A friend of mine was stationed in Japan at the time this film was released. He said this was the only film he had seen Japanese people cry while watching at the theater.
I loved the use of the cherry blossoms. Katsumoto said you could spend your life looking for a perfect blossom and it would not be a wasted life. When he's dying and the blossoms are falling all around him he sees them all as perfect and knows his life was well spent. That part was just so beautiful.
I remember this quote often myself. Like much of old traditional Japanese poetry and philosophy it's ponderous and meditative and makes you consider your values. It's a brilliant scene in a great film.
"Tell me how he died?" ".....I will tell you how he lived" Poignant line right there and hits like a truck. This movie was critically underrated. Excellent movie. Amazing cast, and execution.
Even manages to sidestep one particularly lethal cliche such plotlines tend to fall victim to. Dances with Wolves came close, and Avatar unfortunately went full steam ahead with it. Tends to be called White Savior or White Messiah.
The line about the Japanese “from the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue” had a lasting effect on me. Simply inspiring.
The scene where Katsumoto presents the sword to the emperor and gets rejected is absolutely tragic, you could see the pain and hurt in his heart. The acting in this movie as a whole is just flawless.
“forgive me for saying what a teacher must” it’s something about the implied respect of Japanese people toward hierarchy and tradition that even that simple line carry’s so much more weight than it normally would
@Ryan Burke You may as well ask how Studio Ghibli movies are received in Japan. They're usually about the clash between unrelenting progressive business/industry and nature. The message is always the same, too, to seek to work together for a better tomorrow with mutual respect for each others cultures.
@@Gonzooo69 *Lemme tell you in Feudal Japan, the vast majority absolutely hated the horrible SAMURAI OPPRESSORS and their inhumane 60-90% tax rates.* Where do you think all the funds to their wars comes from? Compare how both Asian and European averages were, even after accounting for unofficial/illegal corruption, were 25%. The brutal taxation is what led to MABIKI infanticide rampant throughout everywhere in Japan for centuries. In the 1500s samurai selling girls to Portuguese slavers for muskets just like African warlords (but they hardly bought cannons, their first cannon was made in 1609, having experienced its power in their invasion of Korea in the 1590s), and when that wasn't enough, setup overseas brothels to pimp their girls for war funds _(by the 19th century the girls got a derogatory nickname called Karayuki-san, "Miss Gone-to-China" where "Kara" was a colloquialism for China or all things overseas, and by the 20th century these brothels even reached Australian shores),_ or invade other countries for girls to sell to the Portuguese. After a battle, there were free-for-all peasant mobs hunting down straggler samurai cut off from retreating armies, a huge lynch mob to kill samurai and get their expensive gear some poor peasants had to pay for. This was called, "Ochimusha Kari" or "Hunt for fallen warriors." Luis Frois, a Portuguese missionary in the 1500s, testified in his book that most powerful warlord in Japan, Oda Nobunaga, pimped girls to overseas brothels for his war funds. He wrote that "when Japanese mothers think they're unable to raise babies, they kneel on their throats." Nobuhiro Sato in the mid-19th century also wrote that *1/3 of the households in Japan killed a baby each year.* (So for a house, once about every 3 years. Remember this is an era with no contraceptives, but nowhere else in the world will you see centuries of regular infanticide like this.) He even gave specific numbers for each region. In the Edo period it got especially bad because taxes that were raised for wartime still didn't go down DESPITE it was peacetime, that virtually the population growth was very close to 0% for 250 years. Just the recorded peasant uprisings numbered 3000 in this time. Of course, to keep the masses down they ruled with samurai terrorism: Kirisute Gomen, aka "samurai license to kill a peasant without any trial, reason, or repercussions." Even in towns Samurai avoided alleys in and around peasant neighborhoods, because they would be surrounded and beaten by a mob of peasants, and samurai would consider it shameful to admit they were beaten down by such lowly peasants so they would prefer to keep quiet about it. Don't be fooled by weeaboos. In the heyday of samurais, the 1400s 1500s civil war (sengoku period), they were opportunistic backstabbers with no shred of loyalty. 勝てば官軍 (負ければ賊軍) was a popular cynical expression of the peasants at the time, "Winners become the government, losers become labeled as bandits." Why be loyal to anyone at all if power is so dynamic? This concept was not restricted to the peasants either. While Japan was always a backwater in Asia for millennia, during this time of abject war you see an even sharper decline of cultural advances, where pirated bowl from the neighboring nation of Korea alone cost a fortune (look up the "Kizaemon Ido pottery" which is an officially registered National Treasure in Japan. It's homely. You see a sharp change after the invasion of Korea in 1500s, 1000s of technicians were kidnapped and forced to make advanced pottery. The best potter in Japan to this day is the 15th generation Shimsugwan, aka "Chinjukan" a Korean. Look him up). Buddhist monks too took up arms in violence, and proselytized that this is the bleak End Times where the teachings of Buddha are long gone. The Emperor was treated like a village idiot and kids even threw rocks at him for fun with no repercussions while his handmaidens prostituted themselves just to get by (1500s Emperor Go-Nara). The concept of loyalty for samurai came in the 1700s in the Edo Period when Confucianism was spread to Japan. But that too was horribly warped because while Confucius himself went around telling bloodthirsty tyrants they are evil and wrong, even when doing that was dangerous, he taught that to have a spine and correct your evil king even when he can execute you, is the ultimate loyalty. The samurai warped it to mean that ultimate loyalty = doing everything told of you unquestioningly, and even committing seppuku/harakiri suicide (Ofc, they won't tell you even committing suicide was done for money. Even the Award-winning 1962 Japanese film Hara-kiri exposed this). Complacency and being afraid to "rock the boat" became the ultimate samurai virtues after 1700s. The 1500s samurai would probably laugh at these idiots. This fascination of "unquestioning loyalty unto death" became widespread due to the book "Hagakure" by a samurai Tsunetomo Yamamoto, who never saw actual war in his life yet lamented how his "samurai aren't cool anymore like the old days," and was used to entice people in WW2 to become like samurai, by blowing themselves up in kamikazes (by plane, by torpedo, by diving suits, submarines, manned anti-tank mines, etc) for their one-true god Emperor Hirohito whom they must pray towards his Tokyo palace everyday. They were taught that killing others freed them to go to the "next life" and that their own kamikaze death enables them to go to Zen Buddhist Pure Land Paradise/become worshiped as minor Shinto gods. PS: remember I set 60% tax rate as the lower end? The popular Japanese play, Chushingura, was based on the real 47 ronin who invaded a noble house and slaughtered all the kids, servants, men, and women to "avenge" their lord who cut said noble in a fit of rage and was executed for it. This is the Genroku Ako Incident. Initially the only region in Japan where the Chushingura kabuki play was ill-received and the actors beaten and chased out of town was the region where that noble once ruled, whom they loved because unlike the other regions, he set "a low low tax rate of 60%."
FINALLY! Someone with a huge following talks about one of the best films ever made. Totally underrated in its time and probably now. This is a perfect film and absolutely my favorite Tom Cruise movie. Katsumoto and Algren’s friendship is top tier acting and writing. And that ending… “I will miss our conversations.” ugh, still brings me to tears.
That’s my favourite action scene from the movie, it’s one of the few movies I’ve seen where ninjas are featured as a genuinely terrifying threat, rather than some cheesy b-grade cartoon villain to be swatted aside with ease. And that look on his face at the end is what sells it. They weren’t expecting to fight unannounced battles in own homes.
Man I love that scene, they go from being a happy family enjoying a play to professional warriors in a heartbeat. The shout Ujio gives at the end and the roar in reply is awesome. I've no idea what he's saying, assume it's something like "is everyone alive".
I agree completely. He's obviously more than a little bit eccentric IRL, but his acting is the best. If he didn't have the weird personal life stuff I think he'd be universally lauded as the greatest actor of his generation if he isn't already despite the weirdness. Him, Daniel Day Lewis, and Keanu (though for different reasons) are the three guys that I'm almost always willing to go see in a movie. DiCaprio to some extent although he has some misses also.
There’s so many good things about this film. Zwick’s Direction, Zimmer’s music, Wantanbe and Cruise. But the thing that stood out the most was the transformation of Algen’s escort while in the village. He goes from disdain, to complete respect. So much so that he sacrifices his life for him. The scene of the camera panning around Algren as he meditates and reveals his escort observing him has always stuck with me. Damn good filmmaking.
His escort samurai is one of the things that stood out to me as well. Great insight into the transformation of the narrative surrounding Captain Algren.
That's what makes this movie great. There are many such small character interactions that aren't really part of the bigger plot but are very deep and meaningful. Like the fact that he is housed in the house of the samurai who he killed and he builds relationships with that man's wife and son. The son's love for him is really heart wrenching as he sees his new father go off into a suicide mission. Very well written movie indeed.
The part when the Japanese officer starts yelling at the gun crews to stop firing as Kasimoto charges and is cut down. Then basically crawls to his knees and bows and all the other soldiers do same gets me to tear up everytime.
You know when an actor is that damn good, when clips with him from a shit ton of different movies keep flashing in front of your eyes and your brain goes "Oh, I remember this... This one was amazing! Hey, this too, great stuff. Ah this one was really f*cking great!"... The Last Samurai is pure gold, never get tired to watch it.
When you think about, ther's Only really a small handfull of movies that Cruise was in, that were "Meh" at best. Nearly 90% of the movies he's in are absolutly amazing.
Those scenes that just pull the emotion from you in an almost breathtaking way are few and far between. The opening of The Last of Us is that way, as well as that newer Sandra Bullock movie where she gets out of Jail. I won't spoil that if you haven't seen it, but there is a reveal that is so beautifully done IMO. I love scenes that can do that, while I hate feeling that despair in the moment, but every now and then recalibrating and getting in tune with that aspect of our humanity is cathartic.
The Last Samurai sits in the same weird historical niche that the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven does, in that it is at once an incredibly inaccurate and somewhat hamfisted movie that's also absolutely captivating and extremely deep. Watching and understanding it in its proper context, though, is incredibly enjoyable, and it does bring me back to a time when "historical drama" could exist and not be an exact retelling of actual events.
Though this movie is at least closer to the source if you loosely connect it to the novel Shogun, Kingdom of Heaven gets literally every single thing it could wrong about the people and period to deliver a now quite dated Iraq War/911 allegory.
I love the exchange near the end where Katsumoto asks about the 300 Spartans Algren mentioned earlier and Algren grins "Dead to the last man." They both share a laugh in the face of certain death. It's the same reason I love the Rohirrim singing at the battle of Pellenor, just having a grand old time in the midst of a world-ending hellish slaughter. There's just something about that attitude that inspires me.
@@Judicial78 reminds me of a segment from a sci-fi book i read a while back - a surfer is standing on a beach faced by 200-foot tall 200 mile an hour tidal wave and he says 'when death is inevitable, all there is left is style... style' and he rides the face of the wave until it smashes him into a tall building.
“Engage in combat fully determined to die and you will be alive; wish to survive in the battle and you will surely meet death.” - Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) the Dragon of Echigo.
Katsumoto’s line “They are all perfect.” Actually finishes the Haiku about cherry blossoms Katsumoto was trying to come up with earlier in the film. When asked about his Haiku, he says he is “having trouble with the ending.” And when he says “They are all perfect.” It’s five syllables, which is a traditional end to the 5-7-5 version of Haiku.
It’s also a spiritual revelation for the character. He discovered a truth about the universe as he was dying. With his last breath the character continued to grow as a person.
It's mostly a movie of how Western culture views Japans history. The Samurai used firearms from the 16th century and rarely used swords in wars. Also if Japan hadn't embraced Western culture it would have become just another colony of the West like all other Asian countries around it. It wasn't corrupt businessmen driving it but a smart emperor with more than one Bismarck level subordinates. It's dross. Pretty movie but about as historically accurate as Braveheart.
@@Cl0ckcl0ck Right, but most people don't care about historical accuracy if the story and characters are solid, and the themes powerful and universal. It's historical fiction. Fiction being the key word. They set the movie in a version of the past and did so because it allows them to tell the story they wanted to tell. Again. Fiction. None of the people in this movie existed in real life, except perhaps the emperor (and I don't even know that for sure).
The gatling gun moment still makes me cry a bit, namely when you see the face of the Lieutenant filled both anger and regret at his actions, knowing he is destroying the last of the old Japan, a Japan he knew and loved and in his heart still believed in.
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl But the move was probably still for the best. But it hurts to cut ties like that. That seems to be what most Japanese people who love the movie say. It's not that it's accurate in detail, but that te emotions it portrays are real. The Japanese that cut down the Samurai would probably do it again. But they understand that they lost something, and they're not happy about it. But it was time to move on. (And as you put it, temporarily it put them into an even crazier place where they mixed the worst parts of Samurai attitude with the worst parts of Western imperialism and supremacy)
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl Few things that Japan did during WWII were mad. The Rape of Nanking was justified (indeed it didn't go far enough) based on the past actions of the nation of China, and here again in the present they're proving the Japanese didn't go far enough.
A lot of this was filmed in my home town in New Zealand where I grew up. I remember many a night at one of the local pubs 'the mill' where the japanese cast would often drink. You had all these humble down to earth people after a long day filming who were more than happy to have a chat and chill with the locals. They stood out with all their long black hair and the bottles of whisky on the bar but were only happy to share haha.Good times
One of the best on screen bloopers that was left in the movie happens just before the final battle. Cruise rides his horse back to the Samurai after meeting the generals in the middle of the battlefield. As he gets back to the Samurai he jumps off his horse and then the horse kicks some unfortunate soul in the nuts.
Realistically I'm sure cavalry forces throughout history had to deal with plenty of well-aimed horse kicks to the sisters. So I guess it adds to the realism lol
Criminally underrated and undervalued as a hallmark piece of cinema in my opinion. Easily a Top 5 Hans Zimmer score too. He really went all in on it musically.
When Algren was getting the tar beat out of him in the rain with the samurai watching. Gave me. Goosebumps upon goosebumps. That Japanese flute in the scene was masterful. With Taka being the only person to show emotion as he refused to stay down no matter how bad the beating, was for me one of finest ten minutes of film i have ever seen. But only because of the music. Wonderful score for the entire movie. But that one scene in particular, just wow!
I think a standout moment from this film was when Higen and Algren were talking on the porch... Higen: "I would be afraid to go into battle." Algren: "So would I." Higen: "But you've been in many battles!?" Algren: "And I was always afraid." That was amazing bonding moment. He hated Algren for killing his dad, but ended up loving him. Great storytelling.
Tom Cruise delivered the performance of his life in this movie. When he screams in torment for booze, tormented by the memories of the atrocities he lived, I get shivers every damn time.
I absolutely love this movie. Not only is it beautifully shot, masterfully directly, top notch acting, but the martial arts in the movie was done great. So many wrist locks, pivoting stances, flowing of movements... all done superbly.
@@daneoman1000 You're right of course, but I guess it's never expressly stated that they're "ninja" in the movie. I always just thought of them as a commando team sent to take out the leader of the rebellion. I am not sure it's possible to really depict ninja accurately in a film, given the fact there's not a lot of historical information about them in the first place.
this movie and kingdom of heaven Director's cut are two I always recommend for people looking for period pieces that are fictionalized history. Kingdom of Heaven was butchered on the cutting floor for the theatrical cut and the whole film is a masterpiece in my eyes
All these extra shots really take me down memory lane. Always felt alone in my appreciation for the films that you've brought back into the light, if only for a short time. Hopefully those that haven't been able to see these now classics can watch and appreciate them as I always have.
I have seen it long ago but just like Matrix I couldn't fully grasp the themes and implications as a dumb kid. I think I would like the movie if I were to watch it now.
One of the few movies I gave 10 out of 10. Another one is Blood Diamond, which was directed by the same guy. And it makes me wonder, why isn't he more famous making amazing films like these.
Blood Diamond is a very Hollywoodized take on the setting. The massacre in the city serves as a mere background set piece for the escape of the two main characters rather than being the focus of the scene, which I thought was a bit poorly thought out.
The writing was excellent, and the calibre of the actors did so much to sell it. You really felt the weight of grief and the depth of the friendship between Algren and Katsumoto in their final exchange of words: "I will miss...our conversations"
I'm glad you showed some love for this movie. I chose it for my film presentation at acting school in New York, and everyone was extremely puzzled by it, especially because most chose pretty niche and artsy movies, but there is so much that's profound here that doesn't get enough attention. A lot of people don't like the film because they think it's a white savior story but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The Last Samurai doesn't refer to Tom Cruise, it refers to the samurai that saved him from a life of regret, waste, a lack of discipline, and a path of self-destruction that would've surely led to his death. It is a somber tale that most western audiences can't relate to, how 1000 years of samurai tradition, discipline, and honor was overtaken by machinery, industry, and the inevitability of time. Ken Watanabe is a standout performance, I can't help but cry every time he looks at the cherry blossoms, dying of his wounds, and says, "perfect".
Totally agree with your assessment. It’s much deeper than it gets credit for without being pretentious or deliberately obfuscatory (I’m looking at you The Lighthouse)
Many western audiences hear the title and go "oh, a white dude is the last samurai?". But samurai is the plural of samurai; so I always interpreted the title as referring to the group that Cruise's character was captured by, they were the Last Samurai. Great movie. Very romanticized version of bushido to be sure, but that is what the movie is paying homage to, the ideal, not necessairly what it was actually like.
@@erdrickcapet3945 That's an interesting take, I hadn't considered the plural of Samurai being Samurai. I thought it was because Tom Cruise eventually got made into one and he was the last one left on the battlefield, making him the last Samurai in the end - a sort of ironic tragedy that the only Samurai left in the end would be one of the foreigners who supplanted them. But yours makes total sense too and I'm wondering if maybe it was meant to be a dual meaning that's open to interpretation.
This is one of my Dads favorite movies. I remember the day he thought i was old enough to really understand and appreciate this movie. Truly on of the great 2000's era movies.
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. The best part of the movie is the differences between the western mind and the eastern mind. The clash of two different ways of thinking. The philosophy of Katsumoto and the how he changes Nathan Algren's philosophy about life. It is a really deep understanding about how sometimes we are powerless to the changes in life. Ultimately it is about living your life with honor no matter the sacrifice or the consequences. That is Bushido. Life in every breath.
I remember when this movie came out, TCM showed a trio of Akira Kurosawa films cohosted by Tom Cruise. I stayed up into the early morning watching 7 Samurai, Yojimbo, and Throne of Blood, it was a great and memorable night!
Not surprised, those 3 are for me the best of Kurosawa's films, the acting of Mifune in Throne of Blood is amazing. Impossible to not love those 3 films.
the story is also heavily influenced by the historic event known as the Satsuma rebellion, where traditional Samurai made a stand against the Western influenced imperial army
In this movie everything is done with perfection. Even the "romance", if you can call it that, between Algren and Katsumoto's sister is incredibly compelling and meaningful. The scene when she prepares Algren for that last battle, with neither of them saying a single word... holy crap.....
The last two minutes, tears. Seeing the Japanese commander tear up as they mow down men and horses said it all. What a powerful film, it COULD NOT be made today. That mastery has been lost.
"The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life"...one of my favorite all time movie lines
The thing that stuck with me the most about this movie was that part of Algren's character was his disillusionment of General Custer and his last stand, and then the first time he meets Katsumoto not only does he know about Custer, but he likes him. Katsumoto is completely onboard with the concept of a last stand, and it dovetails into the climax nicely.
Yeah but Algren knew what kind of man custer was, which was a flamboyant arrogant prick who's antics got all of his men needlessly killed. I'll bet he wished he'd taken his Gattling guns with him instead of leaving them behind.
It also has a ridiculously underrated Soundtrack. During the final battle, when the fighting has come to its peak, the music simultaneously does the same. It's hard to describe but I'm not sure if I've ever seen and/or heard anything like it in another film. It's a top 10 Movie for me and i'm not ashamed to admit that.
I always thought this movie was so underrated. The second act is filled with absolutely gorgeous slow-paced scenery that let's the film breathe. Thanks for reminding me of this one Drinker, I think im gonna watch it tonight with the wife
I’ve waited for the day Drinker covered this film. The Last Samurai is one of my favourite movies ever. That Final Charge is beautiful. The tears on the one Japanese general broke me. Man, such a phenomenal movie. Also, “I will miss our conversations”. That line… I hope Drinker covers Jack Reacher and MI- Fallout. Christopher McQuarrie is easily the best action filmmaker working today. Fallout is insanely well crafted. But for now, thank you for this Drinker. 🙌🍻
i love how you edited all the Cruise running scenes together , its basically a staple of his films - he WILL have a running scene at some point in the movie !!
I like to think that the ending to Katsumoto's poem is either "Life in every breath" or "They are all perfect" even though they are in English. This film has some truly beautiful lines in it.
Thank you for reminding me of the emotional impact this film had, and what a rare, beautiful cinematic art piece it remains. We've become so jaded and disillusioned by the ideological subversion that's crept into western culture that it's easy to forget how different it was only 2 decades ago. Once FB got it's tentacles into the minds of the populace everything went downhill. EVERYTHING.
This is a great example of a film still being fun and entertaining, despite being historically inaccurate. Although the story is based on true events (The Satsuma Rebellion) the largest inaccuracy and one that has caused many problems over the years is the outdated idea that samurai did not use guns. In reality, the samurai had been using guns since the 1500s and had just fought the boshin war in which they ALL used guns.
Yes I belive the one put the guns on the samurai was Oda, latter Many lords start to use firearms and if you play total war shogun musket samurai beat anything
The Last Samurai is easily in my top 5 movies list. Ever since I saw it when I was young I have always had a copy of this movie on the shelf. The music has never ceased to make me cry.
Brilliant film. Kudos to you for calling attention to this work. This was one of the last films I viewed in a theater that was so heartfelt and moving. Maybe a couple years after this one in Batman Begins where Batman says "its not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me" was the last time there was such raw feeling in a major film release. There have surely been some good films since then, but the special big screen feeling of great actors telling a great story written by competent writers who poured their soul into the script, is an era that has largely passed. The beautiful cinematography and details in The Last Samurai are exceptional.
I watch the last samurai once every year and it is a timeless masterpiece! I also have the soundtrack that I listen to annually. Which reminds me, Hans Zimmerman did a phenomenal job with the soundtrack as it fits perfectly with the entire motif of the film.
Ever watch any Akira Kurosawa movies? Not to knock something you like, but you should check out some authentic samurai movies if you enjoyed this. Seven Samurai is a good place to start.
I studied Japanese and Japanese history, and this is one of my favorite movies ever. I'm glad to see The Drinker talking about it. Yeah, it's not the most accurate movie ever, and if anyone's intrested in the closest historically accurate event, look up Saigo Takamori's "Satsuma Rebellion" of 1877. Though a lot more nuanced as actual historical events usually are, it is pretty obvious The Last Samurai was based on this event. And while Watanabe Ken's Hollywood performances aren't exactly Oscar material, I think a lot has to do with the language barrier. Check out some of his Japanese movies and you'll be blown away at how well he can act.
isn't that the inspiration behind the Sabaton song "Shiroyama"? I'm not exactly well-versed in Japanese history, beyond taking a modified version of Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu for 4 years and some Gaijin Goomba videos, but I've always found their weapons and the philosophies of Bushido interesting, at least on the surface.
I found it hard to take this movie seriously after reading up on the actual events. The samurai were not very pleasant people and their rebellion was fueled by the desire to keep power.
One positive criticism I heard from a Japanese reviewer was the costumes and sets. According to him, the colors and styles of clothing were very accurate to the period, as were the sets. The crests worn by Katsumoto's samurai in the first battle should have been identical, like a western medieval lord's heraldry, but other than that, it got an A for authenticity on costumes from Japanese people.
Someone who understands what a real movie treasure Tom Cruise is. His filmography and work with some of the best directors is very underrated. The Last Samurai is one of his best.
This movie is so well done it brings me to tears when Katsumoto dies every single time I watch it. Just a masterful piece of storytelling and character development.
Bit of trivia! His character was based on William Adams in real life, who was a trader who ended up stranded on a Japanese coast. He became personal friends with Ieyasu Tokugawa, the Shogun at the time, and he was given the name 'Miura Anjin'. He lived in Japan for the rest of his life, and, according to his friend's eye witness account, actively began to ignore other foreign traders and only interacted with the Japanese. He wrote in his journal that he considered himself more Japanese than European. The saddest part is, there is a street in Nihonbashi named after him, as well as a mural in Hiroshima where he died. Whereas in his home country, he doesn't even exist. So, if anyone ever yells 'white savior' about this film, hit them with that piece of info :) Edit: Correction (in the comments below) - it seems they actually took more inspiration from a French officer named Jules Brunet. Thanks @The Shogunate !
I think you're confusing this with Shogun by James Clavell (with a tv show version coming up soon). I believe Algren's character is based off a French military officer (I forget the name) who joined in with the Samurai during the Boshin war, the period this film is set in. William Adams arrived in Japan 250 years prior at the end of Sengoku
They certainly used bits of William Adams, but the main reference for Nathan Algren (The character Tom Cruise plays) is actually a French officer named Jules Brunet who fought alongside the Shogunate forces in the Boshin War.
@@TheShogunateWhoah! Not only did I get info that I was totally unaware of, but I got it from *The Shogunate*? I am absolutely honored to be corrected by you! I had no idea about Jules Brunet, so I will definitely look into him. I find Miura/William so interesting, that he got made a samurai by Tokugawa himself.
This film is a beautiful masterpiece. I always tear up by the end, and I’m grateful for that emotional weight that we see so infrequently in modern cinema.
Of course a Japanese audience would be overawed by this, by any " Hollywood" film which glorifies Nippon I remember, when I worked there ( NOR as an English teacher; a serious job reorganising an acquired Japanese financial services company) the there were queues around the block to see that trash," Pearl HRbour". They will watch anything like that.
@@oweneather1435 thank you for letting the rest of us know you're better than us. It was very helpful to know the musings of a non-English teaching gaikokujin on the film.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in Japan until I was 14 years old and what I can say is that this is one of my favorites movies regarding what makes that culture beautiful and appealing to western societies. The dichotomy of what Algren goes through is what I consistently find myself thinking of as an American. Thank you to Tom Cruise and the entire team that brought this movie to life because it really portrays at least my experiences living in Japan. The peace, serenity, and honor aspects this film highlight I inculcated at a very young age and evoke the pure joy I remember being in a society that honored those traditions. I cry every time I watch it.
Great call, Drinker! I’ve long appreciated this well crafted movie - and wondered why it’s so overlooked. Plus the historical and cultural accuracy makes it a powerful epic tale of the last years of the feudal Japan era 👍 This and “Memoirs Of A Geisha” are Watanabe’s best performances.
I won't say it's historically accurate as even during the Sengoku period (1477 to 1615) gunmen strategies genuinely exists. Even characters' name in this movie are not accurate to the real Meiji Restoration war. However, this movie is very much appreciated in Japan as a historical fantasy. Not to mention Tom Cruise convinced the team to genuinely hire full Japanese cast instead of Chinese, which Japan definitely appreciate.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seem this film. One of my all times favourites that I can just rewatch over and over again and not get bored. Bloody brilliant.
This is one of the 3 films that I saw in the cinema that I went and bought another ticket for as soon as I'd finished watching it. I think this is probably Tom Cruise's best work. I saw him as a different kind of actor after this film, he arguably wasn't the hero of the story. He's an observer in a bigger issue and seeks to reconcile with his personal demons by doing what he sees as "the right thing" for the first time in his military career. The only thing I wish had been fleshed out more in this film was the parallel between Cruise's character and the Japanese general that was formerly a samurai. It would have been interesting to see some more between those two, rather than having him beheaded at the end of the first fight. I do understand the plot device that was achieved by that scene, but I still think there was value to be gained there.
I was 14 when I first watched this movie, it was one if not the most memorable movie for me. Lots of critics focus on how historically accurate it is, but knowing that almost none of the characters are actual historical people, I don't think historical accuracy was their goal.
This is one of my most favorite movies, and has been since I saw it in theaters. The late 90's - early 00's had some greats that I repeatedly go back to: The Last Samurai, Master and Commander, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, etc. Great vid Drinker!
This was such a beautiful film and my second favorite of all time. I hate how it never got the recognition it deserved but always enjoy when people talk about how brilliant it is, even today.
Another good one also starring Ken Watanabe is his take on Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven which came out in 2013.... its basic the exact same story but from a Japanese perspective and set during pretty much the same time period as The Last Samurai
This was a surprisingly poignant and respectful film for Hollywood to have made, and that’s coming from a massive fan of classic 50s-60s Japanese cinema. I will always highly recommend the 1962 film Harakiri as being the highest achievement of the samurai genre and the best cinematic example of what true honor is that I have seen.
@@redsoxu571 I still need to see HARAKIRI. What do you think of Kurosawa’s own samurai movies like SEVEN SAMURAI, and YOJIMBO, and SANJURO? I love the first two, haven’t yet seen the third in my list
@@AnandVenigalla you haven't seen Tsubaki Sanjuro?? that is a crime and has to be rectified immediately, friend lol no but srsly you should watch that one
@@AnandVenigalla I've loved anything I've seen of Kurosawa's. Yojimbo is one of my favorite films, period...I will admit though that I haven't yet gotten around to Sanjuro! I'm looking forward to that one.
This has been my one of my favorite movies for as long as I can remember. I'm glad you thought so highly of it as well. Thanks for reminding me of all the things I loved about it. I think I'm gonna watch it again now
The last Samurai and Collateral are probably my 2 favorite Tom Cruise films. Probably because they are so different from what you typically expect from a standard Tom Cruise movie. The soundtrack for this also deserves a special mention.
This has been my favorite movie for several years now. Glad to see this pop up here. If you can find it on disc or youtube, the behind the scenes are great too.
One of my all time favourites, fantastic performances, a simple but well told story and an incredible soundtrack. I remember chatting to my sister about this years ago, she told me that the line from Katsumoto "They are all perfect" always brings her to tears. Ken Wantanabe was so freaking good in this. Personally, I loved Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio, he just had such a commanding presence. That moment when he roars after defeating the ninja assassins, you just can't help but cheer along with him.
I am a HUGE fan of Japanese cinema, and I can say without reservation that this is as extremely close and honest as Hollywood DID and will EVER come to making an authentic historical Japanese epic film! Something tells me Hollywood will never make something like THIS ever again!
@@ΑναστάσιοςΠαπαζαχαρίου Right. Today, they'd have people from every race traipsing around 19th century Japan, and a gay subplot between Algren and Katsumoto.
genuinely intimidating in 'Collateral' - I remember the fuss when he was cast in 'Interview with a Vampire' and the pleasant surprise all the naysayers got when it came out
@@douglaswilliams6834 that role proved to me he can do comedy, and do it really well! I still to this day laugh with my little brother when we do the "G5" dance to Low 😂😂😂
A friend of mine was stationed in Japan at the time this film was released. He said this was the only film he had seen Japanese people cry while watching at the theater.
Dude I shed a tear at the end…”They are all perfect”
Emperor "Tell me how he died."
Algren "I will tell you how he lived."
Wow! Thats really saying something. Only recently (20yrs later) have the japanese thought it was acceptable to clap or cheer at films
Whoa
Wow, that's incredible!
I loved the use of the cherry blossoms. Katsumoto said you could spend your life looking for a perfect blossom and it would not be a wasted life. When he's dying and the blossoms are falling all around him he sees them all as perfect and knows his life was well spent. That part was just so beautiful.
At last, someone else who understands that scene's significance.
“Perfect…they are all perfect” 🥲
Tell me how he died
@@travismcclymans5487 I will tell you how he lived
I remember this quote often myself. Like much of old traditional Japanese poetry and philosophy it's ponderous and meditative and makes you consider your values. It's a brilliant scene in a great film.
"Tell me how he died?"
".....I will tell you how he lived"
Poignant line right there and hits like a truck. This movie was critically underrated. Excellent movie. Amazing cast, and execution.
Even manages to sidestep one particularly lethal cliche such plotlines tend to fall victim to. Dances with Wolves came close, and Avatar unfortunately went full steam ahead with it. Tends to be called White Savior or White Messiah.
Let's not forget the AMAZING soundtrack. Quiet, haunting, beautiful, it's a masterpiece in and of itself.
Zimmer doing what he does best, telling the story without any lyrics.
Hans Zimmer is a modern day Beethoven.
Yes the soundtrack is EPIC!!!!
A small measure of peace never left my playlists since then.
A Way of Life is one of the most beautiful tracks I’ve ever heard
The line about the Japanese “from the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue” had a lasting effect on me. Simply inspiring.
Me too. I still remember this when I half-ass something
He was talking about samurai not the Japanese. And the reason samurai can live like that because they have serfs do work for them
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl untrue. I've been to Japan and it's part of their culture I admire very much
@@S1ipperyJim I was talking about samurai general life style
@@S1ipperyJim do you think Japanese peasants 'devoted themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursued' when they were trying to farm?
Watanabe has had a very long and esteemed acting career in Japan. It was really cool that he got to be known to Western audiences too.
true, he was so fun in chris broads video as we get to see Watanabe's life these days.
LET THEM FIGHT.
The scene where Katsumoto presents the sword to the emperor and gets rejected is absolutely tragic, you could see the pain and hurt in his heart. The acting in this movie as a whole is just flawless.
“forgive me for saying what a teacher must”
it’s something about the implied respect of Japanese people toward hierarchy and tradition that even that simple line carry’s so much more weight than it normally would
It made no historical sense
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl I guess we all missed the "Based on a true story" text at the beginning. Otherwise, your moronic statment holds no value.
@@isaiasramirez8224 yeah here is the trick...... It isn't based on a true story
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl it wasn't a true story????????????? There goes my admiration for the storytelling and acting
This movie was really popular here in Japan too. My family still watch it sometimes and my Uncle was talking about it just last weekend lol.
Can you please explain how it was received there? Did people mourn how that old way of life was destroyed by western influence?
That's not what happened but okay, dude 😅🤣😂😁
@Ryan Burke
You may as well ask how Studio Ghibli movies are received in Japan. They're usually about the clash between unrelenting progressive business/industry and nature. The message is always the same, too, to seek to work together for a better tomorrow with mutual respect for each others cultures.
@@Gonzooo69 *Lemme tell you in Feudal Japan, the vast majority absolutely hated the horrible SAMURAI OPPRESSORS and their inhumane 60-90% tax rates.* Where do you think all the funds to their wars comes from? Compare how both Asian and European averages were, even after accounting for unofficial/illegal corruption, were 25%. The brutal taxation is what led to MABIKI infanticide rampant throughout everywhere in Japan for centuries.
In the 1500s samurai selling girls to Portuguese slavers for muskets just like African warlords (but they hardly bought cannons, their first cannon was made in 1609, having experienced its power in their invasion of Korea in the 1590s), and when that wasn't enough, setup overseas brothels to pimp their girls for war funds _(by the 19th century the girls got a derogatory nickname called Karayuki-san, "Miss Gone-to-China" where "Kara" was a colloquialism for China or all things overseas, and by the 20th century these brothels even reached Australian shores),_ or invade other countries for girls to sell to the Portuguese.
After a battle, there were free-for-all peasant mobs hunting down straggler samurai cut off from retreating armies, a huge lynch mob to kill samurai and get their expensive gear some poor peasants had to pay for. This was called, "Ochimusha Kari" or "Hunt for fallen warriors."
Luis Frois, a Portuguese missionary in the 1500s, testified in his book that most powerful warlord in Japan, Oda Nobunaga, pimped girls to overseas brothels for his war funds. He wrote that "when Japanese mothers think they're unable to raise babies, they kneel on their throats."
Nobuhiro Sato in the mid-19th century also wrote that *1/3 of the households in Japan killed a baby each year.* (So for a house, once about every 3 years. Remember this is an era with no contraceptives, but nowhere else in the world will you see centuries of regular infanticide like this.) He even gave specific numbers for each region.
In the Edo period it got especially bad because taxes that were raised for wartime still didn't go down DESPITE it was peacetime, that virtually the population growth was very close to 0% for 250 years. Just the recorded peasant uprisings numbered 3000 in this time. Of course, to keep the masses down they ruled with samurai terrorism: Kirisute Gomen, aka "samurai license to kill a peasant without any trial, reason, or repercussions."
Even in towns Samurai avoided alleys in and around peasant neighborhoods, because they would be surrounded and beaten by a mob of peasants, and samurai would consider it shameful to admit they were beaten down by such lowly peasants so they would prefer to keep quiet about it.
Don't be fooled by weeaboos.
In the heyday of samurais, the 1400s 1500s civil war (sengoku period), they were opportunistic backstabbers with no shred of loyalty.
勝てば官軍 (負ければ賊軍) was a popular cynical expression of the peasants at the time, "Winners become the government, losers become labeled as bandits." Why be loyal to anyone at all if power is so dynamic? This concept was not restricted to the peasants either. While Japan was always a backwater in Asia for millennia, during this time of abject war you see an even sharper decline of cultural advances, where pirated bowl from the neighboring nation of Korea alone cost a fortune (look up the "Kizaemon Ido pottery" which is an officially registered National Treasure in Japan. It's homely. You see a sharp change after the invasion of Korea in 1500s, 1000s of technicians were kidnapped and forced to make advanced pottery. The best potter in Japan to this day is the 15th generation Shimsugwan, aka "Chinjukan" a Korean. Look him up). Buddhist monks too took up arms in violence, and proselytized that this is the bleak End Times where the teachings of Buddha are long gone. The Emperor was treated like a village idiot and kids even threw rocks at him for fun with no repercussions while his handmaidens prostituted themselves just to get by (1500s Emperor Go-Nara).
The concept of loyalty for samurai came in the 1700s in the Edo Period when Confucianism was spread to Japan. But that too was horribly warped because while Confucius himself went around telling bloodthirsty tyrants they are evil and wrong, even when doing that was dangerous, he taught that to have a spine and correct your evil king even when he can execute you, is the ultimate loyalty. The samurai warped it to mean that ultimate loyalty = doing everything told of you unquestioningly, and even committing seppuku/harakiri suicide (Ofc, they won't tell you even committing suicide was done for money. Even the Award-winning 1962 Japanese film Hara-kiri exposed this). Complacency and being afraid to "rock the boat" became the ultimate samurai virtues after 1700s. The 1500s samurai would probably laugh at these idiots. This fascination of "unquestioning loyalty unto death" became widespread due to the book "Hagakure" by a samurai Tsunetomo Yamamoto, who never saw actual war in his life yet lamented how his "samurai aren't cool anymore like the old days," and was used to entice people in WW2 to become like samurai, by blowing themselves up in kamikazes (by plane, by torpedo, by diving suits, submarines, manned anti-tank mines, etc) for their one-true god Emperor Hirohito whom they must pray towards his Tokyo palace everyday. They were taught that killing others freed them to go to the "next life" and that their own kamikaze death enables them to go to Zen Buddhist Pure Land Paradise/become worshiped as minor Shinto gods.
PS: remember I set 60% tax rate as the lower end? The popular Japanese play, Chushingura, was based on the real 47 ronin who invaded a noble house and slaughtered all the kids, servants, men, and women to "avenge" their lord who cut said noble in a fit of rage and was executed for it. This is the Genroku Ako Incident. Initially the only region in Japan where the Chushingura kabuki play was ill-received and the actors beaten and chased out of town was the region where that noble once ruled, whom they loved because unlike the other regions, he set "a low low tax rate of 60%."
My family and I ended up watching The Last Samurai five times in theaters.
FINALLY! Someone with a huge following talks about one of the best films ever made. Totally underrated in its time and probably now. This is a perfect film and absolutely my favorite Tom Cruise movie.
Katsumoto and Algren’s friendship is top tier acting and writing. And that ending… “I will miss our conversations.” ugh, still brings me to tears.
Man… I got chocked up just thinking about it!
True. Not many people talk about this movie. It's underrated. Some wokes criticized it as portraying white saviour narrative.
Just that scene in the rain when the samurai realized he ain’t afraid of death or anything with that music pumping epic
@@akmal9542 How is this a "white saviour" story?
he failed to save everyone!
@@AshrakAhmed yea. I don't understand that remark as well when I heard it. I think they just missed the whole point of the movie.
The look that Katsumoto gave Algren when the fight with the ninjas ends is incredible! He was no longer an enemy, but a fierce and loyal friend...
Particularly, the look of shock on a face that has proven otherwise never lost its composure when he realizes just WHO it was fighting by his side.
That’s my favourite action scene from the movie, it’s one of the few movies I’ve seen where ninjas are featured as a genuinely terrifying threat, rather than some cheesy b-grade cartoon villain to be swatted aside with ease. And that look on his face at the end is what sells it. They weren’t expecting to fight unannounced battles in own homes.
The quote "when I took these from you, you were....my enemy" says it all after Katsumoto handed back Algerns journals and notes.
Man I love that scene, they go from being a happy family enjoying a play to professional warriors in a heartbeat.
The shout Ujio gives at the end and the roar in reply is awesome. I've no idea what he's saying, assume it's something like "is everyone alive".
The ninja scene is the best in the whole movie.
This is when I knew tom cruise was more than an actor, he's an entertainer who takes the job seriously.
Tom Cruise is well known for his work ethic. He puts everything he has into his roles, and it shows.
hence why any "a Tom Cruise movie" is so enjoyable to watch. He is the last action hero of Hollywood.
I agree completely. He's obviously more than a little bit eccentric IRL, but his acting is the best. If he didn't have the weird personal life stuff I think he'd be universally lauded as the greatest actor of his generation if he isn't already despite the weirdness.
Him, Daniel Day Lewis, and Keanu (though for different reasons) are the three guys that I'm almost always willing to go see in a movie. DiCaprio to some extent although he has some misses also.
He is a movie star. One of the last.
I always support the actors who just want to entertain you
There’s so many good things about this film. Zwick’s Direction, Zimmer’s music, Wantanbe and Cruise. But the thing that stood out the most was the transformation of Algen’s escort while in the village. He goes from disdain, to complete respect. So much so that he sacrifices his life for him.
The scene of the camera panning around Algren as he meditates and reveals his escort observing him has always stuck with me. Damn good filmmaking.
His escort samurai is one of the things that stood out to me as well. Great insight into the transformation of the narrative surrounding Captain Algren.
Interestingly enough, he wrote early drafts of The Great Wall.
You of course refer to the great and honourable Bob.
@@martiansoldier Bob indeed sir, unmistakeably Bob.
That's what makes this movie great. There are many such small character interactions that aren't really part of the bigger plot but are very deep and meaningful. Like the fact that he is housed in the house of the samurai who he killed and he builds relationships with that man's wife and son. The son's love for him is really heart wrenching as he sees his new father go off into a suicide mission. Very well written movie indeed.
This was one of my Dad's favorite movies. We watched it together about a month before he passed and it'll always hold a special place in my heart.
Every family movie night my Dad had the request, "Anybody want to watch Predator?"
Fantastic 🤣🤣
Sorry to hear about your dad, man. Hope you’re doing okay.
@@bakerfresh your dad sounds awesome 👌
I'm sorry for your loss
The part when the Japanese officer starts yelling at the gun crews to stop firing as Kasimoto charges and is cut down. Then basically crawls to his knees and bows and all the other soldiers do same gets me to tear up everytime.
It never happened.
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl go away mate
@@ilikethewaysnrubberthinks truth hurts doesn't it?
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl we know. We just don’t care. This is a movie, not a documentary. Creative liberties are allowed
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl of course we know it didn't happen you clown.
You know when an actor is that damn good, when clips with him from a shit ton of different movies keep flashing in front of your eyes and your brain goes "Oh, I remember this... This one was amazing! Hey, this too, great stuff. Ah this one was really f*cking great!"...
The Last Samurai is pure gold, never get tired to watch it.
Especially Collateral - probably my favorite Tom Cruise movie, and as far as I know the only time he plays a true villain.
When you think about, ther's Only really a small handfull of movies that Cruise was in, that were "Meh" at best.
Nearly 90% of the movies he's in are absolutly amazing.
The final charge is one of the most emotional and greatest scenes I’ve ever seen
Brings me to tears every time.
it's hard to watch
That and the 'Last of the Mohicans'
Aye.
@@InfiniteNallidge also an excellent movie. If I owned them, they'd be side by side on the shelf- and not just for alphabetic reasons.
Saw it at the cinema when it first came out, great film. That final cavalry charge breaks my heart every time.
Those scenes that just pull the emotion from you in an almost breathtaking way are few and far between. The opening of The Last of Us is that way, as well as that newer Sandra Bullock movie where she gets out of Jail. I won't spoil that if you haven't seen it, but there is a reveal that is so beautifully done IMO. I love scenes that can do that, while I hate feeling that despair in the moment, but every now and then recalibrating and getting in tune with that aspect of our humanity is cathartic.
And rhen they bust out the Gatling guns, tough to watch.
@@robertdouth8979 absolutely! Loved the tension and excitement when those Ninjas showed up while they were celebrating!
The Last Samurai sits in the same weird historical niche that the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven does, in that it is at once an incredibly inaccurate and somewhat hamfisted movie that's also absolutely captivating and extremely deep. Watching and understanding it in its proper context, though, is incredibly enjoyable, and it does bring me back to a time when "historical drama" could exist and not be an exact retelling of actual events.
Though this movie is at least closer to the source if you loosely connect it to the novel Shogun, Kingdom of Heaven gets literally every single thing it could wrong about the people and period to deliver a now quite dated Iraq War/911 allegory.
@@JCDenton3 nah
I disagree on the Iraq stuff, I think you misunderstood what it was trying to say
@@roberthipolito1351 Ridley Scott literally said that was what it was an allegory for though, he made the film not me.
@@JCDenton3 wtf???
Well wouldn't be the first time he misunderstood the scripts he directs.
If you accept it as a historically-influenced but not historically accurate action movie, it works. Same with Gladiator.
I love the exchange near the end where Katsumoto asks about the 300 Spartans Algren mentioned earlier and Algren grins "Dead to the last man." They both share a laugh in the face of certain death. It's the same reason I love the Rohirrim singing at the battle of Pellenor, just having a grand old time in the midst of a world-ending hellish slaughter. There's just something about that attitude that inspires me.
When you accept you are already dead, you no longer fear anything to come. Good soldiers almost always share that trait.
@@Judicial78 reminds me of a segment from a sci-fi book i read a while back - a surfer is standing on a beach faced by 200-foot tall 200 mile an hour tidal wave and he says 'when death is inevitable, all there is left is style... style' and he rides the face of the wave until it smashes him into a tall building.
@Nix91exactly, surviving and watching his way of life be butchered is the bad ending. Going out in battle is the samurai way.
Deep in my heart, I believe this exchange is _why_ the movie 300 got made
“Engage in combat fully determined to die and you will be alive; wish to survive in the battle and you will surely meet death.” - Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) the Dragon of Echigo.
Katsumoto’s line “They are all perfect.” Actually finishes the Haiku about cherry blossoms Katsumoto was trying to come up with earlier in the film. When asked about his Haiku, he says he is “having trouble with the ending.” And when he says “They are all perfect.” It’s five syllables, which is a traditional end to the 5-7-5 version of Haiku.
It’s also a spiritual revelation for the character. He discovered a truth about the universe as he was dying. With his last breath the character continued to grow as a person.
One of the precious few masterpieces of modern cinema; Both a reminder of what Hollywood could be, and an homage of what Eastern culture has to offer.
It's mostly a movie of how Western culture views Japans history. The Samurai used firearms from the 16th century and rarely used swords in wars. Also if Japan hadn't embraced Western culture it would have become just another colony of the West like all other Asian countries around it. It wasn't corrupt businessmen driving it but a smart emperor with more than one Bismarck level subordinates. It's dross. Pretty movie but about as historically accurate as Braveheart.
@@Cl0ckcl0ck Right, but most people don't care about historical accuracy if the story and characters are solid, and the themes powerful and universal. It's historical fiction. Fiction being the key word. They set the movie in a version of the past and did so because it allows them to tell the story they wanted to tell. Again. Fiction. None of the people in this movie existed in real life, except perhaps the emperor (and I don't even know that for sure).
The gatling gun moment still makes me cry a bit, namely when you see the face of the Lieutenant filled both anger and regret at his actions, knowing he is destroying the last of the old Japan, a Japan he knew and loved and in his heart still believed in.
They moved from a horrible Japan. To one that was completely mad
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl But the move was probably still for the best. But it hurts to cut ties like that.
That seems to be what most Japanese people who love the movie say. It's not that it's accurate in detail, but that te emotions it portrays are real.
The Japanese that cut down the Samurai would probably do it again. But they understand that they lost something, and they're not happy about it. But it was time to move on.
(And as you put it, temporarily it put them into an even crazier place where they mixed the worst parts of Samurai attitude with the worst parts of Western imperialism and supremacy)
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl Few things that Japan did during WWII were mad. The Rape of Nanking was justified (indeed it didn't go far enough) based on the past actions of the nation of China, and here again in the present they're proving the Japanese didn't go far enough.
this film hands down has one of the best endings in all of cinema. maybe the best work hans zimmer ever did.
“A Small Measure of Peace” (on my wife’s RUclips account) is my favorite pieces of music produced by Hans Zimmer.
Absolutely correct, sir!
A lot of this was filmed in my home town in New Zealand where I grew up. I remember many a night at one of the local pubs 'the mill' where the japanese cast would often drink. You had all these humble down to earth people after a long day filming who were more than happy to have a chat and chill with the locals. They stood out with all their long black hair and the bottles of whisky on the bar but were only happy to share haha.Good times
One of the best on screen bloopers that was left in the movie happens just before the final battle. Cruise rides his horse back to the Samurai after meeting the generals in the middle of the battlefield. As he gets back to the Samurai he jumps off his horse and then the horse kicks some unfortunate soul in the nuts.
Hope that guy already had kids cus he’s not having any more.
I looked it up. That's hilarious lol
He takes it so well, too. Instead of crying out, he just backs up into the ranks. Maybe they kept it in out of respect and admiration.
Realistically I'm sure cavalry forces throughout history had to deal with plenty of well-aimed horse kicks to the sisters. So I guess it adds to the realism lol
@@robwalsh9843 That's actually a fair point.
Criminally underrated and undervalued as a hallmark piece of cinema in my opinion. Easily a Top 5 Hans Zimmer score too. He really went all in on it musically.
That final battle and death of Watanabe as he looks at the cherry trees is one of the best scenes in cinematic history
And not to mentioned that it sounds and looks artistically poetic, all at the same time.
Whilst the onlooking Japanese troops with their guns drop to a knee and cry
The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal . It's actually one of my favorite albums of any genre.
Agreed, one of Hans Zimmer's best. Even the trailer music was good!
This is exactly what I came here to say
Hans Zimmer performed it love on this years tour. I got goosebumps hearing it.
Was looking for this! One of Zimmer’s greatests
When Algren was getting the tar beat out of him in the rain with the samurai watching. Gave me. Goosebumps upon goosebumps. That Japanese flute in the scene was masterful. With Taka being the only person to show emotion as he refused to stay down no matter how bad the beating, was for me one of finest ten minutes of film i have ever seen. But only because of the music. Wonderful score for the entire movie. But that one scene in particular, just wow!
This masterpiece never fails to make my cry. The epic score from Hans Zimmer is incredible.
Hans Zimmer is amazing, I've been a fan since the haunting score of The Thin Red Line
Can confirm. Watched the movie 3 times, cried every time. Crying right now after Critical mentioned the last scene for 5 seconds.
I think a standout moment from this film was when Higen and Algren were talking on the porch...
Higen: "I would be afraid to go into battle."
Algren: "So would I."
Higen: "But you've been in many battles!?"
Algren: "And I was always afraid."
That was amazing bonding moment. He hated Algren for killing his dad, but ended up loving him. Great storytelling.
Tom Cruise delivered the performance of his life in this movie. When he screams in torment for booze, tormented by the memories of the atrocities he lived, I get shivers every damn time.
I absolutely love this movie. Not only is it beautifully shot, masterfully directly, top notch acting, but the martial arts in the movie was done great. So many wrist locks, pivoting stances, flowing of movements... all done superbly.
The ninja assault on the village is one of the most heart-pounding action scenes ever. I almost applauded when it was over.
It’s cool, however Ninjas would never engage Samurais in open combat.
@@daneoman1000 You're right of course, but I guess it's never expressly stated that they're "ninja" in the movie. I always just thought of them as a commando team sent to take out the leader of the rebellion. I am not sure it's possible to really depict ninja accurately in a film, given the fact there's not a lot of historical information about them in the first place.
Late response here. Saw it when it came out, EVERYONE applauded that fight scene when it ended. It was awesome.
The support cast are just brilliant in their performance
gotta love bob
that rascal
The translator guy. Played wormtail in the Harry Potter movies.
@@ATSaale he was delightful... until he asked about 'scalping' .. then shitgot dark
It's a classic. Everything about it is perfect for me. Writing, acting, cinematography, music and casting.
It felt like Hans Zimmer’s score was lifting every action scene to epic heights. The final charge of the cavalry towards the end was simply perfect.
I always thought this was such an underrated and under appreciated film!
Same
It's neither. A lot of ppl like this movie. This was before the whole "cultural appropriation" garbage infected stupid ppl.
I went through a phase of convincing my friends to watch this movie coz I felt not enough people knew about it lol so underrated
this movie and kingdom of heaven Director's cut are two I always recommend for people looking for period pieces that are fictionalized history. Kingdom of Heaven was butchered on the cutting floor for the theatrical cut and the whole film is a masterpiece in my eyes
All these extra shots really take me down memory lane. Always felt alone in my appreciation for the films that you've brought back into the light, if only for a short time. Hopefully those that haven't been able to see these now classics can watch and appreciate them as I always have.
I have seen it long ago but just like Matrix I couldn't fully grasp the themes and implications as a dumb kid. I think I would like the movie if I were to watch it now.
You’re not alone.
“I believe a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed” my life mantra.
I love this line. I think about it often and try to remember this when things get tough.
One of the few movies I gave 10 out of 10. Another one is Blood Diamond, which was directed by the same guy. And it makes me wonder, why isn't he more famous making amazing films like these.
He also did Glory with Denzel Washington.
Loved Blood Diamond. Very good movie.
Love seeing some appreciation for Blood Diamond! All time fave! Incredible soundtrack as well.
@@themonsterunderyourbed9408 The "baboon speech" was both funny and gave an insight into the psyche and capabilities of Leo's character.
Blood Diamond is a very Hollywoodized take on the setting. The massacre in the city serves as a mere background set piece for the escape of the two main characters rather than being the focus of the scene, which I thought was a bit poorly thought out.
The writing was excellent, and the calibre of the actors did so much to sell it. You really felt the weight of grief and the depth of the friendship between Algren and Katsumoto in their final exchange of words: "I will miss...our conversations"
I'm glad you showed some love for this movie. I chose it for my film presentation at acting school in New York, and everyone was extremely puzzled by it, especially because most chose pretty niche and artsy movies, but there is so much that's profound here that doesn't get enough attention. A lot of people don't like the film because they think it's a white savior story but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The Last Samurai doesn't refer to Tom Cruise, it refers to the samurai that saved him from a life of regret, waste, a lack of discipline, and a path of self-destruction that would've surely led to his death. It is a somber tale that most western audiences can't relate to, how 1000 years of samurai tradition, discipline, and honor was overtaken by machinery, industry, and the inevitability of time. Ken Watanabe is a standout performance, I can't help but cry every time he looks at the cherry blossoms, dying of his wounds, and says, "perfect".
Totally agree with your assessment. It’s much deeper than it gets credit for without being pretentious or deliberately obfuscatory (I’m looking at you The Lighthouse)
And I cry every time too. Especially when his son is killed
Very good assessment, it was the samurai who saved Tom Cruise's character, not the other way around.
Many western audiences hear the title and go "oh, a white dude is the last samurai?". But samurai is the plural of samurai; so I always interpreted the title as referring to the group that Cruise's character was captured by, they were the Last Samurai. Great movie. Very romanticized version of bushido to be sure, but that is what the movie is paying homage to, the ideal, not necessairly what it was actually like.
@@erdrickcapet3945 That's an interesting take, I hadn't considered the plural of Samurai being Samurai. I thought it was because Tom Cruise eventually got made into one and he was the last one left on the battlefield, making him the last Samurai in the end - a sort of ironic tragedy that the only Samurai left in the end would be one of the foreigners who supplanted them. But yours makes total sense too and I'm wondering if maybe it was meant to be a dual meaning that's open to interpretation.
This is one of my Dads favorite movies. I remember the day he thought i was old enough to really understand and appreciate this movie. Truly on of the great 2000's era movies.
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. The best part of the movie is the differences between the western mind and the eastern mind. The clash of two different ways of thinking. The philosophy of Katsumoto and the how he changes Nathan Algren's philosophy about life. It is a really deep understanding about how sometimes we are powerless to the changes in life. Ultimately it is about living your life with honor no matter the sacrifice or the consequences. That is Bushido. Life in every breath.
I remember when this movie came out, TCM showed a trio of Akira Kurosawa films cohosted by Tom Cruise. I stayed up into the early morning watching 7 Samurai, Yojimbo, and Throne of Blood, it was a great and memorable night!
Not surprised, those 3 are for me the best of Kurosawa's films, the acting of Mifune in Throne of Blood is amazing. Impossible to not love those 3 films.
@@MrMagual82 Thoughts on Sanjuro?
It is based on the story of Jules Brunet, a French Imperial Guard sub-lieutenant who fought alongside Enomoto Takeaki in the earlier Boshin War;
I heard that too but its baffling since there are almost no similarities and there were plenty of foreign trainers of the Japanese forces
@@bingobongo1615 he was not just a trainer but a combatant in this war ruclips.net/video/U6m7WLmAUeY/видео.html
@@bingobongo1615 "based on"... but vastly adapted !
@@FlatFab004 'based on' in the vein of Braveheart....
the story is also heavily influenced by the historic event known as the Satsuma rebellion, where traditional
Samurai made a stand against the Western influenced imperial army
In this movie everything is done with perfection.
Even the "romance", if you can call it that, between Algren and Katsumoto's sister is incredibly compelling and meaningful.
The scene when she prepares Algren for that last battle, with neither of them saying a single word... holy crap.....
Just a little kiss and everything was told with their eyes... I got goosebumps just writing this comment
Watched this recently with friend. We forgot how good storytelling can be when “THE MESSAGE” is not the focus. Loved it.
The last two minutes, tears. Seeing the Japanese commander tear up as they mow down men and horses said it all. What a powerful film, it COULD NOT be made today.
That mastery has been lost.
"The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life"...one of my favorite all time movie lines
The thing that stuck with me the most about this movie was that part of Algren's character was his disillusionment of General Custer and his last stand, and then the first time he meets Katsumoto not only does he know about Custer, but he likes him. Katsumoto is completely onboard with the concept of a last stand, and it dovetails into the climax nicely.
Yeah but Algren knew what kind of man custer was, which was a flamboyant arrogant prick who's antics got all of his men needlessly killed. I'll bet he wished he'd taken his Gattling guns with him instead of leaving them behind.
It also has a ridiculously underrated Soundtrack. During the final battle, when the fighting has come to its peak, the music simultaneously does the same. It's hard to describe but I'm not sure if I've ever seen and/or heard anything like it in another film. It's a top 10 Movie for me and i'm not ashamed to admit that.
I always thought this movie was so underrated. The second act is filled with absolutely gorgeous slow-paced scenery that let's the film breathe.
Thanks for reminding me of this one Drinker, I think im gonna watch it tonight with the wife
I’ve waited for the day Drinker covered this film.
The Last Samurai is one of my favourite movies ever.
That Final Charge is beautiful. The tears on the one Japanese general broke me. Man, such a phenomenal movie.
Also, “I will miss our conversations”. That line…
I hope Drinker covers Jack Reacher and MI- Fallout. Christopher McQuarrie is easily the best action filmmaker working today. Fallout is insanely well crafted.
But for now, thank you for this Drinker. 🙌🍻
"I will miss our conversations" - get's me every time
Even just these scenes with your narration over them are captivating.
i love how you edited all the Cruise running scenes together , its basically a staple of his films - he WILL have a running scene at some point in the movie !!
He has to, that is what makes Earth rotate. Duh
Wait until he runs in space. Not kidding. And now you're laughing :)
Cant catch me gay thoughts!
Ironic cause the Last Samurai actually doesn't involve his usual running.
Hey man, you'd run too if you pissed off Xenu as much as he has.
I like to think that the ending to Katsumoto's poem is either
"Life in every breath" or
"They are all perfect"
even though they are in English. This film has some truly beautiful lines in it.
Thank you for reminding me of the emotional impact this film had, and what a rare, beautiful cinematic art piece it remains.
We've become so jaded and disillusioned by the ideological subversion that's crept into western culture that it's easy to forget how different it was only 2 decades ago.
Once FB got it's tentacles into the minds of the populace everything went downhill. EVERYTHING.
This is a great example of a film still being fun and entertaining, despite being historically inaccurate. Although the story is based on true events (The Satsuma Rebellion) the largest inaccuracy and one that has caused many problems over the years is the outdated idea that samurai did not use guns. In reality, the samurai had been using guns since the 1500s and had just fought the boshin war in which they ALL used guns.
Yes I belive the one put the guns on the samurai was Oda, latter Many lords start to use firearms and if you play total war shogun musket samurai beat anything
@@JAKEATO Guns were being used by Samurai decades before Oda Nobunaga
The Last Samurai is easily in my top 5 movies list. Ever since I saw it when I was young I have always had a copy of this movie on the shelf. The music has never ceased to make me cry.
Traditional Japanese instruments just have a way of punching you right in the feels.
Even a cartoon like Naruto can extract a few tears.
Yeah the music is excellent, I don't always like Hans Zimmer's soundtracks but this is one of his best.
Loved in Japan for almost 20 years. This movie captures the best of the soul of this nation.
ruclips.net/video/-buQSp6wOMc/видео.html
Quite possibly my favourite Tom Cruise movie. Watching this made me fall in love with Japanese culture. Thank you for bringing it up
Tell me how he died...
I will tell you how he lived.
A masterpiece in story telling.
"They are all beautiful" in reference to the cherry blossoms always gets me.
Brilliant film. Kudos to you for calling attention to this work. This was one of the last films I viewed in a theater that was so heartfelt and moving. Maybe a couple years after this one in Batman Begins where Batman says "its not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me" was the last time there was such raw feeling in a major film release. There have surely been some good films since then, but the special big screen feeling of great actors telling a great story written by competent writers who poured their soul into the script, is an era that has largely passed. The beautiful cinematography and details in The Last Samurai are exceptional.
I watch the last samurai once every year and it is a timeless masterpiece! I also have the soundtrack that I listen to annually. Which reminds me, Hans Zimmerman did a phenomenal job with the soundtrack as it fits perfectly with the entire motif of the film.
Ever watch any Akira Kurosawa movies? Not to knock something you like, but you should check out some authentic samurai movies if you enjoyed this. Seven Samurai is a good place to start.
@@AtariDad the old forty ronin is one of my favorites
@@AtariDad Akira Kurosawa films are INCREDIBLE! Been watching them since the 90s. I have Seven Samurai in my DVD rack.
I studied Japanese and Japanese history, and this is one of my favorite movies ever. I'm glad to see The Drinker talking about it. Yeah, it's not the most accurate movie ever, and if anyone's intrested in the closest historically accurate event, look up Saigo Takamori's "Satsuma Rebellion" of 1877. Though a lot more nuanced as actual historical events usually are, it is pretty obvious The Last Samurai was based on this event.
And while Watanabe Ken's Hollywood performances aren't exactly Oscar material, I think a lot has to do with the language barrier. Check out some of his Japanese movies and you'll be blown away at how well he can act.
isn't that the inspiration behind the Sabaton song "Shiroyama"? I'm not exactly well-versed in Japanese history, beyond taking a modified version of Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu for 4 years and some Gaijin Goomba videos, but I've always found their weapons and the philosophies of Bushido interesting, at least on the surface.
Watanabe’s lack luster Hollywood performances are also likely because of Hollywood love of type casting.
Thank you for the enlightenment. I will indeed look this event up .
I found it hard to take this movie seriously after reading up on the actual events. The samurai were not very pleasant people and their rebellion was fueled by the desire to keep power.
One positive criticism I heard from a Japanese reviewer was the costumes and sets. According to him, the colors and styles of clothing were very accurate to the period, as were the sets. The crests worn by Katsumoto's samurai in the first battle should have been identical, like a western medieval lord's heraldry, but other than that, it got an A for authenticity on costumes from Japanese people.
Someone who understands what a real movie treasure Tom Cruise is. His filmography and work with some of the best directors is very underrated. The Last Samurai is one of his best.
Massively underrated movie. Will always be favourite film. A truly special, emotionally gripping and amazing story.
This movie is so well done it brings me to tears when Katsumoto dies every single time I watch it. Just a masterful piece of storytelling and character development.
They are all perfect.
Same
This really deserved a whole episode instead of just an extra shot.
Bit of trivia! His character was based on William Adams in real life, who was a trader who ended up stranded on a Japanese coast. He became personal friends with Ieyasu Tokugawa, the Shogun at the time, and he was given the name 'Miura Anjin'. He lived in Japan for the rest of his life, and, according to his friend's eye witness account, actively began to ignore other foreign traders and only interacted with the Japanese. He wrote in his journal that he considered himself more Japanese than European. The saddest part is, there is a street in Nihonbashi named after him, as well as a mural in Hiroshima where he died. Whereas in his home country, he doesn't even exist. So, if anyone ever yells 'white savior' about this film, hit them with that piece of info :)
Edit: Correction (in the comments below) - it seems they actually took more inspiration from a French officer named Jules Brunet. Thanks @The Shogunate !
Everyone knows he came to Japan to search for his guardian spirit Saoirse who was stolen by Edward Kelly gosh.
I think you're confusing this with Shogun by James Clavell (with a tv show version coming up soon). I believe Algren's character is based off a French military officer (I forget the name) who joined in with the Samurai during the Boshin war, the period this film is set in. William Adams arrived in Japan 250 years prior at the end of Sengoku
They certainly used bits of William Adams, but the main reference for Nathan Algren (The character Tom Cruise plays) is actually a French officer named Jules Brunet who fought alongside the Shogunate forces in the Boshin War.
@@TheShogunate Hey! Nothing like getting backed up by the best Japanese history channel on RUclips! Love your stuff dude!
@@TheShogunateWhoah! Not only did I get info that I was totally unaware of, but I got it from *The Shogunate*? I am absolutely honored to be corrected by you! I had no idea about Jules Brunet, so I will definitely look into him. I find Miura/William so interesting, that he got made a samurai by Tokugawa himself.
This film is a beautiful masterpiece. I always tear up by the end, and I’m grateful for that emotional weight that we see so infrequently in modern cinema.
I saw this movie while I was an English teacher in Japan. I'll never forget the sobbing in the audience toward the end of the movie.
Of course a Japanese audience would be overawed by this, by any " Hollywood" film which glorifies Nippon I remember, when I worked there ( NOR as an English teacher; a serious job reorganising an acquired Japanese financial services company) the there were queues around the block to see that trash," Pearl HRbour". They will watch anything like that.
@@oweneather1435 thank you for letting the rest of us know you're better than us. It was very helpful to know the musings of a non-English teaching gaikokujin on the film.
This movie is one of my favorites. This makes me cry every time i see that ending. 100% of the time.
It's why it's hard to rewatch
TLS is one of those films i wake up and remember every once and a while. Give it a rewatch. Absolute gold
I was fortunate enough to grow up in Japan until I was 14 years old and what I can say is that this is one of my favorites movies regarding what makes that culture beautiful and appealing to western societies. The dichotomy of what Algren goes through is what I consistently find myself thinking of as an American.
Thank you to Tom Cruise and the entire team that brought this movie to life because it really portrays at least my experiences living in Japan. The peace, serenity, and honor aspects this film highlight I inculcated at a very young age and evoke the pure joy I remember being in a society that honored those traditions. I cry every time I watch it.
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Ken Watababe is fantastic in that movie. To this day it remains one of my favorite period piece action movies.
Every actor in this movie did a great job. I especially loved Hiroyuki Sanada's performance.
Great call, Drinker! I’ve long appreciated this well crafted movie - and wondered why it’s so overlooked. Plus the historical and cultural accuracy makes it a powerful epic tale of the last years of the feudal Japan era 👍 This and “Memoirs Of A Geisha” are Watanabe’s best performances.
Except it was European armies the Japanese hired to train their troops.
I won't say it's historically accurate as even during the Sengoku period (1477 to 1615) gunmen strategies genuinely exists. Even characters' name in this movie are not accurate to the real Meiji Restoration war.
However, this movie is very much appreciated in Japan as a historical fantasy. Not to mention Tom Cruise convinced the team to genuinely hire full Japanese cast instead of Chinese, which Japan definitely appreciate.
The historical accuracy of a white guy co-leading the last stand of the samurai against the Japanese military? 🤔
IIRC, it came out at the same time with another movie of the more Hollywood-hype type, maybe even 2 or 3 more.
@@MagcargoMan Well that would be Jules Brunet, and he got out alive too.
I have said, for years, that Tom Cruise is a proper star. At some point I can’t wait to see what he does as a director.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seem this film. One of my all times favourites that I can just rewatch over and over again and not get bored. Bloody brilliant.
This is one of the 3 films that I saw in the cinema that I went and bought another ticket for as soon as I'd finished watching it. I think this is probably Tom Cruise's best work. I saw him as a different kind of actor after this film, he arguably wasn't the hero of the story. He's an observer in a bigger issue and seeks to reconcile with his personal demons by doing what he sees as "the right thing" for the first time in his military career. The only thing I wish had been fleshed out more in this film was the parallel between Cruise's character and the Japanese general that was formerly a samurai. It would have been interesting to see some more between those two, rather than having him beheaded at the end of the first fight. I do understand the plot device that was achieved by that scene, but I still think there was value to be gained there.
What were the other 2? X
I was 14 when I first watched this movie, it was one if not the most memorable movie for me. Lots of critics focus on how historically accurate it is, but knowing that almost none of the characters are actual historical people, I don't think historical accuracy was their goal.
One of my all-time favorite films and, in my opinion, Tom Cruise's best. Nathan Algren is such a fantastic character.
This is one of my most favorite movies, and has been since I saw it in theaters. The late 90's - early 00's had some greats that I repeatedly go back to: The Last Samurai, Master and Commander, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, etc. Great vid Drinker!
I feel like that was the golden era for movies. 95-05 roughly
It is the only movie that makes me cry --- the final charge ---- when the music suddenly stops --- wooooo
This was such a beautiful film and my second favorite of all time. I hate how it never got the recognition it deserved but always enjoy when people talk about how brilliant it is, even today.
Another good one also starring Ken Watanabe is his take on Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven which came out in 2013.... its basic the exact same story but from a Japanese perspective and set during pretty much the same time period as The Last Samurai
I’s great to hear the critical drinker praise a movie I’ve always loved.
This was a surprisingly poignant and respectful film for Hollywood to have made, and that’s coming from a massive fan of classic 50s-60s Japanese cinema. I will always highly recommend the 1962 film Harakiri as being the highest achievement of the samurai genre and the best cinematic example of what true honor is that I have seen.
I'll second that rec. Great film; anyone who sees this comment, listen to him and go watch it if you haven't seen it before!
@@redsoxu571 I still need to see HARAKIRI. What do you think of Kurosawa’s own samurai movies like SEVEN SAMURAI, and YOJIMBO, and SANJURO? I love the first two, haven’t yet seen the third in my list
@@AnandVenigalla you haven't seen Tsubaki Sanjuro?? that is a crime and has to be rectified immediately, friend lol
no but srsly you should watch that one
@@AnandVenigalla I've loved anything I've seen of Kurosawa's. Yojimbo is one of my favorite films, period...I will admit though that I haven't yet gotten around to Sanjuro! I'm looking forward to that one.
Yes, Harakiri is another must see film.
One of my favorite epic movies. I love the soundtrack the story, the characters, and the environment.
This has been my one of my favorite movies for as long as I can remember. I'm glad you thought so highly of it as well. Thanks for reminding me of all the things I loved about it. I think I'm gonna watch it again now
The last Samurai and Collateral are probably my 2 favorite Tom Cruise films. Probably because they are so different from what you typically
expect from a standard Tom Cruise movie. The soundtrack for this also deserves a special mention.
Tropic Thunder 😉
Exactly! My two favorite Tom Cruise movies too!
Ken Watanabe deserved an oscar for his performance.
He was nominated for this. I can't remember who won that year though.
I saw this movie in middle school. This movie literally made me see the world different and single-handedly kickstarted the philosophical bones in me.
This has been my favorite movie for several years now. Glad to see this pop up here. If you can find it on disc or youtube, the behind the scenes are great too.
One of my all time favourites, fantastic performances, a simple but well told story and an incredible soundtrack.
I remember chatting to my sister about this years ago, she told me that the line from Katsumoto "They are all perfect" always brings her to tears. Ken Wantanabe was so freaking good in this.
Personally, I loved Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio, he just had such a commanding presence. That moment when he roars after defeating the ninja assassins, you just can't help but cheer along with him.
Looking forward to see him in John Wick Chapter 4.
Yeah I'm a big Hiroyuki Sanada fan. Great actor!
I am a HUGE fan of Japanese cinema, and I can say without reservation that this is as extremely close and honest as Hollywood DID and will EVER come to making an authentic historical Japanese epic film! Something tells me Hollywood will never make something like THIS ever again!
Hollywood can't even cast these days
@@ΑναστάσιοςΠαπαζαχαρίου Right. Today, they'd have people from every race traipsing around 19th century Japan, and a gay subplot between Algren and Katsumoto.
This film is HIGHLY underrated
Tom is just that damn good, from the 1st time I've seen his classic Mission Impossible to the recent Maverick, I'm always satisfied by his work
Don't forget Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder!
genuinely intimidating in 'Collateral' - I remember the fuss when he was cast in 'Interview with a Vampire' and the pleasant surprise all the naysayers got when it came out
@@douglaswilliams6834 that role proved to me he can do comedy, and do it really well! I still to this day laugh with my little brother when we do the "G5" dance to Low 😂😂😂
@@richardhockey8442 a fantastic classic and his ability to be creepy/scary was amazing. Truly one of my favorite films ever