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Ghost Dog - The Way Of The Samurai Reviews

1999

70
from 6844 members

Eastern and Western cultures and philosophies intersect in this comic drama from acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch. Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a silent modern-day warrior who lives on a rooftop shack. He spends his days breeding pigeons and playing chess in the park with his best friend, Raymond (Isaach de Bankole), a French-.. Read more

Starring	Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, Henry Tormey, Victor Argo
Director	Jim Jarmusch
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Ghost Dog - The Way Of The Samurai
View all critics' reviews (6)
- A film that is likely to divide audiences: some will find its literary structure pretentious, others will enjoy a slyly comic movie about a clash between two different codes of honour.
- 30494
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Ghost Dog - The Way Of The Samurai
View all members' reviews (43)
- - 12
  - 0
  Different and thoughtful
  
  I am a big fan of assassin-type films and the premise for this sounded good. A lonely man known as Ghost Dog lives on the roof with his pigeons, but as one hit ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 68415
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Adam H. Gallimore
  - the middle of Dorset
  - 31 Jan 2005 at 16:02
Most recent members' reviews of Ghost Dog - The Way Of The Samurai
View all members' reviews (43)
- - 1
  - 0
  My favourite ever film
  
  A beautiful study of bushido; and I think one of the most accessible ones I have ever seen.
  
  If I could recommend you any film to see before you die, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1093635
- - Carveus
  - 5 reviews
  - Canterbury
  - 17 Feb 2012 at 19:31
- - 0
  - 0
  Grasshopper gets bigger!
  
  Different film, with nice shots. Jim has that special little thing....and he does a good film as well. Check out some of his other films!
  
  Report this review
- 1056640
- - a customer
  - 29 Oct 2011 at 18:14
- - 1
  - 0
  Brutal and tender.
  
  A tremendous central performance, this movie is thought provoking, poetic and unrelenting in it's portrayal of life outside the law in urban America.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1044769
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Foeldrigarn
  - 13 reviews
  - Europe
  - 25 Sep 2011 at 19:18
- - 0
  - 0
  More bark than bite...
  
  The usually superb Forest Whitaker appears to drift through this role with little passion or interest (maybe because of his Samuri philosophy?) so you tend to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 976228
- - Whipster
  - 621 reviews
  - Shropshire
  - 25 Mar 2011 at 18:36
- - 0
  - 0
  bit of a slow burner but awright
  
  i like fw but this one is a slow burner fw is a loner recluse who is also a hitman he is assigned to do a job but does not wipe out the girl there is bounty on ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 926011
- - a customer
  - London
  - 23 Sep 2010 at 15:17
- - 0
  - 3
  No ghosts, no dogs
  
  Its a bit of a risk, being a respected indie director with a loyal cult following and then deciding to do a genre picture.
  
  Stay in your indie niche ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 881674
- - hunneric
  - 5 reviews
  - London
  - 09 Apr 2010 at 17:52
- - 0
  - 0
  Good soundtrack!
  
  A bit of an odd film. the humor is quite subtle at times. The film also seems like an excuse to play some of Rza,s favorite tunes, which were good.
  
  Report this review
- 836393
- - a customer
  - London
  - 02 Dec 2009 at 10:37
- - 0
  - 0
  Ghost dog
  
  Bizarre and beautiful. Harks back to Kurisawa but in a contemporary setting. Forest Whiteker does such a good job it makes me forget and forgive Species
  
  Report this review
- 763528
- - gullyforth
  - 16 reviews
  - Swansea
  - 28 May 2009 at 14:48
- - 0
  - 0
  One of the Reasons Why I Still Go to the Movies...
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Unfortunately, I fear that many people who watch 'Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai' will not enjoy it. When I first watched the film, a number of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 744621
- - a customer
  - London
  - 17 Apr 2009 at 19:45
- - 0
  - 0
  Way of the samurai
  
  Brilliant. One of Forest Whitaker's finest performances especially since when he made this film was relevanlty unknown which only makes it better.
  read more »
  
  Report this review
- 740543
- - a customer
  - London
  - 09 Apr 2009 at 11:45
View all members' reviews (43)

- - 12
  - 0
  Different and thoughtful
  
  I am a big fan of assassin-type films and the premise for this sounded good. A lonely man known as Ghost Dog lives on the roof with his pigeons, but as one hit ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 68415
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Adam H. Gallimore
  - the middle of Dorset
  - 31 Jan 2005 at 16:02
- - 7
  - 0
  One man and his pigeons
  
  Any film that features ghetto streets, wise-guy mafia gangsters, ancient Japanese philosophy, French speaking ice-cream men, a Wu Tang Clan soundtrack and a man... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299943
- - rodneytrotbags
  - Newcastle upon Tyne
  - 19 Feb 2004 at 11:50
- - 6
  - 1
  Rubbish
  
  Forrest Whitaker should never agreed to do this movie because even with him in it it was still crap.
  
  Report this review
- 666193
- - a customer
  - scotland
  - 29 Nov 2008 at 11:41
- - 5
  - 0
  I just couldn't be bothered
  
  I approached Ghost Dog with high expectations for a noir comedy. Too high, as it turned out.
  
  By the time I was 50+ minutes into the film, I was ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 577558
- - Andybe
  - 195 reviews
  - Richmond
  - 18 Jun 2008 at 08:56
- - 4
  - 0
  Suprisingly good for a low budget film.
  
  A man who lives his life by the Samurai code is threatened and he has to resort to his own exacting standards to seek retribution.
  
  Interesting take ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 6228
- - Steven Elliott
  - Manchester, England
  - 21 May 2004 at 15:35
- - 3
  - 0
  Captivating
  
  Fantastic low budget mob based samurai epic, which is superbly shot and Forest Whitaker is so utterly watchable to boot.
  
  Report this review
- 18525
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Lunar
  - 114 reviews
  - Derby
  - 16 Sep 2004 at 20:07
- - 3
  - 0
  Incredibly bad
  
  In the early scene in the car, I thought 'this mundanity must have a point'. But no, it continued that way until I gave up. Worst film ever. :-(
  
  Report this review
- 602468
- - elgy
  - 2 reviews
  - Sale
  - 23 Jul 2008 at 18:20
- - 2
  - 0
  Sympathetic Hitman
  
  This is a film that has heart, action, humour and style and can be enjoyed several times. I like it at least as much as Leon, if not more. It certainly has ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 643905
- - ExEP
  - 10 reviews
  - Faversham
  - 14 Oct 2008 at 16:36
- - 1
  - 0
  Brutal and tender.
  
  A tremendous central performance, this movie is thought provoking, poetic and unrelenting in it's portrayal of life outside the law in urban America.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1044769
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Foeldrigarn
  - 13 reviews
  - Europe
  - 25 Sep 2011 at 19:18
- - 1
  - 0
  My favourite ever film
  
  A beautiful study of bushido; and I think one of the most accessible ones I have ever seen.
  
  If I could recommend you any film to see before you die, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1093635
- - Carveus
  - 5 reviews
  - Canterbury
  - 17 Feb 2012 at 19:31

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Critics' reviews
- A film that is likely to divide audiences: some will find its literary structure pretentious, others will enjoy a slyly comic movie about a clash between two different codes of honour.
- 30494
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
- "...Fascinating....[Jarmusch] has composed a ruminative, bittersweet visual essay on brutality, honor and tribalism..."
- 8195
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- Jarmusch's engagingly offbeat variation on the hitman thriller finds Ghost Dog (Whitaker) under threat from the... read more on Time Out
- 43658
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:14
- "...A master-mix from a cinematic DJ at the height of his formalist powers..."
- 8196
- - Premiere
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...Amusing and melancholic, sweet-centred and dark-edged..."
- 8197
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...[Jarmusch's film] has his deadpan sense of humor..."
- 8194
- - Movieline
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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- Ghost Dog - The Way Of The Samurai
  
  Eastern and Western cultures and philosophies intersect in this comic drama from acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch. Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a silent modern-day warrior who lives on a rooftop shack. He spends his days breeding pigeons and playing chess in the park with his best friend, Raymond (...