The Last Samurai
the last samurai
the NY Post called this movie "condescending" - i couldn’t agree more. it starts with Tom Cruise being recruited to help train the japanese emporer’s army how to fight, because apparently they’re a bunch of bumbling baffoons who can’t shoot straight. when he’s forced into a battle against the samurai, he’s captured (after single-handedly holding off about 7 samurai). while in captivity for a few months, he manages to transform from despised prisoner into one of the best samurai swordfighters and the samurai warlord’s right-hand man. and oh yeah, he also wins the love of the widow and kids of the samurai he killed before being captured. then he leads the samurai into one final battle where they all die in a blaze of glory…but of course Tom Cruise survives, and makes it back to the widow and her family in the end.
despite reeking of hollywood cheese, it was somewhat entertaining to watch. it’s not a bad movie, just typical.