Shogun

Incomprehensibly, they tried to sell a two-hour version of the 10-hour miniseries, and it's junk. Why anybody went through this (and I pity the poor editor who had an impossible job) is beyond me, except that there must have been a greedy executive somewhere who thought there was money to be made. Skip the 2-hour version, and dive in to another world, another time.

The full-length version of the miniseries is now available on DVD, and it's the best way to see it. There's a first-rate adaptation of Clavell's novel, crisp direction and sterling performances by Richard Chamberlain, Yoko Shimada and Toshiro Mifune. Outstanding support by John Rhys Davies, Damien Thomas and Alan Badel, as well as a host of Japanese actors keeps the atmosphere rich and the action strong. The adventures of an English Pilot (Chief navigator) in 1600 in Japan - the height of the samurai power - are riveting. Blackthorne (Chamberlain) lands in the midst of the mighty struggle for Shogun: military dictator of the country that's had 600 years of civil war. Unlike many another action tale, an educated woman has a pivotal role.

Or read the book. In the words of one reviewer, "It simply will not let the reader go."

This is the one, that showed everyone else how to really tell a book in a mini-series. No body had every really got it right before. Very few have gotten it right since. This is for people that love books, told on film. Not a butchered hatchet job.

A Classic.

What an excellent Mini-Series! After reading the book then seeing it come to life on TV, you can lose yourself in the Series. The Casting, Cinematography, Sets, Costumes and Acting were nothing less than Perfect.

You can actually learn some basic Japanese words and phrases from closely reading the book. James Clevell blended the Language lessons into Pilot's training and familiarization so well, you felt like you learned and felt with him. The Series did it almost as well but you were distracted by seeing living, breathing characters. The life and times were hard. The Barbarian world with the Unhealthy and downright odd beliefs and superstitions. Then the Ancient Culture of Japan, Brutal but with much beauty and creativity. Both full of Scheming, Evil, Honorable, Likeable, and Hateful characters.

I consider this the all-time #1 made for TV movie events. Too bad the voting scale only goes to 10.

Basically, trying to fit a Clavell epic into a 2-hour movie is like trying to fit the entire Sears catalog into a single 30-second ad. While the miniseries is a masterful adaptation, covering all of the essential plotlines and perhaps even adding to the understanding for Mariko's and Blackthorne's relationship, the 2-hour cut is piece-meal and poorly edited. in short, it doesn't make sense, and it doesn't do justice to Clavel's greatest epic.

It is also a great read, by the way.

Tedium beyond belief. Starring the execrable Richard Chamberlain, equal only to Patrick Wayne or Doug McClure for boredom. Toshiro Mifune is brilliant as always, but nothing redeems this film. I do commend the director for a valiant effort, and the subtitling of the Japanese characters was daring and effective. Still, an overall waste of time. Read the novel for a much more compelling experience.