The Last Samurai

Though formulaic in the Hollywood manner, The Last Samurai is a beautifully made movie in which nothing surprises you, but which will make you feel like you are in heaven. It’s obvious how much care the filmmakers put into it. Including Edward Zwick. Whatever the scene, it’s either beautifully poetic harmony or agile force of action. Tom Cruise is better suited to his role than you would expect and Hans Zimmer’s music adds incredible power to the fight sequences, significantly more than those in Gladiator. Incidentally, The Last Samurai is in every respect a better, more well-rounded film that elicits more legitimate tears from viewers at the end. (12/18/2003)

From poetic shots of the beautiful landscape of New Zealand to the thrilling final 20 minutes, everything is just as it should be in a Hollywood blockbuster. What's more, even though it is an American film, it doesn't look as American as it might seem at first glance, and Edward Zwick's tribute to the art of the Samurai is admirable. Tom Cruise is stunning, his portrayal of Nathan Algren is truly amazing. The director paid attention to every camera shot. The Last Samurai can be watched multiple times and it will still entertain you. (02/20/2004)

It may be somewhat naive at times, but I still like how this movie portrays different ways of thinking. What is beautiful about it is that it is all about how these approaches may be different, but when it comes to fighting for the right thing, it is not about the differences, but about what unites people. I must say that I am liking the Japanese approach more and more. (04/02/2015)

The great Japanese cast and samurai lifestyle definitely led me to award the full number of stars. In most movies Tom Cruise's personality would eclipse all supporting actors. But he failed to do so here, since the quality of the Japanese actors is still a bit above him. Content-wise, I find everything I’m looking for here...honor, peace, war, love, friendship. And even though it's a war movie, I also find lots of balance here. And you don’t see that often. A beautiful experience. 5 stars. (09/12/2011)

Over two hours of shots of Tom Cruise who is meant to be Nathaniel Algren, but remains simply Cruise for the entire movie. It’s kitsch, void of a screenplay and respect for other cultures, full of clichés... And very good. Monumental battles, Zimmer’s thunderous soundtrack and visual spectacle on top of everything. Dumb and naive gilding. But it must be said that this is extremely entertaining dumb and naive gilding. ♫ OST score: 4/5 (01/17/2008)