Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 35
  3. Negative: 3 out of 35

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  1. JerryOblego
    Dec 29, 2012
    2
    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 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
  2. grandpajoe6191
    Oct 10, 2011
    7
    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. HankChinaski
    Sep 26, 2011
    10
    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.
  4. ryancarroll88
    Sep 27, 2010
    7
    "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
  5. StevenS.
    Apr 16, 2007
    10
    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.… Collapse
  6. PaulsS.
    Jul 21, 2004
    10
    Most of Ya give 1, becaus it isnt a typical yankee movie, for those who give 10 its filosophy, which cant be understood by them who give 1. So simply it is. RZA is in the right place.
  7. YoonMinC.
    Sep 28, 2003
    6
    Another deadpan Jarmusch movie as disturbing as Dead Man because the modus operandi of both is violence. Jarmusch's earlier movies dealt with quirky outsiders, laidback and uninvolved with mainstream life. They had a certain charm as well as some annoying slackerish mannerisms. But, being laidback and gonzoed out about violence is a different matter. In both Dead Man and Ghost Dog, we're goaded into dumb, slo-mo laughter as we see a bunch of people--mostly white guys with no redeemable facets--get mowed down. I'm not sure if Jarmusch is pulling the rug on genre conventions(and for what reason particularly?), making a statement about racism, or simply being smug. It's inventive in the sense that Jarmusch brings together disparate elements; the usually slick gangster hero has been replaced by a fat, dreadlocked Forest Whitaker. An urban black guy leads an ascetic life based on Oriental warrior philosophy so at odds with the rhythm and lingo of rap. Perhaps, Jarmusch wants to push and hold us in that area where we're unsure of what to think or feel, whether to laugh or cringe, but overall it left me less illumed than squeamish. … Expand
  8. ReygeesR.
    Aug 23, 2003
    9
    Ce film est une reelle turie ... je l ai touvé extraordinaire !
  9. ClaudeL.
    Mar 19, 2003
    9
    Like all Jarmusch movies, the caracters are so attractives. the mood of the movie is metaphysic, cool, violent and very bizarre. Another gift from Jarmusch.
  10. JackthePicker
    Oct 1, 2002
    9
    Better than all the crap big budget piece of sh.t no substance f....d up actors who think their life means something.
  11. RicoP.
    Aug 5, 2002
    9
    Smooth, Kewl, Classic.
  12. WannesD.
    Jul 9, 2002
    10
    One of my favourite movies of all time, together with Truffaut's 'Shoot the pianist' and Godard's 'Le Week-end'.
  13. JustasM.
    Apr 8, 2002
    10
    It tells the truth. It is good.
  14. RossW.
    Oct 21, 2001
    3
    Hi, I'm Micheal F.'s friend and I just want to clear some things up. Micheal didn't lose faith in me because I didn't like Ghost Dog. He lost faith because I didn't like "Battlefield Earth." By the way, I can tell you another movie Michael F. Likes: "Wild Wild West," in fact he bought it.
  15. MichaelF.
    Aug 7, 2001
    8
    Very good indie. This film is so well-directed in writing, directing and acting its all brilliant! I recommended this great film to my two best friends and they both HATED it! I have lost faith in them.
  16. MarkK.
    Apr 27, 2001
    10
    Go see it. Enough said.
  17. MarkK.
    Apr 27, 2001
    10
    Go see it. Enough said.
  18. GabhanC.
    Feb 4, 2001
    9
    Extremely good.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
  1. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    60
    A movie as laconic as its hero, Ghost Dog is nonetheless diminished by its most un-Zen-like attachment to this underlying sentimentality.
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  2. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    89
    It's the kind of movie you wish you had more time to absorb and could see more than once before reviewing.
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  3. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    50
    Am I the only one who finds the substance of this movie repulsive?
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