Katsumoto was not talking about lilies, he was talking about spending your whole life looking for the perfect cherry blossom. As he was dying was when he realized that all blossoms are perfect.
One of my favorite movies ever. Tom Cruise was great but this was Ken Watanabe's movie from beginning to end. Beautifully shot and gorgeous music. One of Tom's best.
Watanabe got an Oscar nomination for this, and it put him on the international stage as an really damn good dramatic actor. Every time he shows up in something from Godzilla to Inception, he jsut elevates the script lines he's given!
@VictorLugosi Uh ... calm down. We're just admiring Watanabe. Also, Cruise wasn't nominated for this film, doesn't mean he's a lesser actor. White-bashing? Gimme a break. ✌🏾
@@VictorLugosi I'm not sure how I'm white bashing by complementing Cruise more than once. I literally said it's one of his best movies. I guess people look for things to get triggered about. It's just my opinion about a movie. It's not that deep.
One of Tom Cruise's strengths is that despite having been the biggest star in the world for 40 years almost, he has no problem with letting someone else shine for the benefit of the movie. He holds his own but he lets whatever is best for the story happen.
You know the sadness you felt when the samurai all died. That's how many of the old generation feel as things they once knew are no longer. I know many young people make comments such as the old are irrelevant like all those who wanted to take the right to vote away from senior citizens or mock elders for living in the past. Change is a necessity, but respect for the past is also important.
Change is only a necessity in response to differing circumstances. Change for its own sake ends with... well take a look at basically any modern college campus for details.
@@rxlxviii Thank you for saying productive rather than progressive. Self-described "progressives" haven't had a single clue what they're progressing towards (or away from) in like... 3 decades at least.
@@Xfactor444-x4n who longs for that? You completely missed the point. And I guess you are a liberal who want to reinstate laws like Jim Crow again...separate but equal, but they call it safe spaces and such things as separate graduations....how's that different from separate, but equal?
the line about "they're all perfect" he was talking about the perfect blossom. in the context of talking about bushido. bushido is the way of the warrior "life in every breath." Essentially, he's making it analogous to the warrior looking for the perfect death.... you can spend your whole life looking.. then at the end, "they're all perfect." every fallen warrior fighting for the right cause has a perfect death just like every blossom is perfect
This period in Japanese history is fascinating. Imagine going from the European middle ages to the industrial age in something like 30 years, not hundreds . That's basically what happened and this movie details the clash between the old and new.
This movie is an absolute masterpiece. The verbal acting in it alone is impressive, but looking at the non-verbal stuff is where I think this movie really shines. The subtlety of facial expressions, the mutual respect in their bows and stances; this movie still makes me cry at all the same parts no matter how many times I watch it. And the music! That's half the movie, and I am SO glad that Hans Zimmer is the one who composed it. If this wasn't a movie you were familiar with before, or even knew about, I guarantee you it's now at least in your top 5.
31:45 The topknot is a sacred part of Samurai culture. When Nobutada cries out as his topknot is being cut off, it’s like he’s begging his ancestors' forgiveness for allowing himself to be publicly dishonoured like that.
it's more than that... if u cut off your own topknot it was basically u denouncing your titles. sometimes defeated samurai who didn't commit harakiri also had their topknot cut off. cutting his topkknot waa utterly disrespectful beyond measure
This movie is storytelling at its finest. I saw this in a college town movie theater, and it is the only time I’ve ever witnessed a crowd leave the movie in near silence, aside from the muffled tears/sadness.
Bob was indeed there to guard Algren, but to make sure that none of the villagers decided to attack and kill him and make it pass as an accident or as if he tried to escape.
That's one of the main functions of a guard. Nowadays, most guards are prison guards, when in history, guards were mostly to protect kings, emperor's, generals... (VIPs)
All the actors were absolutely incredible, no doubt. However, I would also like to recognize Hans Zimmer for the AMAZING soundtrack to this movie. It's one of a kind
The misconception is that Tom Cruise is the last Samurai. It’s not Tom. It’s Katsumoto. He helps Katsumoto, the true last Samurai, end his life with honor.
I love the scene where he tells the conscript to fire at him, cause you see all the new recruits duck immediately, while General Hasegawa, Colonel Bagley, Omura's bodyguard, and Sergeant Gant don't even flinch. Really demonstrates the difference between those who have experienced battle from the green troops.
As a lifelong student of history, I tend to wince at "historical period pieces", however a good film such as this cannot be ignored. Great script, casting & cinematography combined with a terrific score makes for a quasi modern epic. Ken Wantanabe is absolutely brilliant in his role as Katsumoto. My only complaint is the cheese that popped up now & again. The main is how Algren begins to train & in a short time almost attains the proficiency level of Ujio enough to obtain that draw. One article I read stated the Japanese received this very well as it portrayed their people in an honorable & accurate manner in terms of the societal depiction. Great reaction & analysis, very much enjoy your commentary.
As someone with over 30 years of martial arts experience including classical kendo (kogen itto Ryu), it bothered me as well that the Cruise character would achieve skill equivalence. I would note thought that Algren was a trained soldier and highly decorated soldier, who did know how to fight with a cavalry sword. So it’s not outlandish that he became proficient with the katana, but not likely that he’d equal the best fighter among the samurai.
I watched this with my mom when it first came out and haven’t seen it since, we’re huge Tom Cruise fans. I don’t think I ever watched it again because I didn’t like the ending, but now so many years later I realize I was just too young to understand the culture and deeper meaning that really makes this movie beautiful. So glad you two reacted to this, I def cried with you and now I gotta rewatch it properly with my mom ☺️
9:06, Sergeant Gant is a loyal one for sure. Its been long held military tradition, that young newly commissioned lieutenants are usually given an older non-commissioned officer (NCO) like Gant to be their advisor. These lieutenants are usually fresh from college or the academy so they have a head full of theory but no real world military experience. So the NCO respectfully advises and teaches the young officer so they don't screw up. I've heard of one Colonel who hit it off so well with his first NCO advisor that they teamed up for the rest of their careers. When the Colonel got a promotion or transferred to a new base, he made sure his sergeant got promoted and transferred as well. Last I heard they were stationed at the Pentagon and the Colonel was being considered for promotion to General. The relationship between Algren and Gant strikes me as the same kind of dynamic. Even though Algren has been promoted up to Captain, Gant is still by his side teaching and supporting him. So in this situation he not only has his old student Algren at risk but the young men they have been training. So Gant is showing a lot of loyalty to stay at the front with the unit. With Gant's death, Algren is forced to finally begin to grow up and become the soldier, the warrior he could be.
So many reactors do not understand defeated samurai's suicide (11:46). Seppuku, the honourable method of taking one’s own life practiced by men of the samurai (military) class in feudal Japan. The word hara-kiri (literally, “belly-cutting”), though widely known to foreigners, is rarely used by Japanese, who prefer the term seppuku.
In my humble opinion, when Katsumoto was making that last poetic statement, he was indeed making a call-back to the lilies. But in that final instance he was using it as a metaphore for all of his fellow samurai who fought and died there. Their perfection was crowned in their honorable and valiant death on the battlefield (also like the final falling away of the beautiful and perfect blossoms)
Samurais helmets & masks looked the way they did was to scare off their opponents during battle and to strike terror in their enemies hearts. That General was committing seppuku as it was a practice {from 1177 to 1970} performed by Samurai to avoid falling into enemy hands and to attenuate shame also to avoid torture.
@@tonyb7615no it was 1970 as a Japanese author Yukio Mishima and one other follower performed seppuku at the Japanese Self Defense Forces after an unsuccessful raid. It also would happen during the world war when Japan was actively involved in the war.
@TheLesMiserablesCats24601 not sanctioned or asked for. And ww2, you were supposed to kamikaze. Seppuku was a waste . Plenty of civilians killed themselves in fear. None I'm aware of with actual seppuku, because with out a second, it's known to be a terrible way to go. I'm sure some soldiers did it too. But they and civillians were explicitly told not to. Not when they could've taken an american life with them. Now if you want to include yakuza, I'm sure it still happens today. All of this refutes your point tho. And no Japanese citizen wants to glorify the yakuza irl, that's for videogames.
For me, the reason this movie resonates so much is due to it's story of redemption. You have a man in Nathan Algren with a broken past and destroyed mind that, through the help and influence of the Samurai, is able to come to terms with his past and transform into a better version of himself, something I've always striven to do and is why this movie hits so close to home for me.
Ok yeah! Nice reaction you two! Now you are ready to react to the best show on TV right now “Shogun”. It will be winning all the awards this year. It also has the famous Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada as a lead. He plays the senior Samurai that teaches Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai. I hope you guys consider reacting to it. Thanks for sharing your video with us!
One of my late grandfather's favorite films. Some recent films I hope you two will check out are Master and Commander (2003), Down Periscope (1996), the Patriot (2000), and Stardust (2007). Also, the How to Train Your Dragon series as well. Older films you should watch are The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Dodge City (1939), Forbidden Planet (1957), and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958).
Samurai was not something someone 'became'. It was a social class you were born into. The kid was already a member of the samurai class because he was the son of a samurai, it was just assumed he would grow up to be a warrior like his father. On certain occasions yes a commoner could be elevated to the rank of Samurai, but only on the order of his Daimyo or lord. For instance in the scene were Katsumoto hands Algren the sword he is essentially elevating him to that status though it is more a matter of needing him to fight than any social reason.
You haven't reacted to, or seen it yet, but this scene at 7:19 reminds me of Glory and I just realized this, but it's the same director so that makes sense. I consider Glory one of the best war movies ever and it has a STACKED cast. 5 Oscar noms and won 3. 34:46 - Peter Pettigrew coming in clutch lol
While it's a very romanticized samurai movie, it's still the most emotional samurai movie I've ever seen. Maybe one of Toms best. I mean, the whole cast is amazing. I've watched it dozens of times. If you want another good one, watch the new Shogun series. It's amazing, and much more realistic of the Samurai/Japanese at the time. And it's more or less based on a true story.
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the movie is something common in civil wars. The combatants knew or were related to the opposition. In this case, the modern army was called upon to kill their heros. It's as bittersweet as victory can be. You both clearly felt all the emotions. I hope this adds to your understanding of the social implications.
This movie remains one of my favorites because there's just so many layers to it. It's powerful, moving, griping, heartbreaking heartwarming, there's a bit of every human experience in it and it moves all of that with such grace and passion. Just thr relationship between Tom and Taka is so unbelievably beautiful. The way they talk without saying a word to this day leaves me in awe. Then there's the cinematography, the brilliant way it was filmed, at eye level almost the entire movie makes you feel like you're a part of it, it's subtle, but it's there...then I don't know a ton about movies. Lastly is the acting, my God, everyone played their role perfect, that's so rare and cool! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!
This movie romanticized the samurai and katsumoto. The samurai were an elite upper class that ruled as tyrants over the rest of Japan. Their word was law, and the only ones who could challenge them were other samurai. Katsumoto didn't noble refuse to use guns in order to keep to some "samurai code," he was fighting to keep his status and authority and stopped using guns because they ran out of bullets and couldn't get more.
Well if you like Samurais, check out the remake of Shogun (2024) - earlier mini series version was 1980 - and both were of course based on James Clavell's novel by the same name.
Ujio acknowledging Algren with a nod when he walks out of Taka's house wearing her late husband's armor legit felt as satisfying as Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star or Rocky Balboa going the distance against Apollo Creed.
It kind of reminds me of Wind In His Hair talking with Kevin Costners character in Dances With Wolves about his friend dying because he was coming. Acceptance as one of them beyond being an allie.
The nod is great, but the moment that gets me is the fit check. That respect of "if you're wearing it to battle, I will confirm it is properly fitted and will serve the function." They were true brothers in arms.
@@BigSeth1090 You have been programmed well: you spew tribal hate and vitriol while falsely claiming to defend against it. And as always: you have no actual, real accusations or argumentation whatsoever. You don't even try to converse, you are only fighting a culture war of hate and greed for power and subjugation of others.
Did you recognize, Timothy Spall? He played Simon Graham in this film (the English linguist) but he also played Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail), the betrayer of Harry Potter’s parents, in the movies.
Every time I watched this movie I cry. Beautiful work. BTW... the gatling guns used in the battle... during the Civil War, the South called them the "Devils Breath"
You asked where the film was made, it was actually made here in New Zealand. Our Mt Taranaki resembles Fuji, so they were going to use that but by the time filming wrapped the technology got so good they were able to put an image of the real Mt Fuji in the relevant scenes.
Beautiful entertaining film with great production values, and some great performances by Watanabe Jen, Sanada Hiroyuki, and Kouyuki. The real story is much more complex and sadder. The two of you understand the politics and the emotions of the characters very well.
Someone said once that "She's honoured to have ny guest in her house" isn't even a lie. More that her chosing her as the lord is an honour to her, whether she appreciates it or not. Same as Katsumoto being chosen to be General Hasegawa's second when he commits Seppuku, it's considered an honour to be trusted with the task. I like to think the junior officer who commands the guns to stop firing symbolises the audience, and the modern Japanese people, who realised that they can't forget their traditions.
A great movie. Ken Watanabe was exceptional as Katsumoto. HOWEVER, it shouldn't be mistaken for history. The U.S. played little, to, no part in the Meiji Restoration. Less than a decade before, we had just emerged from the most destructive war in our history, and, our military, which had been seriously drawn down, was pre-occupied fighting Native Americans on the frontier.
Did you watch the movie? How many Americans are there? 3? They were there as advisors. The Japanese were reaching out to any and all countries, and america having had just had that war you speak of, had the most experience with the most recent technology. There's a reason the Japanese were willing to pay for advisors. In reality the British were the ones tinkering in their inner politics, but it was the usa that forced open Japan's economy and stop using one port city to only deal with the Dutch. Or whoever the Dutch brought with them, like the Portuguese.
This is 1 of my favorite movies ❤ I like watching reactions to favorite movies to feel like I am watching it again first… everything about this movie is amazing 🤩 and while the ending is sad, it is where the title kicks in. They are defeated, as samurai are no longer needed- they would rather die in battle.
I only realized when watching this even though I've been rewatching this movie (through reactions, but still) a lot of times, but the samurai armor that Algren wore at the end (the one that's supposedly belongs to Taka's late husband) is a red armor. If I remember correctly, red armor is (at the very least during Sengoku/Warring States period) worn by samurai who are part of a regiment that acts as "elite troops", like the Takeda's "Red Cavalry" or Naomasa Ii's "Red Demons". Meaning that to wear such an armor you have to be considered a very capable warrior. Just the sight of a regiment of red-armored samurai in the field is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of enemies. So Taka's husband - and Algren, too, for that matter - they must've been considered competent warriors.
It is the only movie that let me leave the theatre in trance and it seemed I wasn´t the only one. Most were whispering at best. Entering the main hall I felt almost offended hearing trivial things like people discussing upcoming plans or what popcorn they wanted to buy.
My favorite movie of all time. Watanabe and Cruise deliver their best performances (to me). There's a wholesomeness and sense of purpose/honor you don't see much anymore in movies...let alone in life. The Perfect Blossom call back/realization, and I'll tell you how he lived are such great iconic scenes/lines. Love your reactions, it's those heart string tugs...a shared relatable experience between people that will never meet.
This movie helped make life bearable, for me, in a time where I didn't feel like I was deserving of life. Such a perfect movie. Also, I love the intimacy of Taka helping dress Nathan into the red armor. It's intimate and sensual, without being perverse or showing anything unnecessarily graphic. Thank you both for the reaction and insight!
The Emperor was not asking Katsumoto for "Advice". He was asking him to make the decision for him. Many people (around 35:49 ) miss that Katsumoto actually shields Algren with his own body.
43:02 the reason they're standing there is because Algren fought in the American and Indian wars, much like the American Civil War, they would stand while being fired upon. That's how it was, Hundreds of men stood in file all the while reloading and firing muskets. This movie rocks and I'm fixing to watch it again soon after
One inaccuracy in this film is at this time period samurai were used to using firearms as they had been using them for a long time they didn’t strictly use Kantana and wakizashi they used any means they needed
They say Katsumoyo "No longer uses forearms" because he feels they dishonor him, so presumably he did use firearms previously. It's the conscript soldiers they being him in to train not samurai
Katsumoto's historical precedent fought his last stand at swordpoint because he ran out of ammunition. Though neither he nor his men wore armour, they where essentially (noble) officers with experience in mid-19th century warfare as they recently had fought an intermiate/modern modern war ousting the Tokugawa Shogunate and as such of course wore no (16th century...) armour as it would only make gun wounds worse. Also the Samurai fought to retain a position of social privilege which included things like killing commoners at will.... Best regards Raoul G. Kunz
Sorry but ninja in the old Japan where the equivalent to modern special forces. They where used as spies saboteurs and assassin's. And the misconception about them beeing farmers and their weapons are farming tools came from the fact that as spies they often pretended to be farmers and so their weapons had to look like tools. Because of the secret nature of their profession real facts about them are really rare but it seems to be sure that they existed since 794. The name samurai was commonly used much later for warriors.
The ninja were neither farmers nor samurai. The latter is modern fiction. They were trained assassins and spy’s and would not last very long in a 1:1 sword battle with a trained samurai. That’s why they used trickery and deceit. They would much rather poison, stab someone from behind, or kill then while asleep than fight 1:1.
The ninja didn’t come from the samurai class, more likely from a lesser status caste like farmers or merchants, but they weren’t either from an occupation. More likely criminals.
There is a lot of mud on the 'history' of ninjas - as is evidenced by just this short comment thread :D. Now, I am not a Samurai, nor Japanese, but I am a (former) historian who has spent a good few decades immersed in the story of Japan. I am also a student of the Japanese martial arts, specifically, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido, so I have had some contact with the myths and legends of the military side of things. There is a strong suspicion that the Ninja never existed at all (sorry, Sensei Hatsumi :)) but the most credible version of the tale is, as Barney said here, that the 'ninja' were Samurai tasked with missions of espionage and assassination for their lords. Even tho' a Samurai's honour was protected, no matter what he did, as long as he was obeying the wishes of his lord, it was possibly the case that the Ninja persona was a 'cover story' to alleviate the guilt of behaving so dishonourably and to prevent that stain from spilling onto their family name.
Japan still has a lot of history in their present times, a lot of ritual and honor. I went there for business a couple of years ago and they even ritualize business cards. When they hand you a card, it's with both hands not one, the card is always faced to your direction so you can read it (not just shown to you any old way), and you are supposed to accept it in the same fashion, with both hands. If you're meeting with mutiple people, you repeat this for every last person. When it's time to sit, you put the cards out in front of you on the table in the same order as the people sit around you, so it's easy to always address someone correctly, even though you may have just met 10 people in a matter of minutes. And, you never, ever just put their cards in your pants, especially not the back pockets... it's deemed rude. That card is an extension of themselves so to sit on it, for example, would be no different than you sitting on them. A lot of this depends on where you are and what you're doing. At night at a restaurant or bar things are more loose, as you might expect, compared to an office environment. It was some work to watch what others were doing... to make sure you didn't accidentally do anything rude in their eyes, but to be honest, I quite liked it. Most things, even the exchange of business cards, had some weight to it... some meaning. Everything wasn't just cause... there was a style and a beauty to it.
The last samurai is very loosely based on Jules Brunet a French military officer who served the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Boshin War in Japan. About 20% or so is true. There were only about 10 foreign born samurai in the history of Japan. Three were European and one African.
Great movie! GREAT reaction! Very well written story based on a French military officer in an engineering corps who was so taken with Samurai culture that he joined with them...and was later captured and imprisoned in France for awhile. The acting was great. As excellent as Tom Cruise was, Ken Watanabe dominated this film the way Daniel Day Lewis dominated "Gangs of New York." It's a very emotive story and it's extremely well told in this movie.
19:37 comment such a significant pondering 19:38 they are Shinto but in zen one looks at the essence and that question could be a teaching moment for one to learn through awareness. Such a good question😂
when the sunami hit Japan. many came out of the mountain people to help others to move their homes up into the mountains by hand. and there acts of kindness spread Peace through Japan. as most returned the the old ways. it was spiritual and epic. and we got to see that in our lifetime. "They are all Perfect" was him letting go of this world. and in his last moments the cherry blossoms came to him in all their perfection.
I LOVE that they let the camera stay on Ujio for a little while after he gets unhorsed just so we get to see him tear through Imperial soldiers like an absolute blender.
As I recall it was a Japanese man who was the last samurai, but Tom cruces character was recognized by him and so he was also the last samurai. It's been more than ten years since I've seen it.
It's referring to the whole battle, all of them, being the last one fought by samurai. Kasumoto was their leader. Think of samurai as their word for soldier. Or if 300 was instead called the last spartans.
Ujio is a fiercely traditional samurai and the katana, a symbol of his class, is everything to his eyes. Even holding a bokken (wooden katana) is an honor that a stranger like Algren does not deserve, hence his immense anger. It's very similar to Europe's nobilty (the warrior class) till the 18th century, where owning and holding a sword was a privilege reserved to them.
Edward Zwick made several huge movies and a few just big ones: As a Director... - About Last Night - Rob Lowe & Demi Moore in a romance, based on a David Mamet play. One of those "Brat Pack" movies as the two leads were part of that generation of actors. - Glory - Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington in his first Oscar-winning role. A Civil War film about the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first African-American regiments. - Legends of the Fall - Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aiden Quinn, and Julia Ormond - A family drama that was Brad Pitt's first big leading man roie, it was a huge, lush, romantic drama. - Courage Under Fire - Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Matt Damon - Blood Diamond - Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Housou, and Jennifer Connelly - Defiance - Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber - Love And Other Drugs - Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway - Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - Tom Cruise's second outing as Lee Child's former Army investigator, Jack Reacher. Despite being too small, physically, for the role of Reacher, Cruise was pretty good...but I really recommend the Amazon series Reacher with Alan Ritchson. Jack Reacher, in the novels is 6'5", between 210 to 250 pounds, with a 50" chest...Richson comes close, Cruise...not so much! Both actors play this amazing character well. As a Producer... - Dangerous Beauty - Catherine McCormick (Murron from Braveheart) and Rufus Sewell - Set in Venice during the Renaissance, about the poetess and courtesan Veronica Franco...I love this film! - Shakespeare In Love - Winner of Best Picture (1998), about a young William Shakespeare with writer's block, and the beauty who becomes his muse. Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare, Gwyneth Paltrow in her Oscar-winning role, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, and Judi Dench in her Oscar-winning role as Queen Elizabeth I. Some people hate on it...I still adore this film. - Traffic - Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, and Benecio Del Toro in his Oscar-winning performance. About the illegal drug trade and the war fighting it. - I Am Sam - Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, and both Dakota and Elle Fanning playing the same role at different ages. About a mentally disabled man trying to maintain custody of his daughter, who is exceptionally bright.
Love to see how people react to movies that I have seen, and you guys reactions are Lit .This movie (along with Born on the fourth of July, A Few Good Men, and Jerry McGuire), Cruise should have gotten an Oscar win for it.
@30:33 Sort of. The Japanese believe the emporer to be a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, starting with Emporer Jimmu, but reliable historical accounts don't show up till about the 20th(ish) emporer. The 126th Emporer, Naruhito is the current monarch of Japan, and in this movie it is the 122nd Emporer, Meiji, that we see. And yeah, he was very young when he took the throne, only 15 or 16. @32:17 The chonmage (top-knot) was a hair style that by law only samurai were permitted to have (And during the Tokugawa era, if you were a samurai man, you HAD to have the chonmage), ronin (masterless samurai) and peasants were not allowed to wear their hair that way, so it was definitely a status symbol that immediately signaled you out. By this time, it was decreed that men must cut their hair short, as Emporer Meiji was trying to westernize and modernize Japan.
11:45 i am italian-japanese so maybe I can give some context here. Let alone they make look like the Boshin war like a skirmish, it was a nation wide civil war, btw the older man is committing seppuku ashamed for the defeat he feels responsible, Katsumoto acts as Kaishakunin (the second) cutting his head to end his pain. Usually when a samurai had to commit (or wanted to commit) seppuku he asked his best friend to be his Kaishakunin, obviously nobody would've liked to behead his best friend but if asked, you could not turn it down, because refusing would be meaning to dishonor you friend further. Still today many Iaido styles of sword include the sword form kaishaku.
There is a song by the band Sabaton about this last battle: Shiroyama. The final battle was the battle of Shiroyama. Have a listen if you like some historical powermetal.
Edward Zwick also directed another emotional movie dealing with war: GLORY (1989) with an incredible cast including Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. Highly recommend if you haven’t seen it already.
Fun react for a great film. It is important to remember that this is a highly romanticized version of a caste system which could be quite cruel. That is why the people reacted the way they did in Tokyo when Algren returned with his Samurai escort. I suggest Clavell’s Shogun if you are interested in more Japanese historical fiction. Looking forward to your next react.
The only thing I don't like about movies like this is that they only explore the romantacized version of samurai and the way of the warrior. There are dark aspects to it as well. Just look at the stories of what the japanese did to those who surrendered to them in WW2 as an example. Some of them are good, some are bad. Movies rarely explore that. When they explore differences in people they do it by division. Like in this movie where the samurai are good and the industrialists are bad. It's just not the simple.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
"You believe a man can change his destiny?"
"I think a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed."
very poignant line, indeed.
"The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." - Proverbs 16:9
@@fyrestorme👏
Katsumoto was not talking about lilies, he was talking about spending your whole life looking for the perfect cherry blossom. As he was dying was when he realized that all blossoms are perfect.
One of my favorite movies ever. Tom Cruise was great but this was Ken Watanabe's movie from beginning to end. Beautifully shot and gorgeous music. One of Tom's best.
Watanabe got an Oscar nomination for this, and it put him on the international stage as an really damn good dramatic actor. Every time he shows up in something from Godzilla to Inception, he jsut elevates the script lines he's given!
It wasn’t his movie, and Tom cruise out acted him in many scenes. Stop being anti white, and enjoy great acting.
@VictorLugosi Uh ... calm down. We're just admiring Watanabe. Also, Cruise wasn't nominated for this film, doesn't mean he's a lesser actor. White-bashing? Gimme a break. ✌🏾
@@VictorLugosi I'm not sure how I'm white bashing by complementing Cruise more than once. I literally said it's one of his best movies. I guess people look for things to get triggered about. It's just my opinion about a movie. It's not that deep.
One of Tom Cruise's strengths is that despite having been the biggest star in the world for 40 years almost, he has no problem with letting someone else shine for the benefit of the movie. He holds his own but he lets whatever is best for the story happen.
"He finally fight for what he want to fight for, not just by the order"
That was so eye opening comment, i've have never thought of that before
You know the sadness you felt when the samurai all died. That's how many of the old generation feel as things they once knew are no longer. I know many young people make comments such as the old are irrelevant like all those who wanted to take the right to vote away from senior citizens or mock elders for living in the past. Change is a necessity, but respect for the past is also important.
Change is only a necessity in response to differing circumstances.
Change for its own sake ends with... well take a look at basically any modern college campus for details.
@@ephraimwinslow yes, of course...change must be productive, not regressive.
@@rxlxviii
Thank you for saying productive rather than progressive.
Self-described "progressives" haven't had a single clue what they're progressing towards (or away from) in like... 3 decades at least.
@@rxlxviii
Thank you for saying productive rather than progressive.
(The latter term has dropped precipitously in value recently.)
@@Xfactor444-x4n who longs for that? You completely missed the point. And I guess you are a liberal who want to reinstate laws like Jim Crow again...separate but equal, but they call it safe spaces and such things as separate graduations....how's that different from separate, but equal?
the line about "they're all perfect"
he was talking about the perfect blossom. in the context of talking about bushido. bushido is the way of the warrior "life in every breath." Essentially, he's making it analogous to the warrior looking for the perfect death.... you can spend your whole life looking.. then at the end, "they're all perfect." every fallen warrior fighting for the right cause has a perfect death just like every blossom is perfect
This movie was a huge hit in Japan. It came out right as younger generations were rediscovering traditional culture.
This period in Japanese history is fascinating. Imagine going from the European middle ages to the industrial age in something like 30 years, not hundreds .
That's basically what happened and this movie details the clash between the old and new.
L'ère Meiji 😅
This movie is an absolute masterpiece. The verbal acting in it alone is impressive, but looking at the non-verbal stuff is where I think this movie really shines. The subtlety of facial expressions, the mutual respect in their bows and stances; this movie still makes me cry at all the same parts no matter how many times I watch it. And the music! That's half the movie, and I am SO glad that Hans Zimmer is the one who composed it. If this wasn't a movie you were familiar with before, or even knew about, I guarantee you it's now at least in your top 5.
I can tell your reactions were really genuine, unlike fake ones like so many other channels reacting to The Last Samurai.
31:45 The topknot is a sacred part of Samurai culture. When Nobutada cries out as his topknot is being cut off, it’s like he’s begging his ancestors' forgiveness for allowing himself to be publicly dishonoured like that.
it's more than that... if u cut off your own topknot it was basically u denouncing your titles. sometimes defeated samurai who didn't commit harakiri also had their topknot cut off. cutting his topkknot waa utterly disrespectful beyond measure
@@vkdeen7570 Exactly. At least doing it himself would have been by choice.
It also draws parallels Algrens speech to Mr Graham earlier in the movie about the technique of scalping.
This movie is storytelling at its finest. I saw this in a college town movie theater, and it is the only time I’ve ever witnessed a crowd leave the movie in near silence, aside from the muffled tears/sadness.
Bob was indeed there to guard Algren, but to make sure that none of the villagers decided to attack and kill him and make it pass as an accident or as if he tried to escape.
That's one of the main functions of a guard. Nowadays, most guards are prison guards, when in history, guards were mostly to protect kings, emperor's, generals... (VIPs)
"He may have at last found some small measure of peace that we all seek, and few of us ever find"
My favorite ending words in cinema.
18:36 That piece of music is literally called Beating In The Rain. Amazing piece. Another Hans Zimmer masterpiece.
All the actors were absolutely incredible, no doubt. However, I would also like to recognize Hans Zimmer for the AMAZING soundtrack to this movie. It's one of a kind
The misconception is that Tom Cruise is the last Samurai. It’s not Tom. It’s Katsumoto. He helps Katsumoto, the true last Samurai, end his life with honor.
I love the scene where he tells the conscript to fire at him, cause you see all the new recruits duck immediately, while General Hasegawa, Colonel Bagley, Omura's bodyguard, and Sergeant Gant don't even flinch. Really demonstrates the difference between those who have experienced battle from the green troops.
As a lifelong student of history, I tend to wince at "historical period pieces", however a good film such as this cannot be ignored. Great script, casting & cinematography combined with a terrific score makes for a quasi modern epic. Ken Wantanabe is absolutely brilliant in his role as Katsumoto. My only complaint is the cheese that popped up now & again. The main is how Algren begins to train & in a short time almost attains the proficiency level of Ujio enough to obtain that draw. One article I read stated the Japanese received this very well as it portrayed their people in an honorable & accurate manner in terms of the societal depiction. Great reaction & analysis, very much enjoy your commentary.
As someone with over 30 years of martial arts experience including classical kendo (kogen itto Ryu), it bothered me as well that the Cruise character would achieve skill equivalence. I would note thought that Algren was a trained soldier and highly decorated soldier, who did know how to fight with a cavalry sword. So it’s not outlandish that he became proficient with the katana, but not likely that he’d equal the best fighter among the samurai.
I watched this with my mom when it first came out and haven’t seen it since, we’re huge Tom Cruise fans. I don’t think I ever watched it again because I didn’t like the ending, but now so many years later I realize I was just too young to understand the culture and deeper meaning that really makes this movie beautiful. So glad you two reacted to this, I def cried with you and now I gotta rewatch it properly with my mom ☺️
9:06, Sergeant Gant is a loyal one for sure.
Its been long held military tradition, that young newly commissioned lieutenants are usually given an older non-commissioned officer (NCO) like Gant to be their advisor. These lieutenants are usually fresh from college or the academy so they have a head full of theory but no real world military experience. So the NCO respectfully advises and teaches the young officer so they don't screw up.
I've heard of one Colonel who hit it off so well with his first NCO advisor that they teamed up for the rest of their careers. When the Colonel got a promotion or transferred to a new base, he made sure his sergeant got promoted and transferred as well. Last I heard they were stationed at the Pentagon and the Colonel was being considered for promotion to General.
The relationship between Algren and Gant strikes me as the same kind of dynamic. Even though Algren has been promoted up to Captain, Gant is still by his side teaching and supporting him. So in this situation he not only has his old student Algren at risk but the young men they have been training. So Gant is showing a lot of loyalty to stay at the front with the unit.
With Gant's death, Algren is forced to finally begin to grow up and become the soldier, the warrior he could be.
So many reactors do not understand defeated samurai's suicide (11:46). Seppuku, the honourable method of taking one’s own life practiced by men of the samurai (military) class in feudal Japan. The word hara-kiri (literally, “belly-cutting”), though widely known to foreigners, is rarely used by Japanese, who prefer the term seppuku.
In my humble opinion, when Katsumoto was making that last poetic statement, he was indeed making a call-back to the lilies. But in that final instance he was using it as a metaphore for all of his fellow samurai who fought and died there.
Their perfection was crowned in their honorable and valiant death on the battlefield (also like the final falling away of the beautiful and perfect blossoms)
Well, the movie was shot in New Zealand, you can recognize the landscapes from The Lord of the Rings
I love watching movies with you guys!
Thanks! Another beautiful reaction guys, ty!
Thank you so much!
Perfect…They are all…perfect!
Samurais helmets & masks looked the way they did was to scare off their opponents during battle and to strike terror in their enemies hearts.
That General was committing seppuku as it was a practice {from 1177 to 1970} performed by Samurai to avoid falling into enemy hands and to attenuate shame also to avoid torture.
1870, not 1970
@@tonyb7615no it was 1970 as a Japanese author Yukio Mishima and one other follower performed seppuku at the Japanese Self Defense Forces after an unsuccessful raid.
It also would happen during the world war when Japan was actively involved in the war.
@TheLesMiserablesCats24601 not sanctioned or asked for. And ww2, you were supposed to kamikaze. Seppuku was a waste . Plenty of civilians killed themselves in fear. None I'm aware of with actual seppuku, because with out a second, it's known to be a terrible way to go. I'm sure some soldiers did it too. But they and civillians were explicitly told not to. Not when they could've taken an american life with them. Now if you want to include yakuza, I'm sure it still happens today. All of this refutes your point tho. And no Japanese citizen wants to glorify the yakuza irl, that's for videogames.
For me, the reason this movie resonates so much is due to it's story of redemption. You have a man in Nathan Algren with a broken past and destroyed mind that, through the help and influence of the Samurai, is able to come to terms with his past and transform into a better version of himself, something I've always striven to do and is why this movie hits so close to home for me.
Ok yeah! Nice reaction you two! Now you are ready to react to the best show on TV right now “Shogun”. It will be winning all the awards this year. It also has the famous Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada as a lead. He plays the senior Samurai that teaches Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai. I hope you guys consider reacting to it. Thanks for sharing your video with us!
One of my late grandfather's favorite films. Some recent films I hope you two will check out are Master and Commander (2003), Down Periscope (1996), the Patriot (2000), and Stardust (2007). Also, the How to Train Your Dragon series as well. Older films you should watch are The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Dodge City (1939), Forbidden Planet (1957), and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958).
Samurai was not something someone 'became'. It was a social class you were born into. The kid was already a member of the samurai class because he was the son of a samurai, it was just assumed he would grow up to be a warrior like his father. On certain occasions yes a commoner could be elevated to the rank of Samurai, but only on the order of his Daimyo or lord. For instance in the scene were Katsumoto hands Algren the sword he is essentially elevating him to that status though it is more a matter of needing him to fight than any social reason.
I'm pretty sure he was referring to his psychology, not his rank.
why do you have that pride D&D picture? keep that crap out of it please.
@@xhelan131 No
@@xhelan131- Perhaps you should keep your opinions and bigotry to yourself.
@@Parallax-3D no thanks, you people need to be reminded we will never be silenced :)
You haven't reacted to, or seen it yet, but this scene at 7:19 reminds me of Glory and I just realized this, but it's the same director so that makes sense. I consider Glory one of the best war movies ever and it has a STACKED cast. 5 Oscar noms and won 3. 34:46 - Peter Pettigrew coming in clutch lol
While it's a very romanticized samurai movie, it's still the most emotional samurai movie I've ever seen. Maybe one of Toms best. I mean, the whole cast is amazing. I've watched it dozens of times. If you want another good one, watch the new Shogun series. It's amazing, and much more realistic of the Samurai/Japanese at the time. And it's more or less based on a true story.
Aw hell yeah, an all timer!
"I will tell you how he lived" - one of the best quotes and deliveries ever.
Amazing line and perfectly delivered by Tom.
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the movie is something common in civil wars. The combatants knew or were related to the opposition. In this case, the modern army was called upon to kill their heros. It's as bittersweet as victory can be.
You both clearly felt all the emotions. I hope this adds to your understanding of the social implications.
This movie remains one of my favorites because there's just so many layers to it. It's powerful, moving, griping, heartbreaking heartwarming, there's a bit of every human experience in it and it moves all of that with such grace and passion. Just thr relationship between Tom and Taka is so unbelievably beautiful. The way they talk without saying a word to this day leaves me in awe. Then there's the cinematography, the brilliant way it was filmed, at eye level almost the entire movie makes you feel like you're a part of it, it's subtle, but it's there...then I don't know a ton about movies. Lastly is the acting, my God, everyone played their role perfect, that's so rare and cool! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!
This movie romanticized the samurai and katsumoto. The samurai were an elite upper class that ruled as tyrants over the rest of Japan. Their word was law, and the only ones who could challenge them were other samurai. Katsumoto didn't noble refuse to use guns in order to keep to some "samurai code," he was fighting to keep his status and authority and stopped using guns because they ran out of bullets and couldn't get more.
"My soldiers, rage! My soldiers, scream! My soldiers, fight!"
- Erwin Smith
I've seen this movie four times now. It gets better with each viewing. Excellent reactions!
Love your reactions thanks!
Well if you like Samurais, check out the remake of Shogun (2024) - earlier mini series version was 1980 - and both were of course based on James Clavell's novel by the same name.
And Clavell’s novel is based on the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
This movie is one of the best
“- what is your name?
- Tom Cruise!”
That was fun 😂
Ujio acknowledging Algren with a nod when he walks out of Taka's house wearing her late husband's armor legit felt as satisfying as Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star or Rocky Balboa going the distance against Apollo Creed.
It kind of reminds me of Wind In His Hair talking with Kevin Costners character in Dances With Wolves about his friend dying because he was coming. Acceptance as one of them beyond being an allie.
The nod is great, but the moment that gets me is the fit check. That respect of "if you're wearing it to battle, I will confirm it is properly fitted and will serve the function." They were true brothers in arms.
Better: Luke Skywalker is forever disgraced by the later actions of Disney and Mark Hamill.
@@pistonburner6448 ah yes, another person who pretends to be a SW fan so they can spew vitriol where it has no place, classy look.
@@BigSeth1090 You have been programmed well: you spew tribal hate and vitriol while falsely claiming to defend against it. And as always: you have no actual, real accusations or argumentation whatsoever. You don't even try to converse, you are only fighting a culture war of hate and greed for power and subjugation of others.
Did you recognize, Timothy Spall? He played Simon Graham in this film (the English linguist) but he also played Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail), the betrayer of Harry Potter’s parents, in the movies.
Every time I watched this movie I cry.
Beautiful work.
BTW... the gatling guns used in the battle... during the Civil War, the South called them the "Devils Breath"
You asked where the film was made, it was actually made here in New Zealand.
Our Mt Taranaki resembles Fuji, so they were going to use that but by the time filming wrapped the technology got so good they were able to put an image of the real Mt Fuji in the relevant scenes.
Beautiful entertaining film with great production values, and some great performances by Watanabe Jen, Sanada Hiroyuki, and Kouyuki.
The real story is much more complex and sadder.
The two of you understand the politics and the emotions of the characters very well.
Someone said once that "She's honoured to have ny guest in her house" isn't even a lie.
More that her chosing her as the lord is an honour to her, whether she appreciates it or not.
Same as Katsumoto being chosen to be General Hasegawa's second when he commits Seppuku, it's considered an honour to be trusted with the task.
I like to think the junior officer who commands the guns to stop firing symbolises the audience, and the modern Japanese people, who realised that they can't forget their traditions.
A great movie. Ken Watanabe was exceptional as Katsumoto. HOWEVER, it shouldn't be mistaken for history. The U.S. played little, to, no part in the Meiji Restoration. Less than a decade before, we had just emerged from the most destructive war in our history, and, our military, which had been seriously drawn down, was pre-occupied fighting Native Americans on the frontier.
Did you watch the movie? How many Americans are there? 3? They were there as advisors. The Japanese were reaching out to any and all countries, and america having had just had that war you speak of, had the most experience with the most recent technology. There's a reason the Japanese were willing to pay for advisors. In reality the British were the ones tinkering in their inner politics, but it was the usa that forced open Japan's economy and stop using one port city to only deal with the Dutch. Or whoever the Dutch brought with them, like the Portuguese.
17:27, heck yeah there is just something so freaking cool about swords and learning to use them.
This is 1 of my favorite movies ❤ I like watching reactions to favorite movies to feel like I am watching it again first… everything about this movie is amazing 🤩 and while the ending is sad, it is where the title kicks in. They are defeated, as samurai are no longer needed- they would rather die in battle.
The scene where Taka helped Algren don the armor, is more intimate and sensual than any love scene could have been.
Yes! Thank you! This is my absolute favorite movie of all time! It is so beautiful in so many ways ❤
Love from Norway ❤️
Y'all are one of the best reaction channels on RUclips. Thank you for the great content. Take care. ✌️
I only realized when watching this even though I've been rewatching this movie (through reactions, but still) a lot of times, but the samurai armor that Algren wore at the end (the one that's supposedly belongs to Taka's late husband) is a red armor. If I remember correctly, red armor is (at the very least during Sengoku/Warring States period) worn by samurai who are part of a regiment that acts as "elite troops", like the Takeda's "Red Cavalry" or Naomasa Ii's "Red Demons". Meaning that to wear such an armor you have to be considered a very capable warrior. Just the sight of a regiment of red-armored samurai in the field is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of enemies. So Taka's husband - and Algren, too, for that matter - they must've been considered competent warriors.
in my personal belief! this is one of the greatest movies of all time
I love this film so much / Thank you both for sharing this and giving it respect
It is the only movie that let me leave the theatre in trance and it seemed I wasn´t the only one. Most were whispering at best. Entering the main hall I felt almost offended hearing trivial things like people discussing upcoming plans or what popcorn they wanted to buy.
The Director Edward Zwick, and composter James Horner
Also made “Glory” and “legends of the fall”
Such a beautiful movie and a great reaction! The true story is fascinating as well.
My favorite movie of all time. Watanabe and Cruise deliver their best performances (to me).
There's a wholesomeness and sense of purpose/honor you don't see much anymore in movies...let alone in life.
The Perfect Blossom call back/realization, and I'll tell you how he lived are such great iconic scenes/lines.
Love your reactions, it's those heart string tugs...a shared relatable experience between people that will never meet.
This movie helped make life bearable, for me, in a time where I didn't feel like I was deserving of life. Such a perfect movie. Also, I love the intimacy of Taka helping dress Nathan into the red armor. It's intimate and sensual, without being perverse or showing anything unnecessarily graphic. Thank you both for the reaction and insight!
I absolutely love this film - Beautifully shot. Everyone was amazing in their role and the film was gripping from start to finish.
The Emperor was not asking Katsumoto for "Advice". He was asking him to make the decision for him.
Many people (around 35:49 ) miss that Katsumoto actually shields Algren with his own body.
Winn thought there was only one Samurai 😂😂 she’s amazing. Love u both ❤
43:02 the reason they're standing there is because Algren fought in the American and Indian wars, much like the American Civil War, they would stand while being fired upon. That's how it was, Hundreds of men stood in file all the while reloading and firing muskets. This movie rocks and I'm fixing to watch it again soon after
One inaccuracy in this film is at this time period samurai were used to using firearms as they had been using them for a long time they didn’t strictly use Kantana and wakizashi they used any means they needed
They say Katsumoyo "No longer uses forearms" because he feels they dishonor him, so presumably he did use firearms previously. It's the conscript soldiers they being him in to train not samurai
@@Metaljacket420 "No longer uses forearms". A bit conceited lmao.
This cracked me up.
Katsumoto's historical precedent fought his last stand at swordpoint because he ran out of ammunition.
Though neither he nor his men wore armour, they where essentially (noble) officers with experience in mid-19th century warfare as they recently had fought an intermiate/modern modern war ousting the Tokugawa Shogunate and as such of course wore no (16th century...) armour as it would only make gun wounds worse.
Also the Samurai fought to retain a position of social privilege which included things like killing commoners at will....
Best regards
Raoul G. Kunz
Sanada Hiroyuki is such an incredible actor and a legit swordsman....SO under rated. Love this movie.
I've seen Marines, combat veterans, unashamedly shed tears, watching this movie.
Fun fact:most ninja were simple farmers and most if not all their weapons were farmers tools repurposed into weapons
Most ninja that we know of were also samurai
Sorry but ninja in the old Japan where the equivalent to modern special forces. They where used as spies saboteurs and assassin's. And the misconception about them beeing farmers and their weapons are farming tools came from the fact that as spies they often pretended to be farmers and so their weapons had to look like tools.
Because of the secret nature of their profession real facts about them are really rare but it seems to be sure that they existed since 794.
The name samurai was commonly used much later for warriors.
The ninja were neither farmers nor samurai. The latter is modern fiction. They were trained assassins and spy’s and would not last very long in a 1:1 sword battle with a trained samurai. That’s why they used trickery and deceit. They would much rather poison, stab someone from behind, or kill then while asleep than fight 1:1.
The ninja didn’t come from the samurai class, more likely from a lesser status caste like farmers or merchants, but they weren’t either from an occupation. More likely criminals.
There is a lot of mud on the 'history' of ninjas - as is evidenced by just this short comment thread :D.
Now, I am not a Samurai, nor Japanese, but I am a (former) historian who has spent a good few decades immersed in the story of Japan. I am also a student of the Japanese martial arts, specifically, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido, so I have had some contact with the myths and legends of the military side of things.
There is a strong suspicion that the Ninja never existed at all (sorry, Sensei Hatsumi :)) but the most credible version of the tale is, as Barney said here, that the 'ninja' were Samurai tasked with missions of espionage and assassination for their lords. Even tho' a Samurai's honour was protected, no matter what he did, as long as he was obeying the wishes of his lord, it was possibly the case that the Ninja persona was a 'cover story' to alleviate the guilt of behaving so dishonourably and to prevent that stain from spilling onto their family name.
everyone is a quarter japanees after this movie :D
Japan still has a lot of history in their present times, a lot of ritual and honor. I went there for business a couple of years ago and they even ritualize business cards. When they hand you a card, it's with both hands not one, the card is always faced to your direction so you can read it (not just shown to you any old way), and you are supposed to accept it in the same fashion, with both hands. If you're meeting with mutiple people, you repeat this for every last person. When it's time to sit, you put the cards out in front of you on the table in the same order as the people sit around you, so it's easy to always address someone correctly, even though you may have just met 10 people in a matter of minutes. And, you never, ever just put their cards in your pants, especially not the back pockets... it's deemed rude. That card is an extension of themselves so to sit on it, for example, would be no different than you sitting on them. A lot of this depends on where you are and what you're doing. At night at a restaurant or bar things are more loose, as you might expect, compared to an office environment. It was some work to watch what others were doing... to make sure you didn't accidentally do anything rude in their eyes, but to be honest, I quite liked it. Most things, even the exchange of business cards, had some weight to it... some meaning. Everything wasn't just cause... there was a style and a beauty to it.
Great movie! Great reaction! Thank you!🎉
Ed Zwick the director also directed (or had a lot to do with) Glory.
The last samurai is very loosely based on Jules Brunet a French military officer who served the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Boshin War in Japan. About 20% or so is true. There were only about 10 foreign born samurai in the history of Japan. Three were European and one African.
Great movie! GREAT reaction!
Very well written story based on a French military officer in an engineering corps who was so taken with Samurai culture that he joined with them...and was later captured and imprisoned in France for awhile. The acting was great. As excellent as Tom Cruise was, Ken Watanabe dominated this film the way Daniel Day Lewis dominated "Gangs of New York."
It's a very emotive story and it's extremely well told in this movie.
19:37 comment such a significant pondering 19:38 they are Shinto but in zen one looks at the essence and that question could be a teaching moment for one to learn through awareness. Such a good question😂
when the sunami hit Japan. many came out of the mountain people to help others to move their homes up into the mountains by hand. and there acts of kindness spread Peace through Japan. as most returned the the old ways. it was spiritual and epic. and we got to see that in our lifetime. "They are all Perfect" was him letting go of this world. and in his last moments the cherry blossoms came to him in all their perfection.
Perfect reaction! Tom Cruise's best move by a long way for me and the music is just perfect!
I LOVE that they let the camera stay on Ujio for a little while after he gets unhorsed just so we get to see him tear through Imperial soldiers like an absolute blender.
As I recall it was a Japanese man who was the last samurai, but Tom cruces character was recognized by him and so he was also the last samurai.
It's been more than ten years since I've seen it.
It's referring to the whole battle, all of them, being the last one fought by samurai. Kasumoto was their leader. Think of samurai as their word for soldier. Or if 300 was instead called the last spartans.
Ujio is a fiercely traditional samurai and the katana, a symbol of his class, is everything to his eyes. Even holding a bokken (wooden katana) is an honor that a stranger like Algren does not deserve, hence his immense anger.
It's very similar to Europe's nobilty (the warrior class) till the 18th century, where owning and holding a sword was a privilege reserved to them.
Edward Zwick made several huge movies and a few just big ones:
As a Director...
- About Last Night - Rob Lowe & Demi Moore in a romance, based on a David Mamet play. One of those "Brat Pack" movies as the two leads were part of that generation of actors.
- Glory - Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington in his first Oscar-winning role. A Civil War film about the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first African-American regiments.
- Legends of the Fall - Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aiden Quinn, and Julia Ormond - A family drama that was Brad Pitt's first big leading man roie, it was a huge, lush, romantic drama.
- Courage Under Fire - Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Matt Damon
- Blood Diamond - Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Housou, and Jennifer Connelly
- Defiance - Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber
- Love And Other Drugs - Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway
- Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - Tom Cruise's second outing as Lee Child's former Army investigator, Jack Reacher. Despite being too small, physically, for the role of Reacher, Cruise was pretty good...but I really recommend the Amazon series Reacher with Alan Ritchson. Jack Reacher, in the novels is 6'5", between 210 to 250 pounds, with a 50" chest...Richson comes close, Cruise...not so much! Both actors play this amazing character well.
As a Producer...
- Dangerous Beauty - Catherine McCormick (Murron from Braveheart) and Rufus Sewell - Set in Venice during the Renaissance, about the poetess and courtesan Veronica Franco...I love this film!
- Shakespeare In Love - Winner of Best Picture (1998), about a young William Shakespeare with writer's block, and the beauty who becomes his muse. Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare, Gwyneth Paltrow in her Oscar-winning role, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, and Judi Dench in her Oscar-winning role as Queen Elizabeth I. Some people hate on it...I still adore this film.
- Traffic - Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, and Benecio Del Toro in his Oscar-winning performance. About the illegal drug trade and the war fighting it.
- I Am Sam - Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, and both Dakota and Elle Fanning playing the same role at different ages. About a mentally disabled man trying to maintain custody of his daughter, who is exceptionally bright.
A beautiful reaction to a beautiful movie. Thank you
This is without a doubt Tom Cruise's best film and one of my top favs of all time.
Love to see how people react to movies that I have seen, and you guys reactions are Lit .This movie (along with Born on the fourth of July, A Few Good Men, and Jerry McGuire), Cruise should have gotten an Oscar win for it.
@30:33 Sort of. The Japanese believe the emporer to be a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, starting with Emporer Jimmu, but reliable historical accounts don't show up till about the 20th(ish) emporer. The 126th Emporer, Naruhito is the current monarch of Japan, and in this movie it is the 122nd Emporer, Meiji, that we see. And yeah, he was very young when he took the throne, only 15 or 16.
@32:17 The chonmage (top-knot) was a hair style that by law only samurai were permitted to have (And during the Tokugawa era, if you were a samurai man, you HAD to have the chonmage), ronin (masterless samurai) and peasants were not allowed to wear their hair that way, so it was definitely a status symbol that immediately signaled you out. By this time, it was decreed that men must cut their hair short, as Emporer Meiji was trying to westernize and modernize Japan.
It wasn't the Emperor who sent the ninja, it was Omura.
11:45 i am italian-japanese so maybe I can give some context here. Let alone they make look like the Boshin war like a skirmish, it was a nation wide civil war, btw the older man is committing seppuku ashamed for the defeat he feels responsible, Katsumoto acts as Kaishakunin (the second) cutting his head to end his pain. Usually when a samurai had to commit (or wanted to commit) seppuku he asked his best friend to be his Kaishakunin, obviously nobody would've liked to behead his best friend but if asked, you could not turn it down, because refusing would be meaning to dishonor you friend further. Still today many Iaido styles of sword include the sword form kaishaku.
Havent seen your reaction yet, but yes, this is full of the romantic notions of honour, loyalty and being true to oneself
33:23 · The Kanji written on that paper is the word 'Samurai'.
Zwick has some very good and some very entertaining movies. Glory, Courage Under Fire, Blood Diamond, Legends of the Fall amongst others.
There is a song by the band Sabaton about this last battle: Shiroyama. The final battle was the battle of Shiroyama. Have a listen if you like some historical powermetal.
UGH, I HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE IN THE THEATERS AND 50 MORE TIMES AND I STILL SHED TEARS! KONORONKHWA! TO THIS CULTURE!
Edward Zwick also directed another emotional movie dealing with war: GLORY (1989) with an incredible cast including Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. Highly recommend if you haven’t seen it already.
Fun react for a great film. It is important to remember that this is a highly romanticized version of a caste system which could be quite cruel. That is why the people reacted the way they did in Tokyo when Algren returned with his Samurai escort. I suggest Clavell’s Shogun if you are interested in more Japanese historical fiction. Looking forward to your next react.
The significance of the perfect cherry blossom was that he was crossing over into. His paradise; where everything is perfect.
The only thing I don't like about movies like this is that they only explore the romantacized version of samurai and the way of the warrior. There are dark aspects to it as well. Just look at the stories of what the japanese did to those who surrendered to them in WW2 as an example. Some of them are good, some are bad. Movies rarely explore that. When they explore differences in people they do it by division. Like in this movie where the samurai are good and the industrialists are bad. It's just not the simple.
日本人を「悪」とする為に、どれ程のプロパガンダが流されているか御存知ですか？ 日本軍が宣戦布告なく真珠湾を攻撃したと思いますか？ 慰安婦の話が拡散されてますが真実だと思いますか？ 当時併合していた韓国系が我々は日本人だ！と言い無茶苦茶してた事実を知ってますか？