The Last Samurai (2003)

[Z]

http://www.impawards.com/2003/posters/last_samurai.jpg

I just re-watched this movie tonight. Despite the historical inaccuracies, it's a film I enjoy quite a bit. Who else has seen it and liked it?

For those who haven't seen it, here's a basic plot for you:

Basically Cruise plays an American captain in the U.S. military who is hired to train the Japanese army and prepare them for modern warfare against the samurai rebellion in Japan. The Japanese troops are not prepared, however, and are clumsy and inaccurate with modern weapons. In their first battle against the samurai, the Japanese army loses and Cruise gets captures. The rest of the movie explores the samurai life through Cruise's eyes.

It's a bit more epic on film than it is in my description. I love the swordplay in the movie and even the costumes they use. Apparently this was Watanabe's first American film and also the first time he ever spoke English in a movie (which he does fairly well, given that fact).

If you're a fan of Japanese culture or even of action scenes involving guns and swords, I recommend this movie.

[deathofcheese]

I saw it. I liked it. I think my dad bought the dvd.

Even though I'm not a fan of the man Tom Cruise, this is one good example where he has a moment of clarity and doesn't let his personality get in the way of his acting.

[Gio Takahashi]

I saw it. I liked it. I think my dad bought the dvd.

Even though I'm not a fan of the man Tom Cruise, this is one good example where he has a moment of clarity and doesn't let his personality get in the way of his acting.


This.

[Z]

Indeed, this movie (and a few other of his later movies, rather than his recent ones) is one where I could forget about Tom's craziness for a bit.

I really like how they portrayed honor and the ending of the film. Apparently Watanabe's character was based on a real character who went through very similar events. From IMDB.com:

The real-life counterpart to Katsumoto (played by 'Ken Watanabe') is Takamori Saigo, who led a samurai rebellion in 1877. As in the movie, Saigo ended up committing suicide in September 1877 after defeat in battle. The Emperor's attitude in the film toward Katsumoto's struggle and death reflects actual Japanese popular sentiment toward Saigo, who though defeated, was regarded as a hero; a statue of Saigo was erected shortly after his death, and can today be seen in Ueno, in northeast Tokyo.