Rating: 
Summary: Great film.
Review: I would like to start by saying, that in my opinion, it was slightly presumptuous of the writer, whomever he/she might be, to throw a white man in the midst of the demise of the great and mighty samurai and to have him effect that demise in the way he does. Moreover, I'm not positive but I think there where a few historical inaccuracies in the picture. For instance, as far as I know, a type of sword belonging solely to ninjas did not exist. However, despite these trifling details, this is a truly wonderful film, absolutely dazzling, and I give it five out of five stars. I would recommend it not only to those interested in Japan, samurai, and all you war movie fans, but to any one looking to see a really good film!
Rating:
Summary: Oscar Worthy All the Way!
Review: "The Last Samurai" was a story about a man who changes the way that he feels about a certain type of people in Japan. It stars Tom Cruise, but to me he was not the star of the film. I feel that the movie had most of its power from the supporting actor Ken Watanabe. The way that he acted throughout the movie could give him the Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor Catagory. The entire movie could win many different awards, and I'm glad that Tom Cruise was not nominated, because I have seen him in much better roles, like "Minority Report," or "Vanilla Sky." His great scene comes towards the end, where he gives emotion and power at once.Cruise plays Captain Nathan Algren, a Civil War hero who loves to drink. He's recently come from battling American Indians in the west, and often had bad memories of what took place during those battles. But Algren gets a job when Japanese businessman Omura wants him to train the new army, with somebody that he knows Bagley. Bagley wants Algren because of the way that he battled the Indians. Algren agrees when he is able to bring his fellow Army fighter Sergeant Zebulon Gant. When they make it to Japan, they are met by the translator Simon Graham, and they begin to train the troops for battle. But Omura wants them to fight the samurai and their leader Katsumoto right away, and overrules Algren causing him to take his inexperienced troops to battle the Katsumoto. Algren is almost killed during the battle, but taken back to Katsumoto's village, which is ruled by his son. Algren is trapped, and there is no way for him to be able to return back to Japan. While with Katsumoto, he learns all about the way of the samurai and he finds out that there is nothing wrong with the people that Omura wants to kill. But it also becomes clear that Bagley is getting ready to fight. Algren befriends Katsumoto, and the two learn that they have much more in common then they oringally thought, and it becomes clear to Algren what he must do. "The Last Samurai" was a beautiful film. It had a beautiful sceney, beautiful action, some beautiful acting, and beautiful direction. I really did love it, and I am including it on the best of 2004, only beause I saw it at the very beginning of this year. This is one of those movies that you have to see in the theatre, otherwise it is not going to be an good. It is a big screen movie, and I have a feeling that I would have been disappointed if I saw it on video first. Try and see it now, before it totally disappears. ENJOY! Rated R for strong violence and battle sequences.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!
Review: This movie is great, and I would give it 10 stars if I could. It's one of the best movies i've seen with Tom Cruise in it. In fact, it's probably one the best movies i've seen. The story is great about an American becoming a Samurai, learning all of their customs, the language, how to fight with a sword rather than a gun, and fall in love with the wife of the Samurai he killed early in the movie. I would recomend anyone to see this great movie that has great action and fighting but also has funny parts, sad parts, and happy parts. I'm defiently pre-ordering this movie whenever I see it online. This movie will be the best $5 you'll ever spend.
Rating: 
Summary: Cinematographer's triumph - otherwise, standard adventure
Review: The battle-hardened, cynical outsider who finds refuge, solace & identity in a strange & alien culture is a theme that has been explored many times by Hollywood. "The Last Samurai" offers nothing new in its interpretation of this theme, save setting it in 1870s Japan. Neither is Japanese culture & society of the time given meticulous enough treatment to call it accurate, nor is the protagonist (an alcoholic ex-Indian fighter named Nathan Algren) unique enough to hold your attention for too long. Well, it may not be new, but it works. This has a lot to do with the breathtaking camera work - apart from the CGI enhanced scene of the port at which Algren arrives in Japan (fake! fake!), the visual impact of the movie is stunning. Eerily masked & armored horsemen charging through a forest shrouded in a ghostly fog, picturesque fields laid out like carpets blanketing the rolling mountainside, minimally furnished houses and buildings that manage to somehow give off an air of warmth, comfort and security... the camera speaks its own lines on every frame. The story of a renegade samurai leader's fight to uphold his & his men's honor in the distinctly samurai fashion meshes well with the visuals of the movie, and the battles are well choreographed, if a little far-fetched. In all fairness, Edward Zwick has come with a pretty good, mainstream movie. It has enough adventure to supply goose-bump moments at periodic intervals, and while the sight of Tom Cruise mastering kendo in a few short months will have purists of the Japanese fighting arts fuming in outrage, it does give the general public something to cheer on without analyzing too much. The love interest is present, though blessedly low-key. The Japanese cast comes up with sterling performances, and provide a lot of authenticity to some of the interpretations of honor, duty & respect provided by the movie. Overall, this is a movie that will catch your attention at first viewing. It lacks the staying power of true epic masterpieces like Lawrence of Arabia or the LOTR trilogy, but that shouldn't take anything away from its virtues. Just remember that its only a movie at the end of the day - NOT a documentary on the fall of the samurai in Japan.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: This movie was the greatest movie I've ever seen, it will continue to be my favorite movie for a long time. The war sequences were far better than any other movie like 'Saving Private Ryan'. The Last Samurai had better special affects and a most intriguing story. I loved the relationship between Algren and the Samurai class, the fight for survival in the newly modernized country Japan after 1868 when Meiji's reign as Emperor began. Its quite fascinating how this story, even though the character Algren and the dealings with the Americans were fiction how this story was so well drawn out. The character that portrayed the legendary Saigo, or "Dai Saigo" otherwise known as a fictional character as Katsumoto did such a dramatically important role, a role in which it took a strong will and personality to play. The honor and prestige that each warrior felt back in history was shown in the faces of the individuals that gave their time and skills into making this film historically memorable. I love to read about Japanese history, and I can say right now that they did a spectacular job in recreating the nation of Japan back in the times of Meiji. domo arigatou.....ja ne!
Rating:
Summary: The real thing
Review: The way of Samurai is the way of Death. I think Tom Cruise really understood that and he can die happy now. See the film and think about your death - will it be so beautiful
and meaningful as the death of Katzumoto? The film: Five stars definitely.
Rating: 
Summary: better left to others......
Review: I lived in Japan for several years and spent allot of time going to Japanese cinema which was full of samaurai epics so I was interested in this film....I want to it reluctantly tho because
I am NOT a Cruise fan.
Basically he portrays himself in every film he does. Gee, maybe that is why he has never won an academy award.....has he ever been nominated? I don't think so.......
The only redeeming part of this film was the story, the wonderful scenery, and the supporting cast. I frankly would have loved to have seen more of them and allot less of him......unfortunately this particular film did not develop their character as much as "Dances With Wolves" developed the Sioux characters.
The Meiji period was an interesting time for Japan and this could have been much better.
Rating:
Summary: tradition vs. future
Review: "The Last Samurai" is a movie similar of plot to Akira Kurosawa's all-time classic - "The Seven Samurai." Through this carefully crafted movie, people (especially non-Asians) can experience the lives of traditional Japanese people. "The Last Samurai" shows the way of life and precious traditional culture of the Japanese. Examples of interesting cultural scenes are the art of making green tea, which is complicated and formal, the practice of caligraphy, and the making of poetries. More importantly, the movie portrays the code of values for the honorable Samurai. Through the flow of the movie, values such as honor, perseverance and dignity are depicted. Unfortunately, these values of which the Samurai had lived and died for are threatened by progress. In "The Last Samurai," the actors, both Asians and Westerners, did a wonderful job. However, I believe the best actor is Ken Watanabe (Katsumoto). He represented the undying determinacy of the Samurai well. He even is nominated for the best supporting actor of the Academy Awards! As for Tom Cruise (Captain Nathen Algren), who was accepted into the Samurai clan of Katsumoto (some audience believe as a Samurai because he wore the traditional armor of Samurai when he went to battle against his own kin), was a pretty good actor too, he speaks Japanese well. However, I discovered a racist scene in the movie. At the end of the film, as can be predicted by the title, the last generation of the Samurai entered immortality. And ironicaly, the "last Samurai" is Tom Cruise, an American. In this movie, the existance of the struggling traditional Japanese society is threatened by the future of advancement and technology in downtown Japan. This movie portrays the dilemma really clearly and makes people think about the conflicts of the old versus the new. Is the old ways always bad? Is the new always good? Should old be destroyed in order to accomodate the new?
Rating:
Summary: One of this years best!!!!!
Review: The Last Samurai is one of those movies that is just so captivating and unique that you spend about two weeks just thinking about how much you loved it and how content you felt walking out of the theater. Defineitly one of the years best this film is engaging, emotional, and inspirational. I'm positive that about half of the people who saw it went to sleep that night wearing a bath robe and waving a kitchen knife around the house slashing anything that moves. I know that some people might consider this a sin but I actaully liked this film as much as Return of the King. One thing is for sure Edward Zwick knows how to make an epic. Everything in this film is top notch. Both the cinematography and the sound track are out of this world. The acting is also nothing short of brilliant. Cruise plays a haunted civil war veteran hired to train a japanese army in modern warfare in order to eradicate a dying breed of samurai. However after being taken captive by the Samurai he adopts their traditions and in the end fights along side them in an epic struggle to find redemtion and something worth dying for. Cruise portrays his character magnificiantly and his co-star Ken Watanabe shines as well. If you do not like Tom Cruise then go watch Rain Man, Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July, and Jerry Maguire. If Ater all of these movies (three of them earned Cruise oscar nominations) you still dislike Cruise then I strongly suggest that you get down on your knees and appeal to the gods of film to cure you of your illness. Back to the point The Last Samurai is one of this years best and not to be missed. If you don't see it in theaters be sure to rent it if you don't want to miss out on something unique and exciting.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This is movie is so great. I am really dissappointed that Tom Cruise wasn't nominated for an Oscar for his wonderful acting. He does such a good job to make us feel for his character and care about what happens to him and the samurai. The action is wonderful and there is no unnecessary romantic scenes like it seems many movies do these days. It is such a wonderful movie for the whole family and it's dissappointing to see that it wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Watch this movie, and if you've already seen it, watch it again!!!
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