The Last Samurai (Widescreen) (2 Discs)

While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this "progress" is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honor despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honor. --Jeff Shannon

No actor works harder to open a movie than Tom Cruise. His enthusiasm is throughout the DVD extras as he mirrors his samurai character by constantly talking about "loyalty" and "discipline" while working on the film. However as a post-movie experience, the top-line extras with Cruise and director Edward Zwick are repetitive and underwhelming, with too many clips from the film we assume DVD viewers have just seen. The History Channel show is also a pre-release promotional device that misses an opportunity to really dig into this intriguing time period. Better are segments on the costumes, the production design, and how you put together an Imperial army--in New Zealand, no less. Zwick's low-key and dense commentary (plus a "Video Journal") is not vital, but he illustrates many of the little peculiarities it took to make the wide-ranging film come together. There are two deleted scenes; a samurai's first appearance is particularly memorable. --Doug Thomas

La fascination des cinéastes occidentaux pour la droiture morale, la pugnacité et le code d'honneur particulièrement strict des Samouraïs n'est pas nouvelle. C’est désormais au tour d’Edward Zwick de s’y intéresser, dans la grande fresque épique Le Dernier Samuraï, mettant en vedette Tom Cruise.

Le capitaine Nathan Algren est un héros de la guerre civile cynique et désabusé. En 1876, le Japon, alors avide de connaissances extérieures, l’engage pour entraîner l’armée de l’Empereur. Mais bien vite cette armée devra affronter les Samouraïs, rebelles au nouveau tournant économique du pays. Algren sera enlevé et gardé captif au sein d’une communauté dont il apprendra plus qu’il ne l’espérait.

Même si l’on pouvait craindre un regard hollywoodien sur les Samouraïs, force est de constater que le réalisateur nous plonge dans l'univers de ces guerriers aux traditions millénaires sans mépris ni condescendance, faisant de son film une saga héroïque et chevaleresque tout à fait prenante. Malgré un enrobage musical et une utilisation du flash-back outranciers, la mise en scène pleine de souffle magnifie les sublimes décors et costumes du Japon ancestral. De nombreux documentaires complètent la présentation du double dvd. Quant à Tom Cruise, dont les épaules sont un peu trop étroites pour soutenir l’ambition d’un tel projet, il livre tout de même une performance honorable. – Helen Faradji

Sommentary by Director Edward Zwick. History Channel Documentary History vs. Hollywood: The Last Samurai. Tom Cruise A Warrior s journey. Edward Zwick: Director s Video Journal. Making An Epic: A Conversation with Edward Zwick and Tm Cruise. A World of Detail: Production Design with Lilly Kilert. Silk and Armor: Costume Design with Ngila Dickson Imperial Army Basic Trainning. From soldier to Samurai. The Weapons. Deleted Scenes. Japan Premeieres. DVD Rom PC Web Link. Theatrical Trailer. Format Size: Widescreen. Runtime: 154 mins. Language: English. Subtitle: English Subtitles. Region code: Region 1 (United States Canada Bermuda U.S. territories). Discs: 2. Genre: Action. Subgenre: Adventure. Release Year: 2003.