The Last Samurai Movie Review

The Last Samurai is about an America captain, sent to train Japan's emperor's troops, in order to suppress a supposed rebellion by the Samurai.

The story is told from the eyes of Captain Nathan Algren, (Tom Cruise). A man who has seen many wars and who has seen and done things on the battlefield that have since haunted him.

As fate would have it, Nathan is captured by the very rebels he has sought to kill. Their leader, Katsumoto, (Ken Watanabe) as he sees Nathan fight valiantly even when down, decides to spare his life.

As fate would have it, the widow of one of the warriors Nathan killed in that battle tends to his wounds and provides him a place to stay in their rebel village. She did so under the command of Katsumoto, their leader and her brother. Initially, a warrior is assigned to accompany Nathan in the village.

As Nathan lives with the Samurai, he learns to appreciate their lifestyle. He develops a strong friendship with Katsumoto.

Honor

The Samurais believed strongly in honor. When defeated in battle, a samurai will kill himself rather than be captured. For that reason, Ujio, played by Hiroyuki Sanada did not think much of Nathan. He said a defeated warrior should kill himself for honor. Since Nathan would not kill himself, he wanted to do that job, but Katsumoto forbade him. Katsumoto was fascinated by Nathan as they were both students of warfare.

Cultural Stereotypes

Japanese cultural stereotypes were there as expected. The submissive Japanese woman who hardly talks, looks beautiful (meant to be seen but not heard) Does as she tolds. When Nathan enters her home with boots caked in mud, she quietly wipes away the mud with a cloth as he walks. DOH!

There was the puppet emperor who would do what his greedy "advisors" say. The "rebel" leader was his teacher whom he respects. They had a private conversation where he told Katsumoto that he could only by like a god to his people as long as he does what he is expected to do. His advisors speak for him.

The performance

Of all the actors in this movie, Ken Watanabe was the most outstanding. His Katsumoto stole the scenes. He exuded the strength of a samurai general. He has a strong presence. Something like Yul Bryner in the classic The King and I.

Hiroyuki Sanada's portrayed Ujio convincingly as a true warrior. Stern, with a quiet charisma.

Tom Cruise's screen persona overpowered the character. Instead of the character Nathan, you see the same screen persona that you'd expect in a Tom Cruise movie. Tom Cruise fans will certainly not be disappointed with this movie as there are enough close up shots of Tom Cruise to please his female fans.

SPOILER. If you have not seen the movie, skip this as it mentions how the movie ends!

As time went on, Taka and Nathan got closer. No sex scenes in this movie. The closest to one was where Taka dressed Nathan for the final battle of the Samurais.

At the final battle was interesting up to the end.

At the end, when the emperor's soldiers unleashed their machine guns on the samurais, all the warriors died except Katsumoto and Nathan. Katsumoto killed himself for honor. Which left Nathan the sole survivor among the warriors with nary a scratch. Rather ridiculous.

Katsumoto's final scene was touching.

Even more so, the scene where Nathan presented Katsumoto's sword to the emperor. Katsumoto was loyal to the emperor all the way to the end. While alive, he said that if the emperor wanted him dead, all he had to do was to ask and he would kill himself for the emperor. Such was the depth of a samurai's loyalty to the emperor.

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