Search - Samurai Japan: A Journey Back in Time (Lost Treasures of the Ancient World) on DVD

Not what I expected.. But not bad

maram | Doha, Qatar | 06/02/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It is an interesting movie I'd have to say.. But it doesn't talk primarily about the samurais of Japan. It talks more about the history of Japan, how it was introduced to Buddhism and Christianity afterwards; it also talks about its most famous surviving architecture. The movie doesn't quite hold its title; it should be called (the history of Japan) or something like that. So if you were like me, looking for more details about the samurais you will not find this one very informative in some sense."

Excellent AP World History Review

Robert Marshall | Killeen Texas | 11/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The title "Lost Treasures" may be misleading, but it is a treasure to AP World History teachers and students. The documentary touches on all the major points of Japanese history from Nara/Heian through the feudal period to its opening by America in the 19th century. On the downside, it moves a little slow and does not have a lot of pizazz."

History of Japan

Kim Boykin | New York, NY | 01/07/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This 50-minute documentary is an overview of Japanese history through the 19th century, with special attention to the samurai and to architectural treasures of Japan.

The filmmakers didn't seem to have a clear sense of what they were trying to do in this film. If you want to learn about Japanese history, this is a decent overview, but you may wish there were somewhat less attention given to the samurai and to individual architectural treasures. If you're particularly interested in the samurai, you'll learn how they fit into Japanese history, and you'll learn about their armor and swords and "the way of the warrior," but you may be disappointed that the samurai aren't actually the focus of the film. And if you're particularly interested in Japanese architecture, you'll learn a bit about that, but again, it isn't the focus of the film.

A better documentary on Japanese history (from the 16th through 19th centuries) is "Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire" from the PBS "Empires" series."

If you teach: do not purchase: terribly dull

K. Hreha | Livingston, NJ | 06/01/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"My 8th graders had to be kept awake. Avoid this video at all costs."