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#3225 - 01/13/70 02:24 AM

Movie Review: 'The Last Samurai'

Crimson Scythe
Rice Krispies

Registered: 02/02/03
Posts: 229
Loc: Kansas City, MO

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I was lucky enough to get tickets to see a early showing of 'The Last Samurai'.

I went in expecting this movie to be decent, yet I didn't expect what I saw. Expecially the way it started, to me it seemed like it was going to be just a typical war movie with that awlful boring 'blah' with a tint of decent acting by Tom Cruise.

The Last Samurai is basically a movie about the greed of Americans and the disgust of what some do for their political stand point. Tom Cruise is an American soldier that ranked just under Custard. The job he has obtained in times of peace puts him in a place where he helps people learn about rifles and assist in the selling of them. His commanding officer approaches him and gets him to go to Japan and teach their army to use guns against a 'rebellion' that is going on over there, and he gets paid heftely for doing so. Upon getting there he gets tangeled in the war against these 'rebel' Samurai whom belive modern conviences to be not needed.

Unfortunately for Cruise the Samurai begin taking the modern conviences away. With no choice he leads the japs into battle with these soldiers whom have never held guns in their life let alone even seen one. During that battle many get slaughtered and he skills get him noticed by the commanding Samurai and he gets taken to their village.

In the village in which he gets taken he learns of the honor and dedication that goes in to the culture of the Japanese. He discovers a people that deticates from sunset to sundown the improving of the skills that they seek.

He learns the life of the Samurai and that they are indeed quite amazing. He eventually learns the way of their commander and discovers that deep inside he's quite like himself.

In time the Japanese that he once taught become quite skilled and get even bigger weapons and he can once again walk amongst them. While he does he learns of the inner conspiracy of the politics and it results in a plan to kill the man whom is now his friend and a need to dispose of all Samurai for the 'Good of Modernization'.

The movie's story line is quite compelling and good. You develop a love for the Samurai and their ways, yet it seems to also give you just enough understanding for the modern Japanese. In time you know the Samurai will have no choice but take on their modernization and they do.

The action is quite amazing, expecially for the effects of slowing it down to show the action and distruction, as well as replay in some parts. The action itself seems to make this a good movie in itself, mainly because of the special effects. It indeed compares to the other action movies such as matrix... with a compelling story like it blows it over the top.

I personally thought Tom Cruise would make it kinda odd and take away from the movie, but his character is quite well done. Its not that I don't like him, I just couldn't see him in a movie of this sort. I also don't particularly dive into the Samurai and Japanese interests but this movie had me quite interested. I'd suggest you save a bit of your money and check it out... I'd highly suggest the big screen, but if you can't then check it out when it comes on DVD. I don't think you'll be disappointed, expcially if your male and like those violent action movies... what do you expect in a movie with swords and powerful guns? The gore is done quite nicely in a covered fashion, blood sprays the main expression of damage and the deeper more intense distruction is shown enough to express without you losing your stomace.

Ebert and Roper gave it two thumbs up.

Myself I'd rate it an A movie and put it up there with some of the other great movies, thankfully this was a well used 2 hrs and 35 minutes without leaving me feel like it was a waste of my time.

http://www.lastsamurai.com - TRAILER

(SUBMITTED TO purerave.com)

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