The Last Samurai

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The Last Samurai - 16/11/2005 12:16:51 PM

Empire Admin

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i think - 8/2/2006 7:02:23 PM

Sumintelligent

Posts: 13
Joined: 27/10/2005

i think its late release nearing the oscars didnt give it much hope on oscar success- however- the film was utterly brilliant in all aspects, especially the rain sequence- this will be cruises best film i think.

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Post #: 2

Last Samurai - 14/12/2006 3:54:05 PM

solid snake

Posts: 209
Joined: 18/10/2006

THis film is outstanding. I love the samurai in the same way i love the American Indians. However i cant escape the feelings that the idea for this was stolen from Dances With Wolves.

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Post #: 3

- 7/1/2007 1:13:33 PM

Jack Li

Posts: 5
Joined: 7/1/2007

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- 7/1/2007 1:14:11 PM

Jack Li

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Post #: 5

- 7/1/2007 1:46:36 PM

Jack Li

Posts: 5
Joined: 7/1/2007

I don't know how I could describe this film, but Last Samurai really deserves more than five stars.
The film is well acted. I love the samurai, their warrior spirit are admirable. This film deserves all Oscars.

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Post #: 6

The Last Samurai - 13/2/2007 4:36:13 PM

Eomer_King

Posts: 192
Joined: 18/5/2006

An epic tale told with poise, beauty and no lack of class, Zwick's direction and credentials ensure that this is nothing less than an elegant story of honour, betrayal and loyalty.

Clearly aiming for a tone somewhere between Kurosawa and Peter Jackson, The Last Samurai's main advantage is having Tom Cruise (mercifully) in acting mode. While his admirable thespian credentials are usually dwarfed by his stratosphere-like persona, here he never once shows off or attempts anything even approaching his million dollar grin. Instead he grimaces, mumbles and scowls his way through the material and it is his chemistry with the quite incredible Ken Watanabe that really shines. Full of respect, warmth and platonic love, it is this axis that steers a film which unsurprisingly missed out on the big prizes but is frankly better off for it.

< Message edited by Eomer_King -- 13/2/2007 4:41:54 PM >

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Post #: 7

?????????????? - 23/7/2007 3:40:44 PM

dunner05

Posts: 119
Joined: 2/5/2006

5 stars?!! What?!!!! Is this the scientology movie database or something? White toothed westerner saves ancient eastern tribes in dull and derivative actioner. In the Cruiser's cannon I prefered War of the Worlds meself, and it was shite!

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Post #: 8

- 4/9/2007 1:07:21 AM

Deeplight

Posts: 2
Joined: 4/9/2007

Kyle Haugen
Mrs. Kellogg
Review #1, Film p.3
3 September 2007
The Last Samurai
As a movie of epic battles, transformation of character, and a the struggle of a fading, yet beautiful and honorable way of life; The Last Samurai, ever since it came out in 2003 has been, without question, the most fantastic film I have ever seen. Edwark Zwick (Director of Glory, and Courage Under Fire) has brought an absolute masterpiece to be watched on the screen. This movie is also the home to Tom Cruise’s finest performance by far, as he plays a role in one of the greatest changes Japan ever experiences.
The movie begins in San Francisco, California in the latter 1870’s with a Civil War Hero, Nathan Hunt (Tom Cruise) who works for a rifle company as a live performer, displaying the arms merchandise (Testimony Advertisement, smart kids.) However, due to his soul crushing battles as a soldier, Nate is a troubled, nightmare stricken drunk. The majority of his finances are used to support his alcoholic addiction, and drinks away his nightmarish past. This all begins to change when ambassadors from Japan come to seek warrior trainers from the United States of America. Nathan is offered an unbelievable salary that he cannot turn down and is quickly shipped across the Pacific sea to Japan. With him is his good friend, and fellow soldier Sgt. Zebulah Grant (Billy Connolly), and his former commanding officer Col. Benjamin Bagly (Tony Goldwyn). You learn form Nathan’s nightmares that Bagly is a significant cause of them, as he ordered his soldiers to murder a village of Indian women and children.
In Japan Nathan trains an army of conscripts “farmers and peasants” to fight a rebelling group of warriors called Samurai, led by a man named Katsumoto (Ken Wantanabe). In Tom’s narrating voice you hear from Nathan’s diary "I am hired to once again stop the rebellion of another tribal leader - apparently the only job for which I am qualified.&

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- 4/9/2007 1:07:21 AM

Deeplight

Posts: 2
Joined: 4/9/2007

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Post #: 10

Past and Tradition - 24/7/2008 3:40:52 AM

cafedito

Posts: 3
Joined: 2/5/2008

It wasn't the faithful recreation of the Samurai way of life. It wasn't the honour or the loyalty or the betrayal. It wasn't the perfect sword-action sequences. It wasn't the amazing performances and sceneries. No. It was only realizing how ungrateful we are about our past and traditions.
Greetings from Chile.

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Post #: 11

Classic - 13/8/2008 9:32:53 AM

amerelium

Posts: 37
Joined: 14/2/2008

A great epic. Not very historically correct, but it says something about the old traditions of Japan, albeit a bit glorified of course. What makes the movie is the performances, across the board, and the restraint of the director. A lot of respect for Japan i shown here; no english with accents, but correctly dialected Japanese. This is undeniably Tom Cruise's best performance, mostly because of the restraint he shows also. A good example of this movie's strength is the very last scene, which could easily have been done in the ususal romantic-ending-way, but is executed into one of the most beautiful movie endings ever. Oh, and Zimmer's score doesn't exactly hurt either...

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Post #: 12

- 15/1/2010 9:08:53 PM

nc_jj

Posts: 662
Joined: 20/2/2008
From: Manchester.

Thrilling and absolutely great.

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Post #: 13

The Last Samurai - 27/7/2010 9:31:45 AM

Shaunyboy27

Posts: 27
Joined: 22/4/2009
From: Aberdeen, Scotland

Brilliant film! Watched this yesterday and I was shocked I had never fully seen it or heard more about it! It is a film that has the potential to flop under cliches and ignorance but it has been handled maturely and the performances by Ken Watanabe and Tom Cruise are excellent. The music by Hans Zimmer is powerful and moving and the director has handled the fight scenses very well. It is a strong and moving film with a lot to sink your teeth into. A definite purchase.

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Post #: 14

- 20/11/2011 4:26:41 PM

SpeedSailor

Posts: 8
Joined: 18/3/2009

As good as it gets. It moves me every time i see it. From the loss of a son to the final inspiration in death.

I can see the pastiche in the film, but it does not detract from it at all.

I sob every time i see it

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Post #: 15

- 2/6/2012 10:02:57 PM

danfacey711

Posts: 48
Joined: 18/10/2008
From: Oxford

Epic, but still real. This film doesn't lose touch with its point with the large scale fights and the main Hollywood lead.

A basic 'Dances With Wolves' story but packed full of heart, action and good performances.

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Post #: 16

Breathtaking taking CLASSIC and performance by Cruise. - 9/4/2013 9:07:25 PM

Ralph25

Posts: 43
Joined: 30/3/2013
From: Portugal

One of the most inspiring, exciting, and phenomenal movie that enybody can watch. After "Glory" Edward Zwick deliver's another masterpiece!
The story takes place during the early modernization of Japan, in the 1870s and 1880s. The Emperor's power has been weakened by the political and economic power of his cabinet, by his young age, and by the political influence of the United States and other western powers pulling the strings of his cabinet and supplying modern weaponry and tactics to the modernizing Japanese army. Cruise plays Captain Allgren, an alcoholic veteran who has seen and participated in too many massacres of innocent people, and is offered an opportunity to reclaim some of his honor by helping to train the Japanese military in the use of firearms.
The cast is exemplary. Tom Cruise is so good in this film that it is very often easy to forget he is Tom Cruise. Easily his most powerful role and best performance since Jerry Maguire; Ken Watanabe, however, is incredible in every scene - acting with a rare sensitivity and intensity and breathing life into a character much larger and more human than the grand story of which he is a part. Though the entire cast is excellent.
Edward Zwick has made a film which operates well at every level, carrying simple but profound philosophical ideas, but avoiding the mistake of making these ideas and the characters that express them super-heroic. Ultimately, this beautifully shot film conveys powerful messages about war, tradition, ethics, honor and culture, which, though not particularly original, are sensitively and intelligently brought forward. There is a lot of action, including some remarkably well-acted sword fighting and martial artistry, but none of it seems unnecessary and the whole film is truly tightly woven. My highest recommendation.

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Post #: 17