The loss of the Samurai was the loss of Japan's soul.

Rating: Null/10 (2 December 2003)

I went to the sneak preview of The Last Samurai. I brought my 15-year-old daughter along. She also wanted to see this movie.
The Last Samurai is a movie about honor and glimpses in to bushido (The samurai code). This movie takes place in 1876 Japan. The Emperor wants to modernize Japan's army and promote trade with the west. He also is facing revolt from the samurai class who think Japan is becoming too westernized. So the Emperor hires American Indian fighters to train this new modern arm to fight against the samurai. Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), sick of battle and the things he's seen fighting Indians, is hired by the Emperor. In his encounters with the samurai he regains his sense of honor.
The Last Samurai is a three-hour epic war movie rated R. There are no nude or sex scenes. The battle scenes are as brutal, graphic and bloody as Saving Private Ryan. Even though there are more killed in this movie than in Kill Bill, there is less blood. Battle scenes are as authentic as The Seven Samurai. I found myself gasping from the release of tension after some of the battles. Like in Dances with Wolves, I could sense a culture dying. The small love story and culture lessons don't get in to the way as they did with Dances with Wolves or Shogun. Americans are not depicted as evil hordes as Hollywood likes to do in such culture clash movies. This is one of if not Tom Cruise's best performance. The cinematography fits a sweeping epic.
If I had to pick one scene to describe the move I would pick a scene late into the movie. A proud young samurai is walking the streets of Tokyo alone. Peasants are giving him a wide birth for both fear and respect. Suddenly a squad of the Emperor's new riflemen confronts and surrounds him. The Japanese Capt. announces that the Emperor has outlawed the warring of swords and that he must surrender them. A samurai never surrenders his weapons but to fight would be instant death from the riflemen. Nathan Algren (Cruise) at the last possible second is able to step in to defuse the situation. But it costs the young samurai his swords and topknot. Both symbols of the samurai's soul and once removed is lost forever. I believe this scene also symbolized the loss of Japan's soul.
As cops don't like cop movies I generally don't like martial arts movies. I've studied the Japanese martial arts for over 10 years now. Too many martial arts movies rely too much on wirework and special effects making fight scenes unrealistic. But The Last Samurai keeps its martial arts with in reason and believable. My daughter and I both liked this movie. If you like any of the above mentioned movies, I think you'll really like The Last Samurai too.
I would give it 4-1/2 out of 5 cut off topknots.