Fully Operational

Episode 59. Samurai Swordplay: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

• Fully Operational • Season 2 • Episode 28

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Ghost Dog, power, equality. Always see everything, my brother. That's the kind of vibe we're about to get on. So join us for this stoic, Jim Jarmusch samurai flick featuring Forest Whitaker, his son, Damon, the RZA and a whole slew of over the hill mobsters. But before we read passages from the Hagakure and hang out with our favorite Haitian ice cream vendor, we have to talk about what we watched this week.

Dre and Goodman privately agreed to watch the Sam Jackson-voiced, RZA-scored anime series, Afro Samurai, but Goodman could only get through 3 out of the 5 episodes, which means, sadly, he did not make 800 feet.

Dre also watched season 1 of Ted Lasso; the 3rd film in the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Baby Cart to Hades (which Goodman also watched because the magic is back, and is definitely the Fast Five of the franchise (if you get it, you get it)); the uber-popular Japanese anime series and movie, Demon Slayer and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train; the Elaine May written and directed, Mikey and Nicky, which feels like a Cassavetes movie, but isn't a Cassavetes movie, but stars Cassavetes, so you figure it out; and one of the best movies that Dre has seen in a while (he's watched it twice already): Wong Kar-Wai's 1994 indie hit, Chungking Express.

Goodman, not to be out done, watched A Quiet Place Part II, starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds and his spiritual event horizon, Noah Jupe.

Then it's time to communicate via pigeons and wave our silencer hand guns with the best samurai flourishes and talk about Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai—a movie with a score worthy of the genre courtesy of Wu-Tang Clan's RZA. We also go over our favorite quotes and top-notch trivia.

Next week we watch the film that heavily influenced Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Lady Snowblood and the sequel Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance.

SONG CREDITS:
Theme music: "70s Funk" by Frank Cogliano
Closing music: "This is My Jam" by Will Van De Crommert