Dances with Samurai

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2014)

The plot behind this movie is best described as Dances with Samurai. An American played by Tom Cruise goes to train Japanese troops in the use of modern weaponry so that they can face off against rebels opposed to the modernization of Japan. What winds up happening? Cruise finds that the rebels are fighting a worthy cause, they should be allowed to continue, and he fights on their side against the much more modern army of the emperor.
As a film, it's very well directed and acted. It has a lot of great scenes of action and enough drama to keep you glued to the seat. The romance in it is rushed and unrealistic and I can see many people brushing it off as more of a "summer film" with a lot of flash but no substance but deep down I can see that spirit of the samurai coming through. It's a movie that showcases the honor and vitality of the samurai and condemn the more modern approach to warfare. It's also got some historical weight, showcasing a piece of history, the Meiji Restoration, that western films never have touched upon (well, Samurai movies in the west are very rare).
I feel that The Last Samurai is an excellent film overall and a definite watch if you haven't experienced it yet.