THE LAST SAMURAI

REVIEWED BY JAVIER ALABALDE GADEA

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: graphic scenes of violence

Rated:

Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai is a rare motion picture -- an epic clash between the old ways and the new ways of Japan. This film, combined with Peter Jackson's masterful The Return of the King and Peter Weir's breathtaking Master and Commander, catapults 2003 as a year that will be remembered for its grand productions. Zwick surely had a daunting task before him; he had to show the importance of honor in order for the film to succeed. It's a tough thing for sure, for who cares about honor these days? Yet somehow the director has achieved his goal.

Tom Cruise plays Nathan Algren, a Civil War hero haunted by memories of the past. He is soon recruited by the Japanese government to lead the Emperor's forces in their war against the ancient samurai. Nathan accepts - mainly because of the money involved - and sets out to Japan. Once there, however, he is captured by the samurai leader, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), who is amazed by Nathan's battle skills. Thus, the American soldier grows to appreciate Katsumoto's people and their unique way of life, as the ultimate battle between the samurai and the Emperor approaches.

The most amazing thing about The Last Samurai is the way the director gets us to know and appreciate the code of honor of the samurai. When I walked into the theater, I really didn't know a lot of things about these people. The story of Japan and its people never really attracted me. However, once the movie was over, I was fascinated by them. At one point of the film, Katsumoto states that the samurai way of life "is no longer necessary." Nathan merely replies, "Necessary? What could be more necessary?" The audience echoes that sentence, for we have grown to care and admire Katsumoto and his people. The end of the film is especially noteworthy. We are rooting for the samurai to win even as a sense of impending doom grows around us. We know this will be a tragic end, but what an end it will be! And, when all is said and done, we shed a tear for these characters we have grown to care and love.

The film looks great from beginning to end. John Toll's cinematography is among the best of the year -- beautiful, dazzling and amazingly vivid. Hans Zimmer's score is a work of art of its own, and feels just right for the movie. The art direction is deserving of a special mention as well; the sets seem almost alive, and they are seamlessly incorporated into the film. Ngila Dickson, who was also the costume designer for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, had the privilege to work on this film as well, and her work here is almost as impressive as the costumes she did for the aforementioned trilogy. The film was shot in New Zealand, Japan and the United States, but to me, it seemed like we were always walking through the streets of Tokyo or through the villages of the samurai. And, needless to say, the battle scenes are truly breathtaking. We are always given instances of hope, but at the end, the last battle doesn't feel like a victory or a defeat. It feels as if a glorious era had just come to an end.

The acting is adequate. Tom Cruise, arguably the most famous actor in the planet, has recently been seen in a series of odd, intellectually engaging films. His talent was tested in both Vanilla Sky and Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, and he is no less impressive in this new feature. He plays the American soldier with great accuracy, and he has no trouble dealing with Nathan's character arc. When the film begins, Algren and the audience are very similar. Honor means nothing to him, and (let's be honest here) it means little to us too. However, as the film progresses, we find ourselves marveling at its importance (just like Nathan). Cruise's character is completely transformed during the film. So are we. After all, why can't we lead an honorable life ourselves? It will be tough, to be sure, but not impossible.

However, The Last Samurai's most forceful performance is that of newcomer Ken Watanabe. He is everything a samurai leader should be; he is, needless to say, an extremely honorable man, but he's also charismatic, courageous and commanding. In more ways than one, Watanabe represents an entire civilization. Any other actor may have been dwarfed by the challenge, but not this guy. Watanabe's portrayal of Katsumoto is immensely powerful, vivid, and unforgettable. It's also one of the best performances of the year. We admire the samurai's way of life mainly because of his performance, and credit must go to Watanabe for pulling off such a seemingly impossible task. (Hopefully we will get to see more of this actor in the near future). The rest of the cast is almost as impressive, with a special mention going to the beautiful Koyuki, who plays Katsumoto's sister, Taka.

There is virtually no objectionable content to be found in The Last Samurai. Foul language is few and I certainly can't remember any f-words lurking. (There are numerous mild profanities and abuses of deity, and one abuse each of Christ's name and GD.) There is of course some violence but what else could you expect given the nature of the film? The battles are violent, yes, but there's almost no blood (there is some, and a man is decapitated) in the film. I don't think the R-rating is justified. Films like The Two Towers and The Return of the King are far more violent endeavors and they both got a PG-13 rating. All in all, I think only very sensitive viewers will be offended by the violence that inhabits The Last Samurai (necessary as it is).

At the end, Nathan wasn't the only one who was transformed because of the samurai. I was too, and so was the audience. Zwick's film explores the life and culture of one of the most fascinating civilizations that have walked this Earth. The Last Samurai is a grand epic film that actually cares about its characters and what it's trying to say. It's fascinating to watch, but also hauntingly sad for we know that there isn't going to be a traditional Hollywood ending to conclude it. Sadly, the film was underrated by critics, but it managed to get four Oscar nominations (including one for its title character). The Last Samurai will surely go down as one of Zwick's greatest directorial achievements, and will be remembered for quite a time. A remarkable film indeed.