The Last Samurai
The Plot:
Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Woodrow Algren (Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor, Meiji, as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor's new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from their leader, Katsumoto, which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on. (From Yahoo Movies)
My Thoughts: (Reviewed by Azrael)
Samurais. When somebody says that word, it either makes you think of a really retarded cartoon (Samurai Jack), or fierce warriors from the mystical archipelago that is Japan, men who will stop at nothing in their quest for victory, honor, and perfection. One word that may never come to mind is Tom Cruise. Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is a character that is human just like the rest of us, he is a drunk, and at times sees no point in life. The Last Samurai is a movie about one man’s quest for meaning that just happens to be placed in Japan. Now I myself am fascinated with Eastern culture and the traditions they establish and grain into their children from birth- the primary tradition: honor. Now I have never heard of Katsumoto, but apparently he was the leader of the rebellious Samurai and is ignorant to Algren’s feelings as he describes his slaughtering of the Native Americans in cold blood as to compliment the general who ordered it. But all in all they become friends. Captain Nathan Algren becomes involved with the wife of a Samurai he has killed while he is the samurais’ prisoner. The emotional depth that this adds to the movie is so thick. Although at times, I crave a good nude scene with the Asian chick, “ which never comes through even at the most blatantly best opportunities (walking in on her while she’s bathing? C’mon!) But these missed opportunities do not distract me from the enlightening experience of this movie. The action in this movie is violent and not sugar coated at all, the snapping necks are heard in full glory, and the slicing of limbs and spurts of blood are clearly shown; but to say that this is an action film must mean that you have a brain equivalent to that of a three year old. The final battle between the traditional Samurai and the modern Japanese army, “ a step up from the peasant cowards that Captain Algren gave up on, “ is doomed from the beginning and the director does not hide this. A single cannon ball wipes out about twenty samurai cloaked in leather and armed with swords and bows (which reminds me of the British fighting the Zulu nation). But a happy ending was never meant to come for the Samurai, only the last one. As the remaining five or six Samurai charge on horseback to the Japanese army armed with Howitzers, the emotion really comes through, as they are not riding to battle, but to an honorable death. I must say, that this is the only movie where I came close to shedding a tear. And in the end Algren kills Katsumoto, to give him the honorable death that he always wanted (again honorable comes up, which we see when a defeated samurai kills himself on the battlefield so as not to be dishonored). The only complaint that I have about this movie is the Japanese emperor has a haunting resemblance to Michael Jackson (he even wears a white glove on his hand, luckily without rhinestones). This movie is a must see, and is not just a movie, but an epic that you have to experience.
Starring:
Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Koyuki, Tony Goldwyn
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Rated R