The Last Samurai Details

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.

THE LAST SAMURAI : a 1X BUM SHUFFLE (in 147 minutes). I judge a movie by the number of times that I "BUM SHUFFLE". It's that point in a movie when the interest wanes and you then remember to shuffle in your seat or on the couch.

At 147 minutes, you might be put off from renting this film....DON'T! This a thoroughly rewarding experience. A portrait of man destined to find his true identity through war and death. The environment is authentic and depth of passion humbling. TOM CRUISE is the ideal and only actor for this role (Tom is to Captain Nathan Algren as Russell Crowe is to Maximus the Gladiator), and you can judge that he enjoyed the role totally. Art Direction, Set Design, Costume Design and Music Score were epic in substance, as was the supporting cast. I watched the movie without Subtitles, and I suggest you do the same. Listen to the Japanese language and observe the face & body language; it speaks volumes. You will not need English subs. The fight scenes and war scenes are superb in execution (ouch!). They demonstarte the best in far eastern Martial Arts movies (and even better than the KILL BILL movies). The large scale battles seem NOT be Computer Generated images (ie. twenty actors supported by 'fake' computer fighters) which made the intensity even greater. Stunning, with a touch of HENRY V. THE LAST SAMURAI - in fact don't rent it, BUY IT.