The Last Samurai Starring Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe Directed by Edward Zwick Rated R for strong violence and battle sequences out of Stars, Movie Grade: B+

Theatrical Release: December 5, 2003
Running time: 144 minutes

by Kevin Lang

The latest film from Director Edward Zwick (Legends of the Fall 1994, Courage Under Fire 1996) was a meticulously crafted epic that focused on the modernization of Japan, in particularly the westernization of their fighting style and the near eradication of the Samurai way of life. This was chronicled through the experience of a Civil War veteran, Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), who was sent to Japan to teach the emperor's army modern methods of combat, including the way of the gun. He soon became involved in suppressing a group of Samurai rebels, who captured him in order to learn more about their enemy.

The Last Samurai was a movie that could have failed miserably for several reasons, the most obvious being the accuracy and believability of Zwick's depiction of the Samurai and the Japanese culture during the 1870s. Director Zwick and company without a doubt did their homework. Their finely crafted warrior costumes decorated the Samurai during the lavish battle sequences, which helped to convey the film's beautiful cinematography. The settings were breathtaking (other than one not so believable CGI shot of Captain Algren looking at the coast of Japan from his ship), but what about The Last Samurai's story?

Tom Cruise's character, Captain Nathan Algren, had fought in savage battles to suppress the Indians in America. He had been led by Colonel Bagley (Tony Goldwyn), who had spared neither women nor children during his raids on the Indians. Filled with remorse, Algren took to alcohol to ease his pain, not to mention to suppress his hatred for Bagley. Despite the film's honorable attention to the Samurai way of life, I would have liked to see more attention paid to the pre-story, including Colonel Bagley, who the audience was expected to hate only after a series of quick flashbacks.

At times, it seemed that Colonel Bagley didn't even understand why Algren hated him so much. He seemed baffled by Algren's remorse, and was later shocked to see Algren on the side of the enemy. Perhaps Bagley should have been developed to be a more integral part of the story, including his involvement in the training of the Japanese soldiers.

Regardless, this wasn't a film about a hero versus a villain. It was a film about a dying way of life, and the passing from one cultural era into another. The Last Samurai beautifully portrayed this change. As the result of a decent performance by Tom Cruise and the excellent recreation of an era by the filmmakers, I felt as if I had myself been given a glimpse into the life of the Samurai. I left the theater interested to know more.

In the end, The Last Samurai was an enjoyable film. It contained excellently choreographed fight scenes, a subtle love story, and well developed relationships between its characters. Actor Ken Watanabe, who played Algren's early enemy Katsumoto, delivered an equally strong, if not stronger performance than Tom Cruise. The Last Samurai was not Kill Bill. It did not pay homage to a mockery of the Samurai way of life. It rather paid homage to what seemed to be a much more accurate depiction of the Samurai culture. Even though through no fault of his own, Captain Algren reminded me a little too much of "Tom Cruise" at times, The Last Samurai was strong film on many levels.

"The Last Samurai" Review written December 4, 2003, CTF.

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