What an excellent Mini-Series! After reading the book then seeing it come to life on TV, you can lose yourself in the Series. The Casting, Cinematography, Sets, Costumes and Acting were nothing less than Perfect.

You can actually learn some basic Japanese words and phrases from closely reading the book. James Clevell blended the Language lessons into Pilot's training and familiarization so well, you felt like you learned and felt with him. The Series did it almost as well but you were distracted by seeing living, breathing characters. The life and times were hard. The Barbarian world with the Unhealthy and downright odd beliefs and superstitions. Then the Ancient Culture of Japan, Brutal but with much beauty and creativity. Both full of Scheming, Evil, Honorable, Likeable, and Hateful characters.

I consider this the all-time #1 made for TV movie events. Too bad the voting scale only goes to 10.

Basically, trying to fit a Clavell epic into a 2-hour movie is like trying to fit the entire Sears catalog into a single 30-second ad. While the miniseries is a masterful adaptation, covering all of the essential plotlines and perhaps even adding to the understanding for Mariko's and Blackthorne's relationship, the 2-hour cut is piece-meal and poorly edited. in short, it doesn't make sense, and it doesn't do justice to Clavel's greatest epic.

It is also a great read, by the way.

I won't waste your time on repeating what the others have said, but I will repeat that this is the best of the best when it comes to modern mini-series. What I would like to see instead of all the stupid reality shows that plague T.V., is a series based on the James Clavell books starting with Shogun A.D.1600, then Tai-Pan A.D. 1841, then move to King Rat A.D. 1945, Noble House A.D. 1963, and finish with Whirlwind A.D.1979. The dates are from WhirlWind, the fifth novel in the Asian Saga. Since this will probably never happen, pick-up Shogun, Tai-Pan, and King Rat as they are all available in either DVD or VHS. Richard Chamberlain and Yoko Shimada are truly terrific together. They play their parts so well, that you can't help but to be drawn into their lives. Having lived in Japan for three years, Shogun had special meaning to me, but anyone who loves action and a good romance will not be disappointed. Please check it out. No flaws in this one.