Customer Reviews

The Last Samurai (Widescreen) (2 Discs)

5 star:		(154)
4 star:		(83)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

I don't go to the theatre that often anymore. I don't have to drive, waste gas, have a headache finding a parking space, waiting in line and spend enough for two tickets to buy a DVD (and that does not include the Pepsi and popcorn!). I won't mention the chewing gum and sticky cola coated floors! For all that, I can get two DVDs and watch it as many times as I like! I love to watch a movie several times, study it, what makes it work, what really irritates the second or third time. Watch actors conjuring magic. Another reason, I really curtailed my going - PR and hype - I would get all this PR pushing you to go, press and reviewers assuring you what a great movie such and such was. I would rush to go and ended up feeling like one of P.T. Barnum's suckers. Not only did I pay the money that would get me two DVDs, I felt the movie was NOT worth it!

So, when all the hype about the LAST SAMURAI came down, Oscar nominations, I held back going, wait for DVD. Everyone kept assuring me I would LOVE this film, with its historical background that it would be my cup of tea. However, Tom Cruise was a sticking point. I was blown away from Tom Cruise stealing the thunder from Timothy Hutton (a talented actor whose work I appreciate) in TAPS. Cruise was brilliant in the small role and everything pointed to him being a great actor. Instead, Cruise became a "star". There is a BIG difference between a great actor and a superstar. And Cruise seemed content to flash his killer smile and coast by, rather than step up the plate and hit "a home run". This has always tarnished his performances - to me - I hate to see great talent not reach their potential. So I had that reservation going into the LAST SAMURAI.

It was breathtaking to see the film where he FINALLY stopped being Cruise and go for the golden ring. This film saw him, for once, not playing Tom Cruise, but actually forgetting he was Cruise. He became Nathan Algren, a mentally weary warrior who was sickened by the aftermath of Little Big Horn, a warrior who has lost all honor, and it's slowly eating away inside him, crippling his whole life. He is recruited to go to Japan to teach their soldiers how to fight. Cruise is still hanging on by his fingernails mentally, because he is serving under the very man he hold responsible for Indian Massacres ¯ who once again cares little about lives, and orders Algren to take the unready troops to face the mighty Samurai. Cruise is equipped with reasonably modern weapons - I say reasonably, because they are still musket loaders instead of the repeating rifles that came out of the Civil War, such as Sharpes and Winchester. Still, the arrogant commander feels even the unready troops could put down a rebelling from a few hundred warriors with swords and bows. Cruise unit finds out differently, as they are nearly wiped out. Cruise goes down fighting as a true warrior and earns the awe and admiration from the Samurai leader Katsumoto - beautifully played by Ken Watanabe. Katsumoto is not fighting against his Emperor, rather fighting the advisors around him wishing to exploit Japan.

Katsumoto takes Algren back to his mountain strong hold, heals him. He is a prisoner, but basically allowed the run of the compound. As he slowly comes out of his nightmares and drunken stupors, he finds a world that is built on honor, something he long ago lost. The people are gentle, live by a code and do not fear death - if it comes with honor. He gradually joins the warriors training and earns the love and respect of the Samurai, and comes to love them in return. They go forward knowing they are out numbered, out gunned, but in the timeless way of the Samurai, they face death with honor in order to make a statement.

It is beautifully filmed, deftly directed with a true understanding of the subject, and Cruise and Watanabe are brilliant.

It just does not get any better than this (though I would have loved to see Viggo have Cruise's role!)

Tom Cruise is Captain Nathan Algren,who in 1870 is hired by the Emperor
of Japan to train the Japanese Army in modern warfare.The Emperor than
hopes to bring about an end to the Samurai,who have remained with the
old way of fighting.As events unfold,Algren is captured by the Samurai
and while treated with indifference and disdain at first,he slowly
becomes part of the community.he begins to learn the Samurai ways,and
gains their trust and friendship.in turn,he develops a newfound respect
for the samurai way,and in time,becomes a better man for it. Even if
you are not a Tom Cruise fan,you should still like this movie.Cruise
plays Algren as a man who is at first,deeply flawed,with no
hope.Then,as the movie progresses,Cruise convincingly portray's
Algren's slow,but noticeable change into a humble man who regains his
humanity and discovers what it means to be a man.This Movie is directed
by Edward Zwick(Glory,Legends of the Fall).The screenplay was written by
John Logan(Any Given Sunday,Gladiator).the action scenes are well done
and look authentic.the dialogue is well written,leading to some very
touching scenes.the movie is also visually stunning. everyone involved
put their heart and soul into this project and it shows. 5/5

It has a great story line,especially when you ignore the violence.htyft kuytyty kgty kgg ghftf hugyiuv hghvb j,hguy jfdhjdfn fjherpuio erkjeih ejh erhk ethtgjtg ekgjh

This film has great visuals, if nothing else. The Samurai armor and Katana swords in the film are beautiful, and Ken Wantanabe does a great performance in the film (I can't wait to see him as Ra's Al Ghul in Batman Begins). However, the story is downright twisted and innacurate. In real life, the Samurai were the BAD GUYS. They were arrogant and stuck up, and they were disgruntled because they were loosing their political status with the unification of Japan. The Japanese soldiers were brave, and fought valiantly and proved their worth against the Samurai in battle, and they won. The Samurai thought since they were "lowly peasants" they would be defeated without a struggle, but they were wrong. However, this movie completely twists around what really happened. The Samurai are portrayed as brave, moral men who want to preserve the Japanese culture and prevent "westernization" (which obviousely is something the director does not like), and the Japanese army is portrayed as cowardly weaklings, who the Samurai slaughter like Orcs from the Lord of the Rings. And for what? The Samurai openly admit that westernization and the extinction of Bushido is un-avoidable, so why do they see the need for a completely wasteful bloodbath that ends in hundreds of soldiers and Samurai dead? Considering how far this film goes out of it's way to be PC, you'd wonder why the Samurai heroes of the film decide to go on a suicide mission and waste hundreds of lives with no real purpose. What they've done to the Samurai in this movie is like if they made an Ivanhoe movie where the Normans are the good guys. It's just dumb.

However, there was the awesome fight scene where the Samurai have to fight with Ninjas. That scene alone boosts this film's score from 2 stars to 3.

This movie, was incredible, simply put. Such a mix of romance and honor, all beautifully blended together. Tom Cruise does a WONDERFUL job in this film, playing a troubled man who took part in killing innocent indian tribes, who takes a job in Japan training japanese soldiers who would be trained to supress rebel forces led by Samurai Katsumoto, who believed that Japan was progressing into modern culturization too fast, and resisted political advisors that were urging the Emperor to do just that, become more western, and modern. Katsumoto's tribe of Samurai defeat the unit led by Capt Algren (Cruise) and capture him. He is held in captivity with the Samurai, and thrives off the peace that is afforded him there. He begins dwell in the same way he observes the people do in the village, and learns honor with the help of Katsumoto. In the battle preceding his capture, Algren kills Samurai Horutoru, Katsumoto's brother in law, and his caretaker Kata's husband. During his time in this village, Kata is repulsed by Algren, troubled with the death of her husband. As cruise learns the ways of these people, and japanese, he gives his formal apology to Kata, who surprises him by replying that he did his duty, and so did her husband, and that the apology was accepted. As his status as a 'stray dog' is gently brushed aside, he gradually becomes accepted. When an assassin team of ninja attempt to kill Katsumoto, he refutes his american heritage and helps keep Katsumoto alive. In the end, as a desperate attempt at saving the village in which Katsumoto's ancestors had worked so hard to build and protecet, Katsumoto and Algren lead an army of Samurai warriors against the rebuilt japanese army. Witnessing this scene was so sad. A doomed attempt. Since Samurai refuse to bear firearms, they were vastly at a disadvantage, against the cannons and the new automatic turrets. As a final test of honor, the remaining samurai charge the army, only to be vicously mowed down in the heat of battle. In a final touching moment, Algren and Katsumoto, wounded, Katsumoto perhaps fatally, contemplate Katsumoto's suicide in honor, only to end in the deed being done and Algren witnessing the utmost peace in death in honor. He Presents Katsumoto's sword to the emperor, who realizes that he had been wrong to let his 'advisors' lead him around too much, and that it was wrong to forget his honor.
A simply AWE inspiring film, a must see, for anyone.

I don't go to the theatre that often anymore. I don't have to drive, waste gas, have a headache finding a parking space, waiting in line and spend enough for two tickets to buy a DVD (and that does not include the Pepsi and popcorn!). I won't mention the chewing gum and sticky cola coated floors! For all that, I can get two DVDs and watch it as many times as I like! I love to watch a movie several times, study it, what makes it work, what really irritates the second or third time. Watch actors conjuring magic. Another reason, I really curtailed my going - PR and hype - I would get all this PR pushing you to go, press and reviewers assuring you what a great movie such and such was. I would rush to go and ended up feeling like one of P.T. Barnum's suckers. Not only did I pay the money that would get me two DVDs, I felt the movie was NOT worth it!

So, when all the hype about the LAST SAMURAI came down, Oscar nominations, I held back going, wait for DVD. Everyone kept assuring me I would LOVE this film, with its historical background that it would be my cup of tea. However, Tom Cruise was a sticking point. I was blown away from Tom Cruise stealing the thunder from Timothy Hutton (a talented actor whose work I appreciate) in TAPS. Cruise was brilliant in the small role and everything pointed to him being a great actor. Instead, Cruise became a "star". There is a BIG difference between a great actor and a superstar. And Cruise seemed content to flash his killer smile and coast by, rather than step up the plate and hit "a home run". This has always tarnished his performances - to me - I hate to see great talent not reach their potential. So I had that reservation going into the LAST SAMURAI.

It was breathtaking to see the film where he FINALLY stopped being Cruise and go for the golden ring. This film saw him, for once, not playing Tom Cruise, but actually forgetting he was Cruise. He became Nathan Algren, a mentally weary warrior who was sickened by the aftermath of Little Big Horn, a warrior who has lost all honor, and it's slowly eating away inside him, crippling his whole life. He is recruited to go to Japan to teach their soldiers how to fight. Cruise is still hanging on by his fingernails mentally, because he is serving under the very man he hold responsible for Indian Massacres ¯ who once again cares little about lives, and orders Algren to take the unready troops to face the mighty Samurai. Cruise is equipped with reasonably modern weapons - I say reasonably, because they are still musket loaders instead of the repeating rifles that came out of the Civil War, such as Sharpes and Winchester. Still, the arrogant commander feels even the unready troops could put down a rebelling from a few hundred warriors with swords and bows. Cruise unit finds out differently, as they are nearly wiped out. Cruise goes down fighting as a true warrior and earns the awe and admiration from the Samurai leader Katsumoto - beautifully played by Ken Watanabe. Katsumoto is not fighting against his Emperor, rather fighting the advisors around him wishing to exploit Japan.

Katsumoto takes Algren back to his mountain strong hold, heals him. He is a prisoner, but basically allowed the run of the compound. As he slowly comes out of his nightmares and drunken stupors, he finds a world that is built on honor, something he long ago lost. The people are gentle, live by a code and do not fear death - if it comes with honor. He gradually joins the warriors training and earns the love and respect of the Samurai, and comes to love them in return. They go forward knowing they are out numbered, out gunned, but in the timeless way of the Samurai, they face death with honor in order to make a statement.

It is beautifully filmed, deftly directed with a true understanding of the subject, and Cruise and Watanabe are brilliant.

It just does not get any better than this (though I would have loved to see Viggo have Cruise's role!)

Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed The Last Samurai, but it's complete bull. This is one of the most unlikely stories ever to be passed off as something realistic. I won't exactly go into detail to spare some from spoilers, but just flat out, this offers a very unrealistic attitude of the samurai from feudal Japan. Last of all, how the hell can Tom Cruise survive all that crap?

This is an Awesome conversion to Blu Ray & the seller was Incredibly Accuarate with Condition & Shipping. I will defianletly be recommending this whole experiece to all I know Thank You

This movie has it all. Drama, action, amazing battle scenes - the best I've ever seen. It's definitely a must see.

well, first of all, i¡­d say this movie was better than i thought.i mean, in some Hollywood movies they showed something about japan,and many were horrible.
Well, it seems that many people in the world whos aw this movie think that they have understood more about Bushido, etc. really? i dont think so.
It was more typical Hollywood sentimentalism than real bushido in this movie. yeah,it¡­s Tom Cruise movie.
Well, this movie was partly filmed in New zealand,and it didnt really looked like somewhere in Japan.
Also, the scene which Tom Cruise Charactor goes out on the street and attacked by 4 japanese guys with Sword.Tom Cruise fights with 2 swords in both hand and wins.hahaha,,those 4 guys were supporsed to be swrod fighting proffesionals,and fight with 2 swords is totaly different technique than fighting with 1 sword.how can he win?
Also the woman,whos husband was killed, fall in love with Tom Cruise charactor. that was also unbelievable.(but well, it¡­s Hollywood movie,so they may wanted to put love story in it to sell it better).
And,Government hires NINJA to attack those Samurais? is that some kind of joke?well, a few japanese Actors in this movie, said in the interview that they talked to Director and prodiucers to explain how to use sword really,or how to wear Kimono,etc etc.and they got answer like "well, in reality maybe it was so, but as Entertainment, we want it.that "
so anyway, i see less reality about samurai and bushido in this movie,but more fiction in Hollywood way.so if you want to know about Bushido or samurai really, there should be prenty of books to know them better than this movie.