The Last Samurai [Region 2] |  | Director: Edward Zwick
Actors: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg
Category: DVD
Buy New: $7.01
as of 3/21/2010 04:45 EDT details
New (4) Used (3) from $7.00
Seller: Entertainment Treasures
Rating:  717 reviews
Sales Rank: 143636
Format: PAL
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), German (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), Icelandic (Subtitled), Hebrew (Subtitled), Arabic (Subtitled), Greek (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Discs: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Running Time: 154 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321900283830
ASIN: B0000A30NB
Theatrical Release Date: December 5, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this "progress" is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honor despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honor. --Jeff Shannon
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 717
Japan, and a man, at the crossroads February 16, 2010
Chrijeff (Scranton, PA)
This epic swashbuckler is also the story of a man's search for peace and meaning, with a debt to both Dances with Wolves - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) and James Clavell's Shogun. It's 1876, bare months after Custer's Last Stand, and Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a survivor of the Seventh Cavalry, is working as a huckster for the Winchester rifle company and doing his best to drown himself in drink. Like Frank Hopkins of Hidalgo (Widescreen Edition), he's tormented by memories of an attack on a camp of peaceable Indians--and quite ready to kill the C.O. (Tony Goldwyn) who ordered it. When his old sergeant, Zebulon Gant (Billy Connelly), finds him and suggests the existence of a job just suited to him, he's intrigued, but his old Colonel's presence on the team does nothing for his enthusiasm. The money does: $500 a month to travel to Japan, where the young Emperor Meiji (Shichinosuke Nakamura) has embarked upon a program to unify his country and bring in Western technology, and there help train the Imperial Army to fight a rebellious Samurai lord named Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe). The Army turns out to be a ragtag band of conscripts that breaks in terror when it first faces the rebels, leaving Algren and Gant virtually alone, and when Gant is killed Algren goes berserk. Katsumoto is deeply impressed by his fighting, and when Algren collapses, wounded and exhausted, he refuses to permit the American to be slain; instead, he takes him along as a prisoner, hoping to "understand our new enemy." Slowly recovering his strength in the Samurai stronghold, Algren is at first little impressed by the Samurai ethos, but slowly he begins to realize the genuineness of their dedication and spirituality; always a quick study, he learns to speak Japanese and becomes so expert with the wooden practice swords that he fights Katsumoto's best warrior, Ujio (Jiroyuki Sanada), to a draw; and slowly he begins to understand that the Samurai, like the Indians, are fighting for their way of life. A strange friendship grows up between him and Katsumoto, and Algren also finds himself attracted to his host's sister, whose husband he killed in the battle. When the Emperor offers Katsumoto a safe-conduct to Tokyo, Algren goes there with him and is ready to leave the country, but on learning that the Samurai has been arrested and condemned to death, he engineers a daring plan to free him, and joins him in one last glorious but futile stand against the forces of modernity.
Algren isn't always a likeable character, but he's very human and comprehensible, and Cruise portrays with sensitivity and believability his slow conversion to the Samuari cause. (The film is based on fact: curious viewers might want to consult Wikipedia's article on the Meiji Restoration to see how it all began and what effects it had on later Japanese history, including the country's character today.) Hans Zimmer's thunderous score The Last Samurai and the excellently choreographed duel and battle scenes are pluses, and while the movie is rated R for violence, discreet and creative camerawork prevents any really shocking or disgusting sequences. This "romantic vision of a lost world," as Time Magazine called it, will impress you and stay with you.
 "Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor." Blu ray review February 11, 2010
A. Scultore (NY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Set in Japan during the 1870s, Tom Cruise plays Capt. Nathan Algren, an American military leader hired to train Japan's army in modern warfare. He is a drunk mercenary tortured by his inner demons. In his first encounter against the Samurai, Algren is captured by Katsumoto, played brilliantly by Ken Watanabe. He quickly is impressed by the Samurai's skills in battle and unexpectedly drawn to their way of life while in captivity. Ultimately, he finds himself at Katsumoto's side, driven by his sense of honor.
This is a great film and probably Tom Cruise's best. It is beautifully written and acted. It is also loaded with brilliant cinematography and amazing battle choreography. An epic and worth mentioning with such great films like Gladiator and Braveheart! A must own for any collector.
NOW FOR MY BLU RAY THOUGHTS: A very nice transfer that enhances all the beauty of Japan's landscape. The audio is slightly lacking but better than the previous dvd release. All the special features are carried over. FINAL VERDICT: IT WOULD BE DISHONORABLE NOT TO UPGRADE! A MUST OWN!
Underated February 6, 2010
Mike Graham (Palestine, TX, USA)
This movie is probably one of the best movies Tom Cruise has starred in as far as a storyline goes. While it may not be an action movie along the lines of the Mission Impossible series, it is a love story told against the backdrop of feudal Japan. The scenery is gorgeous and it actually has a plot to the story.
Great on Blu Ray! February 3, 2010
P. J. De Jager (Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands)
The last Samurai is a typical movie to watch on Blu Ray. The image during the first 20 minutes of the movie are not impressive, but once Tom is in the samurai village the image quality is beautiful!
Excellent February 1, 2010
Luis A. Marrero
This movie is one of the best movie every time you see it... you learn somthing new.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 717
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