Scooby's Japanese adventure is fun but a little violent.

See four video clips from the DVD at Yahoo! Kids!

Scooby and the Gang fly to Japan for Daphne's martial arts exhibition and land smack in the middle of a mystery. You see, the Black Samurai has suddenly arisen from the dead and finding the Sword of Fate is the only way to fight his larger-than-life presence.

Daphne's skills as a martial artist are put to the test, while the loyalty of her friends is questioned. As the mystery intensifies, so do the challenges that face our unlikely heroes. Can they, like, master their own skills and save the day? Watch and see, young samurai.

Definitely compelling, but focused on fighting, "Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword" attempts to bring a little bit of Japanese culture to the mystery at hand. With dragons and ghostly samurais, the feature succeeds in creating an entertaining addition to the Scooby-Doo empire. However, the fighting and violence between opponents is not always appropriate for the youngest viewers. The Black Samurai also cuts a pretty scary figure. But there are jokes and antics and chase scenes galore, which will engage kids. Fans of Scooby and Shaggy will definitely get their fill of zany fun

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that there are many fight scenes. Samurai and swords are part of the title, after all. Some of the images of the Black Samurai are frightening: he has blazing eyes and sharp fangs, and his presence is larger than life. Themes of master and apprentice take on a master and servant tone, which might be a little off-putting to some parents.

Families can talk about what it means to be a true master. Is it someone who controls other people, or someone who teaches others? Do you have mastery in any particular field? How can you gain mastery? Does it take practice, or does it happen magically?

Studio: Warner Home Video Director: Christopher Berkeley Cast: Casey Kasem, Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn Genre: Family and Kids Run Time: 75 minutes DVD Release: 4/7/2009 MPAA Rating: NR

Reviewed by Joly Herman.

See more about "Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword" at Common Sense Media.