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scarlettinaMy friend Stan recently mentioned that YouTube has all nine hours of SHOGUN available. Over the last four or five days, when I wasn't working, watching the DNC, or just trying to get myself in gear, I watched it for the first time in years. I'd already read the book; I remember watching it when it first aired. It was a Big Deal--a real TV event--this epic story of love and politics told in 17th century Japan. Richard Chamberlain became the heartthrob of miniseries TV.
Watching the series over the last few days, several things struck me.
First: SHOGUN propelled John Rhys-Davies into the spotlight, and rightfully so. It's not like I never appreciated him before; I always did. But this was the vehicle that made him a recognizable name. When he swaggers on, clad in black and spewing Japanese laced with English invective, he is magnetic and so much fun to watch.
Second: Toshiro Mifune really is a god. No one else in the whole series comes up to his level. He embodies Toronaga. In the making-of documentary, the actors all talk about how, from the moment he was on set, he was in character and was an intimidating, astonishing presence. No doubt.
Third, at the time, everyone was all about Richard Chamberlain, but as I watched now, I found him obvious and occasionally wooden. When he was *on* he was terrific, but there were moments that really struck me as just . . . clumsy--and yet he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy. Certainly, he was pretty as hell, but his performance, I thought, was wildly uneven. Maybe there's something I'm missing that more cinematically educated heads than mine can see.
Fourth, the pace of the production feels stately now--sometime pointlessly so--but then I remember feeling like it really moved. Different times.
Fifth, having been to Japan, it was lovely to see some of the locations. Japan was never on my travel bucket list, but I went with Jack William Bell years ago when the occasion presented itself and it was a wonderful trip. Watching SHOGUN now makes me want to go back--but then I've wanted to go back for a while to see the many things I missed first time around.
If you've never seen SHOGUN, this is a great opportunity. It's well worth watching. A lot of fun.
Watching the series over the last few days, several things struck me.
First: SHOGUN propelled John Rhys-Davies into the spotlight, and rightfully so. It's not like I never appreciated him before; I always did. But this was the vehicle that made him a recognizable name. When he swaggers on, clad in black and spewing Japanese laced with English invective, he is magnetic and so much fun to watch.
Second: Toshiro Mifune really is a god. No one else in the whole series comes up to his level. He embodies Toronaga. In the making-of documentary, the actors all talk about how, from the moment he was on set, he was in character and was an intimidating, astonishing presence. No doubt.
Third, at the time, everyone was all about Richard Chamberlain, but as I watched now, I found him obvious and occasionally wooden. When he was *on* he was terrific, but there were moments that really struck me as just . . . clumsy--and yet he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy. Certainly, he was pretty as hell, but his performance, I thought, was wildly uneven. Maybe there's something I'm missing that more cinematically educated heads than mine can see.
Fourth, the pace of the production feels stately now--sometime pointlessly so--but then I remember feeling like it really moved. Different times.
Fifth, having been to Japan, it was lovely to see some of the locations. Japan was never on my travel bucket list, but I went with Jack William Bell years ago when the occasion presented itself and it was a wonderful trip. Watching SHOGUN now makes me want to go back--but then I've wanted to go back for a while to see the many things I missed first time around.
If you've never seen SHOGUN, this is a great opportunity. It's well worth watching. A lot of fun.
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Date: Fri, Aug. 21st, 2020 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Sun, Aug. 23rd, 2020 04:26 pm (UTC)