I regret not watching it until today, but there is Ken Watanabe, one of my favorite Japanese actors, it is a beautiful movie that must be watched. It's a beautiful movie with deep emotions.
If you do a little research on the situation of that Japan at that time and what it was trying to do before watching it, you can connect to the movie more. The side of the emperor was seen as bad and people who sold their country, but it is irrelevant, the film tells the battle of traditionalists with people who gave up their traditions and tried to develop because they could not take pride in being a colony. When you look at it from this point of view, you agree with both sides and the movie comes to a very different dimension than the good and evil war. This movie definitely didn't get the rating it deserved, I think it's because people don't fully understand the movie.
Release Date: February 6, 2004
Duration: 154min
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Director: Edward Zwick
Screenplay: Edward Zwick, John Logan, Marshall Herskovitz
Made: 2003 - Japan, USA
The film begins with Algren participating in the Indian Wars, where he is traumatized by the violence and bloodshed. He becomes an alcoholic and is eventually recruited by the Emperor of Japan to train a new army to fight against the samurai, who are resisting the government's efforts to modernize the country.
Algren is initially dismissive of the samurai and their way of life, but as he spends more time with them, he begins to understand and respect their code of honor and their devotion to tradition. He is particularly drawn to the samurai leader, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), who is fighting to preserve the samurai way of life in the face of the government's efforts to modernize Japan.
As Algren becomes more involved with the samurai, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to his own country and his growing admiration for the samurai and their way of life. In the end, he makes the decision to side with the samurai and fight alongside them in a final, epic battle against the modern Japanese army.
The Last Samurai is a beautifully shot film with stunning landscapes and impressive battle scenes. Tom Cruise gives a solid performance as the troubled and conflicted Algren, and Ken Watanabe is excellent as the honorable and dignified Katsumoto. The film also features strong supporting performances from Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Spall, and Billy Connolly.
Exploring the cultural differences between the Western and Eastern worlds and how these differences can both divide and bring people together. The film also touches on themes of loyalty, honor, and the importance of tradition, making it a thought-provoking and emotionally impactful viewing experience.
The Last Samurai is a well-made and engaging historical drama that delivers impressive action, strong performances, and thought-provoking themes. While it may take some historical liberties, it is a powerful and poignant tribute to the samurai and their way of life.
Really don't die before watching this and I'm having a civil war with myself right now because I haven't watched it until now. Its subject, dialogues, messages are really top-notch. Especially in the last war scene, it is the place to say that my eyes were filled for the first time in a foreign movie. All the actors, not only Tom, but also from seven to seventy, literally feel the film and make us live the moment. We've been really looking for movies like this lately, and I think we'll continue to search for them for a long time.
