Dir. Edward Zwick
Its a wonderful movie. Tom Cruise is not one of my flavors *see definition* but I do usually enjoy his work and for the most part he does a really good job in this one. I say for the most part, because at the beginning of the movie he goes back to his 80s overacting ways. Once the story hits Japan Cruises acting improves greatly. Its just one of those things, I guess. Anyway, the story is fantastic and touching. Its about the end of the samurai time in Japan, in the 1700s. The name of the last samurai is Katsumoto, advisor to the emperor, to whom he is completely loyal. The emperor is trying to move Japan into a modern time, and Katsumoto is trying to keep the land traditional. At first it looks as if the samurai is in rebellion, but in his mind he is trying to help the emperor. The government hires American soldiers to teach the army new ways of battle, including the use of firearms. This is how Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) comes to be in Japan. During the first fight with the samurai Algren is taken prisoner and brought to a village he cannot escape because winter is coming, so he is forced to live among them for months. Algren is a very unhappy man, who has both seen and committed atrocities. In this village he learns the ways of the samurai, and finds this is the way to have peace. He helps the warriors in the final battle against the coming new age.
There are so many good things about this movie. The Japanese actors are uniformly wonderful. Ken Watanabe plays Katsumoto, and he has this charisma that is just mesmerizing. Hes also got a really, really great voice. Another person of note is an Asian Legolas. The characters name is Nobutada and he is Katsumotos son. Hes funny and competent and angular, and if he wants you dead theres an arrow with your name on it coming at you. Another of the great things about this movie is the fight scenes. They are AMAZING. There are the one on one fights that are so beautiful youll forget to breathe. There are the training fights that are kind of amusing. Theres a skirmish between the samurais and some ninjas (Im not kidding, there are ninjas in here. How can you not love this movie?) which is one of the most exciting Ive ever seen. Then there are the battles huge in scope and emotion. In many ways the battle scenes reminded me of Lord of the Rings, they were just so well done. They show a kind of honor that is completely different than the American version. The samurai are fighting a battle against change. They dont fight because its possible to win. They fight because its necessary for them to, with no hope of victory. Even with the Alamo, when the people knew they were going to die, there was a reason (to buy time for others.) Here they are fighting because its the way they wish to die, and because its the final way for them to be heard.
I rate it: Full Price
Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto
Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren
Timothy Spall as Simon Graham
Koyuki as Taka
Shichinosuke Nakamuka as The Emperor
Shin Koyamada as Nobutada
* Definition * A flavor is someone for whom a I will watch a movie. I will rent or go see a movie for no other reason than that this person is in it. Mostly they are actors, but there are some directors as well.