The Last Samurai

Ichiro

A must see film. Brilliant.
A great start to the 2004 film Calender.

Anyone else agree or disagree?

DaithiSurfer

agree.
Oscar material. Possibly best film, best actor, cinematography, costumes etc.
I think best actor should go to Johnny depp for pirates of the c.,
but dont think they like hoim in hollywood so cruise is the front runner.

jonno

I agree. Just after seeing it. A brilliant film all round.

Think it could be a front runner for Best Film, Cinematography (it was magnificent), Art Design, Sound and maybe Score (Hans Zimmer does it again - perfect) along with a few more little ones. Cruise and Crowe will have a nice battle for Best Actor as well with Depp a dark horse.

Hopefully Ed Zwick will get a nomination too. Fantastic movie.

Manach

I also enjoyed it, interesting plot and good cinematography.

SheroN

class movie!

I didn't actually cringe when tom cruise comes on screen like i usually do....

Karl Hungus

Definetly on my 'To-Do' list.

At the very least, it'll be something to keep me entertained untill Takeshi Kitano's new film Zatoichi.

Elessar

Bah. Overall it was a good movie but having seen it and what it tries to accomplish, it has given me so much more respect for Peter Jackson and the way he portrays the (somewhat) same desperate good vs. evil struggle in ROTK. I'm not comparing the films, it just seemed to me that the basic concept of battling for what you believe in could have been much better (and LOTR has set the mark).

I didn't feel the secondary characters were developed enough (such as the guy who got killed rescuing Tom and the samurai from custody in Tokyo).

Tom Cruise gave a good yet blatantly overacted performance :rolleyes:

And what the hell (mini-spoiler)......Tom gets shot at least as many times as everyone else at the end, but manages to live with just a bit of a limp

An enjoyable movie, and definately worth watching, but I don't believe it merits any oscars.


(P.S. It seems apparent now that ROTK will cream the competition in several categories )

tinkerbell

Haven't seen it yet, but I will definitely be goin!

Must say, the trailer for it is absolutely fantastic, the music jus rawwwks, prolly one of my preferred trailers actually!

smiaras

This post has been deleted.

jonno

I thought Ken Watanabe was very good too. He deserves a nomination.

As for the critisism of the battle scenes, I thought they were okay although for me they were not a major part in the film for me. As far as I was concerned it was the journey of Cruise's character (not the one from America to Japan ) was the most important part of the movie as it was with Dances With Wolves. And again I thought Zwick came up trumps with this factor as he did with Legends of the Fall.

BlitzKrieg

i enjoyed it.

Elesser:

on the character who was killed on the bridge, he was the samurai's son and the one who is with cruise at the dinner table and around the village, he is also the guy who has his hair cut by the gaurds...

and i feel he was fleshed out enuf for audiance sympathy and to understand his position towards cruise.


I enjoyed the battle scenes, and as earlier stated in the thread my disapointment came from its predictability its a Braveheart-esge film, which in my opinion we havnt had one in a while.

i know i'll be flamed for this.


But i felt that the final battle in this passed of the desperation of the whole action alot more then ROTK, which though passed it well with frodo, didnt have it in its battles due to the disgraceful army of the dead. I guess it was more effective because

they DID lose

ObeyGiant

Dancing with Crouching Tigers? Definitely not.

I really, really disliked this film. Right from the very start, when the voice-over started coming out with hammy lines about honour, I knew this was going to be a let-down.

Cruise's desperation is almost palpable in this film - I'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR TWENTY YEARS! I'VE GIVEN YOU BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY! WHAT THE HELL DO I HAVE TO GET AN OSCAR AROUND HERE?! Which is pretty good for us an audience, because while he's busy giving hugs to crying children in slow-motion, Ken Watanabe comes along and sneaks the best performance in the movie out from under his feet.

The xXx of 'epic' movies.

secret_squirrel

Im not a Cruise fan but I had high hopes for this film, and came away disappointed. Cinematography was very good I thought (shades of LOTR??)

It wasnt very emotionally engaging I thought - couldnt even muster up the enthusiasm to want Tom to get machinegunned.

Thought the american colnel was very one dimensional, as was billy connelly with his dodgy accent. Did like timothy spall tho. Thought the asian supporting cast were excellent.

Battle scenes were mostly excellent too.

All in all technically good but lacking in emotion and too much focus on Cruise. (Which less face it the problem with most of his films.)

Definately not Oscar material I reckon (well not Cruise anyhow). Im wishing I had seen lost in translation instead

quank

overall i thought it was a very good film
but i just wished it wasnt as cliche as it was

i honestly think it would of ended better if tom died:)

secret_squirrel

Originally posted by quank
i honestly think it would of ended better if tom died:)

Actually I agree a noble death for Tom would have suited the film.

El Marco

Yeh the fact that Tom survived and then went back to shack up with the wife of the samurai he killed was a bit of a cop out alright. Kind of went against the whole morals of the movie.

Wook

I liked the movie a lot, just the right mix of morals, sentiment and action, it didn't bore me for a second, great evening out watching the movie.

silent

loved the movie, definitely my top pick for '03, I sure hope they will make a super-duper collectors edition dvd gift set
if hans zimmer does not get the oscar for the score then the accademy voters are plain deaf. The perfect score, hope it will be available on sacd/dvd-a soon

projectmayhem

it's one of the films i want to see in the next few weeks. looks good from the trailers, and seems to make a change from the absolute rubbish tom cruise manages to put on screen typically.

spanner

Originally posted by DaithiSurfer
agree.
Oscar material. Possibly best film, best actor, cinematography, costumes etc.
I think best actor should go to Johnny depp for pirates of the c.,
but dont think they like hoim in hollywood so cruise is the front runner.

i havent seen it yet but would it be as good as rotk

secret_squirrel

Originally posted by spanner
i havent seen it yet but would it be as good as rotk

NO not a patch on ROTK except for maybe in Cinematography, (but that looks kinda LOTR inspired to these eyes) and Possibly Best Supporting Actor although I think most of the LOTR cast should be up for that one.

The only reason I could see The Last Samurai beating ROTK/LOTR in any category would be best actor and thats only because ROTK was an ensemble piece. Tom certainly doesnt deserve it for his pained gurning in The Last Samurai. He did everything but hold a sign up to the screen with "Oscar Please" written on it - to the detriment of what could have been a truly excellent film.

jonno

Just a quick observation on some of the comments on Cruise's performance.

How can someone say that what they got from his performance was a cry out for an Oscar?

Is it that he did a good job and deserves one or is it that it was a bad performance and that every now and again he'd pause on screen, turn to he camera and wink as to say "Give me an Oscar"?

I'm just baffled by how people get this from his performance; correct me if I'm wrong but was he not playing an American soldier that is trying to find meaning to his life. Or maybe it's that he was playing an actor in desperation for an Oscar!!!:rolleyes:

I'm not flaming here or trying to start an arguement, it's just I'm interested to see how people got it from his performance.

Me personally, I thought he put on a good show but am unsure as to whether he will win it. We'll see when the nominations come out.

jodome

Saw this this evening and it is definitely much better than I thought. I'm not a Cruise fan and enjoyed the film for the amount of other visual stuff it gave me to concentrate on rather than him.

Definitely didn't feel like two and whatever hours.

And of course its not as good as Return of the King.

Niacom

Not a Cruise fan, but I thought it was a great movie. Some seriously cool sword fights! It was nice that the Americans were the bad guys for once.

JaneyMackers

I must agree. For what it was. A blockbuster I enjoyed it alot.

The fight scenes were fantastic. However I do agree with the Emperor. I had fits of laughter throughtout the last 10mins. Everytime the Emperor opened his mouth I just simply couldn't keep it in.

Otherwise enjoyable.

echomadman

I thought it was very good, once

billy connelly was killed

Award for worst Irish accent since Sean Connery in The Untouchables and Tom Cruise in Far and away must go to Billy Connelly, he very nearly ruined the film for me.
Tom Cruise was.... tom cruise in it, but the cinematography and overall feel of the movie made up for his hammy performance.

wtf is anyone comparing it to ROTK for, its a totally different style/story/. er.. .... well a totally different everything, bar the fact that people in both wield swords.

On a pure enjoyment level I much preferred this to RotK.


after thinking about it more while writing this post I'd have to say that its an excellent movie, go and see it, just ignore billy connellys abysmal performance

ixoy

Originally posted by jonno
Just a quick observation on some of the comments on Cruise's performance.

How can someone say that what they got from his performance was a cry out for an Oscar?

Well it's generally in roles where the character is going through inner-torment and the audience gets to go along the journey with them. It's the anguished flawed hero role that screams OSCAR PLEASE. Cruise does in "Born on the 4th of July" and, more recently, Crowe did it in the abysmal wah-we-want-Oscar drivel that was "A Beautiful Mind". Essentially it's about a role. That role certainly does NOT have to be a patriotic soldier - it has to allow someone give an emotional range of some degree, which actors may or may not do subtlely. Cruise generally doesn't, which is why he gets accused of crying out for an Oscar.

I'll reserve judgement on his role here until I see it on Thursday...

Ichiro

Had to go see it again.
Loved it excellent film and Tom Cruise is Good in it.
The Supporting Class are also.

God Bless The Samurai.

Are should i say God Speed!

Ichiro

Just a question for all those who were Knocking Cruise's Performance

Who would they rather have seen in the part of Capt. Nathen Algren?

secret_squirrel

Assuming we are thinking in terms of hollywood A-listers rather than 'proper' Actoors, hows about Mel Gibson, I think he's more capable of subtlety than Tommy Cruise. I would say Tom Hanks but I could see a repeat of his character from Private Ryan with added booze. Plus Im not a Tom Hanks fan either, although he's probably the best actor of the 3 by far. Cruise being the worst. He can never quite seem to become the character he's playing, you're always far too aware its Tom Cruise on the screen.

And I dont think anyone was directly comparing Samurai to RTOK (except for me about Cinematography) more a case of wondering if they will be competing on some of the Oscar Nominations.

Ichiro

I felt Tom did an excellent job as the American
I don't know why you all have hang ups abt him???????

Clod

Originally posted by secret_squirrel
Assuming we are thinking in terms of hollywood A-listers rather than 'proper' Actoors, hows about Mel Gibson, I think he's more capable of subtlety than Tommy Cruise. I would say Tom Hanks but I could see a repeat of his character from Private Ryan with added booze.

Plus Im not a Tom Hanks fan either, although he's probably the best actor of the 3 by far. Cruise being the worst.
He can never quite seem to become the character he's playing, you're always far too aware its Tom Cruise on the screen.

That's why Cruise is an A-List movie star. It's the same for Hanks and Gibson.
I don't think it's a bad thing as long he delivers a quality performance.

Great film, the first encounter with the Samurais in the forest was my action sequence of the year (haven't seen RotK yet).

echomadman

hows about Mel Gibson, I think he's more capable of subtlety than Tommy Cruise. I would say Tom Hanks but I could see a repeat of his character from Private Ryan with added booze.

Mel's too old in my opinion, sure he'd be good but a bit old to take the hidings cruise gets in the movie and come back for more

as for tom hanks.. I hate him, he is terrible in my opinion, his repertoire consists of shouting loudly and making strange faces, essentially just being Tom Hanks in a variety of different movies. Also i dont think he has the physical stature to be taking on samurai

Tom Cruise is as i said, very much tom cruise in the movie, but he generally fits the physical requirements, his stature isnt a problem as he's in frame with japanese guys most of the time, his performance is hammy certainly, but the film itself is hackneyed, anything thats called "The Last <insert name here>" is going to be somewhat cheesy, It didnt detract from my enjoyment of it as a movie.

I cant believe i'm the only person on this thread that commented on Billy Connellys crapness

alb

I think Billy wasn't much good as well, I tihnk I'd have put Russel Crowe of all the big actors into this flick. Sth like his performance in Gladiator woudl have been perfect.

secret_squirrel

Originally posted by echomadman
anything thats called "The Last <insert name here>" is going to be somewhat cheesy, It didnt detract from my enjoyment of it as a movie.

I cant believe i'm the only person on this thread that commented on Billy Connellys crapness

You're saying The Last Starfighter was cheesy? Take that back!!

Billy's accent was pretty dreadful although I thought his part as the comic relief was quiet well done.

ixoy

One word summary: meh.

Cruise is on auto-pilot again. He's doing his whole look-intensely-at-camera crap. Shed crocodile tear. TONE IT DOWN FOR GOD'S SAKE.

The script was weak - the lines feeling clunky and chicgéd. You could see where it was going from the beginning. Blah blah learns the culture blah blah two sides to every coin blah blah blah blah.

Good stuff was some nice cinematography and deadly costumes. Plus

ninjas rock! As does Tom's armor in the end

As you've all seen RotK, go see "Cold Mountain" instead of this - better in nearly every way.

revolver2k

agree with ixoy .... "meh" sums it up perfectly. I dont rate Cruise as an 'actor'. he's just a pretty boy 'star' who gets parts on the basis that he will draw an elusive cinema-going demographic (the 18-30 year old female).

His presence actually reduced the effectiveness of the movie.

Regarding other superior actors who would have been better suited to play Algren :

- Viggo Mortensen . Maybe even Hugh Jackman.

Capt'n Midnight

Originally posted by echomadman
, but the film itself is hackneyed, anything thats called "The Last <insert name here>" is going to be somewhat cheesy,

of the Mohicians
Crusade

Tom Cruise - you can't see the character he is supposed to play.
James Cagney / John Mills - have been in roles with totally different characters successfuly ... not to mention about half the cast of LOTR..

Makaveli

Originally posted by secret_squirrel
Assuming we are thinking in terms of hollywood A-listers rather than 'proper' Actoors, hows about Mel Gibson, I think he's more capable of subtlety than Tommy Cruise.

If Mel Gibson had of been cast instead of Tom Cruise I would have hated this flim. I'm not a fan at all of Cruise but I think he did a good job. Mel Gibson will forever be Riggs to me, yeah he was good in Braveheart, but he'd have been too old for this imo. I think a lot of people are being overly harsh on Cruise just because it's Tom Cruise and you don't like him.

I really enjoyed this film. I didn't know all that much about it, other than it was about Samurai and Tom Cruise was in it. All my friends that went to see it thought it was like Gladiator, I think it's much better than Gladiator. With this I didn't find myself falling asleep between the battles. I thought it had a good storyline, it was well acted and it looked nice.

Ken Watanabe was great in it. Certainly stole the show.

Originally posted by echomadman
On a pure enjoyment level I much preferred this to RotK.

As did I, although I'm still not sure if I liked RotK.

Ichiro

Well Put Makaveli !

phreak

i personally really liked the film. Not a fan of cruise but he did a good job.

tinkerbell

as katamoto's son put it - "jolly good"

fantastic movie, i'd go see it again

Art_Wolf

Great film - might go again after exams

Thorbar

Enjoyed this movie, personally I enjoyed Cruises performance and I didn't feel he was crying out for an oscar, just playing the role he was given. Really reminded me of the book Shogun.

Clinical Waste

Originally posted by Ichiro
Just a question for all those who were Knocking Cruise's Performance

Who would they rather have seen in the part of Capt. Nathen Algren?

Rutger Hauer (who I know only ever did one good movie)
Nick Nolte
Mel Gibson

The role was of a drunken old war veteran. Pretty shiny-teeth Tom is not that character. One of those above would have filled that role better.

lodgepole

Originally posted by Clinical Waste
Nick Nolte

Or better yet, Gary Busey, the poor man's Nick Nolte.

silent

nick nolte? geez, the man's a wreck not an actor - look at the hulk
I sense too much envy and hate towards mr cruise in this thread

Clinical Waste

Originally posted by Lodgepole
Or better yet, Gary Busey, the poor man's Nick Nolte.

Gary Busey is too hard to like though.

SheroN

anyone ever see that show they aired on comedy central in the states?..."I'm with busey"....reality TV show about some guy called Adam following gary around...It is without doubt the worst piece of TV ever made....

patch

Very good movie. I'd say it was great, but it was missing something... I can't figure out what though. I'll watch it again on dvd and see if I can figure it out.
Cruise was very good though, can't really fault his performance.

secret_squirrel

Originally posted by patch
but it was missing something...

A better actor than Cruise perhaps? And whats to envy about Tommy boy?? I just dont like him as an actor. Other than that I have no particular feelings about him what so ever.

Just in better hands that film could have been a brilliant experience instead of an also ran....