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When I was little, my father was famous. He was the greatest Samurai in the empire, and he was the Shogun's decapitator. He cut off the heads of 131 lords for the Shogun. It was a bad time for the empire. The Shogun just stayed inside his castle and he never came out. People said his brain was infected by devils, and that he was rotting with evil. The Shogun said the people were not loyal. He said he had a lot of enemies, but he killed more people than that. It was a bad time. Everybody living in fear, but still we were happy. My father would come home to mother, and when he had seen her, he would forget about the killings. He wasn't scared of the Shogun, but the Shogun was scared of him. Maybe that was the problem. At night, mother would sing for us, while father would go into his temple and pray for peace. He'd pray for things to get better. Then, one night the Shogun sent his ninja spies to our house. They were supposed to kill my father, but they didn't. That was the night everything changed, forever.

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Posted (edited)

Looks amazing.  I notice they don't mention "James Clavell" until you dig into the description.

Also somebody had the perfect comment for once:

  Quote

I have spent a lifetime wondering how Hiroyuki Sanada hasn't been a consistent leading man. The man has the cool, the calm, the presence to absolutely kill whatever he's in.

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Edited by atomheartbevo
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Posted
  On 11/4/2023 at 11:15 AM, CooterBrown said:

I wonder how many old 70s & 80s mini series are now going to be remade.

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I dare them to do Centennial and make it as big (nearly 24 hours) and as epic as the original.  

Barbara Carrera, Sally Kellerman, Stephanie Zimbalist, Merle Haggard, Cristina Raines, Mark Harmon, Gregory Harrison, and Lynn Redgrave were probably at their peak hotness.

81L1A2fAr4L._RI_.jpg

  • Michael Ansara – Lame Beaver
  • William Atherton – Jim Lloyd
  • Raymond Burr – Herman Bockweiss
  • Barbara Carrera – Clay Basket
  • Richard Chamberlain – Alexander McKeag
  • Robert Conrad – Pasquinel
  • Richard Crenna – Col. Frank Skimmerhorn
  • Timothy Dalton – Oliver Seccombe
  • Cliff De Young – John Skimmerhorn
  • Chad Everett – Major Maxwell Mercy
  • Sharon Gless – Sidney Endermann
  • Andy Griffith – Prof. Lewis Vernor
  • Merle Haggard – Cisco Calendar
  • Mark Harmon – Captain John McIntosh
  • Gregory Harrison – Levi Zendt
  • David Janssen – Paul Garrett (Narrator)
  • Alex Karras – Hans Brumbaugh
  • Brian Keith – Sheriff Axel Dumire
  • Sally Kellerman – Lise Bockweiss Pasquinel
  • A Martinez – Tranquilino Marquez
  • Stephen McHattie – Jacques Pasquinel (adult)
  • Lois Nettleton – Maude Wendell
  • Donald Pleasence – Sam Purchas
  • Cristina Raines – Lucinda McKeag Zendt
  • Lynn Redgrave – Charlotte Buckland Seccombe Lloyd
  • Clive Revill – Finlay Perkin
  • Kario Salem – Marcel Pasquinel (adult)
  • Clint Walker – Joe Bean
  • Dennis Weaver – R. J. Poteet
  • Robert Vaughn – Morgan Wendell
  • Anthony Zerbe – Mervin Wendell
  • Stephanie Zimbalist – Elly Zahm Zendt
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Posted
  On 11/4/2023 at 5:48 PM, atomheartbevo said:

I have spent a lifetime wondering how Hiroyuki Sanada hasn't been a consistent leading man.

Expand  

He’s also such perfect casting for Toranaga.

I tried to watch the Richard Chamberlain miniseries a few months back and got through the first hour-it’s a pretty straight adaptation (and well done if dated).  

I’m excited to see an update that places the women in more central roles.  I hadn’t considered that until seeing the trailer-it looks like there’s more perspective given to Mariko’s story.  

Posted
  On 11/4/2023 at 5:56 PM, atomheartbevo said:

I dare them to do Centennial and make it as big (nearly 24 hours) and as epic as the original.  

Barbara Carrera, Sally Kellerman, Stephanie Zimbalist, Merle Haggard, Cristina Raines, Mark Harmon, Gregory Harrison, and Lynn Redgrave were probably at their peak hotness.

81L1A2fAr4L._RI_.jpg

  • Michael Ansara – Lame Beaver
  • William Atherton – Jim Lloyd
  • Raymond Burr – Herman Bockweiss
  • Barbara Carrera – Clay Basket
  • Richard Chamberlain – Alexander McKeag
  • Robert Conrad – Pasquinel
  • Richard Crenna – Col. Frank Skimmerhorn
  • Timothy Dalton – Oliver Seccombe
  • Cliff De Young – John Skimmerhorn
  • Chad Everett – Major Maxwell Mercy
  • Sharon Gless – Sidney Endermann
  • Andy Griffith – Prof. Lewis Vernor
  • Merle Haggard – Cisco Calendar
  • Mark Harmon – Captain John McIntosh
  • Gregory Harrison – Levi Zendt
  • David Janssen – Paul Garrett (Narrator)
  • Alex Karras – Hans Brumbaugh
  • Brian Keith – Sheriff Axel Dumire
  • Sally Kellerman – Lise Bockweiss Pasquinel
  • A Martinez – Tranquilino Marquez
  • Stephen McHattie – Jacques Pasquinel (adult)
  • Lois Nettleton – Maude Wendell
  • Donald Pleasence – Sam Purchas
  • Cristina Raines – Lucinda McKeag Zendt
  • Lynn Redgrave – Charlotte Buckland Seccombe Lloyd
  • Clive Revill – Finlay Perkin
  • Kario Salem – Marcel Pasquinel (adult)
  • Clint Walker – Joe Bean
  • Dennis Weaver – R. J. Poteet
  • Robert Vaughn – Morgan Wendell
  • Anthony Zerbe – Mervin Wendell
  • Stephanie Zimbalist – Elly Zahm Zendt
Expand  


Very solid watch

 

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Posted
  On 11/4/2023 at 6:17 PM, LCHorn said:

I’m excited to see an update that places the women in more central roles.  I hadn’t considered that until seeing the trailer-it looks like there’s more perspective given to Mariko’s story.  

Expand  

It's been a few decades since I've seen the 1980 series or read the book, but given how important she was in the book/series, it'll be interesting

  Reveal hidden contents

You should finish the series - it's actually pretty decent (I think it runs close to 10 hours).

Posted
  On 11/5/2023 at 12:56 AM, Post Oak said:

How's the book?  I have it on my list but haven't read it yet.

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Do you like books about Japan in the early 1600s that run 1,300 - 1,600 pages depending on format, and that are basically hundreds of thousands of words about actual Japanese history with some fictionalized things/conversations about a real-life Westerner who lived there??

Because it's the book for you.

If you have read any of James Michener's longer books, you'll probably like it.

Posted
  On 11/5/2023 at 1:14 AM, atomheartbevo said:

Do you like books about Japan in the early 1600s that run 1,300 - 1,600 pages depending on format, and that are basically hundreds of thousands of words about actual Japanese history with some fictionalized things/conversations about a real-life Westerner who lived there??

Because it's the book for you.

If you have read any of James Michener's longer books, you'll probably like it.

Expand  

Ok. I'll watch the movie. Thanks

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Posted

Are they getting Orson Welles to narrate the story again? Seriously there is plenty of context and explanation of culture and history in the book that is difficult to put to film. Welles’ narration helped the 1980 viewer understand more. Or maybe the 2023 version is made as an action miniseries more than the book and ‘80 series.

i recommend anyone read the book before watching any shogun adaption. Several of Clavells book are a good read. Tai Pan is my second favorite of his after shogun. 

 

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Posted

Really looking forward to this.  I re-read Shogun, Tai Pan, Noble House, and Whirlwind (skip King Rat and Gaijin) every few years.  I hope the production company follows up with more.

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Posted
  On 11/5/2023 at 10:38 AM, Nice Guy Eddie said:
Are they getting Orson Welles to narrate the story again? Seriously there is plenty of context and explanation of culture and history in the book that is difficult to put to film. Welles’ narration helped the 1980 viewer understand more. Or maybe the 2023 version is made as an action miniseries more than the book and ‘80 series.
i recommend anyone read the book before watching any shogun adaption. Several of Clavells book are a good read. Tai Pan is my second favorite of his after shogun. 
 
  On 11/5/2023 at 12:20 PM, Spoetzl said:
Really looking forward to this.  I re-read Shogun, Tai Pan, Noble House, and Whirlwind (skip King Rat and Gaijin) every few years.  I hope the production company follows up with more.
I read all of clavell's books for the first time about this time last year. Loved them all. The Tai Pan series is fascinating as my family have both British and HK roots. There were lots of cultural touchstones. King Rat was really interesting to me. All of his books have a movie adaptation of some sort (except the WW2 series). And they all stay loyal to the original storylines.
Posted
  On 11/4/2023 at 6:17 PM, LCHorn said:

He’s also such perfect casting for Toranaga.

I tried to watch the Richard Chamberlain miniseries a few months back and got through the first hour-it’s a pretty straight adaptation (and well done if dated).  

I’m excited to see an update that places the women in more central roles.  I hadn’t considered that until seeing the trailer-it looks like there’s more perspective given to Mariko’s story.  

Expand  

the book is visionary because it recognizes women as people. 

master of fact, while blackthorne is the ostensible protagonist, or arguably toranaga, I've always thought clavell had the story centered around mariko. she's the hero. for me at least. there's one line that sticks out to me when clavell introduces mariko. "She was eighteen years old"

Posted
  On 11/5/2023 at 3:27 PM, hayden_horn said:

the book is visionary because it recognizes women as people. 

Expand  

It hadn’t occurred to me before, but now that you mention it women play fully fleshed our roles in Tai-Pan and Noble House, too.  When I first the books I just presumed it was in keeping with a late 60’s/early 70’s motif of heros and heroines possessing almost supernatural talents (think Fleming’s Bond novels), but I think you’re right, I think Clavelle wants to recognize that you cannot tell those stories well purely from the worldview of the central character.  

Posted (edited)
  On 11/5/2023 at 3:10 PM, gsoda3 said:

I read all of clavell's books for the first time about this time last year. Loved them all. The Tai Pan series is fascinating as my family have both British and HK roots. There were lots of cultural touchstones. King Rat was really interesting to me. All of his books have a movie adaptation of some sort (except the WW2 series). And they all stay loyal to the original storylines.

Expand  

Which is extremely rare and makes me wonder if Clavell negotiated a lot more pull with the TV networks.  James Michener - the only adaptations of his that I think did the books justice are The Bridges at Toko-Ri (which was a smaller book of his and had a very narrow focus) and Centennial, which ran 20+ hours and was Ted Turner's obsession or something

Herman Wouk (who just died a few years ago at 103) had solid adaptations with The Cain MutinyThe Winds of War, and War and Remembrance.

Clavell's adaptations seemed to all have solid directors behind them which helped, especially Shogun.

Edited by atomheartbevo
Posted
  On 11/5/2023 at 5:49 PM, atomheartbevo said:

Which is extremely rare and makes me wonder if Clavell negotiated a lot more pull with the TV networks.  James Michener - the only adaptations of his that I think did the books justice are The Bridges at Toko-Ri (which was a smaller book of his and had a very narrow focus) and Centennial, which ran 20+ hours and was Ted Turner's obsession or something

Herman Wouk (who just died a few years ago at 103) had solid adaptations with The Cain MutinyThe Winds of War, and War and Remembrance.

Clavell's adaptations seemed to all have solid directors behind them which helped, especially Shogun.

Expand  

i don't know about the rest, but i remember with tai pan clavell didn't like how it turned out and i don't think he was involved.  

 

a couple other series that stayed true to the source material are the Sharpe's.... series and the Hornblower series.  The Hornblower series was better produced.  The Sharpe's series is quite hard to watch despite featuring a young Sean Bean. 

Posted

I remember when Richard Chamberlain's Shogun came out in 1980. Everyone was watching it and It dominated television. People were scheduling their lives and having watch parties I think before there were watch parties. Eating Japanese food, even dressing up in kimonos. My love for Japan started with James Bond's You Only Live Twice, but Shogun just made me want to go there even more. I finally did go several years ago and it was more beautiful than I could imagine. Looking forward to this version, it looks amazing.

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Posted
  On 11/4/2023 at 6:20 PM, tx 3 putt said:


Very solid watch

 

Expand  

 

  On 11/4/2023 at 5:56 PM, atomheartbevo said:

I dare them to do Centennial and make it as big (nearly 24 hours) and as epic as the original.  

Barbara Carrera, Sally Kellerman, Stephanie Zimbalist, Merle Haggard, Cristina Raines, Mark Harmon, Gregory Harrison, and Lynn Redgrave were probably at their peak hotness.

81L1A2fAr4L._RI_.jpg

  • Michael Ansara – Lame Beaver
  • William Atherton – Jim Lloyd
  • Raymond Burr – Herman Bockweiss
  • Barbara Carrera – Clay Basket
  • Richard Chamberlain – Alexander McKeag
  • Robert Conrad – Pasquinel
  • Richard Crenna – Col. Frank Skimmerhorn
  • Timothy Dalton – Oliver Seccombe
  • Cliff De Young – John Skimmerhorn
  • Chad Everett – Major Maxwell Mercy
  • Sharon Gless – Sidney Endermann
  • Andy Griffith – Prof. Lewis Vernor
  • Merle Haggard – Cisco Calendar
  • Mark Harmon – Captain John McIntosh
  • Gregory Harrison – Levi Zendt
  • David Janssen – Paul Garrett (Narrator)
  • Alex Karras – Hans Brumbaugh
  • Brian Keith – Sheriff Axel Dumire
  • Sally Kellerman – Lise Bockweiss Pasquinel
  • A Martinez – Tranquilino Marquez
  • Stephen McHattie – Jacques Pasquinel (adult)
  • Lois Nettleton – Maude Wendell
  • Donald Pleasence – Sam Purchas
  • Cristina Raines – Lucinda McKeag Zendt
  • Lynn Redgrave – Charlotte Buckland Seccombe Lloyd
  • Clive Revill – Finlay Perkin
  • Kario Salem – Marcel Pasquinel (adult)
  • Clint Walker – Joe Bean
  • Dennis Weaver – R. J. Poteet
  • Robert Vaughn – Morgan Wendell
  • Anthony Zerbe – Mervin Wendell
  • Stephanie Zimbalist – Elly Zahm Zendt
Expand  

It’s available for free on YouTube. Watched it about nine months ago.

  • 2 months later...
Posted (edited)
  On 11/5/2023 at 12:20 PM, Spoetzl said:

Really looking forward to this.  I re-read Shogun, Tai Pan, Noble House, and Whirlwind (skip King Rat and Gaijin) every few years.  I hope the production company follows up with more.

Expand  

Exactly the same for me.

This adaptation looks like it'll be good, I'd love to see them do Tai Pan and Noble House next.

Edited by utee94
Posted
  On 1/30/2024 at 6:54 PM, utee94 said:

Exactly the same for me.

This adaptation looks like it'll be good, I'd love to see them do Tai Pan and Noble House next.

Expand  

Same here, but I did re-read Gaijin once because it gives some background on what happened after Shogun...but that is mainly a Struan story-arc.

BTW first 6 episodes titles are well titled  

 
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
  On 11/5/2023 at 3:10 PM, gsoda3 said:

I read all of clavell's books for the first time about this time last year. Loved them all. The Tai Pan series is fascinating as my family have both British and HK roots. There were lots of cultural touchstones. King Rat was really interesting to me. All of his books have a movie adaptation of some sort (except the WW2 series). And they all stay loyal to the original storylines.

Expand  

I also read all of Clavell's books.  King Rat remains the worst book I've ever read.  I only finished it because I had read all the others.  I hate that book.

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Posted
  On 2/14/2024 at 12:36 PM, locodos said:

I also read all of Clavell's books.  King Rat remains the worst book I've ever read.  I only finished it because I had read all the others.  I hate that book.

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With that opinion, my guess is that you haven’t read many books. 

Posted (edited)

I read plenty, just not as much as I'd like.

I didn't enjoy or connect with it at all.  I'm glad you enjoyed it, perhaps try not being an asshole?

Edited by locodos
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Posted

I read the entire novel before the series aired originally. Fantatastic read and great series. I love the look of the new series. 

King Rat is great in my opinion. I read it a long time ago and it made me think of the difference between fiction and literature. I thought King Rat is literature. The movie with George Segal is also very good IMHO.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to this series.

Posted
  On 2/23/2024 at 6:50 PM, kingkoopa6 said:

Her acting left something to be desired tho. Hopefully it don’t matter here. 
 

Just slice foos up and look hot doing it 

Expand  

The, I think, Variety review said she’s a highlight in this.  In agreement that after Godzilla I am a little skeptical.

Posted

‘Shogun’ Remake: This Time, the White Man Is Only One of the Stars
A 1980 adaptation of the best-selling novel cast it as the tale of a white hero in an exotic Japan. A new version tells a more kaleidoscopic story.

Gina Balian, a television executive who had worked on the hit series “Game of Thrones” for HBO, had just left to help FX start a new limited series division when an agent sent her a nearly 1,200-page novel.

It was “Shogun,” James Clavell’s 1975 best-selling chronicle of a hardened English sailor who lands in Japan at the dawn of the 17th century looking for riches and ends up adopting the ways of the samurai. Balian’s first reaction was that she had already seen this book on television — back in 1980, when NBC had turned the novel into a mini-series that earned the network its highest Nielsen ratings to date.

Most of what she remembered about the first adaptation was Richard Chamberlain — its white, male star. But as she started reading, she discovered the novel had a much more kaleidoscopic point of view, devoting considerable pages to getting inside the heads of the Japanese characters.

“I thought that there was a story to be told that was much wider and deeper,” said Balian, who is co-president of FX Entertainment. It didn’t hurt that something about it also reminded her of “Game of Thrones,” in terms of the “richness of so many characters’ lives.”

It took 11 years, two different teams of showrunners and a major relocation to bring “Shogun” back to the screen. The 10-part series debuts on Hulu on Feb. 27 with the first two episodes, followed by new ones weekly, and will premiere on Disney+ outside of the United States and Latin America.

cont'd

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Posted

First 2 episodes air tomorrow night. 10 total episodes releasing weekly on Tuesdays through the final week of April. 

I'll probably wait until April to dive in. Doesn't seem like the kind of show I will want to take a week off between each episode. 

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