'The Last Samurai [HD DVD]' - Poetry Connection

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DVD : The Last Samurai [HD DVD]

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starring: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr. directed by: Edward Zwick See Larger Image Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: HD DVD Brand: Ingram EAN: 0012569809345 Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen Label: Warner Home Video Manufacturer: Warner Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Warner Home Video Release Date: April 18, 2006 Running Time: 154 minutes Sales Rank: 18763 Studio: Warner Home Video Theatrical Release Date: December 05, 2003 Features: Actors: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, William Atherton Format: Anamorphic, CC, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Deleted Scenes With Commentary Audio Tracks: English/French (Dolby Digital 5.1) Related Items: Troy [HD DVD] Batman Begins [HD DVD] The Patriot (Special Edition) Blood Diamond [HD DVD] Black Hawk Down [Blu-ray] see more Editorial Review: Description: Epic Action Drama. Set in Japan during the 1870s, The Last Samurai tells the story of Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a respected American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the Emperor attempts to eradicate the ancient Imperial Samurai warriors in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly government policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his own sense of honor to guide him. DVD Features: Audio Commentary:Commentary by Edward Zwick Deleted Scenes:The Beheading (Behind the Beheading) Algren and Katsumoto Documentaries:History vs. Hollywood: The Last Samurai {History Channel Documentary) Featurette:Tom Cruise: A Warrior's Journey Edward Zwick: Director's Video Journal {Behind-the-scenes production journal - narrated by Ed Zwick and Tom Cruise A World of Detail: Production Design with Lilly Kilvert Silk and Armor: Costume Design with Ngila Dickson Imperial Army Basic Training: From Soldier to Samurai: The Weapons Interviews:Making an Epic: A Conversation with Edward Zwick Amazon.com: While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this 'progress' is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honor despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honor. --Jeff Shannon Customer Reviews Average Rating: Rating: - Arrogant, presumptive, historically/culturally inaccurate This movie is TERRIBLE. Anyone who's actually sat down and STUDIED this time period cannot watch this film without criticizing it. Yeah, sure, rural peasants who are so poor they live in the mountains eat fluffy rich-people white rice. Uh huh. And Japanese is SUCH an easy language to learn. If you want to make a film about Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma Rebellion, please do. It's a fascinating moment in history. But this exoticized, orientalist, American-centric pastiche masquerading as a historical ... Read More Rating: - An enjoyable cinematic experience The year is 1876, Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) has been hired by the Japanese in order to help the Imperial Japanese Army become more 'modern' and less 'traditional' and ultimately prepare them to fight the legendary Samurai. Events occur that cause Tom Cruise to be a captive of the deadly but extremely polite Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) who is the leader of the Japanese Samurai. This is where the movie really starts to shine and and a beautiful forgotten world that we know little about comes alive ... Read More Rating: - I didn't see Dances with Wolves... So I won't make comparisons with that movie. I thought this is a well-done film. Sympathetic, and respectful of our culture. Thank you Hollywood and Zwick and Logan from a 'nihonjin.' I thought Cruise did a great job. I didn't see any of the reckless grinning that he known for, and he did a great portrayal of a disillusioned but fierce and loyal soldier. And this was exactly how many of the samurai felt in that era. This was a great fantasy film about a time of great change in Japan. You have to remember ... Read More Rating: - Tom Cruise at his best! Okay, so I might like Tom Cruise more than your average person, but no one can say this movie was poorly done or that the acting was bad. EXCELLENT movie!! Rating: - Awesomeeeeeeeeeee!! Just a really well done movie. This has it all: an epic scale, a love story, outstanding soundtrack, and fight scenes. Plain greatness. see more

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