THE LAST SAMURAI - MOVIE REACTION - FIRST TIME WATCHING
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 бер 2023
- Today we are watching The Last Samurai! Enjoy!
Subscribe for weekly reaction videos! Leave a comment for what movies or shows you want to see next.
MY PATREON (polls, full length reactions, and more!): / addiecounts
MY INSTAGRAM: addie_counts
Check out my gear!
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from using the links below.)
My Sony ZV-1 Camera: amzn.to/3VHR3eq
My Sony ZV-1 Camera + Vlogger Accessory Kit: amzn.to/3CdJFR5
My JBL Live 660NC Headphones: amzn.to/3Z8kLME
My Blue Yeti Nano Microphone: amzn.to/3X2sOIX
My Sunpak Tripod: amzn.to/3i2krP7
My Elgato Key Light Air: amzn.to/40Aqbkw
My Neon Sign: amzn.to/3Gwxv8H
My LED Color Changing Light Bulb: amzn.to/3VKYKR3
Amazon Prime Free Trial: amzn.to/3GBmfrq
Prime Video Free Trial: amzn.to/3GyX9JN
A HUGE THANK YOU to my top tier Patreon members! This would not be possible without you:
Aaron Chandler, Akadin, Alex Tan, Andre Agog, Atomos, Benjamin Hall, Billy Dancel, Brian, Calvin Coderre, Cameron Munier, carbsix, Charles G, Chip MC, Christopher Scaparo, Clayton D. Salisbury, Colin Sullivan, David Bennett, Demitrius Stone, deskmerc, Edmund Dantes, Evan Coleman, Gary Davidson, Gcvftw, Greg, hapomwak, Isaiah Mesa, Israel, Jason Schuler, Jeremy Ford, Jim Schmitz, Jon Johns, Justin, Kirk Andrew Uhl II, Lord Byron, Lorenzo Baxter, Lorni23, Lou, Mark Dahlen, Martin Björling, Mathew Bunch, Michael Turpin, Michael Wilson, Nathan Swapp, Nicholas Smith, Nick, Nicolas, Noby, Ron McGuirk, Sammy Ekker, Scott Hiester Jr., Skyefriday, Sondre Stokka, Sonny Smith, Stokes King of the Monsters, Thexx, Thomas, Thomas Amann, tmazon, Todd the Evil Overlord, Tony Sanson, Torrence Chrisman. Victor Vrignaud, and Vidal (BillyG!) Gomez Jr!
*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.
I have no intent on claiming this footage as my own. I am simply providing commentary and constructive feedback. - Розваги
This is truly one of the greatest films I’ve seen. The music, directing, acting, cinematography… great. Katsumoto’s last line “Perfect… They’re all perfect” ALWAYS gets me, no matter how many times I watch.
I believe also the perfect line is also was the final line he used for his poem. He was struggling to finish the Poem earlier after the second ninja battle. I believe from other comments and research, the perfect line was his ending to the poem.
@Archangel 0092 one could spend his whole life looking for the perfect blossom and never find it.... its an analogy for the warrior finding the perfect death with honor
they're all perfect.... dying for the right cause is honorable..m all warrior deaths are perfect
And the actor and actress who played the Samurai (the children, Taka, the General, Omura, the Meiji Emperor...) are Japanese, Ken Watanabe, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shin Koyamada, Seizō Fukumoto, Koyuki Katō, Sōsuke Ikematsu, Masato Harada, Shichinosuke Nakamura, Togo Igawa.
I totally agree
It really is. I think everything in this movie just WORKS. Period. And one of the most emotionally affecting movies I've seen.
During the end of the final battle, with Katsumotos death and all, just breaks me into crying every damn time.
It's hard to make a decisive top 3 of my favorite movies of all time. But The Last Samurai will always be in it.
If you were curious, the Samurai that he referred to as "Bob" was ordered to protect him the entire time. As they said when he showed up "you cannot escape". Bob was actually following him around to make sure nobody else in the village tried to hurt or kill him out of vengeance. So when he takes the bullet for him, he was simply doing what Katsumoto told him to do; protect Algren. He followed his orders to the death. As they say, Samurai means "to serve", and that is exactly what Bob did.
Wonderfully played by the late Seizo Fukumoto, who has been in over 20.000 movies and a master at kirareyaku, being the person losing a fight and dying dramatically.
@@agp11001 That's cool. Thanks for sharing.
RIP Seizō Fukumoto whom died 1 January 2021 from a liver cancer.
I believe his job was also to protect the people of the village from Algren as well, as they couldn't be sure of how he would act at first. Over time, they became genuine friends.
"If your shame is too unbearable..." is such a good line.
There's a lot of people that should take that advice 😜
Death poems were a big thing in Japan throughout history.
Katsumoto told Algren he was having trouble finishing the poem he was writing. Later in the final battle, Algren tells him a man does what he can until his destiny is revealed to him. Katsumoto's final words "Perfect. They are all perfect," are the final stanza of the poem. It was a haiku, and ended up being his death poem. He was unable to finish it until his destiny to die on the battlefield was revealed to him.
Omg how did i not realize this? The final line fits the last line for the poem!
People will not know this.
I think it's my favorite tom cruise movie.
His acting is sublime in it. The casting overall amazing. Camera, lighting and music top notch. And its a wonderful story too.
It was always my favourite Tom Cruise movie, and until recently my second favourite movie of all time. Last time I watched it, I moved it up to number one.
I think it’s my favorite Cruise performance because (with the exception of Tropic Thunder for different reasons), it’s the only one where he completely becomes his character in my mind.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great actor, but like Will Smith & Tom Hanks (also great actors, but they share the “problem” for me), I’m almost always watching “Tom Cruise” in whatever context his characters are in.
But here, he IS Nathan Algren
This is my favorite Tom Cruise movie and one of my favorite all time movies ever
I agree this is a better movie overall, but I think I still prefer Tom Cruise's performance in Interview with the Vampire. He just makes such a great bad guy.
Ken Watanabe was maginificent as well as the others. I cannot ever SEE him as anything but a Samurai Leader with great Wisdom
Dude is a legend, and I'm always happy to see him, but it's not like he doesn't play this type of role of a wise Japanese leader a lot.
This emotions in this movie decidedly creep up on people, it's a testament to the film makers how impactful the movie is. Not just the end, but consistently throughout it. Loved the reaction, Addie!
This is one of them rare films that will make grown men tear up . Such a beautiful movie .
It's not that rare.
@@JakkFrost1 party pooper
I know I did!
@@JakkFrost1 not the movie I’m sayin there’s not a lot of movies that will make grown men cry
Katsumoto at the beginning: " The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life."
Katsumoto seeing the blossoms at the end: "Perfect. They are all perfect."
When I saw this pop-up, I was just like, "Hope Addie had tissues handy." I've watched this dozens of times; never fails to break me the entire second half of the movie. Beautifully written, acted, and directed film with one of my favorite film scores of all time that just adds to the emotion of every scene.
The ending gets me everytime, I was honestly tearing up a bit throughout this video because of how sad this movie really is.
Honestly?
I never trust people who have to specify when they're being honest.
This is a good movie. It's emotionally moving. I definitely cried. That battle is so tragic. I wish Katsumoto had lived. I've always been fascinated by Japanese culture. Especially samurai since I've been told there was samurai on my mom's side of the family. I plan to research this more.
My great grandfather was Japanese and came to Canada. He married an English woman in 1917.
I can only imagine the racism/discrimination they sadly faced regularly as mixed couple in that era.
I'm very proud to have descended from such brave people, and hope to vist Japan soon.
My favorite scene is when Ujio keeps beating up Nathan in the rain because he wouldn't drop the wooden sword. Everyone watching including Taka and Koyamada was seeing the resolve of Nathan's character and they were internally satisfied that this was the type of man able to defeat Hirotaro, Taka's husband.
The actor (I forgot his name) who plays Ujio was in last years' "Bullet Train"- a must watch if you haven't seen it yet.
@@phila3884 he also played Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion in 2021’s ‘Mortal Kombat’.
@@phila3884 The actor is Hiroyuki Sanada. He's also in the latest John Wick.
@Ian Jenn that's a fantastic observation, but it's also more than that. As a former Infantryman myself, what I see of Algren in that scene is a man desperate to feel pain because he feels he deserves it, and also wanting his pain to go away (which is why he drinks). Whether he was knocked out or died in the wooden stick fight didn't matter to him; it's a form of self-flagellation to continue getting up knowing he'll be struck hard and knocked down again. Yet, I think after that is also when he realizes that continuing to feel pain is miserable, he should get back up to make sure that he can stand proudly and do what he can to atone instead of being selfish and wallowing in his despair and depression. This movie is incredibly powerful.
The end of the final battle is - and always will be - both beautiful and heart-wrenching.
I absolutely love the way the cherry blossoms come full circle. The very first words Katsumoto speaks to Algren are "The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your whole life searching for one and it would not be a wasted life." and then the final words he speaks to him are, as the realization dawns on him, "Perfect... they are all perfect" A wonderful callback that Ken Watanabe absolutely nails. The many historical inaccuracies aside this movie is still easily within my top 5 and without a doubt my favorite Tom Cruise movie, the second being Interview with a Vampire which you should also check out if you haven't. That one also has a tiny Kyrsten Dunst doing a stellar job for a child actor.
Side note, this movie is based very loosely on the Satsuma rebellion that followed the Meiji Restoration; Omura is based on one of the Three Great Nobles who fought to restore the Emperor to power and overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate, a Samurai named Okubo Toshimichi, and Katsumoto is based on another of the Three Great Nobles named Saigo Takamori. Believe it or not they were actually allies during that time but they had very different visions on what Japan should become after and if it makes you feel any better Omura's real life counterpart got assassinated in the street by seven former Samurai for his perceived betrayal of the the Satsuma Samurai following this rebellion(Okubo was also from Satsuma) so there's that at least.
One of my all time favourite films. I'm pretty sure it was the first film to make me cry as well. Literally the perfect film in my eyes.
Words can never describe how much I love this movie and the Japanese culture. I spent quite a bit of time while in the Navy in Japan and fell in love with everything about it. They have a truly fascinating and beautiful culture. Not to mention all the history and traditions that go back thousands of years.
Words can definitely describe it, you just need to expand your vocabulary.
This story has been told in other movies in different contexts, in Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas and Avatar, it's basically the same story, a soldier begins to meet his enemy and falls in love with his people and their culture, in such a way that he turns against his own army.
@@OriginalPuro relax edgelord
@@OriginalPuroidk about vocabulary but hollow points expand on impact
Nobutada going out like a warrior always get to me. He gave his life up so his father could keep the rebellion going. Dying for something bigger than himself.
This movie is a masterpiece in my eyes. It has a great cast who do a terrific job. The location/cinematography, the music and overall background sounds, the pacing, everything just makes this movie flow so well. And boy is this movie emotional as hell. It's a deep movie and more about holding on to the past than it is a war movie. I love this movie.
yes you are totally correct.
A friend made a neat observation about this movie when it came out. It honors the traditions of both American and Japanese movies of the time, especially action movies. The Japanese main characters all had good deaths, while the American main character survived everything.
That's very interesting the American was not aristocracy but the samurai was
This movie is a classic, it will be one of the 'greats' years to come.
My favorite scene is during the battle when Ujio charges in on his horse, gets dismounted and then proceeds to dispatch several enemies in the span of seconds. The amount of inspirational badassery from that character alone is enormous.
I like Hiroyuki Sanada...he always brings authenticity to samurai or any bad ass roles.
Already one of my 3 favorite movies.
The one thing I love above all else in this movie is the way the music keeps building towards the last charge, with heroic, epic, and romantic music. And then right before the Gatling gun starts, the music just stops. And then sad music starts. Technology reducing heroism and bravery.
If this movie came out in the last decade, it would have won Best Picture almost any year. It's truly one that you can watch over and over and over. Just a masterpiece. I think it's Tom Cruise's best performance, beyond Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, Rain Man, Top Gun, etc.
I still hold his performance in Born on the Fourth of July as the best one, it's well worth a watch if you haven't seen it. :)
Such an excellent movie in so many ways.
For me this one is definitely the best Tom Cruise movie, one of my favourite of all time, and also one of my favourite movie scores from Hans Zimmer!! So underrated, its so filled with emotions and goes so well with the movie
This is one of my absolute favorite movies. I've always loved Japanese culture and this just cemented it even more. It's is an amazingly moving work of art on every level. And yeah, the music is breathtaking. Hans Zimmer is the man.
This movie is based on the true story 'Satsuma Rebellion' and the character of KATSUMOTO is based on Saigō Takamori (The last samurai) and the character of NATHAN ALGREN is based on a French officer named Jules Brunet.
Bob is the embodiment of the saying:
"Beware the old man,
In a profession where most die young."
Beautiful reaction Addie. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe were both phenomenal.
This is one of my moms favourite movies, I remember her watching it when I was but a wee lad and never really understood why till I got older... This movie is a masterpiece and everyone should watch it! The story, the character development, the emotional roller coaster, learning from one another and learning for yourself about others rather than believing everything you are told. Most of all the honor and respect that is developed in this movie is fantastic. This movie makes me so emotional it surprises me every time.
One of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Such a good story, such good music, I cry every time.
Emperor's voice breaks when he says unified Japan. Great acting. 38:29
Beautiful movie. Beautiful reaction. Thank you! 🤗
Perfect timing reacting to this one, as he cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Tokyo right now.
This movie hits me so hard every time.
Thanks for the video Addie, I needed a good movie this morning. 😊
This is probably TCs best film. He has also won and been nominated for acting awards:
Born on the Fourth of July,
A Few Good Men,
Jerry Maguire, Magnolia.
This film was beautifully made. When I saw this as a 19-year old student in Liverpool in 2003/4, I loved it immediately. Thee part that got me the most, was when Taka asked him to wear Hirotoro's armor and then held him. Am so glad you enjoyed it too Addie. If you like historical films (although this is not accurate) - I would encourage you to watch Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor" (1987). That will blow your mind.
Great reaction, it's definitely one of my favourite films of all time.
The music. The MUSIC. The best Hans Zimmer score in my opinion.
I missed this the first time I watched this film (years ago). The samurai achieve what the Greeks did at Thermopylae: They battled until the other side lost the taste for battle.
One of the best movies ever made, so many great moments, and it will always make me cry.
"I will tell you how he lived" hits me in the gut every time.
Incredible music, incredible acting and incredible writing. This movie is one the the few that ALWAYS makes me cry. However many times I watch it, I can always connect and feel empathy towards the characters. Hans Zimmer hit the ball of the country and into a new one with his score.
this movie tears at the heart strings so much. I cant put my finger why you connect so much with these characters, but you do such a great picture. glad you got to experience it. looking forward to the next one :D
My favourite movie. First time I watched it I didn't know anything about Japan. Since then I decided to study international relations in Asia and can't wait to go there.
Hiroyuki Sanada is a very underrated actor as well. Played a good villain in Rush Hour 3. Also was hilarious in Bullet Train (2022). 😂
That scene in the rain is one of my favorites. He demonstrated one of the tenants of Bushido: Courage. He kept getting back up and if you notice, he did better each time before getting knocked to the ground.
it's easy to forget just how good this movie is, but then you watch it again and are once again in awe
This is one movie that was released in my 38 years here, is in my top 10 maybe even top 5 movies. It's a trope that has been done before (see dances with wolves) but this story in particular just holds dear to me.
A true 10 out of 10
I love this movie, Watanabe is incredible, and Cruise is good too in this one.
Watanabe is a powerhouse, Sanada is awesome as always, and Seizo Fukumoto as Bob, an absolute legend.
@@agp11001 Bob ! ❤
30:27 Watch this scene again. That extra just got kicked by the horse and they kept going. Legend.
39:10 One of my absolute favourite lines from any film.
Huh, as many times as I've watched this film I never noticed this. Hell, took 3 or 4 rewinds to notice it after you pointed it out.
anyone who isnt at least teary eyed at the end is not human!
Each time I see this movie, I have tears in my eyes.
The way Tom and Tanaka made love without making love, it's the most romantic thing I've ever seen. Good reaction. 😊
"I will miss... our conversations." 😭😭😭
One of the best tom cruise movies ever. The one thing a parent should never have to do is bury a child. So seeing the son sacrifice himself for the parent is an emotional one.
Heyyy, it's Billy and here are my comments.
To the other followers. I'm not making fun of Addie. We're trying to see if others will start their comments "Heyyy, it's ......."
This is a magnificent movie of the Samurai. The history, the dedication, the portrayal, etc. It does the story of the Samurai justice. I've seen interviews from both the cast and historians who praised it.
The cinematography and the costume designs are like additional characters. Simply stunning.
I look forward to whatever will be coming soon.
Take care, Addie!!
when Last Samurai was released in theaters kept hearing that it wasn’t that good, or Tom Cruise has done better, so on and so forth, but can’t understand why cause when I finally saw it I was blown away…really feel like this is one of his best films, and Ken Watanabe was a fantastic co-star as well
That's the greatest robbery of all human history, that Ken Watanabe didn't receive the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor that year. He truly stole the show, amazing acting performance.
One of the best films ever made. Powerful and real. Hits me every time. The soundtrack is sooo good.
One thing about being a soldier no matter what nationality you are is that you fight as long as you have blood or ammo, you are still in the fight until the very end. Huuah, Essayons, Sappers lead the way!
Addie, if you like samurai stuff and animation, a REALLY underappreciated, but very well done movie is Kubo and the Two Strings. Please put that on your list!
That performance by the Japanese actress Koyuki was one of the finest I've ever seen for someone who didn't have a lot of dialogue. her facial expressions were unbelievably perfect
This and The Edge of Tomorrow are my favorite movies with Tom Cruise. I'm not a big fan of most of his work, but those two remind me how talented he actually is, and I highly recommend both to all who appreciate cinema!
Edge of Tommorrow is just Starship Troopers + Groundhog Day, deeply overrated film, unoriginal with gaping plot holes. Cruise is much better in American Made which is criminally underrated and underseen.
Genuinely awesome reaction. Love the content, keep it up!
"What is it about your own people that you hate so much?" First thing crossed my mind as a possible answer to this question was "Look in a mirror."
“Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.” Duke of Wellington.
2 other movies I highly recommend if you have not seen them yet: Little Big Man (1974) with a very young Dustin Hoffman, and Dances With Wolves (1990) with Kevin Costner.
It's actually based around a true event. Tom Cruise's character is based upon a Frenchman who joined up with the Samurai.
“Tell me. How he died”
“I tell You. How he lived”
I like this conversation.
Best, most underrated Tom Cruise film in my oppinion. "I will tell you how he lived!" Never get's old.
Excellent reaction, Addie. Perfect timing for the film's 20th anniversary this year. I enjoyed watching this movie. It was so well done, from Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to John Toll's cinematography in Panavision (anamorphic). I even own this movie on DVD in Widescreen (2.39:1) format, which is how I watched it. Seeing Nathan Algren bond with the children and Taka was very sweet and the deaths of Katsumoto and his son Nobutada were heartbreaking. BTW, I also enjoyed seeing Ollie appear in this video because it reminds me of when Titus used to hop onto the bed in the background in your earlier videos and offer you his feedback.
...and if you have seen the Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006), then Shin Koyamada, who played Shen, is in this one. He plays Katsumodo's son, Nobutada.
Speaking of Edward Zwick, who directed this movie, I also suggest Glory (1989), Legends of the Fall (1994), Courage Under Fire (1996), The Siege (1998), Blood Diamond (2006), and Defiance (2008).
28:22, that shows you how powerful Hans Zimmer's music is.
You had a perfect reaction to this, Addie. I saw this in theatre when it released. I cried. Pick up the soundtrack, you will not regret it. Thank you for this.
Some of my generation's most popular actors shared the screen and gained fame in the American classic, "The Outsiders". Pretty sure it was Tom's breakout role.
I love that movie, I watched it shortly after reading the book, and thought they did a great job capturing the feeling and tone of the book.
Great review as always, this one gets me every time also. The dying in battle being an honor part still exists today.
I don't think you could generally characterize Tom Cruise's movies as beautiful. This is the exception. I'm glad you listened to the suggestions. Arigatou gozaimasu, Addie, for your reaction.
I've just found your channel through the last of us and I'm loving your reactions. This is my tie for number 1 movie ever made and I'm so glad you've seen this masterpiece. Have an awesome weekend
Great reaction.
Although this is not a historical movie, it is inserted in an actual period of Japan, when after centuries of being closed to the outside world and regionally managed by shoguns, they had to re-unify under the leadership of an inexperienced emperor, while receiving the pressure of several countries trying to make commercial and military treaties.
This is one of my favorite movies. The scenography, the story, the score, being a martial arts practitioner, the way they describe the samurai village is fascinating to me.
I have a theory: When Taka went to talk to Katsumoto asking to remove Cap. Algren from her house, she was not hating him for killing her husband. She was falling for him, and being with a gaigin (foreigner) against their traditions, she wanted to remove the temptation, but she was not willing to admit to her brother that she was falling for Algren.
I must have seen this movie 20 or 30 times... I still cry like a baby for half the movie EVERY time
This movie is fiction but is inspired by real events... they added an "american captain" because Hollywood... but that's how we can witness this story, through his eyes, so I think it's ok.
The character Katsumoto is based on a samurai called Saigo, his rebellion was known as the Satsuma Rebellion and the last battle where they all died was the Battle of Shiroyama. This battle was pretty much like in the movie, 500 samurai against the Imperial Army, the difference was 60 to 1. First there was a huge combat, a big massacre, and finally the last charge of the remaining 40 samurai who ended up dying under a rain of bullets. This was the end of the samurai and people start calling Saigo "The Last Samurai".
Really great movie, in my opinion this is the best Tom Cruise film.
P. S.
There is a band called Sabaton they have a song about this historical events, the song is called "Shiroyama", maybe if you're interested you can listen to it.
DeepCut Cruise, Mads - so up your alley. Very few films manage to capture honor thru epic storytelling. This one nails it. Keep digging into Tom's career - many gems out there.
This story has been told in other movies in different contexts, in Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas and Avatar, it's basically the same story, a soldier begins to meet his enemy and falls in love with his people and their culture, in such a way that he turns against his own army. It's obviously an attractive story because people like it.
It's not that dying in battle is glorious,but that death in service and duty is the highest of honors for your ideals and principles.
This is how to do a historically inspired movie. It does a fantastic job respecting history while also adding some Hollywood to it.
This movie does the unthinkable. It takes its time and never rushes anything. Easily top 5 movies of all time, with LOTR taking 3 of the other spots.
The scene where the army kneels in respect gets me every time.
I love this movie so much and I find myself watching it over and over again because of how well done it was. It is so beautiful and yet so sad all in one and the line 'they are all perfectl' that was said in the end about the flowers is one that sticks with me even to this day because it's so beautiful in it's meaning. I love Timothy spall here as well but then again he's just a talented actor so no surprise there. The Semurai were nobal people who fought for their king and what the ex semurai was doing is dying with honor because he discraced his oath and lost his honor in the eyes of the Semurai. it's called Hara-Kiri and it is when the Semurai takes his own life with his dagger and then his head is cut off by a fellow Semurai warrior to resore his honor in a way. I love how they show that Tom's character 'sees' his enemy's moves before they make it and reacts accordingly by the different options and the best way to get out of it alive. The love story was also beautiful to me and in the end all those deaths were not for nothing. Lovely reaction as always and I am glad you liked the movie.
Hey Addie...
This is one of the most beautiful films about Japan and its history ever...that wasn't made by a Japanese filmmaker.
- Emperor Meiji was very young when he ascended the throne, and it was during his reign (the Meiji Restoration) that saw the Emperor changed from being a figurehead with no political or martial power, to being the main political and military leader of Japan, much like Emperors in other parts of the world, especially the West. His reign led to the events that shaped the first half of the 20th century culminating with the horrors of World War II, and thereafter the second half when Japan became one of the most dominant economic powers in the world.
- Sergent Gant is played by the brilliant Scottish stand-up comedian Billy Connolly, who has made some amazing dramatic films since the 1990s like 'Mrs. Brown', 'The Boondock Saints' movies, as well as doing voice work for Disney's 'Brave'. He's one of my favorite stand-up comedians.
- 7:36 - General Hasegawa is committing seppuku (ritual suicide), a way by which a samurai regains their honor after being defeated at the hands of the enemy. Katsumoto has a place of honor, taking Hasegawa's head to minimize the suffering Hasegawa is feeling. As Katsumoto says later, it was his honor to do so.
- There are so many wonderful Japanese actors in this film...one of my favorites is Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays Ujio. He's the one who hates Algren and then comes to respect him toward the end. The fight between Algren and Ujio that ends in a draw with wooden swords is one of my favorite scenes. Sanada has since been in 'Avengers: Endgame', and is currently in 'John Wick, Chapter 4' as the manager of the Continental in Japan...and will be in the FX series 'Shogun' based on the James Clavell novel playing the role of Yoshi Toranaga, a role played in the 1980s by the legendary Toshiro Mifune (star of many of Akira Kurosawa's films in the 1950s and 60s).
- Tony Goldwyn, who plays Colonel Bagley, is a tried and true actor in villain roles. He is also Hollywood royalty as his paternal grandfather was Samuel Goldwyn, who was one of the original movie moguls (Metro Goldwyn Mayer), and his maternal grandfather was screenwriter Sidney Howard (Oscar-winner for 'Gone With The Wind'). Tony was in 'Ghost' with Patrick Swayze, and voiced Tarzan in the Disney animated film.
- Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto...the man is a revelation and a gift the film gives us. He has made many other American films like 'Inception', 'Batman Begins', 'Memoirs of a Geisha', and 'Letters From Iwo Jima'. He also appeared on Broadway in the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I' in 2015, earning a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for The King...and the production is available on video. Probably my favorite King since the original actor Yul Brynner.
Tony Goldwyn, if I'm not mistaken, actually played a good guy in "Kuffs" with Christian Slater. One of my dad's favorite movies, and as a result, a movie I've seen a bunch of times. Never seen a reaction to it though.
I wish there where more period piece movies about the samurai and this area of eastern culture. Tom always pulls out a good performance when he plays against the standard action hero type. Watch him in Collateral (2004) or Edge of Tomorrow (2014).
Well, there's always Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.
I agree with your 2 picks but if I may add a third one..........Oblivion (2013)
Born on the Fourth of July is another good Tom Cruise movie, where he is not the usual action hero type. Well, he starts out as one in the movie, but later on, not so much.
I love this film. And I love films like this in general. "The Patriot," "Glory," "Dances with Wolves," "Saving Private Ryan," etc. (And the Lord of the Rings movies, if you count them in this genre. I don't)
I'm not generally a fan of Tom Cruise, but I did like "Edge of Tomorrow" and "A Few Good Men" very much.
34:52 “‘Til the dawn they hold on,
Only 40 are left at the end,
None alive, none survive,
Shiroyama.”
- “Shiroyama” by Sabaton (Swedish metal band whose songs are inspired by true stories throughout the entire history of war and conflict).
The Last Samurai is a loosely based adaptation of the last stand of the Samurai, led by Saigo Takamori (who the character of Katsumoto is based upon), at the battle of Shiroyama. As depicted in the movie, the Samurai were indeed all defeated. “Samurai” in the title is plural, the “last samurai” were the warriors who fought to the death at the end.
The character of Nathan Algren is inspired by a separate story, that of French soldier Jules Brunet, who went to Japan to help modernise the Shogun army, who in the end were overthrown. When ordered to leave Japan, Brunet refused, resigned from his rank as captain and stayed to fight alongside the Shogun.
Many samurai transitioned just fine into the Meiji era, putting down their swords or becoming police officers or officials for the government, but the samurai that wanted to keep their power, rebelled and were not the good guys. They had power over the people and were warlords, they didn’t want to give it up. Notice the scene when they come into town and all the people are scared of them, that is not without reason, they didn’t mind killing anyone that defied them or stood in their way. This movie does romanticize the samurai and portray them quite incorrectly, but it is a great movie regardless.
I’ve seen Top Gun Maverick 49 times in theaters and I still say The Last Samurai is my Favorite Tom Cruise film.
*Another GREAT TC film to watch is A Few Good Men!*
Remember that they said that the Japanese general was also a Samurai? He was dishonored because of the use of firearms and because he lost the battle as well, so the only way to recover his honor was to perform the ritual suicide. It's called Seppuku*: the Samurai cuts his belly open to prove that he deserves his honor back. An assistant Samurai immediately cuts his head off in order to prevent that the dying one makes any noises of pain, and it was considered a highly honorable duty to do that.
* You may have heard about this ritual as hara-kiri, but that expression is only used by Westerns.
still one of my favorite filmscores of all time
Glad you got to see this one. Tom Cruise has been in so many of my favorite movies, such as: Minority Report, A Few Good Men, Collateral, and of course the Mission Impossible franchise. It's one of those times it's really rare for me to see a film of his and not like it or it be one of my favorite films as I've gone through his filmography. But this film, I think, is my favorite film he's been involved in. Edward Zwick is also someone else who rarely ever misses the mark for me, so it's just a perfect melding.
Of course the story is nothing new, it's one of the main types of stories, but it's done so well and it's so rich in many other regards, it doesn't matter. Such a great film and definitely in my top 10 of all time. Hopefully you get into more of Cruise or Zwick's filmography.
Another excellent film from Edward Zwick. One of the most underrated directors ever. Check out Glory, Legends of the Fall and Courage Under Fire. All great films.
If you want to see more Tom Cruise... there is a LOT to choose from, but I'd recommend the "Mission Impossible" series. Lots of action!
I really like him in his earlier stuff, Magnolia, Vanilla Sky, Rainman.
Nah. Tropic Thunder is peak Cruise
Edge of Tomorrow is definitely underrated in my opinion.
@@joshritz7067 +++
@@gfwinn and Oblivion
If you want to convince a soldier not to fear death, you make him believe death in battle is a good thing. The Vikings did the same thing. And this movie uses beautiful cinematography and majestic music combined with this truly magnificent storyline to really pull the tears out of you. Truly a powerful movie.
Slight difference, for the Vikings, dying in battle itself was enough. They didn't care much about why they might have been fighting.
For samurai, dying for an honorable reason/cause was the goal. If that wasn't possible, then ritual self unaliving to restore lost honor.
@@JakkFrost1 Mostly true. For Vikings, even dying in an attempt to raid your neighbor for goods was still seen as honorable. It's the definition of what is considered "honorable" that separates them.
@@erichebert5824 yeah, I didn't mean to imply that Vikings didn't have their own concept of honor, just that, to the best of my limited knowledge, it wasn't a driving factor in their desire to die in battle.