cityonfire.com | The Last Samurai

	The Last Samurai This seems familiar. "Dances with Wolves in Japan"? Yes. More combat, though. - Numskull The Last Samurai (2003) Director: Edward Zwick Writer: John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz Producer: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Kroopf, Tom Engelman, Ted Field, Richard Solomon, Charles Mulyehill, Vincent Ward Cast: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Koyuki, Tony Goldwyn, Seizo Fukomoto, Timothy Spall, Hiroyuki Sanada, Masato Harada, Sosuke Ikematsu, Shin Koyamada, Aoi Minato, Shichinosuke Nakamura, Shun Sugata Running Time: 144 min. Plot: Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Nathan Algren (Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor, Meiji, as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor's new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from their leader, Katsumoto, which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on. Reviews NUMSKULL'S REVIEW: In recognition of Japan's most well-known contribution to the world of poetry, I now offer a haiku synopsis of The Last Samurai: This seems familiar. "Dances with Wolves in Japan"? Yes. More combat, though. Hey, that was easy. Quick, too. And accurate. I should do this more often. Review #300, here I come! NUMSKULL'S RATING: 7/10

The Last Samurai

This seems familiar.

"Dances with Wolves in Japan"?

Yes. More combat, though.

- Numskull

The Last Samurai (2003)

Director: Edward Zwick

Writer: John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz

Producer: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Kroopf, Tom Engelman, Ted Field, Richard Solomon, Charles Mulyehill, Vincent Ward

Cast: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Koyuki, Tony Goldwyn, Seizo Fukomoto, Timothy Spall, Hiroyuki Sanada, Masato Harada, Sosuke Ikematsu, Shin Koyamada, Aoi Minato, Shichinosuke Nakamura, Shun Sugata

Running Time: 144 min.

Plot: Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Nathan Algren (Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor, Meiji, as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor's new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from their leader, Katsumoto, which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on.

Reviews

NUMSKULL'S REVIEW: In recognition of Japan's most well-known contribution to the world of poetry, I now offer a haiku synopsis of The Last Samurai:

This seems familiar.

"Dances with Wolves in Japan"?

Yes. More combat, though.

Hey, that was easy. Quick, too. And accurate. I should do this more often. Review #300, here I come!

NUMSKULL'S RATING: 7/10