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Last Samurai

In a season filled with unbelievable plotlines and mind-numbing action, Tom Cruise's, The Last Samurai, surprisingly arises emotions rarely felt by moviegoers. The Last Samurai is a film that brings back the cinematic excellence most often lost in the fluff of films of today.

Adapted for the screen by its director, Edward Zwick (Legends of the Fall), The Last Samurai tells the story of Nathan Algren, a washed up American Captain sent to Japan to Americanize their army for an upcoming war against the Samurais. This mysterious sword-wielding army defeats Algren's ill-prepared solders and Katsumoto, the leader of the Samurais, takes him captive. At first, Algren is a prisoner, but this ancient culture that he once battled against has now become a way of life that he fights to save.

Every angle of this film is masterfully executed to produce an unforgettable work of cinematic art. Each actor takes their character and makes it their own. Algren's struggle to overcome the demons from his days on the battlefield is perfectly played out by Tom Cruise. When Cruise is on the screen, he transforms himself into a complicated man who finds peace in the Samurai culture. But it was Japanese actor, Ken Watanabe's performance, as Katsumoto, that added tear-jerking emotional depth to the film. Even when he is not speaking, his eyes reveal an unexplainable truth in the art of the Samurai. Watanabe's performance was flawless in making both his character and the film a memorable masterpiece.

Zwick carries a special trait that most directors often ignore after the camera stops rolling. It is evident that Zwick sees the importance of the film's music. Each scene is successfully looped with instrumentals that evoke emotion from not only the film and its characters, but also the audience. This is not the first time Zwick has paid close attention to the film's soundtrack. His directorial work on both Glory and Legends of the Fall reflect his use of musical composition to raise the bar on American cinema. Zwick understands the needs of the audience and gives us a film to which we can relate and be proud.

Samurai will reaffirm your faith in the quality of American cinema. Zwick gives us a movie that emotionally impacts our lives and lingers in our mind for days to come.

Written by: Emily Assad

Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 8.36
Reader's Votes: 14

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