A Review of "The Last Samurai" Michael Flick | Copy Editor
| Published 12/12/03
Graphic By: Brandon Faust
First off, let me congratulate "The Last Samurai" for not showing us too much of the movie in its trailers. Too many movies today, such as "The Matrix: Reloaded" and "Spiderman," show so much of the movie in its trailers that it does take away from the overall movie experience.
The movie begins in San Francisco in 1876. Tom Cruise plays Capt. Nathan Algren, who has left the U.S. military years ago and has since become a drunkard/representative for the Winchester gun company. The reason for his present state is integral to the plot of the movie, so I'll skip that.
The movie then picks up when Cruise takes an offer by the Japanese government to help train and modernize its army. The emperor of Japan feels that he needs a modern army to compete with the emergence of the industrial "new" world. This also means the end of the tradition of sword-wielding samurais who protected Japan for thousands of years before. Unfortunately for the emperor, many samurais are not going down without a fight. While Cruise's character is on a mission with his "army", he is beaten and taken captive by the samurais. Under their protection, Cruise comes to doubt his role in modernizing Japan's army and ending the existance of these honorable samurai.
I won't spoil the movie for you. Trust me; this movie was well done ranging from the directing to the acting. More than just a movie set in violence such as "Braveheart" and "Gladiator", "The Last Samurai" also spends alot of its time showing what the Japanese people lived. It showcased how honor and courage seem to be unfamiliar words to a country like the United States. This movie is an epic in every sense of the word.
I have always been a fan of Tom Cruise's movies. He always challenges himself in each movie that he does ("Rain Man," "The Firm," "Jerry Maguire" among many others), and "The Last Samurai" is no exception. He's more than just a "pretty boy." I wish the Academy Award people would look past their biases and give the man an award. However it's important to note that Ken Watanabe, who plays the second lead Katsumoto, gave a performance that was it was a little better than Cruise's. Hopefully, both men and the movie will get the recognition it deserves.
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mike Flick wants everyone to enjoy Christmas but not worship Santa Clause. mike Flick wants to let you know that he was just kidding. If you thought he was serious, then you will be getting "chicken tuna" in your stocking.
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Name:Mark Molter Year: Sophmore Major: Media Studies Comments:
"The Last Samurai was an excellent film, highlighting aspects of History we tend to be unfamiliar with. This film is visaully outstanding. The best part of the film was the detail out into it. I love period films, It definitely brings history to life.
Name: Mike Flick Comments:
Just saw "the return of the king" the other night...wow. I think the best in the series? How about just letting ROTK win best picture and watanabe and cruise best actors? hmm
Name: Brandon Comments:
A big ditto on that comment, Shaggy. "The Last Samurai" was certainly a beautiful film. And there will no doubt be awards handed to the Watanabe. He was awesome.
I love epics.
Name: Shaggy Year: Alumni Comments:
Beautiful movie. Excellent film. Though the battle sequences in this film are pretty good, the film does not rely on them. Ken Watanabe who plays Katsumoto is outstanding. His performance makes this film. Cruise did okay.
Name: Brandon Comments:
I'm going to see this movie this weekend! Yay. Thanks for the review, Mike...I'll actually read it after I see the flick.
