Message from jhughes

[Anonymous]

Last Samurai summary: Set in Japan during the 1870s, (yet filmed in New Zealand) "The Last Samurai" conveys the tale of Capt. Nathan Algren (a very pompous and melodramatic Tom Cruise), as an American military officer hired by the young Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the government attempts to dispose of the ancient Samurai warrior class in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly policies, Algren falls in love with the Samurai way and grows to love the people, which puts him in the center of a battle between two eras and two worlds, with only his own sense of honor to guide him.

I knew going into this movie that everything would tend to focus toward Tom Cruise, but that he was in no way the last Samurai. I learned that the "last Samurai" were indeed a people. I found it arrogant of the director to assume that a visit to the emporer was a natural thing. However, I did like the relationships built between Cruise, Katsumoto, and Taka. One thing that struck me as sad was the tremendous loss of life due to "dying with honor". Watching this film was very interesting, though the snow was a weird touch!