loading...
The Last Samurai
2003
Captain Nathan Algren served in the American Civil War where he risked his life for his country. He served out his career in the West where the battle was with Indians and it was here that he became disillusioned and lost... In a far-off land a celebrated Samurai warrior, Katsumoto, is learning about change. A life of service .. Read more
| Starring | Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn |
|---|---|
| Director | Edward Zwick |
| Genres | Action/Adventure |
loading...
The Last Samurai
Captain Nathan Algren served in the American Civil War where he risked his life for his country. He served out his career in the West where the battle was with Indians and it was here that he became disillusioned and lost... In a far-off land a celebrated Samurai warrior, Katsumoto, is learning about change. A life of service to the Emperor and the country is being replaced with survival in a time of modernisation... Fate has it that both men will face each other and make a stand against those that would threaten honour and values... Captain Nathan Algren is employed to train a group of Japanese conscripts who will replace the Samurai warrior. But he is captured by the Samurai, an enemy he comes to respect and for whom he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.
| Starring | Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn, Billy Connolly |
|---|---|
| Director | Edward Zwick |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 34 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 34 mins HD DVD: 2 hrs 27 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English HD DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 06 May 2004 Blu-ray: 02 Jul 2007 HD DVD: 20 Nov 2006 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
The Last Samurai (2003)
Or you can rent each disc individually:
-
Critics' reviews (6)
View all -
Spectacular, egocentric epic that is concerned with the redemption of one man rather than any exploration of the culture it exploits for visual effect.
-
Sick to the soul - or soused, at any rate - Capt Nathan Algren (Cruise) is selling his Wild West exploits for public... read more on Time Out
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
83 out of 95 people found this review helpful
A very impressive movie
While treading some familiar ground here ('Lawrence of Arabia' springs to mind), this movie does itself the great favour of - while being a fictional tale - staying mostly true to the Japan of the time, only swaying slightly from true-life when the story really demands.
Since the movie involves an American heading to Japan to teach them 'modern warfare', I was expecting it to take the chance to wave the old stars and stripes in everyone's faces again. I was pleasantly suprised to see that this is not the case, in fact attacking the actions and lifestyles of the U.S of A (and westerners in general) on more than one occasion.
The story itself is solid (if not startlingly new), direction is well above par, the camerawork beautiful, costumes and sets immaculately designed, and the action sequences (particularly the battles bookending the main story arc) handled with impressive verve.
Cruise performs admirably in his role of Nathan Algren, and is believable throughout all stages of his characters development, through suicidal ex-soldier drunkard, to redeemed warrior with a thirst for something more. 'Oscar' may have passed him over (again), but his performance is borderline flawless.
Support is strong all around, especially Ken Watanabe as samurai/ronin Katsumoto, the man who gradually turns Algren's life around. Billy Connolly is also great, though his role is (sadly) a fairly minor one.
A great movie overall, only very occasionally let down by some slightly iffy dialogue (the sort you've probably heard in a hundred movies before). This however does not stop 'The Last Samurai' from being an exceptionally impressive experience. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
boring
alright but a bit boring
-
News and features
View all
Last Samurai to move to Gotham
- 24 Feb 2004
Ken Watanabe, star of the Tom Cruise epic "The Last Samurai" is to face the Caped Crusader in the New Batman film, it has emerged today. It was previously thought that Liam Neeson would play Batman bad-guy Ra's Al Ghul, but the Irishman is set to play Ducard, mentor to Bruce Wayne. The fifth Bat movie will see Christian Bale don the mask, with Michael Caine as his trusty butler Alfred. Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes, and Cillian Murphy all star in supporting roles. © DeHavilland... Read more
-
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 20
Related user collection
Top Ten War films you may not have seen (10)
77.2% from 7 members
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
-
Last Samurai, The - HD DVD Version
Captain Nathan Algren served in the American Civil War where he risked his life for his country. He served out his career in the West where the battle was with Indians and it was here that he became disillusioned and lost... In a far-off land a celebrated Samurai warrior, Katsumoto, is learning ...
-
-
-
- Last Samurai, The - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £12.93
Free Delivery - RRP £24.49 (you save: 47%)
Edward Zwick directs this sumptuously designed, action-packed period epic that stars Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren. Algren, a former Civil War hero, is adrift in 1870s San Francisco after the ... -
-
-
-
The Last Samurai
Captain Nathan Algren served in the American Civil War where he risked his life for his country. He served out his career in the West where the battle was with Indians and it was here that he became disillusioned and lost... In a far-off land a celebrated Samurai warrior, Katsumoto, is learning ...
-