Title: The Last Samurai
Rating: 4/5
Some spoilers in here so don't read it if you want a surprise.
This starts with Tom Cruises civil/Indian war 'hero', Nathan Algran, drunk off his ass and selling Winchesters to crowds of upper class folks in San Fransico. Algran is haunted by what he has seen in years of brutal warfare and tormented by actions he cannot justify.
He is just the sort of chap that the young emperor of Japan, or at least his advisors, are looking for to train the new modern Japanese army. He and Billy Connolly, as his trusty sergent with the most woefully bad Irish accent I've ever heard, leave the US and journey to the land of the rising sun.
The opening is not bad. It's a bit sterotyped in that the mentally scarred Cruise sits around drunk and acting all bolshy until put on track by a sober and gruff friend.
Anyway, as soon as they reach Japan things seem to just click. Cruise is very believeable in his dealings with the new troops and seems to carry a natural authority. 19th century Japan is lovingly recreated and the cinematography drags into a differant time. I love Japan and just sitting viewing was a pleasure in itself.
The real action starts when Algarn leads his (unready) troops into battle against a band of marauding Samurai led by Katsumoto, the utterly superb Ken Watanabe. The Japanese troops stand in awkward ranks as Cruise and Connolly yell orders in English which are translated into Japanese, all to little effect. Rifles are loaded with shaking hands and bayonets fitted. You hear the samurai before you see them, ghostly noises drifting through the mist, followed by figures in demonic armour on horseback. The first clash is terryfying as the samurai slaughter the enemy (including Mr Connolly with a big spear through him) with swords, spears and arrows.
Algrns capture is a fantastic scene. The real physical desperation Cruise shows in trying to evade capture is wonderful to see after so much CGI action lately.
Moving along, it's all quite predictable, but so beautifully shot and well acted that you don't care. Cruise recovers in Katsumoto's sons village and gradually learns to appreciate the Way of the Samurai as a thing of extreme beauty and deep spirituality. He starts training as a bad ass and is gradually drawn into the community while remaining an outsider.
He confirms his place as a warrior during a ninja attack on the village, during which he uses his katana for eviscerating a bunch of ninjas and saving Katsumotos life. Nice one. The ninjas are great (although nothing a few pirates couldn't handle)
The final battle against the overwhelming Imperial army is handled well and although it sinks into 'Hollywoodism' is genuinely moving.
The film has some issues with a slightly dodgy script and a slightly jaded hollywood ending but aside form that it's top notch. The obligatory love story is perfectly handled, although it does over step the mark at one point. The characters are obvious but very well acted and the cinematography is stunning.
My favourite aspect was in the portrayal of the samurai themselves. They were absolutely bloody terryifying! From the massive and supremely skilled Katsumoto, to the proud and vicous Ujio and the quiet but lethal 'Bob', they are all fleshed out nicely as men of honour. Damn samurais are cool.
All in all it's well worth seeing.
Posted by
gobbo, 11:47, 15th January 2004:
gonna see it for my birthday next Friday, w00t! :D
Nah Bob was a samurai. He fucks up the pussy ninja scum with impunity.
Posted by
Liandle, 13:31, 15th January 2004:
That review was very well written...thanks
Gobbo, is your birthday on 23rd Jan?
Posted by
gobbo, 13:59, 15th January 2004:
yes, the 20th is my actual birthday (i'll be 22) and Friday Miki will be over so we are going with my parents and having food and stuff too :)
ah..my birthday is the 23rd...turning 31 though :o(
Posted by
Miki, 14:21, 15th January 2004:
nothing wrong with 31 LOL
no, I know..just going to get really pissed in some pub or another.
Posted by
jlittle, 15:18, 15th January 2004:
I loved this film. Very good.