4/10 - lacking in many of the areas that drove the films purpose.

Rating: 4/10 (6 December 2003)

A perfect example of a movie trying to have substance, but eventually winds itself down into a warm manageable action epic. The Last Samurai does like most movies, in that it relies on movie cliche's to drive the story and in turn loses the ideas and meaning that it desperately tries to convey. I rate it as a four because it fell short in so many ways, but I do appreciate certain aspects that the movie wanted to reveal. I would like to add that those who liked the movie Braveheart will probably like this movie, and it in many respects can win over those who love action also.