Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Artisan Entertainment | Release Date: March 3, 2000

7.7	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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User Reviews

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ryancarroll88Sep 27, 2010

"Ghost Dog," the story of an inner city dweller who lives by the way of the samurai soaks up its premise not in blood splatter but in level-headed absurdity and complexity, a focus that takes much more time to absorb. Still, the movie is fun"Ghost Dog," the story of an inner city dweller who lives by the way of the samurai soaks up its premise not in blood splatter but in level-headed absurdity and complexity, a focus that takes much more time to absorb. Still, the movie is fun in ways that you wouldn't expect - the antagonists are comprised of the worst ...mob probably ever caught on film: they are regularly shown whacking the wrong people, watching cartoons (the movies sly way of equating mob violence to cartoon violence) or falling behind on their rent. Ghost Dog, played by Forest Whitaker, is quite a character himself, trying to make sense of the world through Zen judgment and ancient ways by frequently quoting relevant passages from Hagakure, the book of the Samurai. Furthermore his 'best friend' is an ice cream truck man who can only speak French. This combined with the fact that the movie isn't afraid to address questions of morality and racism make the movie even more of a head-scratcher but nevertheless entertaining. To top it all off, RZA's soundtrack is one of the highlights of the film, layering it with great old-style Wu-Tang hip-hop that is enough to make the movie worth watching itself.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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HankChinaskiSep 26, 2011

Magnificent movie, one of Jarmush's best. And if you happen to be into Zen philosophy, hiphop music, and gangster flicks like me, you'll give it a 10 as well.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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grandpajoe6191Oct 10, 2011

Despite its B-flick movie poster, Jim Jarmusch's mash-up movie "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai" is a surprisingly well structured samurai-gangster movie you would definitely watch when having extra time to spend.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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StevenS.Apr 16, 2007

Great philosophical dialogue, honorable characters, intriguing plot line among Samurai-Warriors, and was I believe Forest Whittaker's finest acting performance prior to his recent Award win. His breathtaking performance had me convinced Great philosophical dialogue, honorable characters, intriguing plot line among Samurai-Warriors, and was I believe Forest Whittaker's finest acting performance prior to his recent Award win. His breathtaking performance had me convinced that someday he would win an Oscar for best actor, and it all starts in the beginning. Also, props to Rza for being in this film and for producing such a killer soundtrack. One of the better underrated indy films I have seen, and is better than most over-produced studio films.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

JerryOblegoDec 29, 2012

The story progression is painfully slow. I almost fell asleep watching the first 10 minutes of this film. Then I have to click fast forward to see what really is in store for this movie. Sadly there is not much to see. Ghost dog is plainlyThe story progression is painfully slow. I almost fell asleep watching the first 10 minutes of this film. Then I have to click fast forward to see what really is in store for this movie. Sadly there is not much to see. Ghost dog is plainly boring. There are so many dull moments. For example what is with the walking in the beginning of this film. And what's with the birds flying and flying and flying around. What a waste of video time.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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MarkK.Apr 27, 2001

Go see it. Enough said.

1 of 4 users found this helpful

SpangleJul 10, 2014

Overall, this film is pretty good. It features some brilliantly filmed action sequences, great direction from Jim Jarmusch, and a good performance from Forest Whitaker, all of which help this film mightily. It is also incredibly original, asOverall, this film is pretty good. It features some brilliantly filmed action sequences, great direction from Jim Jarmusch, and a good performance from Forest Whitaker, all of which help this film mightily. It is also incredibly original, as it not everyday that you see a film that blends samurais and gangsters. This film is undeniably a fun and easy film to watch, in spite of the times when it does slow down. The only real "negative" I can think of here is that the film is pretty safe for the most part. Yes, the idea it is based around is original, but for the most part, it feels like your regular old action crime film. Now, while I call that a "negative", it is not really a bad thing since the film is still good, but it would have been nice to see them use the original idea to rise above the genre. Ultimately, however, it is a solid film that really sucks you in thanks to its original premise and solid directing/action/acting. Highly watchable without question.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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SinaAzakhJun 9, 2013

Nothing to say...just see and learn the samurai's lessons! sometime a real japonease samurai shows that way,in other fantastic cas a black guy shows the way out,thank you jim jarmush

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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EpicLadySpongeApr 7, 2016

Ghost Dog is entertainment at its finest! With the Way of the Samurai, Ghost Dog will always be a great movie to watch and stay entertained and you'll keep on living up its old classic name of Ghost Dog.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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BroyaxFeb 1, 2023

Un film aberrant et volontiers pontifiant du début à la fin… une sorte de donneur de leçon à la petite semaine, sauf qu’il ne sait pas ce qu’il fait ou est en train de faire, à part citer le bushido n’importe comment et suivre son agendaUn film aberrant et volontiers pontifiant du début à la fin… une sorte de donneur de leçon à la petite semaine, sauf qu’il ne sait pas ce qu’il fait ou est en train de faire, à part citer le bushido n’importe comment et suivre son agenda progressiste pro-diversité des minorités afin de les rendre majoritaires…

On observe d’ailleurs une diabolisation patente des Blancs (les mafieux sont méchants et cons) face aux Noirs (les gentils gangs de Noirs et bien entendu le gentil tueur à gages noir incarné par l’abruti (et idiot) du village, Forest Whitaker (Gump). Sans compter le gentil Noir, vendeur de glaces qui baragouine son dialecte des îles… et la gamine noire très intelligente qui lit des livres compliqués.

On a donc ici l’assassin noir trop stylé à la démarche pourtant étrange de clochard boîteux handicapé au regard torve qui vole des voitures de luxe (uniquement) pour écouter son rap de merde (pléonasme) afin de se rendre sur les lieux de son prochain crime. Cependant, il pourrait prendre un taxi parce qu’en Classe S ou en XJS, il risque de se faire arrêter par les flics à mon à avis…

En tout cas, il manie aussi le sabre quand il ne relit pas régulièrement ‘Rashomon’… et ce simple fait suffit à hisser directement le film au rang de chef-d’oeuvre chez les bobos de tous horizons, bien entendu ! même la fin est grotesque (comme le reste de cette caricature navrante) et se révèle un quasi non-sens englué dans sa prétention de film intello-bobo gauchiste !… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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amheretojudgeApr 2, 2019

A Melting Ice Cream Cone.

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai Jarmusch has an exonerating comic book quality. Dipped in an ancient cultural theme, Jim Jarmusch, the writer and director, accounts in all these events and ideologies for a cleanA Melting Ice Cream Cone.

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai

Jarmusch has an exonerating comic book quality. Dipped in an ancient cultural theme, Jim Jarmusch, the writer and director, accounts in all these events and ideologies for a clean easy action drama flick. This is a quality product, not a thought provoking drama, but incredibly rich in details, where there are barely any words spoken. Jarmusch also uses animals like dogs and bears and pigeons and even woodpecker to explain the spookiness. Addition to that, he also adds a cartoon-ish world in all the television scenarios to express the guns duels or how a girl welcomes all the birds in her house.

But amongst all these metaphors, the one where Forest Whitaker observes a hunter being hunted by the victim, somehow paints the picture of the entire film. This employer gone wrong to the employee case, might be old but the heat extracted from that very ripped off storyline is a breath of fresh air. Another brilliant installation is of his unexpected relation with a girl and the ice cream seller. The girl whom he teaches by giving her a book to read somehow links and encircles all the character where the book is passed upon.

The parchment is every now and then displayed with some sort of profound poetry and a useful piece of information for an insight in the character's perspective as Whitaker is not your talkative neighbor. Whitaker in this conserved brooding character charges at you with fear and a lot of empathy with his love for innocent beings, whether it be coming then from his read and applied books or just his nature. Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai is similar to its slick homemade gadget, sharp and precise in its work, Jim means nothing but business in his new territory.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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SolalModeOct 4, 2022

A masterpiece that puts many issues in scene in a very poetic way, as Jarmush knows how to do. A film about a man who embodies the transmission of knowledge and wisdom in a society that respects neither one nor the other; a being in love withA masterpiece that puts many issues in scene in a very poetic way, as Jarmush knows how to do. A film about a man who embodies the transmission of knowledge and wisdom in a society that respects neither one nor the other; a being in love with the past, but turned towards the future, in a world that cultivates lies and forgetfulness.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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