The Last Samurai (2003)

An American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.

Director:

Edward Zwick

Writers:

John Logan (story), John Logan (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 62 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ken Watanabe	...	Katsumoto
Tom Cruise	...	Nathan Algren
William Atherton	...	Winchester Rep
Chad Lindberg	...	Winchester Rep Assistant
Ray Godshall Sr.	...	Convention Hall Attendee
Billy Connolly	...	Zebulon Gant
Tony Goldwyn	...	Colonel Bagley
Masato Harada	...	Omura
Masashi Odate	...	Omura's Companion
John Koyama	...	Omura's Bodyguard
Timothy Spall	...	Simon Graham
Shichinosuke Nakamura	...	Emperor Meiji
Togo Igawa	...	General Hasegawa
Satoshi Nikaido	...	N.C.O.
Shintaro Wada	...	Young Recruit

Storyline

In the 1870s, Captain Nathan Algren, a cynical veteran of the American Civil war who will work for anyone, is hired by Americans who want lucrative contracts with the Emperor of Japan to train the peasant conscripts for the first standing imperial army in modern warfare using firearms. The imperial Omura cabinet's first priority is to repress a rebellion of traditionalist Samurai -hereditary warriors- who remain devoted to the sacred dynasty but reject the Westernizing policy and even refuse firearms. Yet when his ill-prepared superior force sets out too soon, their panic allows the sword-wielding samurai to crush them. Badly wounded Algren's courageous stand makes the samurai leader Katsumoto spare his life; once nursed to health he learns to know and respect the old Japanese way, and participates as advisor in Katsumoto's failed attempt to save the Bushido tradition, but Omura gets repressive laws enacted- he must now choose to honor his loyalty to one of the embittered sides when ...

---

Plot Keywords:

samurai | japan | japanese | seppuku | hair knot | 

---

Taglines:

In the face of an enemy, in the Heart of One Man, Lies the Soul of a Warrior.

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and battle sequences

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Warner Bros. [Spain]

Country:

USA New Zealand Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

5 December 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Samurai: Bushidou

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$140,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,630,243 (Japan), 5 December 2003, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,271,354, 7 December 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$111,110,575, 4 April 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$456,758,981, 8 April 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., The Bedford Falls Company, Cruise/Wagner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

154 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Contrary to a popular misconception, the title of the film does not refer to Nathan Algren, or even Katsumoto, as the Last Samurai. The word "Samurai" here is in its plural form and is actually referring to Katsumoto's clan as a whole.

---

Goofs

During the discussion about the scalping, Zebulon Gant's hand jumps around in the background between holding the chair and holding up his glass so that he can sip from it.

---

Quotes

Simon Graham: [first lines]
Simon Graham: [narrating] They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor.

---

Crazy Credits

The opening Warner Bros. logo is light blue on a solid black background.

---

Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies with Massive Casualties (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Kagura-No-Netori
Performed by Tokyo Gakuso
Courtesy of Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc.

User Reviews

Masterpiece!

Such an amazing film!

Tom Cruise is definitely one of my favorite actors (if not my favorite) and this film is one of his best (if not the best film). This has to be one of my all-time favorite movies. Definitely worth watching, you won't regret it!

I watched this without knowing what to expect and trust me the movie won me from the first moment, as the movie goes on it's just getting better and better, Tom Cruise at his very best!

In my opinion this deserves to be on the Top 250 list, This film is honestly one of the best dramas/war dramas I have ever seen, combined with a superb story, and action of amazing creativity in the dialogue, setting and all the scenes! Truly Oscar worthy, a shame it didn't win any, the makers of the film really deserved more credit.

My Rating Is 9/10 .