Shogun

[MissingInAction 25,076]

[HornOnTheBayou 8,922]

40 minutes ago, jeevsie said:

It's up already!

Where? Hulu?

[jeevsie 3,734]

Yes

[Smax 3,800]

1 hour ago, MissingInAction said:

I was browsing disney plus late last night and it was up then, thought about starting it but in a brief moment of clarity decided against it as I was several glasses of wine into the evening

[Plorant 802]

I watched the first 2 episodes that were released today.  I really enjoyed them.  I didn't watch the 1980 version so I have no basis of comparison to it.  The "Anjin" actor I felt did well.  He seems like he is trying to be Tom Hardy.  Hiroyuki Sanada is great as always.  Looking forward to the rest of the show. 

[bolverk 29,672]

46 minutes ago, Plorant said:

I watched the first 2 episodes that were released today.  I really enjoyed them.  I didn't watch the 1980 version so I have no basis of comparison to it.  The "Anjin" actor I felt did well.  He seems like he is trying to be Tom Hardy.  Hiroyuki Sanada is great as always.  Looking forward to the rest of the show. 

I binged the 1980 one over the weekend and felt like the new one is far superior so far. Part of that, I'm sure, is that the acting style is totally different and more believable in the new one. The actors in the old one felt like over-the-top stage performers that would've been stylistically dated even by 1980 standards, which frankly took me out of the story a few times. It felt a bit like watching The Ten Commandments or something else like that from the 1950s, so this is a welcome update on that front.

Other than that, the continuity also flows better in the new one, and the subtitles (of which there are A LOT) allow the viewer to understand better what the hell is going on from the perspective of the Japanese, especially in understanding their motives. In the old one, there were long scenes where the Japanese would talk, and you'd have no idea what they were saying except by watching Richard Chamberlain's reactions. I'm guessing American audiences are much more receptive to subtitles and captioning nowadays, so that's another plus for it.

I never read the book, so I don't know which one is more loyal to the original text. Some scenes are wholly different, and events are switched/jumbled around. If you haven't seen the old one, you'd never know. 

The acting, sets, etc., are also all well done. This should be pretty, pretty good.

[kingkoopa6 8,350]

Lots of reading. But I dig it. Godzilla chick did not suck 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,460]

Great so far 

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4,976]

One episode down. Pretty pretty good. 

[hayden_horn 11,362]

amazed so far how they've handled so many pivotal scenes and characters. 

i love it 

[Celery Man 20,949]

Seeing a lot of buzz about this

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

13 hours ago, bolverk said:

is that the acting style is totally different and more believable in the new one. The actors in the old one felt like over-the-top stage performers that would've been stylistically dated even by 1980 standards, which frankly took me out of the story a few times.

Richard Chamberlain over-the-top?  Surely you jest, the man was in Centennial, Shogun, and Thorn Birds, three of the biggest limited series in the 70s/80s, plus he was Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity and he was in King Solomon’s Mines, and in all of those he played….okay, he played the same character, never mind.

On a side note, he’s still alive, which I didn’t realize.  

[Smax 3,800]

Enjoyed the first 2 episodes but

Spoiler

I missed the whole thing with the baby, did they kill it and if so why?

 

Edited February 28 by Smax

[bolverk 29,672]

4 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Richard Chamberlain over-the-top?  Surely you jest, the man was in Centennial, Shogun, and Thorn Birds, three of the biggest limited series in the 70s/80s, plus he was Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity and he was in King Solomon’s Mines, and in all of those he played….okay, he played the same character, never mind.

On a side note, he’s still alive, which I didn’t realize.  

I actually didn't have him in mind when saying that. It was more so the surrounding cast of characters, especially the English-speaking speaking ones. Seriously, click the link I provided to watch the original a bit, and you'll see what I mean.

[kingkoopa6 8,350]

1 hour ago, Smax said:

Enjoyed the first 2 episodes but

  Hide contents

I missed the whole thing with the baby, did they kill it and if so why?

 

Spoiler

We assume they did. Dad honor kills his baby and himself. To end bloodline  but the wife stays alive 

 

[MissingInAction 25,076]

I speak Japanese now.

[VirginiaLonghorn 4,771]

1 hour ago, MissingInAction said:

I speak Japanese now.

I’m getting pretty proficient in Portuguese … 

[MissingInAction 25,076]

36 minutes ago, VirginiaLonghorn said:

I’m getting pretty proficient in Portuguese … 

It's like Spanglish but different. 

Edited February 28 by MissingInAction

[Stringer 1,439]

Caught up today and this show rips.  It's wild to think to back then when people just didn't know other cultures and languages existed.  I think they convey that very well.  Also really like the church politics intertwined with the palace intrigue of Japan.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,512]

I’m 5 minutes in. When does Orson Welles start narrating?

[Knoxtnhorn 5,976]

On 2/27/2024 at 4:55 PM, Plorant said:

I watched the first 2 episodes that were released today.  I really enjoyed them.  I didn't watch the 1980 version so I have no basis of comparison to it.  The "Anjin" actor I felt did well.  He seems like he is trying to be Tom Hardy.  Hiroyuki Sanada is great as always.  Looking forward to the rest of the show. 

Thank you.  The entire first episode I kept thinking, this guy reminds me of someone, but I couldn't place it.

[WBT 20,572]

Haven't watched yet but I heard a review compare it to Japanese Game of Thrones vis a vis the sex and violence.  That seems relevant to my interests.

Edited February 29 by WBT

[RomaVicta 29,907]

Glad to browse the thread and see the good reactions. I'll let a few more drop and then watch it with my beloved. I read the book more than once and thought the original series was solid.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,512]

10 hours ago, RomaVicta said:

Glad to browse the thread and see the good reactions. I'll let a few more drop and then watch it with my beloved. I read the book more than once and thought the original series was solid.

Same here. In watching the original series and re-reading the original book. Most of the Clavell books are solid reads.

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

11 hours ago, WBT said:

Haven't watched yet but I heard a review compare it to Japanese Game of Thrones vis a vis the sex and violence.  That seems relevant to my interests.

Only through the first and part of the second, and this is not a bad comparison.  It's been many years since I read the book, and probably 30 since I saw the original series, but damn it's good.

[ArtisanalLoaf 25]

So far so good. Hoping for consistency.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,512]

I was wondering why I know the actor who plays Toranaga. He was in the Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. He played the top captain who grew to respect Tom Cruise as Cruise became a better samurai.

[RomaVicta 29,907]

7 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I was wondering why I know the actor who plays Toranaga. He was in the Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. He played the top captain who grew to respect Tom Cruise as Cruise became a better samurai.

Hiroyuki Sanada's our Toshiro Mifune for the 21st Century. He doesn't have the comic flourish, but he is terrifying as a fighter. 

 

A rebirth of the Samurai genre would be a delight. Akira and Toshiro are gone, but there is clearly talent around to carry it off. 

I was disappointed that Westworld didn't use the samurai more. I may have watched  it to the end had they.

A last note: My senior year in high school, The Houston Post printed a review of Seven Samurai and said it was to appear on the PBS channel. Dad was watching TV at the time. I didn't think he'd go for it, but he was open to subtitles and a rare visit to PBS.

We watched almost in awe. Rapt. Rarely speaking. It was new to both of us, and it's a nice low-key but profound memory of my father. 

Exuberance over.

[ArtisanalLoaf 25]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I was wondering why I know the actor who plays Toranaga. He was in the Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. He played the top captain who grew to respect Tom Cruise as Cruise became a better samurai.

He was also in LOST.

[SmokeyTheBear 5,562]

Cool seeing Cosmo in this as I first came across his work as a singer.  

 

[LCHorn 2,620]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I was wondering why I know the actor who plays Toranaga. He was in the Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. He played the top captain who grew to respect Tom Cruise as Cruise became a better samurai.

He’s been in quite a few international productions-if you want to sample one of his Japanese films besides Ringu check out “The Twilight Samurai”. 
 

It’s not an adaptation of Unforgiven but repeats some of the same themes.  
 

I’m sure comparisons to The Last Samurai were bound to come up-when I read the Shogun I had Ken Watanabe in my head as Toranaga.  Sanada plays everything so internally. 

[LonghornSean 3,998]

Very good through two eps.

 

I generally prefer the week to week TV release over the full season drop, but it does suck not having another ep to knock out tonight.

Edited February 29 by LonghornSean

[Jerry Callo 8,703]

I understand much more Portuguese that I thought.

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

55 minutes ago, Jerry Callo said:

I understand much more Portuguese that I thought.

Edited February 29 by atomheartbevo

[babysdaddy 2,724]

I will continue watching

https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/shogun/viewers-guide/characters/kiku

[TonyTexas 10,513]

Anyone have a site with a free stream?

[nolongerU2horn 765]

On 2/29/2024 at 9:15 AM, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I was wondering why I know the actor who plays Toranaga. He was in the Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. He played the top captain who grew to respect Tom Cruise as Cruise became a better samurai.

 

 

Quote

he was also in LOST

so was Rodrigues

 

Edited March 1 by nolongerU2horn

[LCHorn 2,620]

2 minutes ago, nolongerU2horn said:

 

 

so was Rodrigues

 

Wow, I knew he looked familiar.  He’s perfect for the character.  Also, I’m sure it’s partly makeup but it also looks like his deal with Jacob finally lapsed because he held off aging forever.  

[utee94 15,823]

Really like the first two episodes, ready for more!

[veritas aequitas 443]

On 2/27/2024 at 4:55 PM, Plorant said:

 The "Anjin" actor I felt did well.  He seems like he is trying to be Tom Hardy. 

He was in calm with horses, which is on freevee now but with a different name, and he really reminded me in that of Tom Hardy from The Drop

[Neonmoon 38,129]

Very impressive so far 

[billfromlaketravis 11,480]

Subtitles are tough, but’s it’s a great show. I’m in. 

[PittsburghTiger 6,186]

Watched the first episode. I liked it a lot. For those saying the guy is channeling his inner Tom Hardy I can see that. My first thought was Richard Burton. I don’t know why Burton came to my mind but, that’s what I thought at first.

The commercials though, killer.

[billfromlaketravis 11,480]

2 minutes ago, PittsburghTiger said:

Watched the first episode. I liked it a lot. For those saying the guy is channeling his inner Tom Hardy I can see that. My first thought was Richard Burton. I don’t know why Burton came to my mind but, that’s what I thought at first.

The commercials though, killer.

Yep you nailed it. His voice sounds exactly like Richard Burton. 

[WBT 20,572]

Finished the 2nd ep tonight.  Pretty good so far.

[WBT 20,572]

The book is 1300 pages?  And $50 for hardcover?

[jeevsie 3,734]

I checked audible and it’s sold in two parts!

[ChiTownDoc 21,154]

On 3/3/2024 at 9:15 AM, PittsburghTiger said:

Watched the first episode. I liked it a lot. For those saying the guy is channeling his inner Tom Hardy I can see that. My first thought was Richard Burton. I don’t know why Burton came to my mind but, that’s what I thought at first.

The commercials though, killer.

Had to get Hulu.  Tried the commercials w ep 1 and they nearly ruined the damn thing.  

It’s amazing.  The fact it’s based closely on the true story takes it to another level for me.  Story telling with 10 episodes vs a movie or two is night and day difference.  Although I wish we had this stretched over at least 2-3 seasons.  

[hayden_horn 11,362]

1 hour ago, WBT said:

The book is 1300 pages?  And $50 for hardcover?

yes and worth every penny and more

[mdmost 43,001]

Enjoying this very much. Love the Britain vs. Portugal/Spain/Christians vs. Catholics storyline. The padre in the prison who tells John about the Portuguese bases is the great character actor, Joaquim de Almeida. Excited to watch episode 3 tonight. Mariko, damn. 

Edited March 6 by mdmost