Bottom line: We all know every Scooby-Doo episode and movie has the same basic plot, and in Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword, the mettlesome kids are at it again. The movie contains karate and sword fighting, as well as a few scary ninjas, an evil cursed Black Samurai, and perilous situations including one in which the girls are forced to wear hula skirts and coconut bras.
MPAA Rating: NRGenre: Animated/Mystery
Guide age recommendation: 6+
Runtime: Approx. 74 minutes
Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword - Summary
Following Daphne half way around the world to support her in her karate competition, the Mystery Inc. crew is looking forward to a nice break. But when the karate competition is crashed by the legendary evil Black Samurai, Shaggy, Scooby and the gang find themselves solving ancient riddles and chasing down the powerful Sword of Fate.
With the help of a couple of new friends, the gang finds the sword and is set to stop the Black Samurai. Friends are not always who they seem, however. In fact, a "friend" turned enemy can really muddle up a case. Daphne and the others are tricked and the evil plot thickens.
Meanwhile, Shaggy and Scooby run into a Sword Master who teaches them Boshido, the Way of the Samurai, and leads them to the only way to stop the Black Samurai. Can Scoob and Shaggy get there in time, and will they be masterful enough to beat the legendary villain?
Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword - Guide Review for Parents
If you've seen one Scooby-Doo episode or movie, you've seen 'em all. Yet, the show has been wildly popular for 40 years. While the underlying plot points are similar, each episode or movie introduces interesting new characters and colorful bad guys -- not to mention a whole slew of silliness from the cowardly Shaggy and Scooby, who often crack the case through some crazy turn of events.
Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword gives Scooby fans another dose of the same medicine they've always loved. The story is fairly interesting, and the DVD even aims to be somewhat educational. The special feature "Scooby-Doo Dojo" teaches kids about martial arts and an instructor even shows them moves they can try at home.
Like most Scooby-Doo movies, Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword has a few scary characters like ghosts, a dragon, and the Black Samurai. Characters in the movie fight using karate and sometimes swords. In one scene, the girls are forced by some restless natives to wear hula skirts and coconut bras. The movie also contains some imitative phrases such as, "geeked out" and "put the 'mental' in sentimental."
