl. These relationships help you understand more about Ghost Dog. I won't give away the ending - the movie is very powerful and really must be seen to be appreciated. But it will leave you thinking about many, many things long after the movie is over and to me, that's a mark of a great movie. It's not a movie for everybody - it's not a John Woo movie or Jackie Chan - those are both good, but this is a much different, darker type of movie. If you want to think as well as be entertained, this is the movie for you.
Rating:
Summary: Soundtrack Standout
Review: A fantastic movie that wont appeal to everyone. It is more of an art movie than action thriller. It warrants repeated viewings, not because events are easily missed, but some are not deeply appreciated with only one viewing. The gangsters are a riot, as is the French ice cream man. The dialogs between Ghost Dog and the ice cream man are fascinating and, when you think about it, not that different to the disinterested dialogue fellow English speakers might engage in. In fact the understanding may be greater. For me it was the soundtrack that stood out. I am not a huge fan of Rap, I like it but don't listen a lot. I found the glimpse into the roots of the rap culture fascinating, and they seemed more real than any other movie I have come across. (spike lee etc). Along with an interview I read recently with Matthew Johnson it is easy to see rap as the true successor to blues. And who could forget the rendition of Flavour Flav by an aging Italian Gangster. I cannot recommend this film to everyone, but if you love movies that reward careful attention then you will really enjoy this - as I did. Four and a half stars.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of time..
Review: Barely watchable, poorly executed and hardly intruiging, Forrest Whitaker is wasted in a plot that goes nowhere, shows nothing and leaves us unentertained as well confused. This is one of those artsy movies that mainstream veiwers will very much hate. ... Hardly entertaining and nowhere as good as the classic on which it was based- Branded to Kill. ...
Rating:
Summary: this film made me think..
Review: in the tradition of the best art this film made me think and I really enjoyed the experience. the areas that it took me included:
the beauty of reading
japanese culture and tradition
living life in a disciplined way
living according to one's own code
I found the film, well acted, scripted and photograghed. There were a couple of minutes during the start of the film when Ghost Dog is driving through the city where I got a bit restless, but this is the extent of my complaints. The violent scenes are fun and interesting , the end is neither tragic or unhappy - I found this an uplifting movie - well done Jim!
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