Stars: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn, Billy Connolly, William Atherton

Director: Edward Zwick

Summary: Captain Nathan Algren served in the American Civil War where he risked his life for his country. He served out his career in the West where the battle was with Indians and it was here that he became disillusioned and lost. In a far-off land a celebrated Samurai warrior, Katsumoto, is learning about change. A life of service to the Emperor and the country is being replaced with survival in a time of modernisation. Fate has it that both men will face each other and make a stand against those that would threaten honour and values. Captain Nathan Algren is employed to train a group of Japanese conscripts who will replace the Samurai warrior. But he is captured by the Samurai, an enemy he comes to respect and for whom he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Edward Zwick directs this sumptuously designed, action-packed period epic that stars Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren. Algren, a former Civil War hero, is adrift in 1870s San Francisco after the war, a lost soul struggling to stay afloat in a booze-soaked stupor. When he is recruited by the Japanese government to train the Emperor's army, he departs for the unknown shores of Japan and begins training the soldiers in American military tactics. But these skills are useless against a band of samurai rebels led by the proud warrior Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), and Algren is easily defeated. He is taken to a remote samurai village where he learns samurai warrior codes and ways of life, developing a deep bond with Katsumoto and sharing philosophical conversations with him. Caught between the feudal culture of the ancient samurai warriors and the encroachment of modern society, Algren is forced to choose between his own culture or Katsumoto's. THE LAST SAMURAI is lavish in its dramatic period costumes and intense performances, and will thrill fans of both historical drama and action films.

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Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Commentary - 1. Edward Zwick - Director, Featurettes - 1. TOM CRUISE: A WARRIOR'S JOURNEY, 2. MAKING AN EPIC: A conversation with Edward Zwick and Tom Cruise, 3. EDWARD ZWICK: DIRECTOR'S VIDEO JOURNAL, 4. FROM SOLDIER TO SAMURAI: THE WEAPONS, 5. IMPERIAL ARMY
Year:	2003
Release Date:	May 7, 2004
Runtime:	154 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	R D 028383
Keywords:	Last, Action, General, Samurai, Adventure
Genre:	Action/Adventure