Last Samurai is Best Picture for 2003

Rating: Null/10 (3 December 2003)

(Synopsis-Spoiler?) The Last Samurai is the best movie I have seen for 2003. Tom Cruise stars as Captain Nathan Algren, an American army officer hired by the Emperor of Japan in 1876 to train his army to use modern rifles and artillery. The young Emperor wants Japan to modernize with a new railroad system and to trade with America. His new army must fight the last Samurai warriors, who want to keep their old samurai traditions. Captain Algren takes the half-trained army into battle against Samurai Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) only to lose and be captured. Katsumoto takes him back to his village as a brave warrior, not an enemy. In their conversations, both men learn from each other. Captain Algren learns what samurai honor is, and Katsumoto learns some American battle techniques. Captain Algren becomes a samurai and fights with Katsumoto in the last battle scene. The action sequences were very well done, especially, the one where Captain Algren fights 5 men, who have swords, and he has no weapon. This movie will win many Oscars next year. (Warner Brothers, Run Time 2:24, Rated R) 10/10