He said you could spend a lifetime looking for a perfect blossom and it would not be a wasted life. At the end when he was dying he realized that every blossom was perfect.
I would push back on the “every blossom” is perfect aspect and narrow it down more to that he was proud of the life he led and to gaze at the blooming buds at the time his life’s achievements flashed before his eyes constitutes the perfection he was searching for.
they are all perfect is the last line he needed to finish his poem. if you recall him sharing his unfinished poem with algren earlier in the film, he also states he has trouble finishing it and "they are all perfect" his last line completes it. he was doing a haiku poem which is a 3 line poem with the first line consisting of 5 syllables, second line with 7 syllables, and third line with 5 syllables.
Dude I love your reaction. 1. You don’t over talk 2. Don’t make silly commentary just to fill the void 3. Authentic reaction 4. And you’re paying attention to the most important scenes and or dialogue. Kudos to you! Look forward to your next film
11:52-12:00 "first appearance of katsumoto(with his samurai face guard) hes watching as agrin is waving his flag with the "white tiger symbol" fighting for his last breath.. theres a powerful saying ."a white tiger, sensing its end is always at its most fierce." and katsumoto the samurai leader, knew this symbolism all too well..
Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for this film was one of his best imo. Such pain and tradition wrapped up into these poetic songs fit for the honor, respect, and time of the samurai. This is one of my fav overlooked films
Hans Zimmer is the best when it comes to expressing subtle, complex, meaningful pain. Just listen to The Lion King soundtrack ("This Land" from the official score, and "Kings of the Past" from the complete score). Who would've ever thought that something out of Disney would express duty, responsibility, and guilt through music alone? (especially since back in the early '90s, Disney was still looked upon as "cartoons for children") I am Japanese, and I have never heard music about Japanese people expressed so accurately. The Last Samurai is filled with so many historical inaccuracies, but that's not what matters. The deep emotions our people and ancestors feel internally is captured perfectly through Zimmer's gorgeous soundtrack. And we must not forget to credit Edward Zwick for orchestrating (no pun intended) the whole movie.
The soundtrack for this movie is my fav of all time. The ending piece “A Small Measure of Peace” is what I play everyday to help me sleep. It’s just so peaceful sounding. Hans Zimmer is my fav composer ever. He’s just a pure genius when it comes to movie soundtracks. The Lion King, Pirates, Kung Fu Panda, are just a few examples of his musical brilliance.
I really love the line "When I took these you were my enemy". It implies so many things without even needing to say it and it conveys such a deep level of respect.
The character of Katsumoto is based on a real-life Imperial Samurai called Saigo Takamori. His life is truly fascinating and I highly recommend looking it up and reading more about him if this film made you curious. I think one of my favourite subtle things about this film is the development of the relationship between Hiroyuki Sanada's character (the one who knocks Algren down in the rain) and Algren. He begins with such disdain and hatred for Algren, develops grudging respect during their training, and by the end they have a true friendship - as shown by the little things such as the fact he goes along with Algren's escape plan in Kyoto and the "testing" of the armour before the battle. Fantastic but understated character development.
The scene where she's changing him into the suit of armor is BEAUTIFUL. One of the best scenes in the film. There is such a simple intimacy shared through a very complex situation and set of feelings and how it is captured is so beautiful to watch.
I watched this in the cinema when it came out, and despite being a student of military history and being completely enthralled by the 'story' that was being told, that was the one scene in the days that followed that stuck in my mind, and has all these years later. It was human, so beautifully human.
It is a sex scene with out nudity. it is intimate, without being awkward. It shows Taka being intimet with out needing to show skin. It shows the bond both have woven in a way that doesn`t disturb the flow of the movie. It is a brilliant scene
Tom Cruise has made nearly 50 movies in his epic career.. but I still have this one as my #1 favorite. I cannot find one flaw with this movie.. the story, the acting, the script, the action, the culture, the spirituality, it had everything - all.. perfect.
It’s presented as a historic film yet In The Last Samurai we bear witness to a false identity, a fake history, and a magnificent lie. Like I said I don’t mind historical films with some inaccurates but this film was like a Disney fairytale. @@arismaiden6457
@@bradley8258 umm, he was the sole survivor that convinced the Emperor to change his ways...it's about as white savior as it gets lol. Also for anyone that's familiar with Asian history at all you'd know that Tom Cruise crying at the end is akin to someone crying for Hitler. It's really bizarre but hey, it's admittedly a well made movie...
I remember when I was 10 years old, my dad was watching this movie. When the final battle played out, was the first time i saw my dad cry. Back then i couldn't understand why he was crying over a movie. 20 years later and it's my turn :)
12:50 - It is called Seppuku. Ancient ritual where a samurai is given the right to take his own life to maintain his honor. A person will be asked to cut off his head and the person who asked to do so consider it as an honor to assist. Yes, the Ninjas has throwing stars (called Shuriken).
29:32 When Nobutada cries out like that when the soldier cuts off his topknot, it’s like he’s begging his ancestors' forgiveness for having allowed himself to be dishonoured like this.
@@MrM9819 That and the scene on the bridge where he makes his last stand are both heartbreaking. Katsimoto lifts him to his feet and gives him a look that says "No father was ever more proud of his son." 💔
The Last Samurai is a motion picture adaption and a blend of two separate but _real_ historical people and events. A Japanese Samurai, Saigo Takamori, who this movie portrays as the character Katsumoto Moritsuga; and a French Soldier, Jules Brunet, who this movie portrays as the character Nathan Algren. Great choice.
I cry every time I watch this movie. It's beautiful storytelling. While I think this is Tom Cruise's finest performance Ken Watanabe steals this movie. So well acted and the music is mesmerizing. I think if you don't tear up during this movie then you truly have no heart. I enjoyed your honest reaction.
The lead samurai Hiroyuki Sanada has done many movies including Avengers: End Game and John Wick 4, but he has many many Japanese movie credits. My favorite is Twilight Samurai, awesome movie.
Appreciate the emotion in your reaction. I would like to point that that the premise of the movie was not to paint Nathan as the Last Samurai. Katsumoto and the men he fought with, in his journals, were the last samurai (collective, plural). I found it refreshing that this movie had done an uno reverse on the white savior trope and given such profound respect to the culture and to the Samurai themselves. In the end, the white man was not the savior - but it was the culture and people he had been thrown into and surrounded by, that saved him.
26:05 that kid was so brave. When his home and family were attacked he didn’t run. He picked up his father’s sword and defended them. That few moments of defiance gave Algren a window to step in. His father and ancestors looked at him from the afterlife and nodded with pride .
exactly. he was scared of course he was... but he was the man of his house, he understood without question that it was his duty. most boys in most cultures learn this from a young age... ppl in modern times are starting to forget about duty. it's all about wants
One of Tom's best, the story, the cast, the culture and human beings coming together and learning about each other. The beauty of the landscape, the Direction of Edward Zwick and the musical score from Hans Zimmer. Just a few reasons why it's one of my favorites. Thank You for your reaction.
Dont worry about crying! This movie do that to people. I honestly think that people that dont cry to this dont have a heart, i think crying to this movie is a respectful way of showing emotions to the honour some people have in their life. I would love to live the life the way the samurai does. With honour, love for eachother, taking care of eachother as brothers, sisters family, nowdays people dont care about eachother. Most people just shows hate all the time. Egocentric most of the times. Its me me and me. I dont care about others. And we are all living on this planet. We should care for eachother not hate eachother. We are all the same only some people have money and power and some dont. ❤
Katsumoto death - - - his last words "perfect they are all perfect" is the last line to his haiku if you remember him telling algren that he has difficulty in finishing his poem, his last phrase completes it. I dont remember what was his poem, its been a while since i saw the film, but Katsumoto does read his unfinished poem to Algren. In case you dont know, japanese haiku is a 3 line poem that goes with line 1 containing 5 syllables, line 2 with 7 syllables, and line 3 with 5 syllables. "they are all perfect" has 5 syllables
"The tiger's eyes are just like mine But he comes from a deep and troubled sea" That's what he tells Algren when describing his poem. I do not know how Haiku's are made, but maybe the amount of syllables changes when translated from kanji to the roman alphabet?
38:15 my favourite subtle detail too. where ever they go the citizens always bow in respect to the samurai. means a lot when the infantry all bow at the end of the battle, in respect to the identity of warriors in their tradition and history
12:52 even though he was an older soldier serving the emperor with the americas.. hes also samurai too "he was performing his ritual sacrifice like what all traditional samurai warriors did,to honor themselves and their houses.."
24:28 The more correct term for what is shown here is Shinobi. By the time of the Meiji Restoration (the time period where the movie is set), Shinobi were relegated to myth and legend, and while Ninja did exist, they were very very rare. The two names mean almost the same thing: Ninja = "one who is invisible," while Shinobi = "one who sneaks." They were covert mercenaries that were hired for siege, infiltration, assassination, ambush, reconnaissance, espionage, deception, even bodyguarding. They were highly despised by the Samurai as their ways of waging irregular warfare and covert assassination was considered dishonorable. Ninja and Shinobi were far, FAR more prevalent between the 12th and 15th centuries, the Sengoku period, but by Meiji (1860s) they were all but gone, so it's a little bit of creative license for the movie :)
They are the same word, just using different Japanese(onyomi vs kunyomi) reading. The kanji are about the same thing, a role someone took up. Most "ninja" were simply samurai, cause samurai had access to places commoners did not. You were right that they had been gone by 1860s. Tokugawa was the last to make great use of this role.
The Shinobi were not all despised by samurai given the fact they were hired by them & daimyos - many of them were in fact samurai/ashigaru taking jobs in covert warfare. Many Shinobi worked with samurai who were pledged to their client (warlord) 🥷
It is pretty cool seeing someone who knows so little about history/samurai reacting to the customs and stuff in this movie. I recall I was terrible with history as well in school, and now that I'm grown, I've really enjoyed learning more, and recalling what I thought I did not absorb in history class.
"I will tell you how he lived" This line made my heart drop, so often we are consumed by grief and only mourn how a person died, without fully celebrating how they lived. One of my all time favorite films growing up
This is one of my favourites. They don’t many movies like this anymore. Another great reaction Stef. Love your reactions and how genuine you are. Have a lovely day and a great week.
13:03 is where the officer/general commited harakiri (self delete) by stabbing himself with a tanto and disembowling himself. People who have lost their way could perform harakiri to restore their honor. Seppuku (practically the same) was meant for samurai, also for restoring honor. The moment someone who commited seppuku/harakiri moved/screamed in agony is when one's head was chopped off. It's a very old tradition dating back from the samurai days.
I've always been a fan of the quiet background characters,and "Bob" was my favorite. Never spoke a word until he warned Algren. He was loyal,and obviously wise since he was older,and an experienced warrior. Katsumoto trusted him enough to watch over Algren with his life,and he literally did. Whoever played him did an outstanding job!
@@maximussparkus6933 He was a well known, but no longer acting actor in Japan. After The Last Samurai was released, his career got a big boost and he started acting again! (It was discussed in the extras)
Such a delight to see you once again. I am not always able to watch your reactions, but when I am fortunate enough to be here you make me forget about everything else. Thank you 🌹
How are all these comments here and none are talking about Shogun?! It's a reboot of a 70's miniseries that's based on a book that's based deeply in real events of 1600's Japan. It stars Hiroyuki Sanada (Ujio) and is two episodes in. In my opinion it will end up being one of the best series of all time. The first two episodes are on Hulu, episode 3 drops Tuesday, it's an absolute must watch!
I really, really, REALLY love how, in one of the most poignant moments of the movie Steph reacts in a very "Japanese" way, though I am sure it was unintentional ;D Katsumoto gives Algren the new sword that codifies him as the Samurai in which the "old ways join the new" and Step says "hm!" Perfect. PERFECT!
Absolutely soul-shattering performances by all involved. And it doesn't matter that you know what's coming. Nothing can soften the blow of that last sequence in the battle, and the death of Katsumoto, or the way the Samurai continue to be ripped apart by the gatling fire. I just watched your eyebrows, and was like, "Yup, there's that dip in the middle of the eyebrow, she's there." That scene is like a litmus test for psychopathy. Anyone who doesn't tear up or cry outright is a serial killer.
I absolutely adore this reaction. Experiencing "The Last Samurai" for the first time and witnessing its impact on you is truly remarkable. It feels like you were fully immersed in every heartfelt moment of the story. Thank you for sharing your experience!
As a Filipino, I've re-watched this movie so many times. The Philippines and Japan are so damn close geographically, but culturally we are so different and unique.
18:37 I also kind of got the feeling that he feels like he deserves to feel that pain and a lot more because of his past experiences that hunt him all the way into his nightmares that from he can never escape.
I'll always love how "The Last Samurai" can be taken three ways - one, the "Last" Samurai refers to Tom Cruise's Algren in the starring role. Second, the "Last" Samurai refers to Watanabe as "Katsumoto" in the secondary role. Thirdly? The "Last" Samurai is something more *ephemeral* and applies, perfectly logically, to *both* in everyone else that fought with them because, of course, the plural of "samurai" is "samurai" ;D Perhaps all of my interpretations are failings of a personal perspective but, honestly, I love them all and, particularly, I find the last to be the most true and the most accurate. While we have a protagonist, we also have an *idea* here that is being represented *before* our protagonist engages with it. Samurai and Bushido are both, really, beautiful concepts (when considered romantically) and, I think we honor this most (and most ideally) in the third interpretation. Algren is the last, Katsumoto is the last, everyone that died fighting against their brothers were the "last" and will, forever more, be that. It's less a person and, much more, an epoch - a movement - an ideal. The last of the "old" meets the first of the "new" and something catalytic and explosive and, ultimately, creative , happens despite how undeniably *destructive* it is. Mono no aware : ) The most beautiful things in the universe do not last and, part of that, is the temporary, transitional, ephemeral nature of all of these undeniably *beautiful* things. Mono no aware.
@@ronweber1402 I think they just avoided 'the last of the' convention because it was already too similar to 'the last of the Mohicans' in many ways. But it's a safe bet that it didn't refer to Algren because the samurai who never made it to the final cavalry charge werent just dead, there were plenty merely wounded earlier in the battle.
Algren was not samurai. "But he spent the winter with them and learned how to fight with a katana and joined their side and wore samurai armor to the battle, doesn't that make him a samurai?" No.
Truly one of the greatest films ever made... This is NOT just a movie.. it really is a work of art, a story and an experience. Everyone should really give this a watch!
38:42 It is actually a very nifty trick of language that they used naming the movie that. You see, the plural of Samurai is... Samurai. It is one of those very rare single/plural words that depending on the way it's used in a sentence determines its meaning. So, in effect, "The Last Samurai" means both Katsumoto's clan (plural), as well as Nathan (singular).
I'd argue it could also be Katsumoto. Graham does say "and so the days of the samurai had ended" even though Nathan was still alive. It depends if you see Nathan as a true samurai or not I guess. Still, I'd like to think it was meant as plural
@@danielhughes3758 I think it is fair to say that Nathan was a Samurai. He was accepted, trained, armored, and before going into the battle, had a sword made specifically for him, which was something in that time was done ONLY for Samurai, who were expected to care for the sword for the rest of their life.
@@danielhughes3758 Japanese title of the movie is "end of the samurai" and the director confirmed samurai was plural. It's about the end of the samurai class, not any individual samurai.
Ms. Stef > Thanks for another great vid ~ Watch SHOGUN (FX) .. .. You'll recognize a very familiar face playing the lead .. .. This story was very, very, loosely based on the end of the Samurai era in the mid-1800s, generally around the time of the US Civil War .. .. In actuality, the Emperor had a loose military agreement with both Prussia (Germany) and England .. .. The United States was just a bystander and watched both sides without any major involvement .. .. The populace wanted dearly to hold on to the Samurai (Bushido) mindset and lifestyle while the Government knew they had to open up to the rest of the world to keep pace, thus the conflict .. ..
At 13:01 It's called "Seppuku" (切腹, lit. translate, cutting [the] belly), also called hara-kiri (腹切り, lit. 'abdomen/belly cutting', a native Japanese kun reading), is a form of Japanese ritualistic suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honor, but was also practiced by other Japanese people during the Shōwa era. (particularly officers near the end of World War II) to restore honour for themselves or for their families.
The Last Samurai is a film of epic proportions. Hans Zimmer's score is amazing, the story, the cinematography...the emotion. This movie has several of my favorite moments in cinema history. I saw this in theaters on the big screen...always hits hard. Great reaction, Steph!
One of my favorite movies. I'm a grown adult man and still will cry at the end. The scene when Kata dresses Tom in her dead husband's armor is one of the most sensual scenes in a movie ever. Great review, love your channel.
As someone who has this movie in their top 5 fav of all time. This was a great reaction. The silence speaks volumes when you have trouble commentating bc of the movies ability to keep you entranced. Great reaction!
Ain't gonna lie, it was funny to see your face at the execution in the beginning after the first little battle. :P Great reaction as always! This movie is so amazing.
There is a huge lesson in this story as well. How in moving “forward” with the world we in many ways leave behind our honor. This movie made me miss my father… he would have understood, everyone else in my life thought I was nuts for ugly crying. Thanks for this reaction.
Such an emotional movie! Gets me everytime..from him fighting his demons to getting looked after by the wife of the man he killed in battle, to coming to respect their culture and fighting for them
Exceptional movie, and I'm very happy you got to watch it. I hope you enjoyed it. The movie is very loosely based on a similar real life experience, but I think the person is a French military man in the historical record.
Qué excelente!! Love your reaction videos, and makes perfect sense for me that this one carved deeper than others. It is for me, at least, more than just a movie. It's a "filmic document". Even with it's historic inaccuracies. One hell of a story. So what a nice thing to see than you reacting to this wonderful motion picture. Saludos de Chile, me encantó tu canal!!
@Stef Solari Nice to know: this movie is actually based on real events and history - it actually happened nearly exactly this way - the only difference is that the guy played by Tom Cruise in reallife was (I don’t exactly remember that part but he was no American, he was a France general or something like that - but definitely not an american and from Europe, I mean France) and after the newspaper-guy filmed and documented those events it is how he says at the end: „it is not known what happened to ….. but I like to believe he found peace and love“ so that part is made up, but I really like it that they sayed it that way… but after the events he has never been heard of or be seen again, he really could have died due to his injuries, but as he said he really also could lived peacefully till the end of his days… just wanted to point that out, awesome made film 🤙🏻
Love the Cyberpunkesque intro. This movie is amazing. I had no idea how Tom Cruise could integrate himself into the samurai lore respectfully, but I think they did a good job of doing so. It’s a fantastic move. Also love the reaction.
This is one of my favorite movies, not just because of how well made it is (acting, music, story, that sort of thing), but because it touches on something deeper than most films can. The samurai in reality were not a bunch of noble protectors fighting against corruption. Many of them were also just corrupt noblemen who saw the world changing and didn't want to lose their power. However, many of the ideas guiding samurai life were respectable and, I'd argue, good for everyone. There's the obvious example of how disciplined and mentally strong they were due to their lifestyle, and I think our modern lifestyle has made people, for lack of a better word, weak in certain ways. "No mind" is also a real thing, and something I've used many times in the 15 years of karate I did. What is involves is allowing the subconscious mind to take over and guide your actions, with no conscious thoughts or decisions being made. People do this when they are performing tasks at a very high level, like sports or creating art. It's sometimes called the "flow state". Lastly, things like bushido and Katsumoto's realization that all of the cherry blossoms he saw in his life were perfect are philosophical ideas that are expressed in other cultures as well. There isn't a truly "perfect" cherry blossom, therefore, that kind of means that every cherry blossom is perfect in its own way. I believe this is an idea we can apply to ourselves. We can only be what we are at any given moment, and what we are is perfect for that moment. Something like that.
Wifey is that you??? 😂 I’m blown away by the emotion your eyes convey. This is my favorite film of all time, glad it touched your soul like it does mine ❤️
This is one of the great must watch movies and all of the acting is perfect. IMO, it’s a masterpiece and they should have won several awards for this especially the two main characters. Watching this is a beautiful thing and heartbreaking at the same time.
Love that you reacted to this film; it's one of the top films that showcase how to tell a tale. Amazing choreography and scale, and the story beats are perfect. That said, keep in mind that this is an over-romanticizing of the samurai class. As Japan modernized, there was no need to have a land-owning class of feudal knights who ruled their domains with sometimes very brutal authority (their warrior code very much clashed with their practices). The movie draws inspiration from the Boshin War in the struggle between the ruling Shogunate and the Imperial Court, as well as the foreign interference. Definitely something to look into in your own time. Edit: just wanted to add that this is a very western lense; I would recommend Kurosawa "Ran" from 1985 and its surrealism as well as Miike's "13 Assassins" that touches upon the corruption and brutality of the samurai class (be aware that it's very violent).
Many people here either like or dislike Tom Cruise. No matter how you feel about him personally, he is one of the few actors than still make great cinema. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Historically samurai also had no issues using firearms. In fact the character Katsumoto historically was based on his clan was well known for artillery use.
Never seen your channel/reactions before but I can say after watching this I officially subscribed! Your pure/raw/genuine emotion is so refreshing and nice to see, the fact you dont over talk/talk the whole entire reaction is also amazing compared to a lot of channels... you seem to be really into the movie while you're watching it, 18:45 spot on, I understand that all too well This is one of my moms absolute favourite movies and growing up i never understood why... but as i got older i now understand and it breaks my heart watching this movie every single time, but it's such a masterpiece! Thank you for the amazing reaction! PS you're beautiful🥰
You are, at least, much younger than me, but what I love about your reactions is the emotional maturity you bring to them beyond your years. Keep doing what you're doing!
You said, "You guys knew this would happen." ... Which I'm sure was true. Anyone who's seen this movie knows what kind of emotional rollercoaster it is. If you're interested in looking into the events this movie is based on, look up the Satsuma Rebellion. Katsumoto is loosely based on on Saigo Takamori, the final battle is loosely based on the battle of Shiroyama. There are many historical inaccuracies in this movie, but for this particular movie I'm willing to forgive them taking artistic license. The most glaring inaccuracy, in my opinion, is the refusal of the rebel samurai to use Firearms. The actual samurai at the time of the Satsuma Rebellion were experts at using firearms*, and they used them consistently throughout the war until their final charge at Shiroyama (when they were basically out of ammo). * They had been using Tanegashima Matchlocks for hundreds of years and where mostly veterans of the Boshin War, where modern European firearms (including the Dreyse Needle Gun, Chassepot Rifle, and Springfield Repeaters) were widely used. PS: The part where the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army kneel before the fallen rebel Samurai after the final charge of the last battle. That's historical. That actually happened at Shiroyama.
appreciated this reaction very much, The Last Samurai was one of my top favorite movies/DVD rentals since 2003-4 for sure ... I don't know if this was already answered but the actor who plays Nobutada/village head with the bow and arrow? He was in a Disney Channel original movie with Brenda Song, I believe called "Wendy Wu/Warrior" or something along those lines (look up if I'm mistaken!) great stuff!
One of my late Mrs' favorites, and I very much find it great as well. From my mother's side of the family, I'm descended from samurai, and a grand uncle possessed a "hand-me-down" sword ('twas very impressive to view).
Also if you like martial arts Jet Li's ''Fearless'' 2006 is one of the greatest martial artists movies ever made , the story in the movie is great too and will get you emotional as well
No shame in crying at this movie. This one leaves me in tears every single time. I've seen hardened combat veterans shed more than a few tears at this.
The character's journey to understand what he first sees as a contradictory society, ends up helping him to resolve his own internal contradictions. The film is a truly stunning success at portraying that transformation.
13:15 ,That scene is called "Seppuku or harakiri, the samurai suicide.They did this when they thought they had lost honor, so that was the only way to keep it ,"die like a warrior.In the ritual the samurai the samurai stabbed and cut his stomach and other cut his head .☺ Love your reactions, never dissapoint. Esta película es puro arte, música de Hans Zimmer, unos actores brutales y un cuidado del detalle exquisito ,es sin duda una de las películas de mi vida. Un abrazo desde España!
Welcome to the club of crying towards the end of the movie I can never watch this movie without crying or rolling tears for the ending! ❤️ One of my all-time favorite Tom Cruise movies I saw this movie in theater six times before it left my theater to go be made into VHS is in DVDs for the stores when it came out day one at the store to buy I bought it on VHS and then I bought it on DVD day one when they were available❤ The sound of the horses when the samurais first show up in the first battle in the fog chills at my spine the entire theaters concrete what shaking because of that scene this movie is a masterpiece for what it is Ken and want to nabi phenomenal job beautifully written movie got me hooked on samurai history when I was younger❤
The line that always hits me the most is at the end when the leader of the Samurai dies he says 'they are all perfect' he is talking about the buds on the tree being perfect and that means he is finally at peace. Yes the Samurai were a nobal people who served their king and when their king dies they find themselves without perpuse and that is called a Ronin. What happened in the beginning with the general when he killed himself and his head was cut off is called Harakiri and it is what a Samurai feels themselves loosing their honor and that is a way of getting it back in a way. The story Tom Cruiz speaks of with the 300 Spartans vs the persians is fitting for that moment because like the spartans to a Samurai dying in battle is the highest honor one could have. There is a movie called 300 that is about that moment it's very gory and based on a graphic noval but it tells that story of the 300 and is staring Gerad Butler. Any way I love this movie so much and am glad you did as well and yes Ninjas were highered assasins without honor in those days so you are right those were ninjas that attacked them.
Cuando hace unos meses te la recomendé, no dude por un segundo el impacto que tendría con tu reacción Stefy. En lo que a mi respecta es la mejor película épica de todas. Su trama, sus personajes, su banda sonora son sencillamente perfectas...como describe Katsumoto al final!!
First time watching your channel Stef, and what a movie to begin with. Loved your reaction and emotion to this amazing movie. Looking forward to seeing more from you.
I just found your channel and I enjoyed the reaction to this fantastic movie. The Last Samrai is gem that hits all of the emotions. Every time I watch this whether it be a reaction, or I just put it in, it always makes me cry. I went and looked at your catalog of videos to see what you have reacted to and what you haven't. I saw that you haven't reacted to 300 yet. I hope to see you react to it sometime.
He said you could spend a lifetime looking for a perfect blossom and it would not be a wasted life. At the end when he was dying he realized that every blossom was perfect.
so few people catch this the first time and it happens to be one of the most poignant lines in the whole film.
I would push back on the “every blossom” is perfect aspect and narrow it down more to that he was proud of the life he led and to gaze at the blooming buds at the time his life’s achievements flashed before his eyes constitutes the perfection he was searching for.
At his death Katsumoto had an epiphany and with it, arrived at the last line of the poem he was having trouble finishing. "They are all perfect."
Well said sir. Appreciate the words of the wise :)
OK 👍
"Perfect, they are all perfect" ... wonderful performance by Ken Watanabe.
He is always a win for a reason.
they are all perfect is the last line he needed to finish his poem. if you recall him sharing his unfinished poem with algren earlier in the film, he also states he has trouble finishing it and "they are all perfect" his last line completes it.
he was doing a haiku poem which is a 3 line poem with the first line consisting of 5 syllables, second line with 7 syllables, and third line with 5 syllables.
@@vanillasnowxOk that is dope!
Yah, the acting by the ENTIRE CAST of this movie is just mind blowing. Especially Watanabe and Cruise's chemistry.
I really like this guy. And i know when he's in a movie, it's gonna be good. Same with Graham Greene.
Dude I love your reaction.
1. You don’t over talk
2. Don’t make silly commentary just to fill the void
3. Authentic reaction
4. And you’re paying attention to the most important scenes and or dialogue.
Kudos to you! Look forward to your next film
Couldn’t agree more
yes
Exactly best reaktions i seen. Sometimes people talk when its the most important scenes. Then i just skipp that person if they Dont pay attentionen .
Totally agree. A wonderful, authentic reactor.
Totally agree.
This isn't just a movie, it's cinema.. Masterclass of story telling. Tom Cruise at his dramatic best and chef's kiss to Ken Watanabe!
It's like watching a novel
@@seanfrashier631 It's like reading a film.
@antoniochasten3192 its like hearing braille
Like watching a movie
Watanabe-san has great range .. .. Saw him play the lead in THE EMPEROR & I on the West End and was terrific!
- What happened to the warrios at Thermopylae?
- Dead to the last man.
- **smiles**🗿
"Tell me how he died."
"I will tell you how he lived."
11:52-12:00 "first appearance of katsumoto(with his samurai face guard)
hes watching as agrin is waving his flag with the "white tiger symbol" fighting for his last breath.. theres a powerful saying ."a white tiger, sensing its end is always at its most fierce." and katsumoto the samurai leader, knew this symbolism all too well..
@@jebVlogs556 He had a dream about that scene at the beginning of the movie. He saw a banner with a white tiger so he knew it was significant.
Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for this film was one of his best imo. Such pain and tradition wrapped up into these poetic songs fit for the honor, respect, and time of the samurai. This is one of my fav overlooked films
Hans Zimmer is the best when it comes to expressing subtle, complex, meaningful pain. Just listen to The Lion King soundtrack ("This Land" from the official score, and "Kings of the Past" from the complete score). Who would've ever thought that something out of Disney would express duty, responsibility, and guilt through music alone? (especially since back in the early '90s, Disney was still looked upon as "cartoons for children")
I am Japanese, and I have never heard music about Japanese people expressed so accurately. The Last Samurai is filled with so many historical inaccuracies, but that's not what matters. The deep emotions our people and ancestors feel internally is captured perfectly through Zimmer's gorgeous soundtrack. And we must not forget to credit Edward Zwick for orchestrating (no pun intended) the whole movie.
The soundtrack for this movie is my fav of all time. The ending piece “A Small Measure of Peace” is what I play everyday to help me sleep. It’s just so peaceful sounding. Hans Zimmer is my fav composer ever. He’s just a pure genius when it comes to movie soundtracks. The Lion King, Pirates, Kung Fu Panda, are just a few examples of his musical brilliance.
I really love the line "When I took these you were my enemy". It implies so many things without even needing to say it and it conveys such a deep level of respect.
The character of Katsumoto is based on a real-life Imperial Samurai called Saigo Takamori. His life is truly fascinating and I highly recommend looking it up and reading more about him if this film made you curious.
I think one of my favourite subtle things about this film is the development of the relationship between Hiroyuki Sanada's character (the one who knocks Algren down in the rain) and Algren. He begins with such disdain and hatred for Algren, develops grudging respect during their training, and by the end they have a true friendship - as shown by the little things such as the fact he goes along with Algren's escape plan in Kyoto and the "testing" of the armour before the battle. Fantastic but understated character development.
The scene where she's changing him into the suit of armor is BEAUTIFUL. One of the best scenes in the film. There is such a simple intimacy shared through a very complex situation and set of feelings and how it is captured is so beautiful to watch.
I watched this in the cinema when it came out, and despite being a student of military history and being completely enthralled by the 'story' that was being told, that was the one scene in the days that followed that stuck in my mind, and has all these years later. It was human, so beautifully human.
@@threestepssideways1202 same. I saw this in theaters when I was a young teen 🤣
It is a sex scene with out nudity. it is intimate, without being awkward. It shows Taka being intimet with out needing to show skin. It shows the bond both have woven in a way that doesn`t disturb the flow of the movie. It is a brilliant scene
Tom Cruise has made nearly 50 movies in his epic career.. but I still have this one as my #1 favorite. I cannot find one flaw with this movie.. the story, the acting, the script, the action, the culture, the spirituality, it had everything - all.. perfect.
We love em white saviour films shit hits hard
@@classiccuneyt that's perhaps one of the few flaws but ok...
It’s presented as a historic film yet In The Last Samurai we bear witness to a false identity, a fake history, and a magnificent lie. Like I said I don’t mind historical films with some inaccurates but this film was like a Disney fairytale. @@arismaiden6457
@@arismaiden6457yeah but in this film he wasn’t really a white saviour seeing how all the samurai he joined all died
@@bradley8258 umm, he was the sole survivor that convinced the Emperor to change his ways...it's about as white savior as it gets lol. Also for anyone that's familiar with Asian history at all you'd know that Tom Cruise crying at the end is akin to someone crying for Hitler. It's really bizarre but hey, it's admittedly a well made movie...
I remember when I was 10 years old, my dad was watching this movie. When the final battle played out, was the first time i saw my dad cry. Back then i couldn't understand why he was crying over a movie. 20 years later and it's my turn :)
a) you msde me feel old...and I watched it in the cinema...and l cried to
I've seen hundreds of movies, to me the best quote ever in a movie is "I will tell you how he lived".
I'm a70 year old great grandfather have seen this movie loads of times ..and cry everytime .....
My grandfather used to watch this movie as well. You could see the emotion in his eyes when he'd talk about it. It was one of his favorite movies
Glad to know I'm not the only one. 🙂
12:50 - It is called Seppuku. Ancient ritual where a samurai is given the right to take his own life to maintain his honor. A person will be asked to cut off his head and the person who asked to do so consider it as an honor to assist.
Yes, the Ninjas has throwing stars (called Shuriken).
29:32 When Nobutada cries out like that when the soldier cuts off his topknot, it’s like he’s begging his ancestors' forgiveness for having allowed himself to be dishonoured like this.
It’s like his manhood was being stripped away from him. That scene never fails to make me tear up, fantastic performance.
@@MrM9819 That and the scene on the bridge where he makes his last stand are both heartbreaking. Katsimoto lifts him to his feet and gives him a look that says "No father was ever more proud of his son." 💔
The Last Samurai is a motion picture adaption and a blend of two separate but _real_ historical people and events. A Japanese Samurai, Saigo Takamori, who this movie portrays as the character Katsumoto Moritsuga; and a French Soldier, Jules Brunet, who this movie portrays as the character Nathan Algren.
Great choice.
One of Tom Cruise’s best! Your emotionality is what makes us watch your reactions! Keep up the good work!
His best.
Right what I like is that she doesn't talk much or she does when it's necessary unlike some reactors who blab on and on
For me, this is a masterclass of film. Everything from the cinematography to the filmscore. Absolute top notch in all regards.
I cry every time I watch this movie. It's beautiful storytelling. While I think this is Tom Cruise's finest performance Ken Watanabe steals this movie. So well acted and the music is mesmerizing. I think if you don't tear up during this movie then you truly have no heart. I enjoyed your honest reaction.
TRUE. TEARS EVERY TIME.
@Stef never loose your empathy, never loose your kind heart. I am so glad you got the message and how amazing this film really is
The lead samurai Hiroyuki Sanada has done many movies including Avengers: End Game and John Wick 4, but he has many many Japanese movie credits. My favorite is Twilight Samurai, awesome movie.
Don’t forget about shogun now too!
Ya'll are forgetting he's also scorpion 🤣
Sanada also appeared in numerous samurai/ninja TV series with legend Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba.
Westworld too!!
He was also in Sunshine with Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans
Appreciate the emotion in your reaction. I would like to point that that the premise of the movie was not to paint Nathan as the Last Samurai. Katsumoto and the men he fought with, in his journals, were the last samurai (collective, plural). I found it refreshing that this movie had done an uno reverse on the white savior trope and given such profound respect to the culture and to the Samurai themselves. In the end, the white man was not the savior - but it was the culture and people he had been thrown into and surrounded by, that saved him.
26:05 that kid was so brave.
When his home and family were attacked he didn’t run. He picked up his father’s sword and defended them. That few moments of defiance gave Algren a window to step in.
His father and ancestors looked at him from the afterlife and nodded with pride .
exactly. he was scared of course he was... but he was the man of his house, he understood without question that it was his duty. most boys in most cultures learn this from a young age... ppl in modern times are starting to forget about duty. it's all about wants
Thanks!
And this is why you’re amongst the best reactors on RUclips, Stef. Less words, let the emotions flood through you, epic film and lovely reaction.
That handsome Samurai who sparred with Tom Cruise is the chief choreographer for all the fight scenes...
Wait, Hiroyuki Sanada was the fight choreographer?
One of Tom's best, the story, the cast, the culture and human beings coming together and learning about each other. The beauty of the landscape, the Direction of Edward Zwick and the musical score from Hans Zimmer. Just a few reasons why it's one of my favorites. Thank You for your reaction.
Dont worry about crying! This movie do that to people. I honestly think that people that dont cry to this dont have a heart, i think crying to this movie is a respectful way of showing emotions to the honour some people have in their life. I would love to live the life the way the samurai does. With honour, love for eachother, taking care of eachother as brothers, sisters family, nowdays people dont care about eachother. Most people just shows hate all the time. Egocentric most of the times. Its me me and me. I dont care about others. And we are all living on this planet. We should care for eachother not hate eachother. We are all the same only some people have money and power and some dont. ❤
Jesus, the emotions this woman can convey with her eyes is unbelievable
Who? The Taka character or the reactor? 😅
@@garudanathanael5257 I think he means the reactor Stef. She is very emotional.
There's a short list of films that, regardless of how many times I watch it, I will always tear up. This is one of them.
And it wouldn't be a wasted tear.
Katsumoto death - - - his last words "perfect they are all perfect" is the last line to his haiku
if you remember him telling algren that he has difficulty in finishing his poem, his last phrase completes it.
I dont remember what was his poem, its been a while since i saw the film, but Katsumoto does read his unfinished poem to Algren. In case you dont know, japanese haiku is a 3 line poem that goes with line 1 containing 5 syllables, line 2 with 7 syllables, and line 3 with 5 syllables. "they are all perfect" has 5 syllables
"The tiger's eyes are just like mine
But he comes from a deep and troubled sea"
That's what he tells Algren when describing his poem. I do not know how Haiku's are made, but maybe the amount of syllables changes when translated from kanji to the roman alphabet?
38:15 my favourite subtle detail too. where ever they go the citizens always bow in respect to the samurai. means a lot when the infantry all bow at the end of the battle, in respect to the identity of warriors in their tradition and history
Your emotions are the perfect depiction of what these movies should make you feel. Stef, you are truly a beautiful soul! Keep up making reactions! :)
12:52 even though he was an older soldier serving the emperor with the americas.. hes also samurai too
"he was performing his ritual sacrifice like what all traditional samurai warriors did,to honor themselves and their houses.."
24:28 The more correct term for what is shown here is Shinobi. By the time of the Meiji Restoration (the time period where the movie is set), Shinobi were relegated to myth and legend, and while Ninja did exist, they were very very rare. The two names mean almost the same thing: Ninja = "one who is invisible," while Shinobi = "one who sneaks." They were covert mercenaries that were hired for siege, infiltration, assassination, ambush, reconnaissance, espionage, deception, even bodyguarding. They were highly despised by the Samurai as their ways of waging irregular warfare and covert assassination was considered dishonorable. Ninja and Shinobi were far, FAR more prevalent between the 12th and 15th centuries, the Sengoku period, but by Meiji (1860s) they were all but gone, so it's a little bit of creative license for the movie :)
They are the same word, just using different Japanese(onyomi vs kunyomi) reading. The kanji are about the same thing, a role someone took up. Most "ninja" were simply samurai, cause samurai had access to places commoners did not.
You were right that they had been gone by 1860s. Tokugawa was the last to make great use of this role.
The Shinobi were not all despised by samurai given the fact they were hired by them & daimyos - many of them were in fact samurai/ashigaru taking jobs in covert warfare. Many Shinobi worked with samurai who were pledged to their client (warlord) 🥷
It is pretty cool seeing someone who knows so little about history/samurai reacting to the customs and stuff in this movie. I recall I was terrible with history as well in school, and now that I'm grown, I've really enjoyed learning more, and recalling what I thought I did not absorb in history class.
"I will tell you how he lived" This line made my heart drop, so often we are consumed by grief and only mourn how a person died, without fully celebrating how they lived. One of my all time favorite films growing up
This is one of my favourites. They don’t many movies like this anymore. Another great reaction Stef. Love your reactions and how genuine you are. Have a lovely day and a great week.
13:03 is where the officer/general commited harakiri (self delete) by stabbing himself with a tanto and disembowling himself. People who have lost their way could perform harakiri to restore their honor. Seppuku (practically the same) was meant for samurai, also for restoring honor.
The moment someone who commited seppuku/harakiri moved/screamed in agony is when one's head was chopped off. It's a very old tradition dating back from the samurai days.
They beheaded them to save them the dishonor of crying out. If they had cried out, it would be shameful.
I've always been a fan of the quiet background characters,and "Bob" was my favorite. Never spoke a word until he warned Algren. He was loyal,and obviously wise since he was older,and an experienced warrior. Katsumoto trusted him enough to watch over Algren with his life,and he literally did. Whoever played him did an outstanding job!
Great comment 👍 The actor that played "Bob" was Seizô Fukumoto.
@@maximussparkus6933 He was a well known, but no longer acting actor in Japan. After The Last Samurai was released, his career got a big boost and he started acting again! (It was discussed in the extras)
Such a delight to see you once again. I am not always able to watch your reactions, but when I am fortunate enough to be here you make me forget about everything else. Thank you 🌹
Can't believe this movie is now over 20 years old. I have loved it more and more every year.
How are all these comments here and none are talking about Shogun?! It's a reboot of a 70's miniseries that's based on a book that's based deeply in real events of 1600's Japan. It stars Hiroyuki Sanada (Ujio) and is two episodes in. In my opinion it will end up being one of the best series of all time. The first two episodes are on Hulu, episode 3 drops Tuesday, it's an absolute must watch!
Shhh don't spoil, I'm waited Shōgun release on Blue ray 4k HD to finally watch the entire serie.
In my opinion the ending was weak and disappointing but enjoyed most the series
Fun fact, In the actual history of the Last Samurai, Saigo Takamori did use firearms. The Samurai had been using them since the late 16th century.
Yeah, they only didn’t use them once they ran out of ammo
I really, really, REALLY love how, in one of the most poignant moments of the movie Steph reacts in a very "Japanese" way, though I am sure it was unintentional ;D Katsumoto gives Algren the new sword that codifies him as the Samurai in which the "old ways join the new" and Step says "hm!" Perfect. PERFECT!
Had those "Return of the King" tears.
Your comments at the end of the reaction are very wise, humble and real. Ty for watching my All time favorite movie. Glad I found this channel.
Absolutely soul-shattering performances by all involved. And it doesn't matter that you know what's coming. Nothing can soften the blow of that last sequence in the battle, and the death of Katsumoto, or the way the Samurai continue to be ripped apart by the gatling fire.
I just watched your eyebrows, and was like, "Yup, there's that dip in the middle of the eyebrow, she's there."
That scene is like a litmus test for psychopathy. Anyone who doesn't tear up or cry outright is a serial killer.
I absolutely adore this reaction. Experiencing "The Last Samurai" for the first time and witnessing its impact on you is truly remarkable. It feels like you were fully immersed in every heartfelt moment of the story. Thank you for sharing your experience!
As a Filipino, I've re-watched this movie so many times. The Philippines and Japan are so damn close geographically, but culturally we are so different and unique.
18:37 I also kind of got the feeling that he feels like he deserves to feel that pain and a lot more because of his past experiences that hunt him all the way into his nightmares that from he can never escape.
I'll always love how "The Last Samurai" can be taken three ways - one, the "Last" Samurai refers to Tom Cruise's Algren in the starring role. Second, the "Last" Samurai refers to Watanabe as "Katsumoto" in the secondary role. Thirdly? The "Last" Samurai is something more *ephemeral* and applies, perfectly logically, to *both* in everyone else that fought with them because, of course, the plural of "samurai" is "samurai" ;D Perhaps all of my interpretations are failings of a personal perspective but, honestly, I love them all and, particularly, I find the last to be the most true and the most accurate. While we have a protagonist, we also have an *idea* here that is being represented *before* our protagonist engages with it. Samurai and Bushido are both, really, beautiful concepts (when considered romantically) and, I think we honor this most (and most ideally) in the third interpretation. Algren is the last, Katsumoto is the last, everyone that died fighting against their brothers were the "last" and will, forever more, be that. It's less a person and, much more, an epoch - a movement - an ideal. The last of the "old" meets the first of the "new" and something catalytic and explosive and, ultimately, creative , happens despite how undeniably *destructive* it is.
Mono no aware : ) The most beautiful things in the universe do not last and, part of that, is the temporary, transitional, ephemeral nature of all of these undeniably *beautiful* things. Mono no aware.
I have always taken it to mean the last of the Samurai in the plural form. I think those that named the film left it ambiguous on purpose.
Mr Graham says it at the end "The days of the samurai ended"
@@ronweber1402 I think they just avoided 'the last of the' convention because it was already too similar to 'the last of the Mohicans' in many ways. But it's a safe bet that it didn't refer to Algren because the samurai who never made it to the final cavalry charge werent just dead, there were plenty merely wounded earlier in the battle.
The title is in reference to the end of the Samurai as a whole.
Algren was not samurai.
"But he spent the winter with them and learned how to fight with a katana and joined their side and wore samurai armor to the battle, doesn't that make him a samurai?"
No.
Truly one of the greatest films ever made... This is NOT just a movie.. it really is a work of art, a story and an experience. Everyone should really give this a watch!
38:42 It is actually a very nifty trick of language that they used naming the movie that. You see, the plural of Samurai is... Samurai. It is one of those very rare single/plural words that depending on the way it's used in a sentence determines its meaning. So, in effect, "The Last Samurai" means both Katsumoto's clan (plural), as well as Nathan (singular).
I'd argue it could also be Katsumoto. Graham does say "and so the days of the samurai had ended" even though Nathan was still alive. It depends if you see Nathan as a true samurai or not I guess. Still, I'd like to think it was meant as plural
@@danielhughes3758 I think it is fair to say that Nathan was a Samurai. He was accepted, trained, armored, and before going into the battle, had a sword made specifically for him, which was something in that time was done ONLY for Samurai, who were expected to care for the sword for the rest of their life.
@@vagabond142 Fair enough
@@danielhughes3758 Japanese title of the movie is "end of the samurai" and the director confirmed samurai was plural. It's about the end of the samurai class, not any individual samurai.
@@MustardSkaven Cool. I prefer that interpretation anyway.
Ms. Stef > Thanks for another great vid ~ Watch SHOGUN (FX) .. .. You'll recognize a very familiar face playing the lead .. ..
This story was very, very, loosely based on the end of the Samurai era in the mid-1800s, generally around the time of the US Civil War .. ..
In actuality, the Emperor had a loose military agreement with both Prussia (Germany) and England .. .. The United States was just a bystander and watched both sides without any major involvement .. ..
The populace wanted dearly to hold on to the Samurai (Bushido) mindset and lifestyle while the Government knew they had to open up to the rest of the world to keep pace, thus the conflict .. ..
At 13:01 It's called "Seppuku" (切腹, lit. translate, cutting [the] belly), also called hara-kiri (腹切り, lit. 'abdomen/belly cutting', a native Japanese kun reading), is a form of Japanese ritualistic suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honor, but was also practiced by other Japanese people during the Shōwa era. (particularly officers near the end of World War II) to restore honour for themselves or for their families.
The Last Samurai is a film of epic proportions. Hans Zimmer's score is amazing, the story, the cinematography...the emotion. This movie has several of my favorite moments in cinema history. I saw this in theaters on the big screen...always hits hard. Great reaction, Steph!
It's in my top 3 for sure, I just have to find the 3rd movie after Predator and this.
The music is by Hans Zimmer who also did music for Blackhawk Down, Gladiator, Dunkirk, Inception and the latest Dune
Hes a bit damn awesome ;)
One of my favorite movies. I'm a grown adult man and still will cry at the end. The scene when Kata dresses Tom in her dead husband's armor is one of the most sensual scenes in a movie ever. Great review, love your channel.
As someone who has this movie in their top 5 fav of all time. This was a great reaction. The silence speaks volumes when you have trouble commentating bc of the movies ability to keep you entranced. Great reaction!
Ain't gonna lie, it was funny to see your face at the execution in the beginning after the first little battle. :P Great reaction as always! This movie is so amazing.
There is a huge lesson in this story as well. How in moving “forward” with the world we in many ways leave behind our honor. This movie made me miss my father… he would have understood, everyone else in my life thought I was nuts for ugly crying. Thanks for this reaction.
Such an emotional movie! Gets me everytime..from him fighting his demons to getting looked after by the wife of the man he killed in battle, to coming to respect their culture and fighting for them
The wisdom of the Samurai is legendary
You summed it up beautifully at the end... it's hard to find words for this masterpiece, and that sometimes says it all.
“I haven’t cried this much in awhile .” Automatic thumbs up even before seeing the reaction. You have a kind heart.
Exceptional movie, and I'm very happy you got to watch it. I hope you enjoyed it. The movie is very loosely based on a similar real life experience, but I think the person is a French military man in the historical record.
Qué excelente!! Love your reaction videos, and makes perfect sense for me that this one carved deeper than others. It is for me, at least, more than just a movie. It's a "filmic document". Even with it's historic inaccuracies. One hell of a story. So what a nice thing to see than you reacting to this wonderful motion picture. Saludos de Chile, me encantó tu canal!!
@Stef Solari
Nice to know: this movie is actually based on real events and history - it actually happened nearly exactly this way - the only difference is that the guy played by Tom Cruise in reallife was (I don’t exactly remember that part but he was no American, he was a France general or something like that - but definitely not an american and from Europe, I mean France) and after the newspaper-guy filmed and documented those events it is how he says at the end: „it is not known what happened to ….. but I like to believe he found peace and love“ so that part is made up, but I really like it that they sayed it that way… but after the events he has never been heard of or be seen again, he really could have died due to his injuries, but as he said he really also could lived peacefully till the end of his days… just wanted to point that out, awesome made film 🤙🏻
Love the Cyberpunkesque intro. This movie is amazing. I had no idea how Tom Cruise could integrate himself into the samurai lore respectfully, but I think they did a good job of doing so. It’s a fantastic move. Also love the reaction.
This is one of my favorite movies, not just because of how well made it is (acting, music, story, that sort of thing), but because it touches on something deeper than most films can.
The samurai in reality were not a bunch of noble protectors fighting against corruption. Many of them were also just corrupt noblemen who saw the world changing and didn't want to lose their power. However, many of the ideas guiding samurai life were respectable and, I'd argue, good for everyone. There's the obvious example of how disciplined and mentally strong they were due to their lifestyle, and I think our modern lifestyle has made people, for lack of a better word, weak in certain ways. "No mind" is also a real thing, and something I've used many times in the 15 years of karate I did. What is involves is allowing the subconscious mind to take over and guide your actions, with no conscious thoughts or decisions being made. People do this when they are performing tasks at a very high level, like sports or creating art. It's sometimes called the "flow state". Lastly, things like bushido and Katsumoto's realization that all of the cherry blossoms he saw in his life were perfect are philosophical ideas that are expressed in other cultures as well. There isn't a truly "perfect" cherry blossom, therefore, that kind of means that every cherry blossom is perfect in its own way. I believe this is an idea we can apply to ourselves. We can only be what we are at any given moment, and what we are is perfect for that moment.
Something like that.
Stef is one of the most entertaining and wholesome youtubers I've ever watched thank you always, you're content is amazing.
This is one of my favourite movies of all time! It's absolutely brilliant! It is very emotional, but it's great cinema! 👍
Wifey is that you??? 😂 I’m blown away by the emotion your eyes convey. This is my favorite film of all time, glad it touched your soul like it does mine ❤️
This is one of the great must watch movies and all of the acting is perfect. IMO, it’s a masterpiece and they should have won several awards for this especially the two main characters. Watching this is a beautiful thing and heartbreaking at the same time.
Love that you reacted to this film; it's one of the top films that showcase how to tell a tale. Amazing choreography and scale, and the story beats are perfect.
That said, keep in mind that this is an over-romanticizing of the samurai class. As Japan modernized, there was no need to have a land-owning class of feudal knights who ruled their domains with sometimes very brutal authority (their warrior code very much clashed with their practices). The movie draws inspiration from the Boshin War in the struggle between the ruling Shogunate and the Imperial Court, as well as the foreign interference. Definitely something to look into in your own time. Edit: just wanted to add that this is a very western lense; I would recommend Kurosawa "Ran" from 1985 and its surrealism as well as Miike's "13 Assassins" that touches upon the corruption and brutality of the samurai class (be aware that it's very violent).
Many people here either like or dislike Tom Cruise. No matter how you feel about him personally, he is one of the few actors than still make great cinema. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Love that you get so invested in this film, Stef, great reaction! :)
Loved your emotional reaction Stef! One of my all time favorite movies that always gets me.
They are all....perfect.Was the end to Katsumotos poem.
Historically samurai also had no issues using firearms. In fact the character Katsumoto historically was based on his clan was well known for artillery use.
Never seen your channel/reactions before but I can say after watching this I officially subscribed! Your pure/raw/genuine emotion is so refreshing and nice to see, the fact you dont over talk/talk the whole entire reaction is also amazing compared to a lot of channels... you seem to be really into the movie while you're watching it, 18:45 spot on, I understand that all too well
This is one of my moms absolute favourite movies and growing up i never understood why... but as i got older i now understand and it breaks my heart watching this movie every single time, but it's such a masterpiece!
Thank you for the amazing reaction! PS you're beautiful🥰
Such a great film. The score is amazing as well.
I appreciate your content as much as I do your heart, Stef. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
You are, at least, much younger than me, but what I love about your reactions is the emotional maturity you bring to them beyond your years. Keep doing what you're doing!
You said, "You guys knew this would happen." ... Which I'm sure was true.
Anyone who's seen this movie knows what kind of emotional rollercoaster it is.
If you're interested in looking into the events this movie is based on, look up the Satsuma Rebellion. Katsumoto is loosely based on on Saigo Takamori, the final battle is loosely based on the battle of Shiroyama. There are many historical inaccuracies in this movie, but for this particular movie I'm willing to forgive them taking artistic license. The most glaring inaccuracy, in my opinion, is the refusal of the rebel samurai to use Firearms. The actual samurai at the time of the Satsuma Rebellion were experts at using firearms*, and they used them consistently throughout the war until their final charge at Shiroyama (when they were basically out of ammo).
* They had been using Tanegashima Matchlocks for hundreds of years and where mostly veterans of the Boshin War, where modern European firearms (including the Dreyse Needle Gun, Chassepot Rifle, and Springfield Repeaters) were widely used.
PS: The part where the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army kneel before the fallen rebel Samurai after the final charge of the last battle. That's historical. That actually happened at Shiroyama.
appreciated this reaction very much, The Last Samurai was one of my top favorite movies/DVD rentals since 2003-4 for sure ... I don't know if this was already answered but the actor who plays Nobutada/village head with the bow and arrow? He was in a Disney Channel original movie with Brenda Song, I believe called "Wendy Wu/Warrior" or something along those lines (look up if I'm mistaken!) great stuff!
"The Last Samurai" and "The Patriot" are my two favorite war films! Would love to see you do a reaction to The Patriot.
"Tell me how he died." "I will tell you how he lived."
One of my late Mrs' favorites, and I very much find it great as well. From my mother's side of the family, I'm descended from samurai, and a grand uncle possessed a "hand-me-down" sword ('twas very impressive to view).
One of my all-time favorite movies. I have forgotten how many times I watched it, probably more than 20 times. And I cried every time.
Also if you like martial arts Jet Li's ''Fearless'' 2006 is one of the greatest martial artists movies ever made , the story in the movie is great too and will get you emotional as well
No shame in crying at this movie. This one leaves me in tears every single time. I've seen hardened combat veterans shed more than a few tears at this.
The character's journey to understand what he first sees as a contradictory society, ends up helping him to resolve his own internal contradictions. The film is a truly stunning success at portraying that transformation.
13:15 ,That scene is called "Seppuku or harakiri, the samurai suicide.They did this when they thought they had lost honor, so that was the only way to keep it ,"die like a warrior.In the ritual the samurai the samurai stabbed and cut his stomach and other cut his head .☺
Love your reactions, never dissapoint.
Esta película es puro arte, música de Hans Zimmer, unos actores brutales y un cuidado del detalle exquisito ,es sin duda una de las películas de mi vida.
Un abrazo desde España!
Welcome to the club of crying towards the end of the movie I can never watch this movie without crying or rolling tears for the ending! ❤️
One of my all-time favorite Tom Cruise movies I saw this movie in theater six times before it left my theater to go be made into VHS is in DVDs for the stores when it came out day one at the store to buy I bought it on VHS and then I bought it on DVD day one when they were available❤ The sound of the horses when the samurais first show up in the first battle in the fog chills at my spine the entire theaters concrete what shaking because of that scene this movie is a masterpiece for what it is Ken and want to nabi phenomenal job beautifully written movie got me hooked on samurai history when I was younger❤
The line that always hits me the most is at the end when the leader of the Samurai dies he says 'they are all perfect' he is talking about the buds on the tree being perfect and that means he is finally at peace. Yes the Samurai were a nobal people who served their king and when their king dies they find themselves without perpuse and that is called a Ronin. What happened in the beginning with the general when he killed himself and his head was cut off is called Harakiri and it is what a Samurai feels themselves loosing their honor and that is a way of getting it back in a way. The story Tom Cruiz speaks of with the 300 Spartans vs the persians is fitting for that moment because like the spartans to a Samurai dying in battle is the highest honor one could have. There is a movie called 300 that is about that moment it's very gory and based on a graphic noval but it tells that story of the 300 and is staring Gerad Butler. Any way I love this movie so much and am glad you did as well and yes Ninjas were highered assasins without honor in those days so you are right those were ninjas that attacked them.
Cuando hace unos meses te la recomendé, no dude por un segundo el impacto que tendría con tu reacción Stefy. En lo que a mi respecta es la mejor película épica de todas. Su trama, sus personajes, su banda sonora son sencillamente perfectas...como describe Katsumoto al final!!
First time watching your channel Stef, and what a movie to begin with. Loved your reaction and emotion to this amazing movie. Looking forward to seeing more from you.
I just found your channel and I enjoyed the reaction to this fantastic movie. The Last Samrai is gem that hits all of the emotions. Every time I watch this whether it be a reaction, or I just put it in, it always makes me cry. I went and looked at your catalog of videos to see what you have reacted to and what you haven't. I saw that you haven't reacted to 300 yet. I hope to see you react to it sometime.
One of Tom's very best films. And an Oscar-nominated performance from Ken Watanabe. 👍👍👍