SHOGUN is one of the most famous mini-series
in the last 35
years. It is based on the best selling
novel by James Clavell and it was adapted into a 12 hour TV event which aired
on NBC in 1980 over five nights. It has
been the first (and may the only still) TV mini-series to shoot entirely in Japan
for American audiences. I think I
discovered this great epic mini-series via reruns on cable TV years after it
aired since I was only 5 when it originally aired, but it is a great story that
holds up on repeat viewings. It has
great acting, production values, and some recognizable actors (including that
one actor who went on to be in a couple Indiana Jones films, SLIDERS TV series,
and the LORD OF THE RINGS movies).
SHOGUN was one of my big introductions to Richard Chamberlin (who played
the lead of Captain John Blackthorne) and Japanese samurai culture.
Captain Blackthorne (Chamberlin) ends up
shipwrecked in Japan
during the 17th century. He
gets involved in a deadly struggle between Lord Toranga (Toshiro Mifune) and
Lord Ishido with Toranaga’s goal of becoming Shogun (the supreme military
commander of Japan). Also involved in this struggle are the
Portuguese (who run the profitable Black Ship with gold and silks) and the
Jesuits (who priests are gaining influence over Japan
with Christianity). Blackthorne becomes
irresistibly drawn to the Lady Mariko (Yoko Shimada) in a love that must be
private and sometimes remain unspoken (because Mariko was married off to one of
Toranaga’s samurais in what is basically a loveless marriage). He becomes
torn between Western beliefs and
samurai beliefs as he wants to find a way to get back his ship, the Erasmus,
and destroy the Black Ship. Many people
believe he has become the most dangerous man in Japan and he must be killed as
Blackthorne influences Toranaga (who has his own grand designs for Blackthorne
as the Japanese known him by Anjin) as he becomes the first foreigner to be
made a samurai (which entails following Japanese beliefs and the orders of his
lord faithfully). SHOGUN is nine hours
worth watching whether it is your first time or a repeat viewing as it is a
classic that stands the test of time.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
THE MAKING OF SHOGUN (Disc One) is a 13 segment
documentary:
A NOVEL ADVENTURE, THE CAST, NAGASHIMA, TOHO
STUDIOS, CULTURES
COLLIDE, THE ART OF SHOGUN, THE ERASMUS AND
THE GALLEY, CONTROVERSY, THE EARTHQUAKE, ESCAPE FROM OSAKA CASTLE, THE
BLOCKADE, POST PRODUCTION, and SHOGUN MAKES HISTORY
This retrospective documentary (with interviews
and
behind-the-scenes footage and clips) covers how the mini-series got made, their
decision to have the show be from Blackthorne’s point of view (with a decision
where they decide to leave much of the Japanese dialogue without subtitles and
I wish they provided a second English
subtitle option on the disc which would have subtitled everything instead of
leaving it as a mystery for us to discover just through Blackthorne,
translators, and Orson Welles narration), the production challenges and
accidents (and lucky near misses), the editing and a couple of scenes that made
it past NBC censors, and the impact the show had when it aired.
Historical Perspective Featurettes (Disc Two)
THE SAMURAI, THE TEA CEREMONY, THE GEISHA-
These brief featurettes give insight into the
history of the
samurai, geisha, and the tea ceremony if SHOGUN makes you curious to know a
little more.
Scene Specific Audio Commentary by Director Jerry
London on
seven scenes (Disc Three)
FINAL ANALYSIS: SHOGUN is a classic TV mini-series
that
stands the test of time with its great story, actors, and production
design. The HD transfer is great for the
most part except for a few parts where the 16mm source material shows it flaws
(but 16mm film can’t be digital perfect anyway). I do wish they ended
Disc 1 about ten minutes
later since it feels awkward to end in the middle of a scene and they had the
option to show the mini-series in the original segments with opening and
closing credits instead just as one nine hour program.
This review is ©7-25-2014
David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments
to feedback@enterline-media.com
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