grand epic, with flaws

Rating: 7/10 (24 December 2003)

The Last Samurai is a big, old fashioned sweeping entertainment with big scenery and battles and strong acting and a thoughtful script. Yet, it suffers from typical Hollywood flaws and one can't help but have some reservations about the story. First off, I can't take a movie seriously when it makes some American a guiding force in the history of Japan. I mean, come on. And the ending drags out a bit; it's the, why-have-one-moving-ending-if-you-can-have-three philosophy of filmmaking.

Some things are great though. Ken Watanabe is excellent as the Samurai. While the movie insists on using an American as an entry into this world, in typical Hollywood fashion, the film is mainly acted by Japanese (although oddly enough if you watch the end credits all the top billing except for Watanabe goes to western names). And you've got to love a movie that avoids the seemingly obligatory sex scene and replaces it with a weirdly-erotic getting dressed scene; that was cool.
Fun movie, plenty to criticize but still lots of fun to watch. I give it 7 1/2 out of 10.