The Last Samurai

At times I felt like I was walking in a Japanese garden to the sounds of koto and shakuhachi, at times I was swept away by the whirlwind of the fights and appreciated their great choreography. Visually, this film is flawless, the scenery (New Zealand is a really beautiful part of the world, filming there was an idea worth all the yen) is stunning, and the final battle is a truly believable uncompromising carnage. Who was definitely a pleasant surprise was Cruise. He finally broke away from his typical overacting and seemed natural in his role. A full scoring is hampered by the minutes after the final battle. That battle had a great emotional charge, the ride of the samurai against the machine gun fire gave me chills, but the subsequent clichés and excessive pathos were a shame. Otherwise, no complaints. Interesting fact: The Last Samurai was the most successful film of the year in Japan, grossing more than in the US. The chosen theme and the Japanese actors worked wonders. (16/08/2004)

Though formulaic in the Hollywood manner, The Last Samurai is a beautifully made movie in which nothing surprises you, but which will make you feel like you are in heaven. It’s obvious how much care the filmmakers put into it. Including Edward Zwick. Whatever the scene, it’s either beautifully poetic harmony or agile force of action. Tom Cruise is better suited to his role than you would expect and Hans Zimmer’s music adds incredible power to the fight sequences, significantly more than those in Gladiator. Incidentally, The Last Samurai is in every respect a better, more well-rounded film that elicits more legitimate tears from viewers at the end. (18/12/2003)

The great Japanese cast and samurai lifestyle definitely led me to award the full number of stars. In most movies Tom Cruise's personality would eclipse all supporting actors. But he failed to do so here, since the quality of the Japanese actors is still a bit above him. Content-wise, I find everything I’m looking for here...honor, peace, war, love, friendship. And even though it's a war movie, I also find lots of balance here. And you don’t see that often. A beautiful experience. 5 stars. (12/09/2011)

From poetic shots of the beautiful landscape of New Zealand to the thrilling final 20 minutes, everything is just as it should be in a Hollywood blockbuster. What's more, even though it is an American film, it doesn't look as American as it might seem at first glance, and Edward Zwick's tribute to the art of the Samurai is admirable. Tom Cruise is stunning, his portrayal of Nathan Algren is truly amazing. The director paid attention to every camera shot. The Last Samurai can be watched multiple times and it will still entertain you. (20/02/2004)

A really nice, atmospheric picture. The production design is captivating and Zwick’s directing gives this a aura of timelessness. The fights are perfect and the acting performances are more than just good. Cruise gives a more or less standard performance and Ken Watanabe is even better as the last leader of the samurais. (14/10/2006)