Sunday, December 14, 2003
The Last Samurai (2003)
Cast: Ken Watanabe (Katsumoto), Tom Cruise (Nathan Algren)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Last Samurai page.
Considering all the Oscar buzz surrounding Master and Commander, I didn't expect The Last Samurai to be better than it, but I think The Last Samurai should be getting the Oscar buzz instead. I was very impressed with this movie.
I think Tom Cruise did a great job learning all he had to know to play Nathan Algren in this movie about a US military advisor who embraces the Samurai culture when he is captured in battle. The Last Samurai is a very moving story with beautiful scenery and amazing costumes.
This glimpse inside the world of the Samurai was very interesting, even if it might not be totally accurate. I would have no way of knowing how accurate it is, since I know very little about the Samurai culture, but it seemed believable to me.
Grade: ALabels: 2003, action, adventure, drama, Ken Watanabe, movie, Tom Cruise, war