 There are few movies that I have had higher expectations for than I did for "The Last Samurai." While this mindset often sets me up for a disappointment when seeing the film, "The Last Samurai" managed to surpass even my lofty expectations.
The movie begins with background information about Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), who was a Civil War hero but now has nothing to fight for. He is frustrated with the public's lack of concern about what happened in the war, and it seems to have diminished his own sense of purpose. The first minutes of the movie are a little dull, though it does succeed in establishing the main character.
Fortunately for Nathan (and the viewer), he is soon recruited to leave the U.S. and lead a Japanese army that is being threatened by the Samurai. He is taken to Japan where he begins the mission with a new sense of purpose. However, Nathan's plans are soon derailed as his army faces the Samurai warriors prematurely and he is captured. What follows is a great story of purpose and honor. Over time, Nathan learns the way of the Samurai, and starts to accept their beliefs and lifestyle. More impressively, the Samurai begin to accept him.
"The Last Samurai" has a great variety of combat scenes, including large-scale battles, smaller conflicts, and individual duels. This mix of fighting helps orient the viewer to both the grand scale of the movie and to individual characters. The scenes are wonderfully choreographed, with lifelike fighting and accurate weaponry. The ninja attack on the the samurai camp is superbly done. Even the smaller, individual battles of Nathan against one or against many are surprisingly realistic. Tom Cruise practiced sword technique for several months before filming the movie and it shows.
The great fighting scenes are assisted by excellent cinematography and sound. Creative camera angles draw the viewer into the battles and the panned-out shots provide solid context for each scene. Camera filters are used sparingly (thank goodness), but help generate emotion for several scenes. However, emotion is created primarily by the excellent soundtrack that features a traditional orchestral score combined with Japanese elements.
Of course, great fighting scenes are only as meaningful as the storyline. Fortunately, "The Last Samurai" has a strong plot that draws the viewer in and builds throughout the movie. The character development is well above average for an action movie and the character interaction is what really makes the movie succeed. This is especially impressive because there is a language gap, since most of the Samurai do not speak English. However, Katsumoto, the Samurai leader who has the most dialog with Nathan, has learned English, which conveniently limits the amount of sub-titles necessary.
While much of "The Last Samurai" story is true to Japanese tradition, I felt there were a few parts that were too Americanized. Some examples are Nathan's relationship with Katsumoto's sister and the final battle of the movie. However, the overall theme of the movie is powerful and the screenplay is wonderfully done. "The Last Samurai" is a great epic adventure movie with a level of emotion impressive for its genre. |
