The Last Samurai

[Chaplin]

Well, kids, I saw a free sneak of Warner Bros.' latest release.

And I may have just seen the movie to make up for the Matrix debacles. Truly.

What a great, great movie! There was very little to complain about in the film--it remains historically accurate throughout and small details like accents and speech are very well-done (instead of doing the cop-out and letting the Japanese speak to each other in English, they speak in Japanese with subtitles).

Acting is solid all around, yes, even Tom Cruise (whose last really bad acting job might have been MI2--or even earlier than that--if there is an actor that has a bad wrap in Hollywood, it's Tom Cruise).

Without giving anything away, just think of Glory and Braveheart--set them in Japan in 1876, and you have The Last Samurai. HIGHLY recommended.

 

[Shane]

Thats awesome to hear! I cant wait to see it!

Chap is Cruises performance Oscar worthy?

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Shane H
Thats awesome to hear! I cant wait to see it!

Chap is Cruises performance Oscar worthy?

It's a very good performance, but it really was overshadowed by Ken Watanabe, who plays the samurai warlord Katsumoto. He's apparently a huge star in Japan, but he is amazing in this movie. Cruise was great--we consistently believed he was the character he portrayed, but Watanabe deserves a Supporting Actor nom.

 

[Shane]

cool

 

[Stout]

I don't know...I know Cruise has redeemed himself a lot for earlier crappy flicks, but I just can't see him in a Samurai movie...I just can't pay to see this. Maybe if someone offers to take me Lol

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Stout
I don't know...I know Cruise has redeemed himself a lot for earlier crappy flicks, but I just can't see him in a Samurai movie...I just can't pay to see this. Maybe if someone offers to take me Lol

That's too bad. He's a civil war "hero", not a samurai... at least, to begin with. This movie is worth full price, let alone matinee.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Good to hear, I was hoping this movie wouldn't end up a dud...

Mike

 

[FischerKing]

I was hoping this was going to be a good movie because I've wanted to watch it - however the curse of Cruise was going to keep me away from it. I think the only movie where I've seen Tom actually act was Magnolia - he was extremely good in that movie.

I guess I get to see this one in the theater after all.

Thanks for the review and recommendation Chap.

Shawn

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Chaplin
That's too bad. He's a civil war "hero", not a samurai... at least, to begin with. This movie is worth full price, let alone matinee.

I heard there was a scene in it that was practically lifted from the original Superman movie....any truth to that?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
I heard there was a scene in it that was practically lifted from the original Superman movie....any truth to that?

Mike

 

[Dan H]

I liked the Last Samurai better when it was called Dances with Wolves.

 

[Shane]

Gotta agree with Chap on this one!

I thought it was a very good movie! Well worth the price and I will be seeing it again in the theatre!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Without giving anything away, just think of Glory and Braveheart--set them in Japan in 1876, and you have The Last Samurai. HIGHLY recommended.

So, basically, you're saying it was a good remake?

 

[Renz]

Originally posted by Shane H
Gotta agree with Chap on this one!

I thought it was a very good movie! Well worth the price and I will be seeing it again in the theatre!

"Theatre"? What, are you a freakin' Canadian?

 

[Pariah]

Just saw it. It was friggin' great!

I'll drag my wife to the theater to see it again (even though I prefer to fly solo to the movies).

 

[Skkorpion]

Absolutely wonderful movie.

My Japanese neighbor is usually very critical of American handling of Japanese themes and he just loved this movie.

I can't remember his name, but the second-in-command Samurai damned near steals the movie as the hard-bitten, intolerant warrior who despises Tom Cruise.

Of course, the love theme is bogus - no Samurai woman of that era would ever debase herself by taking a foreign barbarian to heart.

Even to this day, the Japanese people tend to be quite rascist and believe themselves superior to the rest of us.

 

[Stout]

Well, I originally didn't want to watch this, for various reasons, but different folk, including this site, changed my mind.

Let me just say, I'm glad my mind was changed. WOW! Brilliant performances all around. Great writing and directing. The fight scenes were choreographed amazingly, especially the one in Tokyo where he fought, then they slowed the same fight down and played it again. Also great subject matter, which made it even better. Two thumbs up!

 

[mdamien13]

Originally posted by Dan H
I liked the Last Samurai better when it was called Dances with Wolves.

!!!MILD SPOILERS!!!

I have to agree here. It was a pretty good movie but I didn't think it was anything I'll see again. The ninja attack was the highlight of the film. All of the Japanese actors did a fantastic job with their roles. Edward Zwick is truly a great director, and his photography of rural Japan was magnificent.

Unfortunately, I can only call this a Tom Cruise film. What the hell, was he bulletproof or something? He didn't do a bad job with his performance early on but I actually thought he got worse as the film progressed (capped off with what I felt was a ridiculous ending). The love angle was completely tacked on and felt forced. I found myself comparing this to Dances with Wolves all over again.

Not bad, not great.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by mdamien13
!!!MILD SPOILERS!!!

I have to agree here. It was a pretty good movie but I didn't think it was anything I'll see again. The ninja attack was the highlight of the film. All of the Japanese actors did a fantastic job with their roles. Edward Zwick is truly a great director, and his photography of rural Japan was magnificent.

Unfortunately, I can only call this a Tom Cruise film. What the hell, was he bulletproof or something? He didn't do a bad job with his performance early on but I actually thought he got worse as the film progressed (capped off with what I felt was a ridiculous ending). The love angle was completely tacked on and felt forced. I found myself comparing this to Dances with Wolves all over again.

Not bad, not great.

The problem is, you went in expecting Dances With Wolves.