The History Of Japan During The 1800's

Rating: 9/10 (9 October 2011)

The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic drama film co-produced,written and directed by Edward Zwick.It is a story of an American military adviser that embraces the Samurai culture after he was hired to destroy it after he is captured in battle. The film stars Tom Cruise in the role of Nathan Algren, whose personal and emotional conflicts bring him into contact with samurai warriors during the wake of the Meiji Restoration in the Empire of Japan.Other actors include Ken Watanabe, Shin Koyamada, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Timothy Spall, and Billy Connolly.
The film begins with Captain Nathan Algren,an ex-Army captain and an alcoholic,is traumatized by his experience fighting in the Civil War.In the years following his service,he makes his living by relating war stories to gun show audiences in San Francisco.It is an experience which further hampers his mental state.After his employer fires him, he is forced to accept an invitation by his former commanding officer Colonel Bagley(Tony Goldwyn),whom he has a feeling of hatred. Bagley approaches him with an offer on behalf of a Japanese businessman, Mr. Omura (Masato Harada), to help train the new Western-style Imperial Japanese Army. Assisting them are Algren's old army colleague Sergeant Zebulon Gant (Billy Connolly) and Simon Graham (Timothy Spall).
Under the command of Bagley, Algren and his companions travel to Japan. The newly-formed Japanese Army is a poorly-trained and equipped conscripted army of peasants totally lacking in combat experience. He does his best to remedy this, but before the men are trained to his satisfaction Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) attacks a railroad outside his province. Then,Bagley orders him to lead the inexperienced conscripts to engage Katsumoto. He then points out the army's inexperience and inadequate training. But Bagley dismisses his concerns and then orders a regiment to track down and engage Katsumoto. Yet when his ill-prepared superior force sets out too soon, their panic allows the sword-wielding samurai to crush them. Badly wounded Algren's courageous stand makes the samurai leader spare his life.Once nursed to health he learns to know and respect the old Japanese way, and participates as adviser.
The acting in the movie is outstanding especially with Ken Watanabe as the samurai leader Katsumoto.He truly deserves the numerous nominations that he got from this movie.Aside from that,the movie is written very well as the history of the samurai is presented in way far from what normally people perceive them.Aside from that,the production values and battle scenes are worth mentioning.Overall,this movie presents the history of Japan in the 1800's with the ways of the samurai in particular.Highly recommended for people who loves movies about history and Japan.