Code of the Samurai

Starring:George Alexander
Director: Damien Chambers
Studio: Pro-Active Entertain
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
In yet another marvelous video by Prof. George Alexander, the Code of the Samurai is broken down for the Western mind to thoroughly understand.

Were they mercenaries, hired guns so to speak or were they men of high standards who valued honor, courage and respect above all else? Were women allowed in this "Cult of Cold Steel" or were they barred?

You will hear several stories of some of the most famous Samurai Warriors including the man who wrote the `Book of Five Rings', Miyamoto Musashi, who is considered Japan's greatest warrior.

Amazon.com

Forest Whitaker makes an unlikely modern samurai with his laser-sighted pistols, shabby street clothes, and oddly graceful gait--but then Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is an unusual film. Quirky, contemplative, and at times absurd, it's just the kind offbeat vision we've come to expect from the fiercely independent Jim Jarmusch (Stranger than Paradise, Dead Man). Whitaker is Ghost Dog, a mysterious New York hit man who lives simply on a tenement rooftop and follows a code of behavior outlined in Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai (passages of this book are interspersed throughout the film). When the local mob marks him for death in a complicated code of Mafiosi-style honor, Ghost Dog sends a cryptic message to his foes. "That's poetry. The poetry of war," remarks mobster Henry Silva, with sudden respect upon reading the verse. He could be describing the ethereal beauty of Jarmusch's vision, full of wonderful imagery (a night drive across town seems to float in time) and off-center humor. Though it briefly stalls in a series of assassinations (Jarmusch is no action director), it settles back into character-driven drama in a quietly epic showdown, equal parts samurai adventure, spaghetti western, and existential crime movie. The film is likely too unconventional and offbeat for general audiences, but cult-movie buffs and Jarmusch fans will appreciate his idiosyncratic vision. He finds a strange sense of honor in the clash of Old World traditions, and salutes his heroes with a skewed but sincere respect. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Great show! Well worth five stars!.......2007-06-18

There isn't anything I didn't like about this film. Good old Forrest comes through with another superb performance and makes his character very believable. He portrays Ghost Dog - a very intelligent and thoughtful fellow - in such a way that this individual could be a very likely manifestation within the environment the story takes place in.
Equally, there is no wild and absurd special effects to mar the flow or the potential realism; no fancy super-duper martial arts moves to turn what you're watching into a farce. Ghost Dog is careful. He's deliberate. He consciously regulates his behavior and tries to adhere to the code of the Samurai. He comes across as being quite human - a person who has developed a psychological mechanism to allow him to cope and survive within a depressing and dangerous environment.
There's some humor in this movie too, as well as some telling symbolism. The scenes generating the "feel" of the show are quiet, seedy, gritty, and earthy, and when all these elements are combined with the performance of the cast it makes for a very well-done production.
Too bad there isn't more of this type of show and less of the mindless, ultra-violent, formula-type [....] that is spewed out by the cocain-sniffing hacks in Hollywood year after year.

Ghost Dog with Forest Whitaker.......2007-05-22

This is a very good film. The uniqueness of Whitaker's real-life persona enhances the unique character he brings to the screen. Ghost Dog displays all the discipline of a martial arts master but with a gun in hand. From this perspective he is far removed from the on-screen likes of Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly and Jet Li but equally as deadly. The film does not hide the fact the methods of destruction used by Ghost Dog are not only outlandish but straight out of a cartoon fantasy. This adds to its entertainment value: we know we're being taken for a ride. It's a fun trip. Whitaker's supporting cast round out this excellent ensemble work.

Breathtakingly Poignant and Spiritually Enlightening.......2007-05-05

Yesterday I tried in vain to encourage some of my friends, who had never even heard of Ghost Dog, to plan on watching it someday, and I obviously failed to give them even a mere glimpse of the magnitude of the story and its central character, Ghost Dog!

One friend said, "I can't believe you would enjoy a movie about an assassin! It seems so unlike you."

Yes, this is a movie about an impoverished, urban Black man, who survives by doing hits for his local Mob, but it is so much more, that it ranks right up there at the top of my favorite movie list.

Raised by a movie loving father who early on introduced me to independent American films and international films, such as Rashomon, with Tashiro Mifune and the French film, The Red Balloon, the sweetness of this very spiritual movie lives on and is one I know I will never forget.

I was already a Forest Whitaker fan, when I saw Ghost Dog for the first time, but since then, he has been firmly established, in my opinion, as one of the most poetic actors of our age. In this movie, he communicates at the highest levels of consciousness...sometimes by staying silent.

Ghost Dog is a masterpiece. Don't deprive yourself...rent it. Or better yet, buy it!

Become one with your inner self.......2007-03-12

This movie is better than expected. Forrest Whittaker seems miscast for this role, but he really is tremendous as Ghost Dog. And don't worry, there's no scenes of him slicing down evil hordes with his blade. That might be silly.
The story fuses elements of the mafia, gangster, and the way of the samurai. Ghost Dog is a hired mercenary that studies the great ancient culture of the samurai. He's definitely more dangerous with a gun than with his sword, and his dedication to his craft is amazing.
The mafia clan in this movie are intentionally laughable, a far cry from the Sopranos.
Ghost Dog also features a superb soundtrack of classic hip-hop. The rhythm and the beats coincide perfectly with the flow of the plot.
This is a different type of movie, better than you might expect.

Big yawn!.......2007-03-12

I fell asleep during this movie and didn't bother to try to finish it. The story was incredibly slow and boring. Forest Whitaker's performance as a samurai is laughable. He just looks rediculous through the entire film. The mobsters in the movie are just corny Italian stereotypes. This movie was a waste of space on my Netflix queue. But on the bright side, RZA did the soundtrack and that may be worth checking that out.

Average customer rating:

Stunning film
Excellent, Yet Little Known Samurai Classic!
Exceptional Classic - But Massacred By This DVD
Correction
Little known, but worth seeing

Goyokin
Starring: Eijirô Tono , Yôko Tsukasa , Isao Natsuyagi , Tatsuya Nakadai , and Kunie Tanaka
Director: Hideo Gosha
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

When the Last Sword Is Drawn
Ronin Gai
The Hidden Blade
Shadow Hunters
Harakiri - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000C6NP7M
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Description

A samurai, Magobei, returns to face the clan he abandoned when he learns that they intend to instigate another massacre. Protecting the last survivor of that massacre, a woman called 'Taken by the Gods,' Magobei absorbs a truly phenomenal amount of punishment before taking down his brother-in-law, the clan leader.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning film.......2007-01-10

This is an underappreciated classic - while the editing is disjointed, the visuals are stunning. My quess is that the director was influenced by Hitchcock - the beginning scene where the bride returns to her village has a very Hitchcock feel. I saw the film maybe a dozen times before I could look at that scene all the way with my eyes open. There are several memorable scenes in this movie, including the one with the hero in front of a wall of fire and the final battle in the snow.

Excellent, Yet Little Known Samurai Classic!.......2007-01-01

I first saw this great film in the early 1970s, at the now defunct Fox Theatre in Venice, California. I remembered that the film was somewhat butchered in its theatrical release, therefore, I am willing to take any translation transfer until a better one is released. I can understand the spotlight reviewers complaints, it bothers me too. The film centers around the character Wakizaka Magobei (Tatsuya Nakadai) as a samurai who returns to his clan which he has left for many years. And (Tatsuya Nakadai) portrays his character exceptionally well in this film. Wakizaka Magobei is guilt ridden from an incident [no spoilers] which occurred years before. He has returned to prevent a massacre from happening again.

Furthermore, Wakizaka Magobei is intent on preventing his clan from repeating this intended massacre which he feels great remorse for. This film is an excellent morality and loyalty tale involving the films main protagonist, (Tatsuya Nakadai). And the films psychological nuances are intelligently woven into this film. The cinematography is outstanding, with many beautifully captured and stunning visuals. Moreover, the films concluding duel is terrific. The film has an entertaining plot, great visuals and beautiful cinematography which makes this one of the better samurai films out there. This film is not to be missed, it belongs in your cinema collection, and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. [Stars: 5+]

Exceptional Classic - But Massacred By This DVD .......2006-03-20

I DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM PURCHASING THIS DVD FROM MEDIA-BLASTERS/TOKYO SHOCK, owing to its abysmal Japanese-to-English translation.

For the discriminating viewer, "Goyokin" is a vastly subtle, yet utterly compelling, work. Superb direction, acting, writing, and cinematography do ample justice to this deceptively straightforward, yet culturally and thematically complex, drama.

However, this version is rendered nearly unwatchable. First-time viewers, especially, beware: the translative butchery here will leave you with serious misimpressions of the film.

Devotees of this remarkable, yet sadly obscure, film have waited decades for a quality video print, and for years a DVD version. What a disheartening disappointment, then, this version. Its only saving grace is the print, which does retain the film's impressive cinematography.

But translator Julia Rose is grossly incompetent, her translation risibly juvenile and glib for such a mature work as "Goyokin." Her failure here desecrates the supremely sensitive achievement that is director Hideo Gosha's film.

Ms. Rose fails to grasp the most fundamental nuances of the Japanese people, their language, history, and culture. This film demands not only a command of all these elements, but a mastery of English prose to adeptly convey Japanese refinement to an English-speaking audience -- a depth of sophistication worthy of the film's artistry. Ms. Rose even leaves out ENTIRE stretches of essential dialogue! (Accountability must also rest with the DVD's Translation Manager, Anna Yamamoto.)

Hopefully, fans of "Goyokin" will one day be rewarded with an alternative DVD version, one which bears the intelligence and finesse to respect this notable classic.

Fine and noteworthy films merit long life in a loyal and dedicated audience, who deserve to see films exactly as their creators envisioned in the final cut -- not as works butchered by the hands of post-production incompetents.

Correction.......2006-03-04

To those who care: Nakamura Kinnosuke is the shogunate spy and Tetsuro Tamba is the brother-in-law. Hope it's in widescreen, even though not stated. One of my favs. Just adding my $0.02.

Little known, but worth seeing.......2006-01-27

"Goyokin" is probably one of the least-known of the samurai films from Japan. That's a pity, because it is also, arguably, one of the best ever made of that genre. Released in 1969, the film had a limited release in the US, and then languished in storage due to legal matters.

The story focuses on Wakizaka Magobei (Nakadai Tatsuya), a samurai who returns to face the clan that he'd left meany years before. A subterfuge, performed to steal the official gold of the title; a massacre, done to eliminate any convenient witnesses or informants. All create the psychological tension that forms the drama surrounding Nakadai. The director, Gosha pits clan loyalty against morality, or doing what is right. In this respect, Gosha is similar to Masaki Kobayashi, who explored similar themes in "Harakiri," (also starring Nakadai) as well as his "Human Condition" trilogy.

Several other folk have mentioned that this film reminds them of the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone. That observation isn't so far-fetched. This film was copied and made into a forgettable Hollywood western: "The Master Gunfighter," with Tom Laughlin, of "Billy Jack" fame. Think of it as Cowboys with Swords.

An intelligent script, superb direction, outstanding cinematography ("Goyokin" was the first film in Japan to be filmed in Panavision) and the excellent acting of Nakadai. The climactic duel in the snow, with Nakadai and Nakamura Kinnosuke as the clan head (his brother-in-law), is visually stunning.

Hopefully, the re-release of this film will allow a wider audience to appreciate it.

Average customer rating:

Terrible sound, lighting, and high cheese factor
Intriguing Content
Amateur Hour!!! I'd give it NO STARS if it were possible!!!

Code of the Samurai
Starring: George Alexander
Director: Y. Ishimoto
Manufacturer: Rising Sun Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Samurai - The Last Warriors (Documentary)
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Ronin Gai

ASIN: B0001KFSQK
Release Date: 2004-02-01

Description

This video is a documentary created by Phd George Alexander who has studied the Samurai warrior for several decades. He shares with you information about these warriors of Japan and who they were and how one became a samurai, what was his training consiosted of, and much more that will answer all your questions about these warriors. you will also here the story of the 47 Ronin one of Japan's most famous stories about these hired warriors. This is an excellent video who those who want to understand the Samurai Culture and how it impacted Japanese society.

Customer Reviews:

Terrible sound, lighting, and high cheese factor.......2006-08-06

Unfortunately, I ordered this dvd before I read some of the reviews on it. Being that there was another review that started that the sound dropped in the first 10 minutes of the dvd and never came back on, it sounds like this is a major problem with the product.

Even without the sound problem this had to be on of the worst documentories I have ever seen in my life. It was cheap and the presentation was not worth the high price tag. I felt the presentation in the documentary "Samurai - The Last Warriors" was much better and more informative.

Intriguing Content.......2005-11-15

The knowledge I received regarding the Samurai is fascinating. Such an interesting culture and DVD to boot.

Amateur Hour!!! I'd give it NO STARS if it were possible!!!.......2004-10-20

This dvd features bad lighting, bad sound, bad editing and a rambling, pompous, repellant incoherent host. What more could you want? Not to mention that the sound (what there is of it) drops out permanently after 5 minutes. How did this guy get a Phd anyway? He must have found a blank Phd certificate while dumpster diving behind his local University looking for used porn. Then, once he ascertained what it was,(I figure he can at least recognize the letters P,H and D) he found someone who could write, and agreed to do some yard work for them if they would just write his name in the blanks.
What a waste!!!

Average customer rating:

Glad I bought this one.
George Alexander Strikes Again!!!
worth every penny
Very informative and well done
Amateur production - very disappointing

Code of the Samurai
Starring: George Alexander
Director: Damien Chambers
Manufacturer: Yamazato Videos
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00006JXWF
Release Date: 2002-09-14

Description

In yet another marvelous video by Prof. George Alexander, the Code of the Samurai is broken down for the Western mind to thoroughly understand.

You will hear several stories of some of the most famous Samurai Warriors including the man who wrote the `Book of Five Rings', Miyamoto Musashi, who is considered Japan's greatest warrior.

Customer Reviews:

Glad I bought this one........2006-02-04

If you are interested in Samurai ethics this is DVD for you. I found it very informative and enjoyable to watch. When I checked out jsanfords other reviews I noticed he only gives bad reviews to products, so I discounted his review and purchased the DVD anyway. I am glad I did!! You will learn a lot.

George Alexander Strikes Again!!!.......2004-10-21

I bought what must have been the first volume of Mr. Phd's series on samurai and was enraged at the incredibly low quality of the documentary. Judging from most of the reviews that I've read of this one, he hasn't improved. I figure the 2 positive reviews were either written by Mr. Alexander himself, or his mom, or possibly his nephew. This guy must be stopped. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING THAT HE IS EVEN REMOTELY ASSOCIATED WITH!!!

worth every penny.......2004-07-07

I'm really into Samurai history & martial arts that have swords as the
primary weapon of use and if you want to know about the Samurai and his
culture, buy this DVD, it's worth every penny. This video is the bomb.

Very informative and well done.......2004-06-04

I found this a very informative and interesting documentry on the Samurai code of honor. This excellent production helped me to understand the roots of my own Japanese Martial Arts training. It gave me much to think about and I believe made me a better more determined student of the martail arts . I highly recommend this production.

Amateur production - very disappointing.......2004-03-31

This DVD does not live up to it's description. The entire video is comprised of a guy in a very ugly shirt standing in front of a temple 'talking' mostly about the history of the Samurai. Toward the end of the video, it loses voice sync. It is really, really bad. It appears that the guy set up a video camera and filmed himself talking then decided to make a buck off of it. I only hope that Amazon will let me return this sad excuse of a video.

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