JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonGhost Dog: The Way Of the Samurai (1999)
October 11th 2006 04:26
Ghost Dog: Way Of the Samurai (1999)
DVD Cover
Writer/Director:Jim Jaramusch
Starring:Forrest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman, Richard Portnow, Tricia Vessey
Cinematography:Robby Muller
Score: RZA
“The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the way of the samurai.” – Ghost Dog
Impossible to categorize, Ghost Dog: The Way Of the Samurai is part action film, a character driven meditation that contemplates our place in the world.
Offering words to live by, the book Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo provides the foundation for this exercise in spiritual guidance.
Set to a crackling Hip Hop score by Wu Tang Clan’s RZA told with striking visuals, understated dialogue and authentic performances.
Ghost Dog (Forrest Whitaker) is a mob hit man with a life debt. Living strictly by the ancient samurai code, the way of the warrior is a disciplined and focused one. It is a life in service of a master.
He is a man born out of his time, preferring to communicate over distance through carrier pigeon instead of telephone.
A gentle soul, practised and precise and ferociously lethal struggling to live a life of balance and purity, Ghost Dog exists in a world of his own.
“It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. It is the same for anything that is called a Way. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all ways and be more and more in accord with his own.”- Ghost Dog
As the film progresses the tapestry of his being is ripped apart by outside forces and confused by tenderness from others.
Now a marked man the Ghost Dog must protect himself from inevitable violence and emotional vulnerability.
“When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about doing it in a long, roundabout way. One's heart may slacken, he may miss his chance, and by and large there will be no success. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong.”- Ghost Dog
John Doe says:
The finest western interpretation of the Asian samurai film, sweeping Japanese landscapes are replaced with an urban jungle, instead of warlords our hero battles organized crime. Those who have read Sun Tse’ The Art Of Warwill lap up the philosophy and wisdom that flows from each frame of celluloid.
Stylish and cool, the work of Director Jim Jaramusch (Mystery Train, Stranger Than Paradise, Dead Man) always weaves a contemporary soundtrack with ethereal images that are edited softly so you can be drawn into its surreal beauty.
Forrest Whitaker (Bird, The Colour Of Money, Crying Game, Johnny Handsome) is fluid and smooth, moving with confidence and grace making it easy to believe he is the Ghost Dog. Built like the iconic Toshiro Mifune and shot by Lars Von trier regular Robby Muller, the rooftop scenes of Mr Whitaker honing his sword play skills, backed by the bass filled score is indelible cinema.
The supporting cast of Mafioso all live the roles and keep me smiling at there eccentricities.
This is a film that moves at its own speed, sometimes violent, always poetic and never dull. Reminiscent of Jean Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai, painting a complete portrait of an assassin. Focusing on the toll sin, redemption and a restless heart have on this man of honour and morals.
The DVD:
The new Australian release is an improvement on the 2.0 pan n scan version. Now we have a wide 16:9 and 5.1 sound. A nice bonus is the deleted scenes and making of the sound track featurette.
Starring:Forrest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman, Richard Portnow, Tricia Vessey
Score: RZA
“The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the way of the samurai.” – Ghost Dog
Impossible to categorize, Ghost Dog: The Way Of the Samurai is part action film, a character driven meditation that contemplates our place in the world.
Offering words to live by, the book Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo provides the foundation for this exercise in spiritual guidance.
Set to a crackling Hip Hop score by Wu Tang Clan’s RZA told with striking visuals, understated dialogue and authentic performances.
Ghost Dog (Forrest Whitaker) is a mob hit man with a life debt. Living strictly by the ancient samurai code, the way of the warrior is a disciplined and focused one. It is a life in service of a master.
He is a man born out of his time, preferring to communicate over distance through carrier pigeon instead of telephone.
A gentle soul, practised and precise and ferociously lethal struggling to live a life of balance and purity, Ghost Dog exists in a world of his own.
“It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. It is the same for anything that is called a Way. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all ways and be more and more in accord with his own.”- Ghost Dog
As the film progresses the tapestry of his being is ripped apart by outside forces and confused by tenderness from others.
Now a marked man the Ghost Dog must protect himself from inevitable violence and emotional vulnerability.
“When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about doing it in a long, roundabout way. One's heart may slacken, he may miss his chance, and by and large there will be no success. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong.”- Ghost Dog
John Doe says:
The finest western interpretation of the Asian samurai film, sweeping Japanese landscapes are replaced with an urban jungle, instead of warlords our hero battles organized crime. Those who have read Sun Tse’ The Art Of Warwill lap up the philosophy and wisdom that flows from each frame of celluloid.
Stylish and cool, the work of Director Jim Jaramusch (Mystery Train, Stranger Than Paradise, Dead Man) always weaves a contemporary soundtrack with ethereal images that are edited softly so you can be drawn into its surreal beauty.
Forrest Whitaker (Bird, The Colour Of Money, Crying Game, Johnny Handsome) is fluid and smooth, moving with confidence and grace making it easy to believe he is the Ghost Dog. Built like the iconic Toshiro Mifune and shot by Lars Von trier regular Robby Muller, the rooftop scenes of Mr Whitaker honing his sword play skills, backed by the bass filled score is indelible cinema.
The supporting cast of Mafioso all live the roles and keep me smiling at there eccentricities.
This is a film that moves at its own speed, sometimes violent, always poetic and never dull. Reminiscent of Jean Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai, painting a complete portrait of an assassin. Focusing on the toll sin, redemption and a restless heart have on this man of honour and morals.
The DVD:
The new Australian release is an improvement on the 2.0 pan n scan version. Now we have a wide 16:9 and 5.1 sound. A nice bonus is the deleted scenes and making of the sound track featurette.
"Now, where did I put those throwing stars?"
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Comment by Justin
Cinematrix
Interesting film and a likable review to a hard film to make sense of for telling. (It's that confusing now my sentences are barely coherent!)
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Ghost Dog certainly is unique, driven totally by character the real pleasure comes from just watching it and soaking up the stylized atmoshere and performances.
I enjoy Jim Jaramusch's work, it was a toss up between reviewing this and my favourite Johnny Depp film Dead Man.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by JohnDoe
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I know ya dig the eastern philosphies like me. Have you had a chance to check out Lone Wolf and Cub yet?
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the italian guys crack me up
Comment by LaurenD
LaurenD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Good One Lauren, Dead Man is a sublime experience that I love.