The Last Samurai [Widescreen]

I find this to be one of the few films made in more recent times that is willing to explore honor cultures with high respect and high regard. Highly recommend.

I don't go to the theatre that often anymore. I don't have to drive, waste gas, have a headache finding a parking space, waiting in line and spend enough for two tickets to buy a DVD (and that does not include the Pepsi and popcorn!). I won't mention the chewing gum and sticky cola coated floors! For all that, I can get two DVDs and watch it as many times as I like! I love to watch a movie several times, study it, what makes it work, what really irritates the second or third time. Watch actors conjuring magic. Another reason, I really curtailed my going - PR and hype - I would get all this PR pushing you to go, press and reviewers assuring you what a great movie such and such was. I would rush to go and ended up feeling like one of P.T. Barnum's suckers. Not only did I pay the money that would get me two DVDs, I felt the movie was NOT worth it!So, when all the hype about the LAST SAMURAI came down, Oscar nominations, I held back going, wait for DVD. Everyone kept assuring me I would LOVE this film, with its historical background that it would be my cup of tea. However, Tom Cruise was a sticking point. I was blown away from Tom Cruise stealing the thunder from Timothy Hutton (a talented actor whose work I appreciate) in TAPS. Cruise was brilliant in the small role and everything pointed to him being a great actor. Instead, Cruise became a "star". There is a BIG difference between a great actor and a superstar. And Cruise seemed content to flash his killer smile and coast by, rather than step up the plate and hit "a home run". This has always tarnished his performances - to me - I hate to see great talent not reach their potential. So I had that reservation going into the LAST SAMURAI.It was breathtaking to see the film where he FINALLY stopped being Cruise and go for the golden ring. This film saw him, for once, not playing Tom Cruise, but actually forgetting he was Cruise. He became Nathan Algren, a mentally weary warrior who was sickened by the aftermath of Little Big Horn, a warrior who has lost all honor, and it's slowly eating away inside him, crippling his whole life. He is recruited to go to Japan to teach their soldiers how to fight. Cruise is still hanging on by his fingernails mentally, because he is serving under the very man he hold responsible for Indian Massacres ¯ who once again cares little about lives, and orders Algren to take the unready troops to face the mighty Samurai. Cruise is equipped with reasonably modern weapons - I say reasonably, because they are still musket loaders instead of the repeating rifles that came out of the Civil War, such as Sharpes and Winchester. Still, the arrogant commander feels even the unready troops could put down a rebelling from a few hundred warriors with swords and bows. Cruise unit finds out differently, as they are nearly wiped out. Cruise goes down fighting as a true warrior and earns the awe and admiration from the Samurai leader Katsumoto - beautifully played by Ken Watanabe. Katsumoto is not fighting against his Emperor, rather fighting the advisors around him wishing to exploit Japan.Katsumoto takes Algren back to his mountain strong hold, heals him. He is a prisoner, but basically allowed the run of the compound. As he slowly comes out of his nightmares and drunken stupors, he finds a world that is built on honor, something he long ago lost. The people are gentle, live by a code and do not fear death - if it comes with honor. He gradually joins the warriors training and earns the love and respect of the Samurai, and comes to love them in return. They go forward knowing they are out numbered, out gunned, but in the timeless way of the Samurai, they face death with honor in order to make a statement.It is beautifully filmed, deftly directed with a true understanding of the subject, and Cruise and Watanabe are brilliant.It just does not get any better than this (though I would have loved to see Viggo have Cruise's role!)

It’s an easy watch. A classic for Cruise. It is beautiful to watch, as the scenery is stunning. A great historical fiction.

On time and perfect . Great movie

item arrived fast and as described

There is a saying that, "if you don't see the Divine both in the profane as in the profound, then you are not seeing the whole picture." Although war certainly has it's horrors, the movie highlighted its beauty.At first I was debating between this movie and 47 Ronin (with Keanu Reeves), both about the Samurai. They were the same price (to rent), but Ronin's running time was 1 hour 58 minutes, whereas The Last Samurai's is 2 hours 34 minutes. Watching the trailer, though, convinced me to take a chance on The Last Samurai. SO GLAD I DID!Perhaps having been in the Marines, in an Artillery Unit (0811), served to pull me into the plot, and identify with it. I remember one time when we were on a mission and the Howitzer next to us flipped on its side because we were on uneven terrain. Both the gun crew to this Howitzer's right and left rushed over to help our fellow brothers. We then ran back to our own gun. The Officer commanding the mission paid us a visit. I was certain, to chew us out for leaving our guns. He actually commended us. Told us that that is exactly what makes us the best branch in the military. That we are men of honor.If any of you are on the fence in deciding whether to watch this movie because of its long running time, please don't allow that to be a factor. This movie is so well made that you won't even feel the duration. It will pull your heartstrings sharply and allow you to see the beauty of being human. No other living creature on our planet gives precedence to personality qualities like Honor, respect for tradition, for our fellow brothers and sisters, etc.I really can't say enough about this movie! The cinematography was breathtaking! The music played during the epic battle scene was eerily poetic and exquisite. How certain people could survive after such huge odds, especially after being at the very front of the approaching line, will beg for your suspension of disbelief. You will have to remind yourself that this is, after all, a movie. Yet, it was so beautifully made and executed that you will fall in love with its creative value. With the message it whispers into your soul.The message, at least for me, was that within us is the True Samurai, which is the Self. It is this that we must honor. And that with our very sharp sword of awareness, we must slay everything that stands in our way of achieving our purpose in this life. That if we must die in the process of such mission, that we must do so with honor. That we must never give up, no matter what the odds appear to be. That like the Samurai, we must be disciplined, well centered, peaceful, honorable, respectful, protective of those we cherish...This is truly one of the best and most beautiful movies that I have ever seen. I know that I will end up watching it again and again whenever I am in need of a boost, or a reminder of what is most important in life. When I need to sharpen my sword and slide it back into its sheath.

Dieser Film gehört für mich zu den Klassikern, obwohl mir natürlich klar ist dass es damals nicht SO zuging. Aber die Werte dieser unterschiedlichen Menschen werden wunderbar dargestellt.

La película ofrece un gran material de demostración de cine en casa. Las características especiales se presentan en sd y son las mismas que tiene el DVD. El empaque es lo que no me gustó, es ecológico muy delgado y frágil.Una recomendación fácil para los fans de la película y de Tom Cruise

I think Tom Cruise is a better actor than, for whatever reason, he's given credit for. And as unlikely as it sounds, he actually manages to make his transition in this film from Western mercenary to Japanese samurai work. Who knew?Cruise plays the part of a veteran of the so-called "Indian Wars" which were conducted by the U.S. Cavalry in the American southwest after the Civil War. He is clearly suffering from what now would be recognized as PTSD. Since he can find succour no where else, he drinks, a lot. Also, figuring he has nothing to lose & needs money to continue to keep himself in liquor, his character signs on as part of an American contingent of mercenaries hired by a Japanese magnate to help transform the Japanese military from the fiefdom of the samurai to a modern, Western-style army fighting with rifles instead of swords.As it turns out, Cruise is captured by the very Japanese warlord he was sent to help annihilate. As his captivity lengthens and Cruise is exposed to the culture of his captors, his transformation begins. Although this story covers some familiar ground & is burdened with more than a few cinematic cliches, Cruise & the other players in this tale make what happens still seem fresh. Remember what I said about Cruise being underrated as an actor.The battle sequences, as well as all of those having to do with Japanese locales, are very ably rendered. As well, the film is dealing with events that actually happened. When the Meiji Emperor was restored to effective rule, thereby ending centuries of rule by a Shogun who was always a member of the samurai elite, Japan embraced change with a vengeance, transforming their society from a feudal one ruled by the samurai to a nation that would humiliate & defeat Russia in 1905. The film does a more than credible job of explicating the differences between the feudal samurai code of Bushido & the modern, Western capitalist system of devil take the hindmost that was pushing to replace it. (As it turned out, the Japanese developed a hybrid system that emphasized the worst aspects of both credos.)This is a rollicking good tale that will provide some entertainment perhaps a little better than was expected.

Be aware that this review might gives some spoilers.I love this movie for several reasons. The first one is the reminding of the Wooden Knee massacre of December 29, 1980, were something like 150 Lakota American Indians man, women and even children were literally slaughtered by the US army, which is giving so much credibility to the main character played by Tom Cruise, a man destroyed by his guilt for having participated to the killing of those defenceless people. This reminder is also a link from the past and the present of the story where he is offered the invaluable chance of regaining his honor and healing from his wounds. The second reason why I enjoyed this movie so much is the effort from the producers in their attempt to create a story as true as possible of the real destiny and faith of the samurais, which is, as well, adding so much to the credibility of the story itself.This said, the picture and the landscapes are marvelous and the way they used to live in their country is presented in such a way that you can fell the serenity and the peace that surround them even in this particular trouble time of their evolution under the pressure of our modern world.It is a movie that touches the consciousness. It is also a movie of war and peace, of hate and love, and the story of a dying world that will never come back.A must.

On paper this movie is a little silly - a disenchanted white American war hero is recruited by the Japanese government to train soldiers and fight an insurgence of samurai warriors in the 1870's. But as the movie progresses, you begin to fall in love with the characters that are developed in depth and with great detail, and the story they tell is one that encompasses many emotions and subjects. I don't want to spoil anything, but one of my biggest takeaways from this film is the idea of the development of love and appreciation that can be born from something unknown or even feared. Tom Cruise is great in this movie - again, on paper the idea of him playing this character seems a little unfitting, but he does such a good job in this role and I think that's one of the biggest elements that makes the film so good overall. The music is also incredible and is one of the other elements that I think really helps to transport you to the place and time in which it is set. I honestly don't know if there is any historical significance or relevance to the story, but regardless, I highly recommend it!