Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great film, 9 Jul 2006
'The Last Samurai' is a one of those films that has it's flaws but you can't help but enjoy anyway. This film follows Cruise's character as he is captured by a Samurai clan and then learns the lifestyle and ways of a Samurai whilst living in their village. Throughout the story it immerses you in aspects of the history of Japan, and although slightly stylised, gives a good feeling of life and culture in those times. It has beautiful film locations, beautiful music, a good story line and a good cast. I feel this to be one of Cruise's better films and his performance is very credible. This film may be slightly long, but it holds your interest right to the end and is a great nights viewing. Well worth considering.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The battle between tradition and modernization , 16 May 2006
"The Last Samurai" directed by Edward Zwick and starring Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren and Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto seems to be inspired by the story of Jules Brunet - a member of the first French military mission to Japan in 1868. The character of Katsumoto is much likely to represent Saigo Takamori - one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, who is also considered legendary.
Nathan Algren, an ex USA's army captain and the civil war hero, where he fought Native Americans, is given a job to train Japanese army and prepare it to fight the samurai rebellion, whose leader is legendary Katsumoto. Japanese army consists mainly of peasants who have never even seen a gun and to train it in one year seems quite an impossible task. However Katsumoto keeps initiating attacks and Japanese government can't wait any longer. Nathan Algren is forced to lead the unprepared army to fight Katsumoto troops where he is taken as Katsumoto's prisoner. There he stays in Katsumoto's son's village, where he learns martial arts, sward techniques and samurai life-style. After returning from "imprisonment", Nathan Algren discovers huge changes in the Emperor's military forces...
The plot depicts the period of Meiji Restoration, where, for the first time and after a centuries lasting isolation, the 122th Emperor of Japan aims to modernize the country by inviting scientists, engineers and military men from the developed Western countries. Samurai is loosing their power and Katsumoto doesn't like modernization to be done so fast. "The Last Samurai" might also represent the struggle between the tradition and modernization and the honour suicide of the samurai might be also be a sign of the drastic change that will lead Japan into the all way development that it is having today. "Samurai's sword is his soul" - is quoted in the film and, indeed, after the appearance of fire-guns, the sword looses it's physical power, although, not the traditional/spiritual one.
I loved Tom Cruise's and especially Ken Watanabe's performance, the scenery and the plot, although I found it very much morally unfair towards the Japanese that "The Last Samurai" was an American. Here, again, we meet this well known American ego where the last hero must be an American. If it wasn't for this, "The Last
Samurai" would have been totally perfect. However, even so, the film is very well worth watching and buying and the ones looking for deapth may find it here, for there are some great historical and heroic personalities to remember.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FANTASTIC, 14 Mar 2006
This is one of my favourite films of all time. Beautifully acted, wonderful script. The film looks at people's perceptions of different cultures and beliefs. The Saumrai believe in honour above all else. The fight scenes are amazing, the Japanese actors give it authenticity.
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