MovieChat Forums > The Last Samurai (2003) Discussion > It feels wrong saying this, but this mov...

It feels wrong saying this, but this movie is pretty goddamn perfect

posted 14 years ago by metalninjacake
19 replies | jump to latest

A story does not have to be original to be perfect.

I know this movie gets criticized all the time, but I think I love it. I saw it once and loved it. Fast forward to about a year and a half later, when my Japanese class began watching it - only on Fridays. We're about two thirds of the way through the film.

Of course, knowing how great the movie is, I HAD to watch it at home when I first heard that our class was going to watch it. Then I watched it again. Then parts of it again. Then we saw it in class.

I've seriously seen the film 6-7 times - not in its entirety every time, but I've seen it entirely 2-3 times - in the past 2 weeks and I am NOT tired of it. In fact, today in class we watched the second third of the film - starting right after Algren gets his ass kicked by Ujio, through the ninja attack, through the Tokyo scenes, and ending right when Katsumoto's son dies. Everyone has absolutely loved it, and thus I am not tired of it one bit.

In fact, I'm gonna go rewatch some awesome parts again in a few minutes, especially the ninja attack. That scene was my favorite to begin with, but having everyone - especially my guy friends - watching it for the first time and just being awestruck - it was almost like watching it all over again because the people's reactions around me just made it so much better.

It's a brilliant movie, and I'm sure I'll get tired of it 2 weeks from now when we finally finish the film in class, but for now, it's fast risen to becoming one of my favorite movies and absolutely the most rewatchable film I've ever seen.

__
"I kneel only to God. I don't see him here." - John Abruzzi

[–] ekotan 12 years ago

It shouldn't feel wrong saying it at all, because this movie *is* a masterpiece. People reflexively tend to dismiss it only because Tom Cruise is in it, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is his best work and the movie was basically flawless in its direction, cinematography, score and story; not to mention the incredibly talented actors in its ensemble.

[–] LManTheFinest 12 years ago

I don't have any problem with Tom Cruise, infact I think he is a very talented actor. He is always so in depth with his chararcter. In The Last Samurai I even forget that it's Tome Cruise, all I see is Nathan Algren.
When yoy let go of all the things that would socially determine what you think about this film, all you get is a masterpeice

[–] Archeoterrex 12 years ago

It IS a masterpiece. An amazing movie.

[–] m0rg16 12 years ago

Definetly one of the better films to come out of he post-Gladiator historical epic phase. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, it's way too naive and dumb for that. But pretty damn entertaining, that's for sure.

[–] Archeoterrex 11 years ago

>>>>>>it's way too naive and dumb for that.

Those are platitudes, the fact that you don't realize that proves that you are naive and dumb. :)

[–] Gitch28 11 years ago

Oh dear.

"I was gutted as I had to miss the tiddly winks world championship" - Berserker

[–] Kawada_Kira 11 years ago

It's one of the best movies i've ever seen. I'll never get tired of it. I've watched it many times over the years and my enthusiasm for it has never gone down. It's one of my absolute favorite films.

No disrespect intended, sir, but shove it up your ass!

[–] yabber-blaster 11 years ago

People forget to let it be a movie. Enjoyable and complex in theme and emotion.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Peterter 11 years ago

Let me add my voice to 'the crowd'. There are VERY FEW movies that I will, and have watched repeatedly and The Last Samurai is one of them ... I've watched it well in excess of 10 times. It is a beautiful film full of wonderful performances (Ken Wantanabe in particular). House of Sand and Fog is another glorious film.

I think I decided (realized?) that film is the most powerful of all of the arts. No other art can touch me so deeply (though music can occasionally come close).

[–] len_cardiff 11 years ago

Yes, I loved it too, having watched for the first time a few days ago. Ken Watanabe's performance reminded me of Russel Crowe's character Maximus in Gladiator, being strong, noble, and honorable. Or should that be Ken Takakura's character 'Tanaka Ken' in 'The Yakuza' (1974): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073918/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Boo!

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] IndianaMcClane 11 years ago

It is one of my favorite films. I personally think it does belong in the same breadth as other more awarded modern epics like Braveheart, Gladiator, and Dances with Wolves.

[–] Karneda92 11 years ago

I'm gonna have to disagree while i enjoyed this film when it first came out, retrospectively I look at it whole less favourably.

Now while I did enjoy the set designs, cinematography, and acting (to an extent) down the line there are several pot holes that just bother me, maybe i's just me but I couldn't stop shaking the feeling that the whole thing was kinda patronising to Japanese culture it was kinda corny,
There's nothing really original about the premise either, it's been done to death and IMO it's been done better in a film like Dances With Wolves. Obviously a big budget Hollywood film about Samurai isn't going to be told from the perspective of a Japanese samurai, but Tom Cruise was such a type cast, I do like the actor (believe it or not) but his performance is so whiny and melodramatic, it's like the Filmmakers are trying to hammer it into your head that this is a "deep" "complicated" man, and again we've seen this character before and we've seen it done better.

So many aspects of this film just scream generic 00's action movie tropes for example that corny Ninja fight, it just looks like something out of any straight to DVD action film, also I understand the film is trying to credit Japanese culture and all, but could they have at least done some research ? Ninja's didn't wear a black bodysuit, they almost always were disguised as civilians, all black at night and you'll stick out like a sore thumb dressed as a civilian and you blend in. Maybe I'm being too cynical and forgive me if I'm being a snob, but i've just seen far better Samurai movies, this is just an average/generic historical drama.

I like movies, movies are good, the end.

[–] darthkarl66 9 years ago

I'm sorry but..did you just say someone wearing black would stand out....at night?