Samurai

Director: Sergio Corbucci
Studio: Miracle Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The violent five-part adventure Afro Samurai marks both the increasing confluence of American and Japanese pop culture and the shift in Japanese depictions of African-Americans. The popularity of hip-hop in Japan has led to more positive images of blacks, including Takashi Okazaki's original manga. The "Director's Cut" contains an additional 15 minutes of footage, and is even gorier than the broadcast version on Spike TV. As a boy, Afro Samurai saw his father beheaded by the maniacal Justice. The murderer sought an ancient headband that marks the wearer as the #1 warrior in the world. As an adult, Afro seeks only revenge, cutting down anyone who blocks his path to Justice. Afro Samurai depicts a oddly anachronistic world that infuses cell phones, cigarette lighters, and cyber technology into traditional Japanese culture. The elongated character designs recall Peter Chung's Aeon Flux, and much of the series is rendered in moody grays, accented by gobbets of scarlet blood. Afro is such a taciturn figure, most of the dialogue goes to his motor-mouth comrade Ninja Ninja. This big budget production features an eclectic score by Wu-Tang Clan co-founder RZA and an A-list vocal cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson and Ron Perlman. But for all its elaborate production values and over-the-top fights, Afro Samurai suffers from a weakness at its core: Afro is so monosyllabic and cold-blooded, he's not very interesting. His inevitable duel-to-the-death with Justice lacks the emotional punch of Spike's face-off against Vicious in Cowboy Bebop or Kenshin's one-on-one with Shishio in Rurouni Kenshin. This extremely violent series is not for the faint of stomach. (Rated TV MA, suitable for ages 17 and older: graphic violence, profanity, sexual activity, grotesque imagery, nudity, risqué humor, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Studio description

"Required Watching" - Stuff Magazine

Afro Samurai (voiced by Academy Award® nominated Samuel L. Jackson) is an epic tale of a black samurai's hunt for Justice (voiced by Ron Perlman: Hellboy, Alien Resurrection ) who murdered his father. With music score by The RZA ( Kill Bill , Wu Tang Clan) Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip hop to create a brutally fresh entertainment experience.

Director's Cut features:

15 minutes of never-before-seen footage
Exclusive Manga art from Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki
Interview with Takashi Okazaki
RZA music production tour
In the booth: voice talent of Afro Samurai and Animation Production--GONZO Studios; Japan
Character commentary by Eric Calderon, North American producer

Director's Cut edition of Afro Samurai is a 2-disc set - 125 minutes - awesome packaging!

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Trinity Blood
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Stills from Afro Samurai (click for larger image)

More Samuel L. Jackson

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More Stills (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Slick bud smokin samurai.......2007-07-07

If you liked Ninja Scroll, Fist of the North Star and Animatrix, then your gonna love this movie. If I had to moan I'd say that there weren't enough fighting scenes, but I'm just hungry for relentless beef. In my opinion Ninja Ninja carries the movie from start to finish also voiced by Samuel.L.Jackson. If can think about dialog from movies such as Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and 51st state then you'll know what I'm referring to. Decent story line, Beautiful visuals and wicked sound track gel together a pretty good movie. This is definitely one for your manga collection.

Afro Samurai will melt your face!.......2007-07-05

Afro Samurai is a moving work of art.
Ive seldom seen such anime with such attitude, gusto whatever you want to call it, packed into two discs. Samuel Jackson is a perfect choice for Ninja Ninja and Afro and the character design, story, and especially the music, can all be summed up in one word. That word is amazing.

the best kung fu cartoon ever freaturing a black man.......2007-07-04

the image of his father burned in his mind, just want you to watch and sees what happens. giving the nature of the violence in the cartoon of with everyone seeksing to become the next number 1, you watch to see if afro can do it and avenge his father death. i just love afro don't gvie a f**k attitude when it comes to giving someone their last moments before he kills them. i would recommend this to anyone who like's a cartoon that can give you a story line that can catch your attention like this one.

Great animation and a HUGE Afro!.......2007-06-28

Afro Samurai is a stylish visit to a world at once familiar to fans of anime' and samurai films like Lone Wolf and Cub, while at the same time strikingly original.

Samuel L. Jackson voices the character of the Afro Samurai and his smart mouthed, creepy little "sidekick". This is a world filled with anachronisms: People of all races live in a Japanese-esk/Asian world battling with samurai swords and Naginata as well as flintlocks, six-shooters and RPG's. Afro is number 2, the second best warrior in the world. He is searching for number 1 (voiced by Ron Perlman), the man that killed Afro's father. Number 1 must only worry about fighting number two as number 1 is considered a demigod; however anyone can take a shot and number 2 and pretty much everyone does in this anime' serial.

This film has it all: cool animation, martial arts, revenge hungry samurai, cell phone chatting warrior-monks and an animated Sam Jackson sporting a really big afro.

Afro Samurai is definitely a must see for all fans of anime' in the martial arts genre.

An Animated Cut Above the Rest.......2007-06-28

When you think Afro Sanurai..Think A black Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name...Think a Black version of Lone Wolf and Cub with a mouthy side kick..Think Samurai Jack with an adult theme ..Now know this is one of the best anime animation out there at this time

In this americanized version, Samuel Jackson verbalizes Samurai (when he says anything at all) and his jiving sidekick. Beauty and the Beast and Hellboy's Ron Perlman voices Justice.

This otherworldly tale of a son's revenge for a father's death is so well done.When it ran on Spike TV, Loved it! ..the director cut is 1000 times better than that. I loved this tale of revenge, it reminded me of early Bruce Lee stuff from the 1970's

I do not want to give away the twists of this 5 episode story. Anime fans, action fans and Matial artists alike wont be bored.nor will the general public

If you dont get this, you will miss of something great

Bennet Pomerantz

Seven Samurai - Criterion Collection - 3-Disc Remastered Edition

Average customer rating:

A Classic Movie
spectacular and incomparable.....
A must see
The Seven Samurai
Fantastic...

Seven Samurai - Criterion Collection - 3-Disc Remastered Edition
Starring: Takashi Shimura , Toshirô Mifune , Yoshio Inaba , Seiji Miyaguchi , and Minoru Chiaki
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000G8NXYG
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Amazon.com essential video

Hailed as the greatest film in the history of Japanese cinema, Seven Samurai is director Akira Kurosawa's undisputed masterpiece. Arguably the greatest of all jidai-gecki (or historical swordplay films), Kurosawa's classic 1954 action drama has never been surpassed in terms of sheer power of emotion, kinetic energy, and dynamic character development. The story is set during the civil unrest of 16th-century Japan, as the cowering residents of a small farming village are seeking protection against seasonal attacks by a band of marauding bandits. Offering mere handfuls of rice as payment, they hire seven unemployed "ronin" (masterless samurai), including a boastful swordsman (Toshiro Mifune) who is actually a peasant farmer's son, desperately seeking glory, acceptance, and revenge against those who destroyed his family. Led by the calmly strategic Kambei (Takashi Shimura, star of Kurosawa's previous classic, Ikiru), the samurai form mutual bonds of honor and respect, but remain distant from the villagers, knowing that their assignment may prove to be fatal.

Kurosawa masterfully composed his shots to emphasize these group dynamics, and Seven Samurai is a textbook study of the director's signature techniques, including extensive use of telephoto lenses to compress action, delineate character relationships, and intensify motion. While the climactic battle against raiding thieves remains one of the most breathtaking sequences ever filmed, Seven Samurai is most triumphant as a peerless example of character development, requiring all of its 2-hour, 37-minute running time to illuminate every essential detail of villagers and samurai alike, including an abundance of humor as Kambei's defense plan unfolds. In terms of its overall impact, Seven Samurai spawned dozens of copycat films (notably the American Western remake The Magnificent Seven) and cannot be adequately summarized by even the most comprehensive synopsis; it must be seen to be fully appreciated, and the Criterion Collection's 2006 DVD reissue is an essential addition to any definitive home-video library. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
According to the accompanying booklet, "the picture has been slightly window-boxed (in correct original 1.33:1 aspect ratio) to ensure that the maximum image is visible on all monitors." The two-disc format was necessary "to maintain optimal image quality throughout the compression process," with dual-layered DVD-9's encoded "at the highest possible bit rate for the quantity of material included." The picture and sound quality are simply amazing compared to Criterion's one-disc release from 1998. The all-new, fully restored high-definition digital transfer takes full advantage of HD's clarity and crispness, resulting in picture detail far surpassing the previous DVD. This also applies to the soundtrack, presented in optional Dolby surround in addition to the remastered original mono track. The new transfer "was mastered in 2k resolution from a duplicate negative created with wetgate processing from the original fine-grain master positive" (the film's original negative is no longer available), and "several different digital hardware and software solutions were utilized for flicker, instability, dirt, scratch, and grain management."

The complete 207-minute film is accompanied by two full-length commentary tracks, including a new track combining the critical insights of film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Price (author of The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa), Tony Rayns, and the dean of Japanese film experts, Donald Richie (author of The Films of Akira Kurosawa). Each scholar is given approximately 40 minutes of film-time, and their commentaries represent a unique opportunity to appreciate Seven Samurai from distinct yet complementary critical perspectives. The commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck (from Criterion's original 1988 laserdisc release) remains useful as a thorough analysis of Seven Samurai, primarily in terms of visual composition.

The 50-minute "making of" documentary, from Japan's 2002 Toho Masterworks TV series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create emphasizes Kurosawa's collaboration with co-screenwriters Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni, including production footage, crewmember interviews, and a reverent visit to the rural inn where Seven Samurai was written over a six-week period of intense seclusion. The two-hour "My Life in Cinema" interview with Kurosawa was recorded in 1993, with fellow filmmaker Nagisa Oshima serving as a gentle admirer, colleague, and well-informed historian of Kurosawa's career. "Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences" is a richly informative documentary that places Kurosawa's classic in both historical and cinematic context, examining its place in the jidai-gecki (swordplay) genre, its accurate depiction of samurai codes and traditions, and its stature as the prototype for many films that followed. The lavishly illustrated 58-page booklet includes eight brief essays on various aspects of Seven Samurai, each written by noted film scholars or film directors (including Arthur Penn and Sidney Lumet). Also included is a reminiscence by the great actor Toshiro Mifune, excerpted from a conversation recorded in 1993. Taken as a whole, the remastered three-disc Seven Samurai ranks as one of the finest DVD sets ever released. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Movie.......2007-07-05

This is a good classic movie. The battle action scene was all right. I expected more action but was satisfied by few scenes. I wish the movie could be all put on one disk so that I don't have to reload the second half. This is good for my classic library collection.

spectacular and incomparable............2007-06-30

I finally did it. I watched SEVEN SAMURAI, directed by Akira Kurosawa. The first thing that came to my mind after viewing the film was, "Why did I wait so long?" For me, I have no argument with any of the past critics (Pauline Kael, Siskel & Ebert, or the slew of consumers on Amazon). There is a reason that this magnificent film, by Kurosawa, has been given such high praise, dating all the way back to its release in 1954, when it rightfully received the Venice Film Festival Silver Lion, and was later voted One of the Top Ten Best Films of All Time in the 1992 Sight and Sound International Film Directors' Poll. Gene Siskel calls it "One of the greatest films ever made. The film that was transformed into the popular western The Magnificent Seven." [That's another film I have waited far too long to watch!]

SEVEN SAMURAI truly has something for everyone, and in its full 208 minutes of glory, the scenes fly by way too quickly. This remarkable story, based on Japanese history, depicts 16th century Japan, in the wake of a very turbulent chapter in the nation's past. Peasants and farmers are starving at the hand of ruthless bandits, who are raping and pillaging their rice fields (as well as their people). Who can save them, but a group of seven bold men [the title's samurai] leading a group of locals into battle, to take on these evil men. There are moments that are laugh out loud hilarious, followed by great dramatic and action-packed scenes (yes, this is a violent film--but, I am sure, judging from the title, that doesn't surprise you), and even some romance. The dazzling cast includes Kurosawa regular Toshiro Mifune (YOJIMBO), as well as Takashi Shimura (IKIRU).

What makes this film stand out so much (aside from the wonderful acting and engaging story) is the innovation in cinematography that was incredibly progressive for the time that it was made (the 1950s). This includes bold use of slow motion, a rapid moving camera and long-lens photography. When my mom was looking over my shoulder, ever so often, she remarked that she could have sworn that this film was shot in color. I can see why she thought that. The beautiful attention to light and shadow make you feel the color that the actors and crew must have seen, when they made this. I saw shades of gold, blue, and red (what with all the bloodshed) as I was watching this. You just have to watch the film to understand what I'm talking about. I really don't want to ruin the experience for you. I hope to see the DVD transfer of this, because I have heard it is far superior to the VHS version. That's hard to even imagine, for me, because this film sparkles on videotape! Please watch this and don't wait as long as I did to enjoy SEVEN SAMURAI for the exceptional film that it is. [As a note to all people weary of subtitles: You won't even notice them! This film will make you feel like you understand Japanese, almost. Visually, this is a film that has the power to transcend all cultural and language boundaries.]

A must see.......2007-06-27

Personally, I'm not a fan of b&w films, but this one is by far one of my favorites. Though it is long, it's well worth the time spent watching it, in my humble opinion.

The Seven Samurai.......2007-06-26

Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, Kurosawa's brutal, invigorating martial classic concerns the all-important code of honor among feudal Japan's warrior caste. Both Shimura and Kurosawa regular Mifune, playing a loudmouth rube posing as a member of the elite military class, give towering performances among a robust cast. As in John Ford's Westerns, Kurosawa carefully delineates each of his characters before unleashing the lurid battle sequences, the likes of which have yet to be equaled on-screen: the town raid, ferocious clashes on horseback, and barbaric hand-to-hand melees. Few films have even a fraction of the fluid visual power and visceral intensity of "Samurai," truly an essential work of cinema history.

Fantastic..........2007-05-29

I'm hooked on this director right now. I watched The Hidden Fortress first and decided to buy Seven Samurai after being blown away by the directing of the movie.

Seven Samurai is all it is blown up to be. The detail of character development was right on. The story was simple and yet it kept you interested and excited for the full 3+hours that it lasted. The fight scenes weren't as violent as i expected it to be, but the skills were all there. fantastic cast. I'm going to get more of this directors movies now. Red Beard has caught my eye...

Average customer rating:

the wait is over
Season 4 at last!
Samurai Jack Comes to a Close

Samurai Jack: Season 4
Starring: Samurai Jack
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QCU534
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Customer Reviews:

the wait is over.......2007-05-31

Samurai Jack isn't a cartoon you just leave on in the background as you do other things. Its a show that demands and deserves your full attention. The majority of its dialogue is spoken through its images. This is art, anime, and cartoons at its best. A MUST HAVE. period.

Season 4 at last!.......2007-05-30

I am a 36 year old father who got into Samurai Jack through his son. I will admit that I am a big kid and love animation, but I am also picky and don't have time to waste on sub-par series. Samurai Jack is certainly a cut above most. From its offbeat theme song and stylized animation, you know you are getting something special -- and that isn't even taking into account the premise of the shows! My son even wanted to be called Jack for a several months, and has been inspired to learn the art of the samurai sword in his Tae Kwon Do class. All because of this series.

I missed most of Season 4 because of Cartoon Network's constant shifting of the show. I am not sure why it did not go on for another few seasons as it was always fresh and exciting. It is one of the few shows that really miss being able to see. We have the other 3 seasons on DVD and they were well worth the purchase price. Excellent stories, high flying action, and great characters make Samurai Jack a cartoon for the ages. I expect the Season 4 DVD will continue to live up to those high standards.

Samurai Jack Comes to a Close.......2007-05-26

Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack" is one of the most fantastically inventive shows to ever grace TV. Amidst the stunning action sequences, and the almost star wars-like creatures, are good morals. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, and makes you laugh, sometimes at the same time. This show is a sure fire treat for animation buffs to casual TV watchers. It deserves a spot in the animation hall of fame (if there is one).

The Last Samurai (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Very Good Movie
One of my favourites
My thoughts of why this movie was not popular in the US
Pretty silly
The Good/ The Bad/ The Ugly

The Last Samurai (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Ken Watanabe , Tom Cruise , William Atherton , Chad Lindberg , and Ray Godshall Sr.
Director: Edward Zwick
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001JXOVC
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Product Description

Epic Action Drama. Set in Japan during the 1870s, The Last Samurai tells the story of Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a respected American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the Emperor attempts to eradicate the ancient Imperial Samurai warriors in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly government policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his own sense of honor to guide him.
Running Time: 154 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this "progress" is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honor despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honor. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Movie.......2007-06-27

Something you'll want to watch a few times. Story of a civil war hero, fighting his own demons,(Tom Cruise) recruited to train the Emperors Army. He is forced to confront those demons and...A lot of similarites to "THE KING AND I". I primarily enjoyed the evolution of the main character brought on by...Lots of action. Lots of personal interaction of a philisophical nature. A somewhat "deep" movie. Hope I didn't spoil it for you!

One of my favourites.......2007-06-05

I don't care what the negative reviewers think, it's just a story, make-believe! Fiction doesn't have to be absolutely perfect, nor absolutely accurate either. You'd be hard-pressed to find any fictional films/stories that are.

And if a few liberties were taken with the historical element well, that's nothing new where Hollywood is concerned is it, and the film isn't meant to be historical in that sense anyway, just uses that period as a backdrop really. Poetic licence.

A number of people have likened it to 'Dances with Wolves'. Sorry but no. 'Dances with Wolves' bored me to tears. But 'The Last Samurai' is a lovely film, very emotive and with a nice soundtrack, and some great perfomances from all concerned. The themes were ones we could all do with being reminded of.

The only things about it that I didn't like were:

1. It didn't go on for as long as I would have liked it to.

2. The battle at the end seemed just a touch not right.

I've lost count how many times I have watched this film.

My thoughts of why this movie was not popular in the US.......2007-05-11

My profile 43 yo no qualifications as a movie critic

Browsing through the reviews (there is just too many), I stopped after finding out one reviewer who reflected on why this movie was not that popular in the US and why it it was almost not mentioned in the Oscar (that was my impression at least).. Well, the reviewer said something about the view of the "whiteman's burden" made have caused unpleasant reactions.. that could be part of the reason, but my opinion is, the movie was released at a bad political timing and was censored by Hollywood as part of the "Patriot" canpaign designed at getting moral support to the invasion of Irak

Now you may label me now as a "conspiracy paranoid", but let me deliniate some aspects too see if they are not logical.. in the movie, americans go to Japan as mercenaries with a agenda of opening the big arms trade with imperial Japan.. to make matters worse, an ethical crisis occurs to the character of Tom Cruise.. an actor who is still remembered as a patriotic pilot who shot down those dreaded MICs in "Top Gun" ( a movie destined to make the public feel good at their defense expenditure)... talk about a bad timing to reflect and see that your goverment; not only sends you to genocide the american indians, now its time to continue somewhere else!! and what's even worse, he joins the other side!!, not exactly the kind of attitude you need on the troop morale sent to invade Irak under weak grounds.. hell, was it not enough the catharsis done by all those Vietnam movies? (where Tom Cruise did a Nam veteran).. well that was then this is now... lets face it.. why such an epic movie, a superb production and what I consider Cruise's pass to inmortality in the world of true films, was given a "foreign movie" treatment??!!

Perhaps after the dust settles and a new peace period begins, this movie can be seen in its proper context..

Pretty silly.......2007-05-01

Tom Cruise as a Samurai warrior?--my curiosity got the better of me! Be prepared to suspend all disbelief for
2 1/2 hours for this film. Drunken, guilt-ridden, Indian War veteran is hired by Japanese government to stamp out rebellion, gets captured, dries out, and over the course of a few months becomes a disciplined, fierce, Zen-like Samurai warrior. In his spare time he becomes fluent in Japanese. He switches sides, becomes a master tactician, kills countless Japanese soldiers and a few Americans along the way, and lives to tell the tale.

The scenery was nice, the Japanese actors terrific, and thankfully the incipient love affair wasn't allowed to blossom on screen, which would have violated every norm of Japanese culture of the time. Maybe I'm taking it too seriously, but the notion that a Westerner could enter this proud, ancient culture with such relative ease seemed almost disrespectful to me. Several reviewers had trouble "getting" the idea of honor portrayed in the movie--that's just a measure of how totally impossible the plot is. No Westerner could ever do what Cruise does in this movie. Strictly for fun--don't expect anything remotely realistic.

The Good/ The Bad/ The Ugly.......2007-04-19

I can't stand Tom Cruise, but he sure was a hottie in this film. It's amazing what long hair on a guy and losing the whole Scientology thing can do for a person....

Anway, 1) I agreed with the whole sad Native American slaughter tragedy-the fact that it was horrible and I can't believe people actually did that. 2) Loved the scenery in Japan 3) Still don't/can't relate to the whole Japanese obsession with " honor" that is actually pride (Doesn't the Bible say that pride goeth before a fall)????

This movie was worth watching, but I wouldn't watch it again as it was way too sad. I can appreciate all the effort that went in to making this film

Average customer rating:

Great show! Well worth five stars!
Ghost Dog with Forest Whitaker
Breathtakingly Poignant and Spiritually Enlightening
Become one with your inner self
Big yawn!

Ghost Dog - The Way of the Samurai
Starring: Forest Whitaker , John Tormey , Cliff Gorman , Dennis Liu , and Frank Minucci
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00005QCVX
Release Date: 2001-08-14

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:

Crazy Awesome
It isn't the Premier Movie
Samurai Jack...a man of few words living in a cartoon world
Who doesn't like Samurai Jack?
Watch out!

Samurai Jack - Seasons 1-3
Starring: Mako , Rob Paulsen , Sab Shimono , Jeff Bennett , and Lauren Tom
Director: Robert Alvarez (II) , Randy Myers , Genndy Tartakovsky , and Robert Renzetti
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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Samurai Jack - The Premiere Movie
Samurai Jack: Season 4
Afro Samurai (Director's Cut)
Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)
Star Wars - Clone Wars, Vol. 1 (Animated)

ASIN: B000EGDAFM
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Description

3-Pack of Samurai Jack: The Complete Seasons 1-3.

Customer Reviews:

Crazy Awesome.......2007-05-13

These are totally cool cartoons. They have a pretty unique storyline told in a great visual style. I actually got them without ever seeing it on TV before but I liked Genndy Tartakovsky's "Clone Wars" series. This is a crazy awesome series.

It isn't the Premier Movie.......2007-05-06

Samurai Jack is great, and for various reasons didn't get around to buying the DVD seasons until this set was released. I'd had the Premier Movie (not available anymore), and THAT spoiled me:

One reviewer said Samurak Jack was like a movie, and in the PM it WAS--the opening song was played once, and all the little title cards were cut, and a good chunk of the first season was strung together smoothly. Samurai Jack movie. Ooooo.

Getting these DVDs, I was annoyed that I had to sit through the opening song between every episode (Take the hint from the Spongebob DVD releases, please). I cannot even skip them--I have to fast forward!

Is this worth buying? Yes. I enjoy the series and feel the content great. The series drops off my got-to-watch list because of delivery failure. I won't be buying more.

Samurai Jack...a man of few words living in a cartoon world.......2007-03-08

I remember watching the series on Cartoon Network and finding myself intrigued with how the elements worked together as a whole. Using the influence of literati painting and early martial arts movies, it was able to create a world where the real and the unreal coexist harmoniously. I especially like how it simulates the use of special camera angles and sequences. It was a work that I just had to have in my collection.

Who doesn't like Samurai Jack?.......2007-01-20

How could you NOT like Samurai Jack? Few shows can evoke such powerful feelings in its viewer. Despite the cartoon format of the show, its intelligent, interesting, full of everything good you would want - and would want your kids - to learn and do in life. How to defend, when to defend, When to fight, what is worth fighting for, how to persevere, how inner strength is the key to a peaceful life. All things great from the traditions of Japanese culture, which I find interesting anyway.

But it's not all seriousness and solemn. The Scotsman, anyone? Jack as a Chicken? Learning to "Jump Good?" Great entertainment is great entertainment.

Watch out!.......2006-11-10

Thie thing about Samurai jack is that they are only 1/2 hour episodes but each one feels like you are watching a movie. Brilliant art direction. It makes it feel that you got an amazing bang for your buck.

Average customer rating:

beautiful movie in HD
True HD
Great quality, under-rated movie
Amazing picture quailty
Surprise, surprise

The Last Samurai [Blu-ray]
Starring: William Atherton , Sr. Ray Godshall , Tony Goldwyn , Togo Igawa , and Shane Kosugi
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Black Hawk Down [Blu-ray]
The Departed [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000JUB7LW
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Description

Customer Reviews:

beautiful movie in HD.......2007-03-25

warner made another beautiful HD transfer. I can't find another wrong, no grain anywhere. Just a perfect crystal clear image from start to finish. The cinematography will blow you away. Would give this 6 stars if i could. So far I find warner is the only studio willing to give HD addicts the best video quality possible. Some studios just throw a title on blu-ray and expect us to say, thank you for releasing it.

True HD.......2007-02-15

Frankly i purchased this item just to know how a BD differ from a DVD on my HDTV using my newly purchased PS3. i chose this product cause it has a lot of natural & colorful scenes. the result was really amazing, visualy, blu-ray movies really surpasses DVD. i couldnt test the audio difference, cuz i only have 5.1 Sony decoder. the movie per say is a must see for all those who like action titles.

Great quality, under-rated movie.......2007-02-02

Although not a box-office hit and factually inaccurate, I love this movie and would definitely put it in my top 10 favorites of all time. My wife just bought me a PS3 and I had to pick up a blu-ray disk to see the difference for myself. With SO MANY terrible, terrible movies available on blu-ray (Flyboys, Stealth, and Reign of Fire - the movie i consider to be one of the worst of all time - just to name a few), I decided to pick this up even though I already owned it on DVD. I had seen the movie in HD on DirecTV before, so there were no surprises regarding quality, but I was still really impressed when switching between this and the 480p picture produced by my DVD player. The colors are much more vibrant, the clarity is remarkable and it serves to submerse you in a movie that was already great as it was. As a huge fan of the movie as well as of HD picture quality, I was happy to pick this up at Best Buy for $25, but I probably wouldn't recommend getting this if you have it on DVD already unless you're a big fan. Now, if they could just get the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Blu-Ray...

Amazing picture quailty.......2007-02-01

Well we already know about the movie so i am not going to comment on it. The most noticable thing about this Blu Ray release is the picture quality, its sharp, vivid colors, simply amazing. :) If you are looking for something to run as a demo on your new HDTV, this is the one. :)

I played it on my PS3 in 720p, its just great.

Surprise, surprise.......2007-01-24

Whoa! This is a surprisingly good movie! Though based on a mishmash of actual events, the mishmash presented here works well. No, an American soldier was not sent to Japan to train the emperor's soldiers so that they could better fight the remaining samurai loyal to the dying Tokugawa regime. The man that Cruise's character is based on actually went to China, not Japan, or so I'm told (read The Devil Soldier by Caleb Carr). However, when the emperor took over Japan, after 264 years of the Tokugawa, shogunate-controlled Japan, there really were samurai that refused to abandon their way of life and philosophy. The samurai were not only warriors, but owners of a rich and complex philosophy and way of life that has been shunned by many modern Japanese (and picked up by Japanese mafia to some extent!) Many refer to the shogunate control of Japan as short-lived, which is interesting considering that the Tokugawa government lasted longer that America has so far! The Last Samurai is a surprisingly rich film, containing accurate portrayals of sword technique, mixed with hand-to-hand jiu jitsu, which is a martial art that real samurai practiced. The show is almost stolen by Hiroyuki Sanada, a Japanese actor who was one of Sonny Chiba's protégés. He was the star of Twilight Samurai, which is simply one of the greatest samurai films of all time. Sanada and Cruise have a slight rivalry going on, and the scene in which they confront each other with wooden swords (kendo swords) is one of the high points of the entire film. Watch and enjoy this heart-breaking film about a dying way of life. If you like it, then also check out When the Last Sword is Drawn, which is a Japanese film about the same events, made the very same year as The Last Samurai!

Average customer rating:

Those who know what is right...
"On the battlefield, there were samurai. On the land, there were peasants."
A Fine remake of Kurosawa's Epic Film

Samurai 7 - The Complete Series
Starring: R. Bruce Elliott , Christopher Sabat , Sean Teague , Bob Carter , and Greg Ayres
Director: Toshifumi Takizawa
Manufacturer: Funimation Prod
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Burst Angel Box Set
Elfen Lied Complete Collection
Afro Samurai (Director's Cut)
Gunslinger Girl: Complete Box Set
Scrapped Princess - Anime Legends Complete Collection

ASIN: B000LP5FXQ
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

The broadcast series Samurai 7 (2004) borrows the premise of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954): driven to desperation by bandits who steal their crops, the inhabitants of a small village hire unemployed samurai to defend them. With nothing to offer as wages but their precious rice, the villagers recruit warriors poor enough to accept the dishonor of working for peasants. Samurai 7 moves the story into the future: the bandits and some of the samurai are mecha. The grim ronin Kambei leads the viewers in the defense of their village, then tackles the forces of the orchidaceous emperor Ukyo. Kambei and his mismatched band attack the Capitol,Ukyo's equivalent of the Death Star. The warriors perform gravity-defying leaps, as they slash through steel plating, deflect bullets, and split laser beams with their swords in a climactic battle that occupies most of the last three episodes. The drawn/CG combinations reveal why Samurai 7 cost a reported ¥32,500,000 (nearly $300,000) per episode, an extremely high price by Japanese standards.

Widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of world cinema, Kurosawa's Seven Samurai stressed the shared humanity of the peasants, the samurai, and even the bandits; the often grotesque people and mecha in this sci-fi adventure lack that essential bond. Samurai 7 offers plenty of over-the-top battle sequences for viewers who enjoy a mixture of feudal and futuristic daring-do. But its meandering plot, stock heroes, and tin pot villains have very little to do with its supposed model. (Rated TV PG, suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, brief nudity, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Description

Legendary Epic Reborn!

This 7-disc set contains the enitre Samurai 7 saga - over 11 hours of action!

Samurai 7 is set in a futuristic world that has just seen the end of a massive war, many villages are being terrorized by Nobuseri bandits. The Nobuseri are no normal bandits. They were once men, but during the war they modifed themselves with machines to become living weapons and now apprear as more machine than man. A group of villagers decide to hire samurai to protect their village. These men of valor are as skilled as they are unique.

Customer Reviews:

Those who know what is right..........2007-05-05

Solid, meaningful, worthwhile, must see... I can't think of any other way to describe it.

Our world is filled with those who KNOW what is right (but don't do it) and those who DO what is right...

This work reminds me a lot of (sorry I know there is a LOT of buzz, but clearly this is true) Frank Millers 300.

Just like the Spartans of pre-Greece fame the Samurai of Samurai 7 were the guys who did the right thing even when the odds were stacked in favor of the house.

It just goes to show you that themes of right and wrong transcend cultures.

Money well spent.

"On the battlefield, there were samurai. On the land, there were peasants.".......2007-04-16

Absolutely, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai - Criterion Collection - 3-Disc Remastered Edition is one of the great films of all time, and, in attempting a remake, one would require a hefty set of balls, as well as ample funding and talent. In 2004, with the approval of Akira Kurosawa's estate, a top notch anime version, SAMURAI 7, was created and debuted on Japanese television. In SAMURAI 7 - THE COMPLETE SERIES, we get the entire series, consisting of 26 episodes on 7 discs. SAMURAI 7 takes Akira Kurosawa's original masterpiece and transports it from the 16th century to a war ravaged, sci-fi future setting. However, the tweaked storyline still chronicles the tale of seven samurai who come to the aid of a tormented farming village that has been subjugated by bandits; this time, however, the bandits are the Nobuseri, mechanically-integrated predators who themselves were once samurai.

You don't need to have seen the 1954 film to enjoy SAMURAI 7, though viewers of both will make rapid connections between the two. The makers of this anime did a great job of instilling into their project the same heart and intent of the original SEVEN SAMURAI. This isn't just a meaningless point A to point B anime action flick. Emphasis is thoughtfully placed on character and plot development as we actually get to know the players in this series, from the ragtag samurai, which the last great war has largely reduced to a jobless and purposeless state, to the lowly farmers, who are insular, abhor fighting, and fear the samurai almost as much as the bandits.

Although palpable throughout the series, it's in the samurai's stay at the Kanna village where the distinction between the two social classes become most pronounced as the bushido code clashes with the villager's less "noble" but infinitely more realistic principles. The bridge between the two castes lies in the form of Kikuchiyo, the boorish but exuberant mechanical samurai who used to be a farmer; this was the role originated by the great Toshiro Mifune. Don't get me wrong, this animated Kikuchiyo version doesn't even come close to bringing to the table what Mifune did. It just underscores how bigger than life Mifune made his character that this incarnation actually had to be in a mechanical shell to halfway compete. Honestly, Kikuchiyo here is adequate and, at times, nerve grating.

But there comes a time when plot and character development must give way to serious hind kicking. And, in these moments, the samurai do NOT mess around. The action scenes are astounding! You almost believe a regular-sized guy can take out a mechagiant. These key sequences are significantly emphasized by the blood-pumping score, which uses a healthy dose of Japanese taiko drums. The animation is very, very nice to look at, even if, at times, the CG doesn't quite harmonize with the 2-d animation.

By the way, this thick box set also comes with 7 booklets with interviews and production art. Special features of note are: weird animated shorts of "Mr. Stain on Junk Alley" on discs 2, 3, and 4; relaxed commentary by the Voice Director & several voice actors on disc 4; and character profiles and image galleries on several discs.

Along with the sci-fi trappings, there are a few other significant changes that were made from Kurosawa's original film. There's a more impactful role played by the love interest Kirara the water priestess, as well as the introduction of her younger sister Komachi, who, along with Kikuchiyo, serves as comedy relief (Kirara and Komachi, by the way, are also Japanese brands of rice). Another change made is that, here, the samurai actually take the battle beyond the village bandits. But, listen, even with the sci-fi elements, the cool animation, the awesome battle scenes, I feel that the best thing about SAMURAI 7 is that it somehow retains the humanity of the original film. This really is anime for grown ups. The ending is still appropriately bittersweet as, ultimately, it's the villagers who win. There will always be harvests and harvest songs for the farmers. The samurai, on the other hand, just drift away. And the samurai leader, Shimada Kambei, who claims to have lost every war he's been in, has just lost another one...

A Fine remake of Kurosawa's Epic Film.......2007-03-07

For anyone who enjoys anime, this is a good series to start with. Even though the story takes place in a futuristic setting and many of the storyline concepts have changed, much of the plot and rich characters of the original "Seven Samurai" have been retained. Clearly the budget was spent in making sure the Nobuseri and other CG images meshed well with the traditional animation of the characters, and it works on that level.

Granted the first two episodes of Samurai 7 start slow, but it is necessary to establish the characters of the mismatched seven who come to the aid of Kanna Village. Furthermore, the issues of honor, war, respect that were prevalent in the original are once again on display in this anime without overshadowing the awesome fight scenes, or vice versa.

Average customer rating:

This is a pretty good movie!
Enchanting movie
Ninja GO
Nice to look at, but...
Cannot say anything that would reflect how awesome this movie was!

Shinobi - Heart Under Blade
Starring: Yukie Nakama , Jô Odagiri , Tomoka Kurotani , Erika Sawajiri , and Kippei Shiina
Director: Ten Shimoyama
Manufacturer: Funimation Prod
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Hidden Blade
Azumi
Basilisk, Vol. 5: Shades of Night (Limited Edition)
Death Trance
Seven Swords

ASIN: B000HXDWOG
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Amazon.com

Equal parts Romeo and Juliet and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shinobi offers breathtaking cinematography, appealing actors, and ninjas. What more could a movie fan ask for? Released in 2005, Shinobi is set in 17th century Japan, which is dominated by two powerful clans. Oboro is a member of the Iga clan, while her lover Gennosuke is the son of the leader of the Koga clan. Both groups are comprised of expert ninjas who have developed skills unknown to most mortals. When Oboro and Gennosuke meet, they are unaware that by their birthrights, they are mean to hate--not love--each other. When the nefarious Shogun--eager to increase his own power by doing away with both clans--announces that each faction will send in five ninjas to fight to the death, Oboro and Gennosuke are sent in to battle against each other for the honor of their clans. Filled with action (including some computer-generated images to enhance the actors' warrior-like qualities) and romance, Shinobi has the makings of a sweeping epic. Though based on an anime series, the film succeeds as a stand-alone piece of work. Beautifully filmed and well-acted, the film is exciting and heartbreaking, and the viewer senses both hope and doom all the way through the finale. --Jae-Ha Kim

Description

"Masterpiece" - Toronto After Dark Film Festival

The year is 1614, Japan has been united under the Tokugawa Shoguns and the land is beginning to feel at peace. Two remote ninja clans, the Koga and the Igo, are ancient enemies but have long been bound by a peace agreement forbidding them to fight. The heirs to the leadership of both clans have fallen in love, but a tragic fate awaits them. A cruel plot is set by the Shogun to wipe these two clans from existence by breaking the peace agreement and forcing the two clans to battle. Five Ninjas of each the Koga and the Iga clans will battle eagainst each other to the death. As a great war begins, it brings the two young heirs together again. But this time as enemies.

Bonus Disc includes:

Shinobi Action - Sumpu Castle Fight

Director Storyboard Collection

Original TV Spots and Trailers

Shinobi Art - Manjidani

VFX Behind the Scenes

Weapons Introduction

"...Romeo and Juliet meets special effects, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon... soaring through the air.." "It's gorgeous, absolutely heart-breakingly beautiful." - Seattle International Film Festival

Customer Reviews:

This is a pretty good movie!.......2007-07-07

This is a good movie. yes there are all the lame angles that we've seen in films a million times, like the star-crossed lovers and stuff like that, but the abilities of the fighters were shown pretty good, and there were some really amazing scenes. The female star's "terror gaze" or whatever it was called was something to behold. It started quickly and ended quickly but it was a good ride. Don't rush out and buy it but if you should definitely pick it up!

Enchanting movie.......2007-06-20

The action is great, the characters interesting, and the visuals are stunning.

The story has been done before, but that can be forgiven. While not on par with the production values of The Hero, or House of Flying Daggers, it is a very good movie that lovers of the genre should not miss.

Ninja GO.......2007-06-02

I really loved this movie. If you like ninja movies this is one of the best. It gives a little history of Japan so if you know about history you know how it ends but getting to the end is all the fun with the shinobi many skills. I recommend this movie to anyone.

Nice to look at, but..........2007-05-31

Having seen the posters for this movie near the Castle in Iga-Ueno, Mie Prefecture (one of the two actual home towns of Japanese Ninjitsu), I had unrealistically high hopes for it. This flick has nothing to do with real ninjitsu. It's an attempt to cross an Asian Epic/Love Story in the spirit of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".. with "video game" ninjas who possess ridiculous magical powers and colorful costumes. I suppose it might have been a better movie if it had just been one or the other. Pity, because the lead actors (Odagiri Jo and Nakama Yukie) are pretty good and deserved a better movie. History buffs might note that some of the politics hinted-at in Sunpu Castle are pretty accurate. The CGI version of Sunpu-Jo was pretty interesting in itself, but hardly worth the price of a DVD.

Cannot say anything that would reflect how awesome this movie was!.......2007-05-13

Don't need to say much more than this is a must own movie if you like martial arts or fantasty movies!

I want more!

Average customer rating:

Assasin
Very cool!
For once, the American version is better
Probably the greatest samurai flick ever made.
best 15 bucks ive ever spent that i can remember

Shogun Assassin
Starring: Shogun Assassin , and Masahiro Tomikawa
Manufacturer: Animeigo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Shogun Assassin Part 2: Lightning Swords
Shogun Assassin 2 - Lightning Swords of Death
Five Deadly Venoms
Shaolin Wu Tang
Shaolin Master Killer (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000FDECGA
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Description

In a time of evil and tyranny, a stone-faced ronin wanders the countryside with his young son (and a weapon-filled baby cart), hunted by the merciless minions of an evil Shogun.

Once a noble samurai, he is now the most feared assassin in Japan, known only as Lone Wolf.

Starring the legendary Tomisaburo Wakayama, Shogun Assassin is perhaps the most famous samurai film in the Western world. Created by editing together the first two Kozure Ookami (Lone Wolf & Cub) films, Shogun Assassin has sliced through pop culture much like the Lone Wolf slices through evildoers, influencing everything from GZA's 1995 Liquid Swords album to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 2. A quarter-century after its initial release, it remains one of the most deliriously violent and action-packed films of all time!

Now available for the first time in North America, Academy Award-winnning director Robert Houston's legendary epic has been reconstructed for this official release from new digital transfers of the original Lone Wolf & Cub films.

DVD Features:
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen
Dubbed in English

Bonus Material Includes:
Original Theatrical Trailers
Daigoro's History Lesson
Restoration Gallery
Program Notes

Customer Reviews:

Assasin.......2007-05-18

Another example of a good Japanese samuri film. This film quietly rolls along picking up speed and delivers the goods. Makes you laugh and smile at times.

Very cool!.......2007-05-14

In the 19th century in Japan, a lone ronin warrior named LoneWolf and his son travel across the countryside to fight off deadly ninja assassins so he can avenge the death of his beloved wife. A powerful shogun sends out minions to kill Lonewolf but can the one-man army deal with all of them himself?

One of the most violent and goriest movies of all time! This Japanese-American production is actually three films from the Japanese series "LoneWolf and Cub" into one movie and dubbed into English. A definite favorite of Quentin Tarantino as he used this movie as an inspiration to his "Kill Bill" movies, it's an entertaining and gory-as-hell is a visual action feast with some laughable English dubbing but the action is non-stop with heads being split open, slicing and dicing etc. I can see why this has got a cult following, you gotta see it to believe it.

This DVD has excellent picture and sound with the movie shown in it's widescreen presentation for the first time in the U.S.! the extras are decent like the theatrical trailer, restoration gallery, program notes and Daigo's history lesson.

Also recommended: "Ninja Scroll", "The Toxic Avenger", "Kill Bill Vols 1 & 2", "Fist of the North Star (Anime)", "Battle Royale", "Versus", "The Last Samurai", "Seven Samurai", "Ran", "Princess Mononoke", "Big Trouble in Little China", "Running Scared", "Cannibal Ferox", "Sin City", "300", "Braveheart", "The Patriot (2000)", "Street Trash", "Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky", "Ichi The Killer", "Conan The Barbarian", "Hot Fuzz", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Bad Boys 2", "Vampire Hunter D", "Commando", "The Punisher (1989 and 2004)", "Rashomon", "Crank", "Samurai Fiction" and "Troma's War".

For once, the American version is better.......2007-03-22

Yes, it's recut, rewritten, rescored, dubbed, and chopped down from two separate films. Yet even my Japanese friends agree: this version of "Lone Wolf and Cub" is better than the original Japanese films. Here's why:

1)That fantastic score by Marc Lindsay (of Paul Revere & the Raiders fame), which absolutely blows away the original.

2) The brilliantly-written and witty script ("Those swine will butcher anyone who walks in their way! It's just bad taste!"). The highlight is the narration of Daigoro, which is not found in the original.

3) A really first-rate dub. (Even Daigoro's pronunciation of "harakiri" is accurate.)

4) Wall to wall action! This is truly the "good parts" version of "Sword of Vengeance" and "Baby Cart on the River Styx."

5) Lone Wolf is actually a MUCH cooler customer in this version. The American editors have gone through and carefully removed all of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama's over-the-top emotional reactions, creating virtually a new performance in the editing room. This version of Lone Wolf is more self-possessed and calmly lethal than the original Japanese version.

That much said, there are two problems with Animeigo's presentation. The lesser is the idiotic unremovable "unrestored" notice plastered over the opening shot of Himeji Castle, which could have been handled much less intrusively by a title card before the start of the film.

Far worse, though, is the image quality. This version was constructed from Animeigo's transfers of the original films (also available on DVD), yet the picture quality is not nearly as sharp as the originals'. It actually appears to be a generation down in quality. After years of neglect and bootlegging, poor "Shogun Assassin" still can't get a break!

Probably the greatest samurai flick ever made........2007-03-13

See other reviews for plot(i don't write plots if they have been summed up well.Just buy this movie you need it for any collection,martial arts,foreign,etc...Themes for movie is that of retribution,distrust and corruption of government.Great action and cool story with minimal effects...flawless film!

best 15 bucks ive ever spent that i can remember.......2007-02-22

the reviewers above say it all.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

The Ultimate Matrix Collection (The Matrix / Reloaded / Revolutions / Revisited / The Animatrix)

Fearless Dragons : DVD

Return of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 5: The Musgrave Ritual/The M

DVD: Cheech and Chong's Still Smokin'

Funky Oil