The Last Samurai (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, Billy ConnollyDirector: Edward Zwick
Studio: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Full Screen
Picture: Pan & Scan
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
DVD Release: May 4th 2004
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DVD Review
While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this "progress" is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honor despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honor. --Jeff Shannon
User Reviews
Fuden no den - Transmitting the untransmittable - Rating: 5/5
I'm really not one to write movie reviews, I enjoy them for what they are and don't usually care enough to actually publish something about them. However, for this film I will make an exception.
First off, gorgeous scenary. There is a scene with Tom Cruise practicing a sword kata with the sun setting in the background ... it's beautiful. There are many wonderful scenes in the movie.
Secondly, the plot is about transformation and self forgiveness. I don't care if it's been "done before", this is a common archetype in all cultures and times and it is well portrayed through this film. I find it well done, quite emotionally gripping at times.
The action in this film is great, Star Wars eat your heart out. I grew up in a traditional martial art family, and Tom Cruise did a very solid job with the sword play in this movie. The star wars films drove me nuts, but maybe you don't need proper body mechanics when you have "the force". Anyways, good work in the martial arena as well in this film.
Finally, I saw this film three times in theatres and everytime people cried. Seriously. Everytime the end came around at least one person both men & women cried.
Very well done film.
A so moving look at ancestral values - Rating: 4/5
It has battle scenes yes; it has maybe a political point of view, but what really moves about this movie is the marvelous portrayal of values we often forget about. The human side of the soldier (interesting now that these are war times). And also the family, friendship, loyalty, adult/children relationships (Cruise and the little Japanese boy, superb!)and above all, love a pure and sustained vision of love.
It also serves us to look at a different (and needed) vision of Japanese stereotypes as seen on classic American war movies. Wacht out for Ken Watanabe's camera friendly expression; he won an Oscar for it!
Great movie with some major flaws. - Rating: 4/5
The Last Samurai embraces the mentality of Zen and the Samurai. It shows us a man who is so lost in his own pain and the pain he has caused on others that he is on a path to certain doom. It is only when he is in battle with the Samurai, caught and imprisoned that he graciously given an opportunity to learn from another person what it means to be present.
The love story between Nathan Algren (played Tom Cruise) and Taka (played by Koyuki) is a lovely one and extremely emotional and well intentioned. Not to mention Taka's simple yet expressive face and body is simply breathtaking.
My only objection to the movie is the anti western, anti white sentiment. There are a few attacks on western civilization: For example, Nathan Allgren's colleague is displayed as a shallow, hateful, money sucking fiend and representative of Western Civilization. While this kind of sentiment is quite common in all people, it is unfortunate that common perceptions tend to ignore the small villages throughout Europe populated by the most wonderful people in the world, or the hypnotic symphonies of great masters, or our efforts to create a government run by individuals who seek justice and love (although one could easily argue the success of that last point).
My point is the lessons learned in the Zen Samurai tradition is by no means limited to that one point.
Even so, the movies substance greatly outweighs any problems that arise and we see in a beautiful way, the subtle transformation of a man who is lost in his mind and eventually rises from the dust, discovering for the first time what is real.
Highly recommended. A beautiful film. But I cannot give a movie 5 stars when it unjustly makes my own people look like pure manifestations of shallowness and evil. While Western civilization does have its many flaws all the wonder and beauty of life can be found with us in so many ways, not just in the Samurai.
True Warriors - Rating: 5/5
I really loved this movie. The way it was just presented and keeping the history and culture of Samurai. Yet it was not a true story nor based on any actual accounts or characthers. The story itself sparks an interest in Japanese and Samurai warrior history. From the code of Honor down to commiting Seppuku. Im not going to get into a brush of History on the Samurai, theres much too explain and learn about those fearsome Warriors.
It should and definetly leaves the audience in awe about such a war and time when fuedal clans and government corruption brought femine that you would want to learn and research about these class of noble warriors on the web or at your local libary. The Samurai sword Katana has a whole long history in itself.
But this movie defenitly brings out what the Samurai truly are and what they believed in and fought for, or as Mr. Grahm said it; "HONOR". To this day, I believe there is no other warriors who were or can be more dedicated or honorable than the samurai.
Being a modern Warrior myself in the u.s. Army as an infantry Ranger, I can attest to this. We have honor just like all other warriors, but I believe not as much to the extent of the warrior Samurai.
A Gentle Epic - Rating: 4/5
There is certainly no shortage of Hollywood epics these days, and it takes a certain flair in order for one to stand out amongst the rest. "The Last Samurai" is a film that most certainly seperates itself from the masses.
The story follows American Army Captain Nathan Algren (Cruise), a man haunted by the horrors of war, as he is hired by the Japanese to train their army and lead them to victory over the Samurai, who are rebelling against the modernization of Japan. During the first battle against the Samurai, Algren is taken captive and forced to remain in an isolated Samurai village. There, he learns the enigmatic ways of the Samurai and comes to love their unique brand of civilization. He then switches sides and fights along side the Samurai and against his former peers.
"The Last Samurai" is a gentle, caring study of how modern society often tramples over ways of the past without even flinching. The film showcases beautiful cinematography and expert pacing. However, it is not without its flaws. The acting is hit-and-miss. Tom Cruise and Tony Goldwyn deliver average performances, while Ken Watanabe is quite exceptional as the peaceful leader of the Samurai village. The film, while excellent, also does have its share of clichés, such as a shaky slow motion scene where Algren remembers the massacre that haunts him. There are also a few moments where you have to wonder if director Edward Zwick is kind of trying to tug at your strings (to release the waterworks, that is).
But flaws aside, "The Last Samurai" is a film people should most certainly see. The social commentary is very relevant to modern society and the blend of beautiful scenic backdrops and violent battle sequences make this film truly stand out amongst a sea of stinkers such as "Troy".
8/10
