The Last Samurai

January 8, 2003

Starring: Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Ken Watanabe, Hiroyuki Sanada

Director: Edward Zwick

Official Website: http://lastsamurai.warnerbros.com/html_index.php

Ok, this movie is 2 and a half hours long, stars Tom Cruise and is about war. Sounds like your stereotypical epic? You'd be right. Sounds like the kind of flick to sweep the oscars like Gladiator and Braveheart? Not by a long shot. Although I like the story concept and I like Tom Cruise, there just isn't enough there, the movie is long, but you don't come out with any memorable scene nor do you really care for anyone in the movie.

Like I said, the character played by Tom Cruise is in an interesting situation. However, there isn't much chemistry between anybody, and one scene is particularly odd, he comes back to his base after being trapped for almost a year, he was the leader of their army before he was dramatically captured, and when he comes back they talk like he was gone to Tim Horton's or a small vacation, what the?? Your former leader!! Anyways, I sound bitter, it's not that bad, but if your going to make something that has all the aspects of an epic, you better deliver, and this flick didn't.

In short:
Comedy: Nope
Violence/language: Lots of violence, brief language
Nudity/sex: None
High Points: Interesting script, Tom Cruise good
Low Points: Too long, lack of supporting cast, some holes in storytelling

Rating: B-