quote:

Originally posted by copaup:
I really like Hiroyuki Sanada.

But he’s no Toshiro Mifune.

I wonder why Ken Watanabe wasn't considered for the role (although Sanada is killing it). Maybe too much like his performance in The Last Samurai? Or his health issues?

Hopefully Watanabe is still in remission. He’s an excellent actor. Isn’t Sanada one of the producers?

And to be clear I have nothing against him. He’s superb. He’s just not Mifune and I can be occasionally unfair…

quote:

Maybe too much like his performance in The Last Samurai?

I love him, but this is relevant. Also I got the sense from the book that Toranaga was a bit shorter, with something of a dad belly.

Season 2 of Tokyo Vice is being released on Max right now. Watanabe is in that series and I wonder if there was a scheduling conflict.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:

quote:

Originally posted by copaup:
I really like Hiroyuki Sanada.

But he’s no Toshiro Mifune.

I wonder why Ken Watanabe wasn't considered for the role (although Sanada is killing it). Maybe too much like his performance in The Last Samurai? Or his health issues?

quote:

Originally posted by ibanda:
I read the book in about 1986 and can't remember the story at all! I'm going to watch the series, and it will be an all new story for me!

Well I watched the first two episodes and it's shaping up to be an excellent series!

I watched about 10-20 minutes of episode 1.
Does it ever stop being pure subtitles?
If I wanted to read something I'd go read a book.

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
I watched about 10-20 minutes of episode 1.
Does it ever stop being pure subtitles?
If I wanted to read something I'd go read a book.

Yeah it gets better. After the first half hour or 45 minutes, English speaking (they are actually speaking Portuguese, but in the show it’s spoken as English, so no subtitles needed) characters show up. But a good bit is still subtitled since all the Japanese dialog is still in Japanese.

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
I watched about 10-20 minutes of episode 1.
Does it ever stop being pure subtitles?
If I wanted to read something I'd go read a book.

Some of the finest TV/Movies I’ve watched have been in the original language and subtitled…also forces the viewer to pay attention to what’s happening on the screen!

Off the top of my head without Googling…

FAUDA - TV
Squid Games - TV
Blue Eye Samurai - TV

7 Samurai- Movie
IP Man - Movie


…and yes, for many of the above, there is an English language setting, but the experience is better. For example, Blue Eye Samurai was written and produced in English, but I HATED it and switched to Japanese with English subtitles…I enjoyed it significantly more.

Really good show so far. Heck, I had turn on subtitles for “The Sopranos” and “Peaky Blinders” and English is my first language, so I don’t mind that much.

I've watched the first two episodes and vividly recall watching the series 40+ years ago. The new version of the book seems very well done so far and I'm looking forward to future episodes. I love the complexity of the people, cultures, and plots. The novel was a great read and obviously what arrives on the screen can't rival it, but this production certainly does works well in it's medium and I'd highly recommend it!!!

Great episode this week (epi #3). Mariko busts out her combat skills when their caravan is ambushed by not one but two samurai groups, and the awesome 2-ship escape from Osaka harbor.

quote:

the awesome 2-ship escape from Osaka harbor

The pistol shot would have been sweet, but I get that some things are going to be cut.

quote:

Learning from Shogun.pdf

senza nome, どうもありがとうございます

I've been waiting for a number of episodes to build-up so I can binge chunks, looks like I can start digging-in later this week. I've been looking forward to this series.

I am enjoying this so far. It's moving at a faster pace than the 1980 from what I remember, but they have added additional dimension that was not in that version.

I binged the first 3 episodes last night. I’m enjoying it quite a bit, despite the lack of Mifune…

But seriously, it’s quite well done. Whoever did their set and costume designs deserves recognition. It’s visually stunning. Short of successfully cloning Mifune, Sanada is as perfect a Toranaga as anyone could ask for. The head Jesuit priest is the only one whose performance just isn’t resonating with me so far, but his role has been fairly minimal.

My wife is enjoying it despite literally no interest in feudal Japan, never having read the book, and generally not enjoying subtitles. It’s even gotten her to ask about some of the history of the period.

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:

It's moving at a faster pace than the 1980 from what I remember

That's just modern TV and movies and it's annoying IMO

I noticed it with Doctor Who from 2005 on.

What they'd take 2, 4, even 6 episodes to flesh out in the 1970's and 1980's they would be doing in half of an episode.

We've been watching it and digging it so far. Really well done though its been more years than I'd like to think about passing since I've read the book. I've liked Sanada in other things so its cool to see him carry the role here. Everyone involved seems really good at this point though we haven't caught the latest one yet.