clocker
11-12-2009, 01:52 AM
Shogun (1980).
A TV miniseries based on the novel by James Clavell, starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifuni.
Man, this is tough.
Recently, while laying sick abed, for some reason I flashed back to memories of this miniseries and decided to revisit it when I felt better.
I have to give a little background for you younger folk...
In 1980 there were no PCs, no DVDs, no VCRs even.
The term "appointment TV" had a whole different meaning since if you missed it when it aired...well, you'd really missed it.
It was over and you weren't getting it again unless it reran on broadcast TV (oh yeah, no such thing as cable either).
The book had been a huge bestseller and I was quite excited about the miniseries, as was everyone I knew.
It was such a big deal that the restaurant I was working in closed for the five nights of broadcast and we all gathered and drank sake, smoked dope and had a grand old time.
There were multiple TVs- none larger than 25" (which was giant for the time) and I remember the experience fondly.
I should have left this sleeping dog lie.
The tale surrounds John Blackthorne (Chamberlain), the first English seacaptain/pilot to stumble upon Japan, previously a closely guarded Spanish secret.
The time is 1600 and Japan is going through political upheaval with Lord Toranaga (Mifuni) attempting to become the empire wide military ruler (the Shogun).
Lots of political,religious and cultural intrigue occurs.
Yes, there are ninjas.
Shogun was the first (and still only) American TV production filmed entirely in Japan, so the locations and the mostly Japanese cast are very authentic.
The costumes are quite beautiful, especially the women's.
Speaking of the women...almost without exception they are ethereally graceful and exotically gorgeous and are basically the best reason to watch the series.
Although most of the dialogue is in Japanese, there are no subtitles, so if there isn't an English speaking character in the scene (or a designated translator), the audience is as lost as the English characters are supposed to be.
It's really quite weird.
The special effects ( a few sea scenes and an earthquake) are laughable and the music is just totally excreable...I mean jarringly bad (yes, that's a really inside pun...look it up).
Although there are a few undeniably powerful setpieces (my highlight would be the Lady Toda's ritual seppuku), most of the scenes are short, very static and entirely in Japanese.
The plot kind of lurches from one shot to the next and lacks the fluidity that even mediocre modern TV shows exhibit.
In 1980, Shogun was a massive hit and won lots of awards.
It was such a big deal that wikipedia even credits it with popularizing Japanese cuisine- especially sushi- in the US.
Since I don't speak Japanese it's possible that wasabi is what most of the series was actually about...
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my short trip back to "the good ole days".
They really weren't that good as it turns out- although if you have nine hours to spare, you'll get an idea about what your parents thought was cool.
A TV miniseries based on the novel by James Clavell, starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifuni.
Man, this is tough.
Recently, while laying sick abed, for some reason I flashed back to memories of this miniseries and decided to revisit it when I felt better.
I have to give a little background for you younger folk...
In 1980 there were no PCs, no DVDs, no VCRs even.
The term "appointment TV" had a whole different meaning since if you missed it when it aired...well, you'd really missed it.
It was over and you weren't getting it again unless it reran on broadcast TV (oh yeah, no such thing as cable either).
The book had been a huge bestseller and I was quite excited about the miniseries, as was everyone I knew.
It was such a big deal that the restaurant I was working in closed for the five nights of broadcast and we all gathered and drank sake, smoked dope and had a grand old time.
There were multiple TVs- none larger than 25" (which was giant for the time) and I remember the experience fondly.
I should have left this sleeping dog lie.
The tale surrounds John Blackthorne (Chamberlain), the first English seacaptain/pilot to stumble upon Japan, previously a closely guarded Spanish secret.
The time is 1600 and Japan is going through political upheaval with Lord Toranaga (Mifuni) attempting to become the empire wide military ruler (the Shogun).
Lots of political,religious and cultural intrigue occurs.
Yes, there are ninjas.
Shogun was the first (and still only) American TV production filmed entirely in Japan, so the locations and the mostly Japanese cast are very authentic.
The costumes are quite beautiful, especially the women's.
Speaking of the women...almost without exception they are ethereally graceful and exotically gorgeous and are basically the best reason to watch the series.
Although most of the dialogue is in Japanese, there are no subtitles, so if there isn't an English speaking character in the scene (or a designated translator), the audience is as lost as the English characters are supposed to be.
It's really quite weird.
The special effects ( a few sea scenes and an earthquake) are laughable and the music is just totally excreable...I mean jarringly bad (yes, that's a really inside pun...look it up).
Although there are a few undeniably powerful setpieces (my highlight would be the Lady Toda's ritual seppuku), most of the scenes are short, very static and entirely in Japanese.
The plot kind of lurches from one shot to the next and lacks the fluidity that even mediocre modern TV shows exhibit.
In 1980, Shogun was a massive hit and won lots of awards.
It was such a big deal that wikipedia even credits it with popularizing Japanese cuisine- especially sushi- in the US.
Since I don't speak Japanese it's possible that wasabi is what most of the series was actually about...
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my short trip back to "the good ole days".
They really weren't that good as it turns out- although if you have nine hours to spare, you'll get an idea about what your parents thought was cool.