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

Director: Edward Zwick

Summary: Two men, Captain Nathan Algren a veteran of the American Civil War and a celebrated Samurai warrior, Katsumoto, who is learning about change, are fated to meet. Both will face each other and make a stand against those that would threaten honour and values.

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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Average User Rating:

Reviewed by: philreyn
Posted on September 22, 2005 12:28 PM

This is one of those films where you tend not to notice that it's nearly three hours long. One of the better epics around at the moment. As now seems the norm Tom Cruise plays the hero and the whole films revolves around him. That said he plays it well, and the whole thing is visually stunning, and big budget. Add to this a little romance, some well made fight scenes, some historical background, and this film has something for everyone. Good old fashioned epic entertainment, and well worth the seven quid outlay.

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Aspect Ratio:	Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	None
Year:	2003
Release Date:	November 1, 2004
Runtime:	154 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 068057
Keywords:	Last, Action, General, Samurai, Adventure
Genre:	Action/Adventure