SummaryThe paths of two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, hires a Civil War veteran (Cruise) to train Japan's first modern, conscript army. As he encounters the Samurai traditions, the troubled American soldier finds himself at the center of a violent and epic struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his sense of honor to gu... Read More
Directed By:Edward Zwick
Written By:John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
The Last Samurai
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.2
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
44% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
47% Mixed
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
9% Negative
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
100
The Last Samurai is much more fun than a mere history lesson.
75
Cruise's undeniable star voltage makes it all palatable, and the film is gorgeous to behold and even to listen to, from the rolling green hills to the galloping horses to the "Lohengrin"-like theme music on the sound track.
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.2
85% Positive
352 Ratings
352 Ratings
13% Mixed
52 Ratings
52 Ratings
2% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Oct 27, 2024
10
As relevant then as it is now, the central issue at the heart of “The Last Samurai” is: who comes first? Your identity or your conscience? Some men are willing to take action, despite knowing they will die, because of virtue. We could end this movie’s review here, with this profound truth: some men are beyond riches, beyond power… beyond identity. This movie delivers on this meaning; on this truth. “The Last Samurai” goes further, clearly manifesting the effects of remorse and the burden a conscious human being carries for their sins and transgressions. The past can literally destroy a man; his lack of responsibility becomes too heavy a burden to bear. Understand that these are true men, because a monster couldn’t care less. It’s our ability to respect, to be concerned and to consider that defines Mankind. It takes a much smaller person to be preoccupied with the human rat race and its perpetual climb to nowhere: a climb that involves gaining advantages over others. Brimming with meaning and wisdom that lands it firmly in the category of timeless cinema, “The Last Samurai” is about love, friendship and comradery, about the changing identity of men and nations, and how terrible and lasting action and inaction can be in the face of important decision making. Let me make one final thing clear: there is no cultural appropriation in this movie, no hateful or selfish white lead, or disgust towards minorities or foreign cultures. There is only a brotherhood of man, who come to know each other and who wish each other well. There is nothing more meaningful than our lives and the lives around us.
67
Though serious, well-crafted and handsome, lacks most of the pungency of the epitome of the genre, "Lawrence of Arabia."
60
Unwilling to offend, Zwick whitewashes a culture in which brutality and contemplative beauty were inextricably intertwined and, afraid to alienate audiences, he shies away from the story's logical downbeat conclusion, replacing it with an "ambiguous" ending that recalls, of all things, "The Road Warrior."
50
In The Last Samurai, the body count is almost as high as the dead-brain-cell count.
50
What it lacks is artistry, those small touches of personality that might have distinguished its lugubrious history lesson from a bunch of pretty pictures with captions telling the story.
30
The least one can say for this costume action flick is that it hits bottom immediately.
May 24, 2024
10
I watched this movie over 60 times. I absolutely love this movie. I still watch it
Jan 30, 2025
6
Super weird!! The voiceover narration is awful, Cruise maximizes his yelling potential, the production and performances are solid.
Sep 5, 2022
6
Tom Cruise There was some eerie and outstanding acting in the sequence where he is selling guns while intoxicated and partially remembering his time fighting Indians. It's terrifying when his military commander approaches him and Cruise offers to assassinate him for free. Freaky moment when Cruise demonstrates how to scalp someone to the translator. However, these are only a few scenes. Cruise isn't horrible during the rest of the film; it's just that outside of those three scenes, he doesn't have many lines that are really noteworthy. In addition, around the halfway point, you're probably thinking, "Oh no, not another dull Hollywood plot," which is of course the case.
Dec 26, 2015
2
One of the most egregious things about this film is that it has a white American guy jumping over to Japan, doing a crash course in Samurai, and becoming miles better than all the local guys who have trained their whole lives.. They don't explain whether this is purely because its Tom Cruise or if most non Japanese can beat them at their own game. Leaving this question unanswered was perhaps a clever way to leave room for a sequel. Sadly It never emerged.
Apr 9, 2015
0
Preceded by Dances With Wolves which was preceded by Lawrence of Arabia, succeeded by Pathfinder and Avatar, this Mighty Whitey film focuses on Japan for its narcissistic and unrealistic boast of cultural tolerance. Look at Tom Cruise's haircut in the poster. Now google "chonmage." There, now you never have to see this movie.
Production Company:
- Warner Bros.
- Radar Pictures
- The Bedford Falls Company
- Cruise/Wagner Productions
Release Date:Dec 5, 2003
Duration:2 h 34 m
Rating:R
Tagline:In the face of an enemy, in the Heart of One Man, Lies the Soul of a Warrior.
Website:
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 4 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 3 Nominations
Satellite Awards
• 4 Wins & 10 Nominations
