The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai - Review

"The Last Samurai" set in 1870s; this epic movie depicts the beginnings of the modernizations of Japan. A Civil War veteran, Captain Nathan Algren, (Tom Cruise) is hired by the Emperor Meiji to train Japanese troops for fight with the samurai, Katsumoto, (Ken Watanabe) who wants to stay in the Meiji's way because all the new staff that America wants to bring to Japan such as railroads and telegraph now threaten those values and codes by which Samurai have lived and died for centuries. When Captain Algren is captured by the samurai, he learns their warrior honor codes from Katsumoto. Also, in this village Captain meets a family whose husband he killed in the battle. He becomes very close to the children and the woman. But then he understands that he needs to decide on which side he actually wants to be on.

The title of the movie is "The Last Samurai." The movie represents the end of an era, when the destiny of two nations, Japan and the US, depends on life of one man: An American Civil War veteran, Captain Nathan Algren. The director of the movie is Edward Zwick. He also set movies such as "Glory" and "Legend of the Fall." After he saw the "Seven Samurai" he always wanted to make a movie about Japanese culture and this film led him on the course of becoming a filmmaker. In this movie there are many famous actors. Tom Cruise plays the role of Captain Algren and he is also the producer of the movie. He played in movies such as "Interview with the Vampire," "Jerry Maguire," "Magnolia," and many more. Ken Watanabe plays the role of the last samurai, Katsumoto. He plays in movies "The Sun Rises Again," "Oboreru Sakana," and such. Koyuki plays Taka, the sister of Katsumoto, the only female role in the whole movie. There are also actors Timothy Spall, (Simon Craham), Tony Goldwyn, (Col.Bagley), Hiroxuko Sanado, (Ujio), Shin Koyamada, (Nobutado), and more. The company it was released by is Warner Brothers. The movie was released in 2003. It has four stars and it is R rated.

The summary of the movie. Captain Algren is hired by the Japanese Emperor. When he arrives to Japan, he starts to train Japanese troops for the battle with the samurai because samurai don't want Japan to Westernize. In the first fight Alger is captured by Katsumoto, the leader of the samurai, and taken to his village. He lives at Katsumoto sister's house whose husband he killed in the battle. Algren becomes close with the kids, Katsumoto and starts to learn the samurai's way to live, their values and warrior honor codes. He understands that the samurai are the people who he once was. Before he met Katsumoto he always had dreams, which you probably would call nightmares about his past battles in the US but after he knew the culture of samurai they disappeared. After the winter finished Katsumoto released Algren. When he sees all the soldiers and new weapons he decided on what side he is going to