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James Clavell's Shogun | 
 enlarge | Director: Jerry London
Actors: Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Shimada, Frankie Sakai, Alan Badel
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $54.49
You Save: $25.50 (32%)
New (36) Used (16) from $49.50
Rating:  192 reviews
Sales Rank: 2416
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), English (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 5
Running Time: 547 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.7 x 1.5
MPN: PARD154984D
ISBN: 0792193326
UPC: 097361549842
EAN: 9780792193326
ASIN: B0000A2ZNX
Theatrical Release Date: September 15, 1980
Release Date: September 23, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/23/2003 Starring: Richard Chamberlain Damien Thomas Run time: 600 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Jerry London
Amazon.com essential video
What better way to escape from the onslaught of so-called reality television than to sail away with Richard Chamberlain to "the Japans" for a little samurai action and some discreet "pillowing"? From the golden age of the miniseries comes this television benchmark, the 10-hour, Golden Globe-winning saga based on James Clavell's bestselling epic. In his award-winning performance, Chamberlain stars as John Blackthorne, the 17th-century English navigator on a Dutch trading ship. A storm runs the ship aground off the coast of Japan, a "torn and cruelly divided country" locked in a power struggle between Toranaga (the venerable Toshiro Mifune) and Ishido, two warlords who would be Shogun. Blackthorne gets over his initial culture shock ("I piss on you and your country," he defiantly proclaims to his samurai captors, which to his humiliation turns out to be an unfortunate choice of words) to become a trusted ally of Toranaga and the lover of the beautiful interpreter Lady Mariko (Yoko Shimada). Their forbidden, ill-fated romance--and Blackthorne's total assimilation into Japanese culture--is set against political intrigue as Toranaga prepares for the inevitable showdown with Ishido, and Blackthorne's growing influence threatens the local Jesuits who had built up a lucrative trade monopoly. IShogun/I was a production blessed with good karma, and it remains an awesome achievement from a bygone era when the miniseries was king. I--Donald Liebenson/I
Amazon.com
Originally broadcast in September of 1980 as a 5-part, 12-hour miniseries, IShogun/I stood out from the pack of television events at the time with its boldness of action and calculated risks. Based on James Clavell's epic novel, IShogun/I stars Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, a 17th-century English pilot commanding a Dutch ship that wrecks off the coast of Japan. Viewed suspiciously by local authorities, Blackthorne is at first in some danger of being executed. But with little hope of returning to Britain anytime soon, he begins to assimilate into the feudal society, befriending a powerful warlord (Toshiro Mifune) and wearing the robes of a samurai. Inevitably, Blackthorne begins to think of himself as Japanese, defending his hosts in battle, learning the language, and falling in love with an interpreter (Yoko Shimada). At the same time, his presence there exacerbates a problem with would-be European colonialists gazing at Japan covetously. Directed by journeyman Jerry London, IShogun/I immediately caught on with its blend of romance, exoticism, and compelling myth of an outsider's reinvention--a story that becomes sadder as it becomes clear that Blackthorne may never see his home again. The production deliberately pushed hard against various television taboos and audience expectations, including the extensive use of Japanese dialogue, startling violence, near nudity, and profane behavior. That all looks tamer now, of course, but IShogun/I is still a unique entry in the phenomenon of prestige miniseries from the late 1970s and early '80s. I--Tom Keogh/I
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| Customer Reviews: Read 187 more reviews...
 shogun dvd set December 21, 2008
Samuel S. Johnson
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I thought the dvd version (4 dvd's)would be the complete miniseries but I was wrong. Many of the scenes I remember from the original NBC airing have been cut out. One is where the samurai in the fish pit with Blackthorn and his crew asks Blackthorn to kill him and, having been refused, tries to kill himself. That was the first scene that I noticed missing with many more to follow. Why the hell couldn't they include ALL the scenes in a dvd set? That's why we buy dvd sets in the first place - to get a complete version and maybe some extras. br / br /Go to the library where you can check it out for free.
 SHOGUN December 14, 2008
Bruce S. Moore (Arizona)
Based on the real life diary of Will Adams ( very boring) , the real Anjin san, Clavell makes the tale come alive! It also makes reading the book "Shogun" exciting. It inspired me to travel to Japan and follow Anjin's adventure.
Mesmerizing story November 19, 2008
Thomas M. Mintoft Czyz
Shogun is one of the best adaptations of a literary bestseller to the small screen. Superb acting, great scenery and great suspense story. br /Too bad that one of the 5 discs is flawed. The picture stalls and there is no way to continue watching unless the skip button is used causing that a considerable part of the film is not possible to view.
Outstanding Movie! November 19, 2008
Molly (Chula Vista, CA)
Anyone that has seen Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai will love this movie. I actually think Sho Gun is better. Richard Chamberlain does an excellent job. I highly recommend this movie.
Powerful Movie October 25, 2008
M. Oakes (Alabama)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The movie Shogun shows the true side of the Japanese culture during the 17th century and I have yet to find anything that is close to this production.
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