05-12-2003 23:45									#1
	The last samurai how good/bad is it? Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Has anyone seen this yet? If so comment away.

	06-12-2003 06:09									#2
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Haven't seen it, but the most common comment I've seen about it is "Dances with Samurai". So if you liked Dances with Wolves, sure, go see it.

Personally, I'd recommend going and finding something like Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.

Wraith
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-- Alfred Hitchcock

	06-12-2003 06:33									#3
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i'm morally opposed to tom cruise in a movie that, at least from the previews, seems to smack a bit of a white man in an asian exploitation film.

	06-12-2003 06:33									#4
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actually, on second thought, i'm morally opposed to tom cruise.

	06-12-2003 06:57									#5
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I've heard reviewers say reassuring things that Tom Cruise himself is not the "Last Samurai" and that it does not paint him as the hero of the piece - he's more like the ignorant westerner who gets to see the last glimpse of a dying warrior code.

	06-12-2003 07:56									#6
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in this case, it might not be as bad.

i remember having to watch the good earth in class, and was very puzzled as to why the chinese people looked like white people with things on their eyes.

at least if tom cruise isn't supposed to be asian, that's a plus.

we all remember how the last white person to turn asian ended up. sean connery just didn't quite pull it off.

	06-12-2003 08:51									#7
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quote: at least if tom cruise isn't supposed to be asian, that's a plus.

Why'd you think he would be? The previews pretty clearly indicate that he plays an American Civil and Indian Wars vet who is brought to Japan to train the new created Meiji-era imperial army to fight in a modern fashion. Then he gets captured by old-school samurai types and learns to respect them and fights alongside them.

Kinda similar to "Dances with Wolves", now that I write about it. Samurai are a lot cooler than Indians, though, so it should be good.

quote: we all remember how the last white person to turn asian ended up. sean connery just didn't quite pull it off.

Bond completed his mission, didn't he?

	06-12-2003 08:54									#8
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quote: Why'd you think he would be? The previews pretty clearly indicate that he plays an American Civil and Indian Wars vet who is brought to Japan to train the new created Meiji-era imperial army to fight in a modern fashion. Then he gets captured by old-school samurai types and learns to respect them and fights alongside them.

to tell the truth, the only preview i saw was the one they showed before matrix reloaded.

everything you mentioned? nowhere in that preview.

	06-12-2003 08:56									#9
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http://www.apple.com/trailers/

	06-12-2003 09:06									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Wraith Personally, I'd recommend going and finding something like Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.

It's SO easy to be a snob with this type of film.................so I recommend something like Kirosawa's 'Mo' Obscure Film'

	06-12-2003 09:11									#11
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Hmmm, I saw the movie and rather enjoyed it.

	06-12-2003 10:09									#12
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quote: o I recommend something like Kirosawa's 'Mo' Obscure Film'

I'd recommend Kurosawa's "Rashoman" or "Ikiru" if you want a great Kurosawa movie that doesn't fit into the stereotypical view of Kurosawa's work. Only uncultured swine would watch "Mo' Obscure Film"...

quote: Hmmm, I saw the movie and rather enjoyed it.

How much Japanese dialogue is there? The movie's out here as well and I'd like to see it, but as they don't subtitle Japanese dialogue over here it may be a waste of money to see a movie I won't understand.

	06-12-2003 11:51									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Q Cubed i'm morally opposed to tom cruise in a movie that, at least from the previews, seems to smack a bit of a white man in an asian exploitation film.

Dude, if we have Anglo-Saxon actors portraying Asian characters, then we might as well go back to white actors in cork black-face portraying African-Americans.


I never thought that Tom Cruise was portraying an Asian!

	06-12-2003 18:59									#14
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--"so I recommend something like Kirosawa's 'Mo' Obscure Film'"

The samurai genre isn't particularly big in the US, but if you look into the genre at all it's going to be hard to avoid hearing about Kurosawa and works like Seven Samurai or Yojimbo.
If I wanted to be obscure, I'd probably recommend something like Yoji Yamadai's Twilight Samurai. Which isn't particularly obscure either, really.

--"How much Japanese dialogue is there? "

Given that it's a Hollywood film, I'd guess the amount would be slim to none. Although there might be some of the "Itiyorshu! Yutimishu!'" level.

Wraith
"Interesting if true - and interesting anyway."
- Mark Twain.

	06-12-2003 19:39									#15
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Another BIG epic where Tom Cruise chews scenery, and shows those samurai how to kick ass after only months of training with them?

Think I'll wait for this one to come out at the dollar theater...

	06-12-2003 19:41									#16
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If you've seen The Magnificent Seven then you've seen the movie it was based upon, The Seven Samuri. Unlss you're a movie nut like me and like watching original films, I wouldn't recommend it unless you haven't seen the Western. Fist Full of Dollars is based on Yojimbo, which is actually better than the Sergio Leone film, but I'm a sucker for Sergio Leone Westerns. Haven't seen The Hidden Fortress yet, off of which Star Wars is based.

	07-12-2003 05:55									#17
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The Hidden Fortress is exceptional and you're well recommended to watch it.

Star Wars may be based off it, but only in a very tangential way. There's the business about a headstrong princess in distress and noble knights (samurai) who work to deliver her from trouble, but that's about all.

There are some stunning set pieces in that - moments that really stick in the mind!

	07-12-2003 06:04									#18
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Haven't seen The Hidden Fortress yet, off of which Star Wars is based.

They have Jedi in China????

	07-12-2003 08:25									#19
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Japan, reds4ever...

	07-12-2003 08:49									#20
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"If you've seen The Magnificent Seven then you've seen the movie it was based upon, The Seven Samuri. Unlss you're a movie nut like me and like watching original films, I wouldn't recommend it unless you haven't seen the Western."

I have to disagree with you here, Che. Seven Samurai is such an amazing film, and so much better than the Magnificent Seven, that I would reccomend it to anyone, whether they had seen the magnificent seven or not.

	07-12-2003 12:31									#21
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quote: Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia The Hidden Fortress is exceptional and you're well recommended to watch it. Star Wars may be based off it, but only in a very tangential way. There's the business about a headstrong princess in distress and noble knights (samurai) who work to deliver her from trouble, but that's about all. There are some stunning set pieces in that - moments that really stick in the mind!

I totally agree. The Hidden Fortress is a great film. It is visually stunning, well acted and has solid plot.

The story involves two peasant/fighters trying to get home after a war. They bumble about and only at the end .... Well I am not going to reveal the plot. But Star Wars emphasis on R2D2 and 3CPO as the central focus for the moving the story forward comes directly from this film.

	07-12-2003 12:32									#22
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I just saw the Last Samurai. This is a really good film. I expect it good enough to win an oscar.

This may be Tom Cruise's best performance.

	08-12-2003 00:35									#23
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quote: i'm morally opposed to tom cruise in a movie that, at least from the previews, seems to smack a bit of a white man in an asian exploitation film.

quote: Why'd you think he would be? The previews pretty clearly indicate that he plays an American Civil and Indian Wars vet who is brought to Japan to train the new created Meiji-era imperial army to fight in a modern fashion. Then he gets captured by old-school samurai types and learns to respect them and fights alongside them. Kinda similar to "Dances with Wolves", now that I write about it. Samurai are a lot cooler than Indians, though, so it should be good.

Theres two ways to look at this movie. One is another man being exposed to another culture foreign to him and take journey as he learns, appreciates etc the different culture

or white man trying to fit into a minority group, aka whigger, egg or whatever you call whitie that wants to be injuns.

	08-12-2003 01:02									#24
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quote: Originally posted by monolith94 "If you've seen The Magnificent Seven then you've seen the movie it was based upon, The Seven Samuri. Unlss you're a movie nut like me and like watching original films, I wouldn't recommend it unless you haven't seen the Western." I have to disagree with you here, Che. Seven Samurai is such an amazing film, and so much better than the Magnificent Seven, that I would reccomend it to anyone, whether they had seen the magnificent seven or not.

I agree. Seven Samurai is one of my favorite movies of all time.

	08-12-2003 02:37									#25
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quote: Originally posted by Drake Tungsten Japan, reds4ever...

I know, I was just kidddin'

	08-12-2003 02:57									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia I've heard reviewers say reassuring things that Tom Cruise himself is not the "Last Samurai" and that it does not paint him as the hero of the piece - he's more like the ignorant westerner who gets to see the last glimpse of a dying warrior code.

Ali, I think you have heard wrong.

	08-12-2003 03:03									#27
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I just saw the film, and I tolerated it until the very end..that ending makes me want to kill the writers! They should be the ones committing sepuku. The depiction of the Meiji emperor is laughable, and why is there a happy ending?

	08-12-2003 03:14									#28
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quote: Originally posted by GePap I just saw the film, and I tolerated it until the very end..that ending makes me want to kill the writers! They should be the ones committing sepuku. The depiction of the Meiji emperor is laughable, and why is there a happy ending?

GePap, I don't know whether the Emperor in 1877 behaved the way he did, but the Hirohito behaved in a similar manner as did this Emperor.

I liked the ending myself. What did you expect to happen?

	08-12-2003 03:19									#29
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A FAR better ending, far more poignant, and powerful would have been for Cruise to see, as he lays there dying, To--whatever, the leader of the Samurai revolt kill himself gallantly, then he expires. Then cut to the emperor's chambers, the captain come with the sword and presents it to the emperor, who then can decide not to sign the treaty and whatnot.

The cop-out feel-good ending could have been written by any hack in hollywood..plus Cruise does end up being "the Last Samurai". I am sure nationalist will hate this in Japan.

	08-12-2003 04:01									#30
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quote: Originally posted by GePap The cop-out feel-good ending could have been written by any hack in hollywood..

.....it was......