not a great but still a nice epic movie

Rating: 8/10 (12 February 2004)

It's so hard for Hollywood movies to describe other cultures without bending the truth more or less.However,the Last Samurai did a very good job to present us the Japanese culture faithfully.The miracles of Japan in the last century which surprised generations of westerners were actually the result of the spirit illustrated in this movie,Duty and Conscience.Let along the magnificent battle-field scenes and great performance by the cast,the cultural depth in the movie made it one of the best epic movies in recent years.
As far as I know about Japanese history,the story is not exactly a real one,especially the parts concerning the emperor and his ministers.Like other historic events in movies,e.g.political conspiracy in Gladiator,characters in this one were grouped typically as good or bad guys,the event was dramatized beyond the truth(Can you believe the last scene in the palace?).Probably good for the box-office,but it simplified the meaning and undermined the seriousness of history.