I read this book so many years ago I dread to think. I watched the series on TV when it first released here in the UK and was completely blown away by it. A few years later I noticed a video in the video library and hired it. I was disappointed in that because it had be condensed into a mere 125 it was almost unwatchable, but for fans there were a few changed sequences, not least a full frontal view of Lady Mariko Buntaro (Yoko Shimada) that didn't go amiss.
I bought this DVD when it was recently released and its as fresh today as it was then. A few things grate, the large TV type titles showing locations (OK it was made for TV), the fact that we cannot hope to learn Japanese in only 10 hours (although the major plot lines are narrated by Orson Welles) and so miss much of the political intrique set out in the book and of course Maurice Jarre's music now seems to be a little out of place in such an oriental setting.
Take it from me, these are small criticisms of a piece of work that has well stood the test of time. If you have 10 hours to spare, or chunks of it at a time, it is very much worth watching. You won't be disappointed. The only way it could have been better in the DVD version would be to combine some of the scenes from the 125min video version and to subtitle the Japanese. Mel Gibson has proven that we are adult enough to sit through a movie of subtitles if we are motivated enough and with this we would be.
I bought this DVD when it was recently released and its as fresh today as it was then. A few things grate, the large TV type titles showing locations (OK it was made for TV), the fact that we cannot hope to learn Japanese in only 10 hours (although the major plot lines are narrated by Orson Welles) and so miss much of the political intrique set out in the book and of course Maurice Jarre's music now seems to be a little out of place in such an oriental setting.
Take it from me, these are small criticisms of a piece of work that has well stood the test of time. If you have 10 hours to spare, or chunks of it at a time, it is very much worth watching. You won't be disappointed. The only way it could have been better in the DVD version would be to combine some of the scenes from the 125min video version and to subtitle the Japanese. Mel Gibson has proven that we are adult enough to sit through a movie of subtitles if we are motivated enough and with this we would be.