Shogun

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable
Review: wow. this was 10 hours long. any epic that can keep my attention span for that long in a single day deserves much attention, considering that i often quit during 2 hour movies. i was sick at home that day. my dad said he'd go out and rent me something that could keep me entertained for the day. i didn't expect 10 hours. although i did want to see blackthorne cut up some ninjas. that happened. i wanted to see blackthorne kill the evil jesuit and the captain... didn't happen. i also wanted to watch blackthorne tear through ishido's army alone with his sword following the bushido as he cuts every last one of them up, but it's not that kind of epic. it's more realistic. the major point is of how the samurai, despite their code of honor, enjoyed screwing up another man's life. 10 hours in one sitting, i'm telling you, i'm just 14, and i usually hate realistic movies, and i sat through and LOVED it. check this one out, you wont be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, If Not Masterful...
Review: This is not an easy series to review because I find myself of two minds about it. The story itself I find highly enjoyable and evocative of classical Japanese romance, if not exactly true to the form. The history behind it, however, leaves something to be desired.

The series is a surprisingly faithful adaptation of the book, and the mini-series format gives the story the depth needed to tell Clavell's book properly. The costumes and settings are impressive (if possibly a bit more elaborate than history would require) and the story is a complex, well told one. The style and pace of the story are even reminiscent of some classical Japanese romances like "Gonza the Spearman" or "Double Suicide". The ultimate moral and conclusion differ somewhat from the traditional Japanese, but then again, the intention was not to sell "Shogun" to a Japanese audience.

The history, however, is a bit disappointing. While the story of Blackthorne (Will Adams in real life) is a true one, Clavell paints an image of a Japan that is much more stratified and romantic than was actually the case at the time. Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga, played by Toshiro Mifune) actually codified and enforced the samurai code that Clavell has in place for the story. The samurai and daimyo of the story are much more stylized than you would actually have found then. For the type of samurai shown in this movie, one would need to jump about a hundred years foward. Historically, the samurai of this movie would have been somewhat more like those seen in "Seven Samurai" (another Mifune movie).

I am also somewhat confused as to why Clavell seemed to find the need to change the names of all of the historical characters of the movie. If it was to distance the characters from the actual history, then it was probably a good idea. However, if his intention was a historically accurate book or series (which I rather doubt) his decision is rather puzzling.

On the technical side, the presentation of the series is a 'book-style' case with a booklet about the series (with lots of trivia and useful Japanese phrases) is quite nice. I regret the producers' decision to compress the episodes together rather than to give a separate opening and ending for each, but it is a minor complaint. I would love to see what they could do with this as a DVD release.

All in all, though, "Shogun" is a lot of fun to watch. The Japan presented is the Japan of American fantasy, but that is fine if you're watching it for the entertainment value. If your interest in Japan tends towards the casual or your interest in James Clavell towards the serious, I recommend the entire mini-series.

Rating:
Summary: Shogun - The complete Epic
Review: This is a fantastic series. Why on earth doesn't any of James Clavell's works end up on DVD?? If they were on DVD, I'd buy them again!

Rating:
Summary: An Epic Mini-Series: take a weekend and enjoy it again
Review: It has been two decades since James Clavell's novel first aired, but "Shogun" is still one of the finest mini-series yet produced and it still holds up. The stranger in a strange land story of an English navigator shipwrecked in fuedal Japan strikes such a strong chord because the audience is in the same predicament as the main character, confronted with an unknown and dangerous world that refuses to make sense. "Shogun" was filmed in Japan with remarkable fidelity to both the original story and local culture.

As Pilot-Major John Blackthorne, Chamberlain is often called upon to do more with looks than with dialogue. As the "King of the Mini-Series," it is easy to forget what Chamberlain can do as an actor given the proper material (I wish his version of Christopher Fry's "The Lady's Not For Burning" was available on video tape). Actually, there is a sense in which Chamberlain's performance is arguable the weakest of the cast, but that speaks more to the strength of the supporting players. Certainly John Rhys-Davies steals every scene he is in as Vasco Rodrigues, Damien Thomas' Father Alvito personifies political machination, and Nobuo Kaneko as Lord Ishido has that glare down perfectly. Ultimately, it is the Japanese actors who carry "Shogun." From the legendary Toshirô Mifune as Lord Toranaga, to the novice actress Yôko Shimada as Mariko, to Frankie Sakai as Yabu and every one of the characters who make up Blackthorne's Japanese household, these actors provide the new word that confront's Chamberlain's character. The choice of producer Eric Bercovici to also adopt Clavell's novel was the ideal choice. Bercovici was not only familiar with the mini-series format, having done "Washington Behind Close Doors," but he was the writer on "Hell in the Pacific," a 1968 movie with Lee Marvin and Toshirô Mifune. During WWII the two men end up on a deserted island. What made the film unique was that it was done without subtitles; Marvin spoke English and Mifune spoke Japanese and the idea was to show it in both countries without subtitles. Okay, unfair advantage to the Japanese, but you have to appreciate the idea which "Shogun" certainly uses to great effect.

Director Jerry London does an admirable job of presenting Japanese culture on its own terms, which is exactly what is right for the story. My understanding was that the Orson Welles narration was added at the, uh, request of the network who felt audiences would not be able to read between the lines. I think that for the most part "Shogun" would work without the excessive explanations, even if you have not read the novel, but we will never know.

If you are looking for something to lose yourself in next weekend, you would not find too many things as intelligent and as fascinating as "Shogun." Just be sure you do the complete original mini-series and not the one cassette mini-version.

Rating:
Summary: Another shallow rendering of a good book.
Review: Better that you see the video first, and then read the book, otherwise you will be disappointed.

The film focused too much on Richard Chamberlain, playing him up as a Western hero, rather than the baffled pawn that in reality he was. The love interest with Shimada Yoko was poorly done, making her out to be a simple bimbo finding a kind foreigner, when she was much stronger and intelligent than was portrayed.

John Rhys-Davies is a strong as ever, these swashbuckling roles seem designed for him, while Toshiro Mifune projects a modicum of charisma, at least all the the series allowed.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the book is very detailed, and was hard to render into TV. Unfortunately, the videos of his other novels in the same area, Noble House and Taipan were equally as banal, fulfilling the limited geographical and historical understanding, and instant gratification requirements of the US TV audience.

The only film on Asia that has ever managed to capture the full flavour of a book, and transfer it onto the screen was "The World of Suzie Wong", a personal favourite, but the topic of an artist and a bargirl is not for everyone.

As a long-time resident of Japan, maybe I am too familiar with the story, but it is a shame to see the videographic equivalent of a 12 course dinner compressed into a sandwich box.

For anyone who has not read the book, go ahead and watch a reasonable snapshot of the shogunate era, but if you have read the book, and liked James Clavell's detail, I recommend that you buy a couple of bottles of sake, put on a kimono, settle down into a comfy futon and read it again!

Rating:
Summary: An epic and original mini-series!
Review: Very few mini-series' ever live up to the book from which it came. Shogun comes very close. Taking place during a period when all of Europe was competing for the riches of the world, the story starts off with the last ship of a lost fleet, down to a skeleton crew (in size as well as health) trying to find "the Japans". Pilot-Major John Blackthorn, played well by Richard Chamberlain, wakes up on shore in Japan after barely making to land. Used to being in control, he is swept up in all the politics and violence that this period of Japan could offer. In just the first day alone he sees a beheading, is forced to listen to one of his crew boiled to death, and must endure the shame of having a Samurai "relieve himself" on his back. He then becomes a pawn between two lords, the brutal Ishido, and the cunning Toranaga. As Blackthorn begins to understand the culture, he also begins to build his own power and worth, causing Toranaga to realize the value of the Englishman.

Throughout this mini-series the photography is stunning, the action impressive, and the romance steamy. The acting here is also probably the best overall of any epic film. The film follows closely to the book with minor exceptions, and keeps the viewer riveted throughout the entire series. Also the continual battle between Blackthorn and the Jesuit Priest, Father Alvito, seems to have been written to match the feud between Ishido and Toranaga. Both feuds are intense and gut-wrenching, leading though to different types of endings.

This series is a great story, told well, and captures the imagination quickly. I would recommend this to any viewer who likes an action-packed and entertaining adventure. Just be prepared: There are some scenes that are a little violent. This was necessary to get the feel for how violent this period was in Japan, however it can still be a wee bit disturbing. This is probably not for the pre-teen crowd.

Rating:
Summary: Shogun is the best Made for TV Movie\Miniseries There is!
Review: Seriously! This film, albiet long, is one of the best acting, storytelling and directing i have ever seen. My first exposure to TV Miniseries was V, and that was pretty neat to me. BUT THIS! The film making, artfull picture, story was all very cool. The only gripe i had was that it was a little dificult to learn Jappanese just in order to understand the verson without the subtitles. But the whole story is, even though it takes 3 or 4 days to watch it, is captivating. BUY THIS MOVIE!

Rating:
Summary: Shogun(mini)
Review: Shogun is a very good series for me as it educated me on the lifestyle of ancient Japan. The choreography is well done and the landscape is beautiful. The story has love, revenge and jealousy whilst all the way through is non-stop action! I hope a talented director will produce the 20th Century equivalent where Shogun left off. One must watch the series as Richard Chamberlain acts his best.

Rating:
Summary: This is a light goss over of the book!
Review: This film is a nice try at filming a huge book, but in trying to cover it all it is forced to leave too much out. They would have done better to only cover part of the book and do that well. You need a background in Japanese culture to understand why things happen and what it means-- which feeds the plot and sub-plots in the book. The book does a much better job of giving you the background. Also the romance angle of the TV version is far too western, to the point of almost being a romance novel, and yes I know it was made for TV and that romance sells. Too bad, it is a great book, and could have been a great set of movies.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Video Collection
Review: This is the video collection of the excellent mini-series. It takes place during the shogun period in Japanese history. The only negative to this collection is the lack of subtitles. There are long stretches where the Japanese actors speak to each other in Japanese and the audience has no clue what is being said (unless you understand Japanese). Still I found this very enjoyable!