FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The Last Samurai [DVD] [2003]

The Last Samurai [DVD] [2003]
enlarge	Director: Edward Zwick Actors: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn, Billy Connolly Studio: Warner Home Video Category: DVD List Price: ~~£13.99~~ Buy Used: £0.50 as of 20/11/2009 17:56 GMT details You Save: £13.49 (96%) New (26) Used (49) Collectible (3) from £0.50 Seller: robert52462 Rating: 29 reviews Sales Rank: 2922 Format: PAL, Widescreen Language: English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 154 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 UPC: 732190068057 EAN: 0732190068057 ASIN: B00064X5XE Theatrical Release Date: 2003 Release Date: November 1, 2004 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next » A great film July 9, 2006 Spider Monkey (UK) 9 out of 10 found this review helpful 'The Last Samurai' is a one of those films that has it's flaws but you can't help but enjoy anyway. This film follows Cruise's character as he is captured by a Samurai clan and then learns the lifestyle and ways of a Samurai whilst living in their village. Throughout the story it immerses you in aspects of the history of Japan, and although slightly stylised, gives a good feeling of life and culture in those times. It has beautiful film locations, beautiful music, a good story line and a good cast. I feel this to be one of Cruise's better films and his performance is very credible. This film may be slightly long, but it holds your interest right to the end and is a great nights viewing. Well worth considering. The battle between tradition and modernization May 16, 2006 A reader (Leeds) 7 out of 8 found this review helpful "The Last Samurai" directed by Edward Zwick and starring Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren and Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto seems to be inspired by the story of Jules Brunet - a member of the first French military mission to Japan in 1868. The character of Katsumoto is much likely to represent Saigo Takamori - one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, who is also considered legendary. br / br /Nathan Algren, an ex USA's army captain and the civil war hero, where he fought Native Americans, is given a job to train Japanese army and prepare it to fight the samurai rebellion, whose leader is legendary Katsumoto. Japanese army consists mainly of peasants who have never even seen a gun and to train it in one year seems quite an impossible task. However Katsumoto keeps initiating attacks and Japanese government can't wait any longer. Nathan Algren is forced to lead the unprepared army to fight Katsumoto troops where he is taken as Katsumoto's prisoner. There he stays in Katsumoto's son's village, where he learns martial arts, sward techniques and samurai life-style. After returning from "imprisonment", Nathan Algren discovers huge changes in the Emperor's military forces... br / br /The plot depicts the period of Meiji Restoration, where, for the first time and after a centuries lasting isolation, the 122th Emperor of Japan aims to modernize the country by inviting scientists, engineers and military men from the developed Western countries. Samurai is loosing their power and Katsumoto doesn't like modernization to be done so fast. "The Last Samurai" might also represent the struggle between the tradition and modernization and the honour suicide of the samurai might be also be a sign of the drastic change that will lead Japan into the all way development that it is having today. "Samurai's sword is his soul" - is quoted in the film and, indeed, after the appearance of fire-guns, the sword looses it's physical power, although, not the traditional/spiritual one. br / br /I loved Tom Cruise's and especially Ken Watanabe's performance, the scenery and the plot, although I found it very much morally unfair towards the Japanese that "The Last Samurai" was an American. Here, again, we meet this well known American ego where the last hero must be an American. If it wasn't for this, "The Last br /Samurai" would have been totally perfect. However, even so, the film is very well worth watching and buying and the ones looking for deapth may find it here, for there are some great historical and heroic personalities to remember. br / Nothing short of amazing October 23, 2005 Mr. S. Fox (Portsmouth, England.) 9 out of 11 found this review helpful It is not often if ever that i give something 5/5 but this film fully deserves it. The charachters are developed incredibly well during the film and as most people point out it is more than just an action film but more a story which you get swept into with such ease and is a credit to the director Zwick and script writer Logan.pThe casting couldn't be better with the ever humorous Billy Connolly fitting in seemlesly. The fact that the only oscar nomination the film had was for best photography is something of a surprise and uncalled for let down. My first reaction when i came out of the cinema was WOW, that was 10x better than LOTR. There isn't one point in the film where you wonder how much longer it will go on for or how they have spoilt it by doing this or that.pOne under-rated feature of this movie is the visual effects with well used slow-motion to let the whole feel of the film sink in even more and depict the scene with detail which would be lost otherwise. But like so many movies these days it luckily isn't spoilt with tonnes of special effects and for the most part is left to the traditional film making.pIt is a moving epic tale which is by far the best movie i have ever seen and will remain so i suspect. I cannot do this justice but i can strongly advise you to invest in this esquite piece of movie. pCasting 5/5brMusic 5.5/5brPhotography 6/5brActing 5/5brCostumes 4.5/5pBest actor: It is a very close call between Cruise and Watanabe but Tom Cruise just edges it in very possibly his best film and performance. FANTASTIC March 14, 2006 Freespirit (UK) 6 out of 7 found this review helpful This is one of my favourite films of all time. Beautifully acted, wonderful script. The film looks at people#x27;s perceptions of different cultures and beliefs. The Saumrai believe in honour above all else. The fight scenes are amazing, the Japanese actors give it authenticity. "I will die by the sword. My own, or my enemy's." May 7, 2007 Mitsuko Kiriyama Phoenix (Nuneaton, UK) 3 out of 4 found this review helpful This movie is, by far, one of my favourite movies to date. It's so beautifully written, captured, scored and perfectly cast. It's definitely deserving of a 5 star rating. It vastly shows the difference between the Japanese culture to the western world and how, even within a country with so much history... how some can be so loyal to their old ways, yet others who are so willing to leave it behind to join with the new. br / br /Tom Cruise may be the star in this movie, but in my personal opinion, it is Ken Watanabe who captures this movie in all its glory. He is charming, charismatic and most definitely captivating in his debut role for western cinema. He plays the character of Katsumoto, the General in the Bushidou Samurai who's views on life are admirable who looks at his enemy Algren (Tom Cruise), and instead of the brutality of wars in the western world, takes him prisoner but treats him with the same respect anyone would a welcome guest in your home, while learning from him and his culture as well as allowing Algren to do the same with theirs. br / br /Algren, for sure, is a soul who's lost his path. A life time of savage wars taking its toll on him leads him to sink lower and lower into a pit of self-loathing and without a care in the world, for nobody... not even himself. It is only until finding himself held captive by the Samurai he releases there is more to life than what he has ever known. Finding peace and tranquility within his strange surroundings and inhabitants, he slowly begins to find his path once again and soon realises it's a much stranger destiny that he would've ever guessed for himself. br / br /"The Last Samurai" isn't 100% in its history, but then, a politically correct Hollywood movie isn't always the right way to go. I believe so wholeheartedly with this one. If you want to see a movie that is pretty much all true references to the Samurai, maybe this film isn't for you. As a lot of people know, the Japanese are a proud race and teaching a non-Japanese the ways of the Samurai would not happen. Even in today's societies. But without such a small thing, the movie wouldn't be quite so beautifully captivating as it is. br / br /The movie will touch your heart and really make you think about a culture other than your own and what people with a dedication live and die for. An astounding creation. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as i did and still do. br / Showing reviews 1-5 of 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »

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