THE
LAST SAMURAI
With Tom Cruise, Jo Jo Spangler, Billy Connolly, William Atherton
Directed by Edward Zwick
This sweeping big budget semi-epic deals with Nathan Algren, a washed-up
alcoholic US Army hero who gets employed to train Japanese soldiers
in the art of Western warfare during the 1870s. He is haunted by the
atrocities perpetuated upon the Native Americans. A faction of custom-bound
Samurai opposes the council who overpowers the decisions of the youthful
emperor. In a skirmish with the sword-wielding traditionalists, the
unprepared army is decimated and Algren is captured. With winter coming,
they keep him in their village until he can be returned. Taken in by
their leader's sister (whose husband was killed in the battle by his
hands), he learns of their traditions and sense of honour. He learns
their language, using a sword and obviously starts falling for the woman
of the man he slain. On returning he is expected to lead the now well
trained forces with modern weaponry to crush the resistant samurai.
He turns sides however and fights against the westernized forces. Some
busy fighting sequences and languid visual moments make this worth the
watch, but did not stir me as much as the filmmakers would have liked
me to (what with preemptive music and often obvious over-passionate
acting turn from Cruise). Rather check out a real Akira Kurosawa samurai
movie. (After this and Kill
Bill I'm sure the
sales in samurai swords are soaring).
3 / C
- PB
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