Last Samurai

Azrael · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 10:31 pm Post subject: Last Samurai

Now I know alot of people hate Tom Cruise for various reasons, but I definitely suggest going to see this movie. It was honestly just a fantastic film. There are usually at least one or two scenes per movie where you can say they were either unnecessary or not as well as they could have been, but that is most definitely not the case with this film. Every line of dialogue was well written, every scene was gorgeous. The fight scenes were superb, the character growth and progression flawless.

I give this movie two thumbs up.
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Monk · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 10:59 pm Post subject:

I have been seriously debating going to see this movie. It looks like it might be really good, but I can't quite imagine how they could stick a westerner into a Japanese Samurai movie and still make the plot plausible. I don't know much about when the movie takes place (I seem to remember hearing that Tom Cruise plays a Civil War general which would place it not too long after 1860), but I do know that the first American didn't reach Japan until 1848, and the first relations between the US and Japan didn't open up for another 6 years. Other than that, citizens from the two countries didn't really begin to mix until after WWII. The Japanese were very reluctant to open up to Western Culture until the collapse of the true Japanese Monarchy after WWII when they didn't really have a choice any more.

Anyway, other than that, it looks like a fabulous movie. If you really recommend it so highly I just might track down the $10 bucks I'll need to see it before it comes out on video.
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<TVB>Monk - Burning HWGs since 2001.
Now located at The Pensive Penguin.

Azrael · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 11:07 pm Post subject:

Since I can't go to work for a month, I got my room mate to play hookey from work and we saw the matinee today. 5.50 for a great movie! What a deal!

As for the plot, I thought it would be cheesy if they made it a movie about the good old white folk helping out the poor beleagured samurai, but this is definitely not what this movie is about.

While not giving away the story, I can say that Tom Cruise plays an Army Captain who was part of Custer's Battalion. That, and this whole story is entirely fictional, so while it is a good story, it is not a factual account by any means.
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Monk · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 11:11 pm Post subject:

Yeah, that's what I figured. It usually bothers me when Hollywood butchers history, but mostly just when they claim it to be fact. As long as it is just a good story I am all ears err... eyes... Bah, ya get the picture.
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Amen!
<TVB>Monk - Burning HWGs since 2001.
Now located at The Pensive Penguin.

Potato-VS- · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 6:05 am Post subject:

Hmm Ive heard practically everyone talking about this movie. Ill have to go see it some time.

<TVB>Potato

Nyxtis · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 10:29 am Post subject:

from what I can remeber from history begining in late 1800s after the meiji restoration japan began very rapid moderization and militerization which eventually resulted in world war II much of which was over the fact that japan doesn't have a native source of oil.

[HALO]Pvt_Jenkins · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:48 am Post subject:

Saw it yesterday...great movie. I came home deciding I want to be a Samurai when I grow up. It's loosely based in history, where conservative samurai opposed the modernification of Japan and fought against the modernized Western equipped/trained imperial army of Japan. The Samurai did have guns though unlike the movie. Some reviewers think that Cruise overpowered the Japanese characters but I don't think that this is true. Overall cool...cool battles...cool scenery, it even dosen't get boring in the middle of the movie as most do. Highly recommend.

Mr.Kason Allen · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:08 am Post subject: