The Last Samurai

[Ultras DVSC]

Within the scope of a project-work I have to write a wrought film-review. Because I'm a great STW fan, my choice would be the The Last Samurai starred by Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. I've already read some valuation about the movie, but I'm curious to know what do you think about it. Negative opinions would help me as well!

[BDC]

Good, but very very flawed. Why is the last samuri an American? And why does he end up with the wife of the guy he killed?

[matteus the inbred]

Well, it's got nothing to do with sengoku jidai, go watch Ran instead!

Seriously though; it's a beautiful looking film, everything is brilliantly shot and presented, every costume interesting and colourful, the cinematography excellent. It really feels authentic and this perhaps is its biggest weakness as well, co it's not too accurate historically...but these things never are. Braveheart was much worse for that sort of thing, don't get me started...!

The Cruiser is ok, does his usual slightly tormented grimace throughout, a better than average Tom C appearance really...all the work he spent in learning swordfighting and stuff pays off well though. All the Japanese cast are great, particularly Watanabe, although they do get to spend most of the film being either angry samurai or impertubable samurai. Timothy Spall and Billy Connolly turn in quirky and irritating roles, and the there's some not very good token bad guy rubbish thrown in. The battles are ok, heroes have the usual ridiculous inability to just die already, but it's quite epic and pleasing. Mainly though, this film looks damn great but doesn't say much that Dances with Wolves didn't say.

[doc_bean]

I didn't like the parallels between the Japanese and the Native Americans, it felt forced. And the ending is pretty bad, why does Cruise get to live ? Why does the emperor care about him ? Why does Cruise get the girl ?

But still a pretty enjoyable movie.

[Templar Knight]

A good film, however it wasn't the Americans who went to Japan to teach them about modern war it was the Prussians/Germans.

[Husar]

Why is the last samuri an American?

Because he was hired by the Japanese railroad company to help train the japanese army. He was then held prisoner by the Samurai, got friends with them and and finally became one of them...

And why does he end up with the wife of the guy he killed?

Because she gets over her hatred, recognizes his good side and falls in love with him.

I didn't like the parallels between the Japanese and the Native Americans, it felt forced.

I see that more as a means to show the cruelty of the bad guy and that he doesn´t care about who he kills. And it wasn´t long enough to spoil the film IMO.

And the ending is pretty bad, why does Cruise get to live ?

The artillery commander knows him and can´t stand seeing him suffer, perhaps because he got to know him before and maybe he sees that killing all those Samurai wasn´t that good of an idea. Just strange that Cruise seems to be the only survivor.(but one could say the other survivors just aren´t shown)

Why does the emperor care about him ?

Because Cruise became a good friend of the Samurai master(forgot the name) who was a good friend and personal bodyguard/advisor of the emperor before and the emperor wants to know more about that Samurai. Cruise is the only one who can tell him about that great Samurai.

Why does Cruise get the girl ?

See above.

Ok, just wanted to explain from the film´s view, not taking into account realism or history.

[AggonyDuck]

Good, but very very flawed. Why is the last samuri an American?

Well I've always viewed it to be "the Last Samurai", as in "the Seven Samurai", refering to the whole social group or in this case the samurai serving under Katsumoto & Co.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

To sum it up , its Dances with Wolves in Japan. Entertaining though.

[matteus the inbred]

Well I've always viewed it to be "the Last Samurai", as in "the Seven Samurai", refering to the whole social group or in this case the samurai serving under Katsumoto & Co.

yeah, samurai plural, not samurai singular...most samurai were probably bureaucrats or army officers by then anyway.

[Fragony]

Watched it for an hour and switched it off.

[Samurai Waki]

A good film, however it wasn't the Americans who went to Japan to teach them about modern war it was the Prussians/Germans.

Hmmm... are you sure? I thought the Germans were in China, after WWI. I thought after the US forced Japan to reopen it's Ports, that it would be more likely that the US, or Great Britain would be in Japan rather than Germany.

[BelgradeWar]

It's well done in terms of casting and overall appearance, but it's a classic "American in every place in the world doing right stuff" lemonade. They enhanced it and enriched the experience with history and a bit of a plot improvement, but that is that. Can't dig out historical merit or realism from something that wasn't made for that.

[lars573]

Hmmm... are you sure? I thought the Germans were in China, after WWI. I thought after the US forced Japan to reopen it's Ports, that it would be more likely that the US, or Great Britain would be in Japan rather than Germany.

Nope it was the Germans, Prussians specifically. The Japanese chose to base their navy on the British Royal navy. Aswell the British advised them on industry, plus persued close diplomatic and economic links with the U.K. They based their army and government on the Prussian model. But only after 1871. At first the French had advised them but their defeat at the hands of the Prussians, the Japanese sought their advice.

[Husar]

Concerning the plural-singular thing:
In Germany it´s called "Der letzte Samurai"(singular) instead of "Die letzten Samurai"(plural).
But, I wouldn´t count too much on that, because those translations are sometimes really screwed anyway.

[AquaLurker]

Its a film that potrays an interesting part of Japanese History, the American hero is there to ensure a healthy flow of Audience and good box office result.

The historical name of the "Last Samuria" was actually Siago Takamori.

[econ21]

I thought it was a spectacularly stupid movie. It made no sense to me either in its broader themes, the plot or the details of the action.

Partly, I just don't buy into the "noble Samurai" concept. And I'm not sure it was intended, but the ending left me a frisson that all that "noble" Samurai spirit was not crushed but rather would come smashing down on America in 70 years time. (If it was intended, then some kudos to the film, but I doubt).

The action seemed hokey. The worst was the one shot kills from the bows, while the musket balls seemed to be BB pellets by comparison.

The consolation for me was the Japanese lead - he was very good.

[Kagemusha]

I think it was nice little fiction movie.Nothing more nothing less.

[tibilicus]

Although not entirly realistic or accurate I thought this film was a good action movie with a fairly good story line to it.:)

[Zalmoxis]

I didn't like the parallels between the Japanese and the Native Americans, it felt forced. And the ending is pretty bad, why does Cruise get to live ? Why does the emperor care about him ? Why does Cruise get the girl ?

But still a pretty enjoyable movie.

Exactly.

[Reverend Joe]

Dances with wolves was a god-awful movie, however. Four hours of "My eyes, my eyes! Oh no, now my ears! When will it end!?"

The Last Samurai, however, was a good movie. Pleasing to watch, if not necesarrily accurate.

For once, we agree.

[Ultras DVSC]

For once, we agree.

Oh, I consider it a great honour that could have been done something for it, and thanks a lot for everyone!

[Azi Tohak]

Heck, I like it. I just don't think too hard with any movie. It makes my head hurt.

I think the girl gets Cruise because he is the only one who isn't taller than she is. That, and she is pretty.

Azi

[Papewaio]

Koyuki was a japanese model and is 1.70 m (5' 7") tall... Tom Cruise is listed at the same height (which is doubtful considering his height difference with other actors)... Ken Watanabe at 1.85m is half a foot taller then Cruise...

I can just imagine Tom Cruise thinking 'Yes a film that I will be taller then the rest of the cast'... D'oh

[matteus the inbred]

Koyuki was a japanese model and is 1.70 m (5' 7") tall... Tom Cruise is listed at the same height (which is doubtful considering his height difference with other actors)... Ken Watanabe at 1.85m is half a foot taller then Cruise...

I can just imagine Tom Cruise thinking 'Yes a film that I will be taller then the rest of the cast'... D'oh

perhaps that's why his next film paired him up with a little girl and a bunch of aliens using mechanical contraptions to make themselves tall...!

the feature about Westerners that most appears to have struck the Japanese (in art) is not their height, but their big noses.