Editorial article:
Small Measure of Peace
I recently borrowed The Last Samurai (2003) DVD from the nearby video rental shop. I must say I enjoyed it.
The movie tells fictional story of Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) a specialist who experienced the America's civil war. He is ironic, traumatized whiskey sipping character who cannot sleep his nights well. After some kind of PR event for Winchester rifle company, he got offer to teach Japanese soldiers to fight the modern war using firearms. Japan had just been opened. Mathew Perry had made his visit with his black boats and forced Japan to open the trade routes. American company is supplying the new weapons for Meiji government to exterminate the samurai, who have devoted their lives to serve the Emperor. Now someone must train the army to fight against the remaining samurai group, lead by Katsumoto (Watanabe). Send in the specialist of modern warfare, Capt Algren. But Meiji Restauration wasn't exactly a piece of cake. And Mr. Algren must face his deepest fears and learn the ways of the Rising Sun if he is to survive.
Now, it is important to notice two things about the movie. This is a Hollywood production, and an action/adventure movie. The Last Samurai is not by any chance historical movie and it doesn't try to portray actual events. History doesn't recognize character of Nathan Algren or other characters in the movie, except the Emperor Meiji. Keeping this in mind the viewer can expect a quite nice audiovisual pleasure, that is set in Meiji era Japan. The movie does remind very much the Gladiator, and basically pretty much with the same story line as with Dances with Wolves.
This movie has plenty of action. Indeed, there really is a small measure of peace in this movie, especially the last half. I got tired to the rage of battle which just kept going on and on. Hollywood really love impressive action scenes.
That said, the character development is as fantastic as it is in Star Wars. It is much because of the way how characters transform that this movie deserved it's almost 8 star status in IMDB. Captain Algren learns how to take his muddy boots off before entering Japanese house, and Katsumoto learns the ways of the western warfare (which seems to have a little realism, but who care).
Like in Star Wars Mark Hamill learns the ways of the Force, so does Tom Cruise learn the meditation and way of the sword. And Tom Cruise stops downing whiskey and learns Japanese.
I was moved about the beauty and effort of this movie. Especially the character of the Meiji Emperor (Shichinosuke Nakamura) was well made, he has a majesthetical, imperial aura about him. Also the character of General Hasegawa (Togo Igawa) is worth mentioning. The movie does create good sense of immersion. The strong and ruthless samurai Ujio played by Hiroyuki Sanada was great, especially in the scene where he first time fights with the Nathan Algren. Koyuki has a few lines to say, but she does convince, and I suppose her character and face is something that pleases especially the eye of foreign viewers. Myself I would have rather wanted to see Miyazawa Rie though but maybe she was busy with Tasogare Seibei.
Of course, movies like these get always bashed by japanophiles. This detail is not correct, that character pronounced that line wrong, and that sword didn't look real. I pretty much don't care. I thought the story was beautiful and Watanabe Ken's character had good power in it. If they make The Last Samurai II (The Sequel!) I will go and buy the ticket with pleasure, especially there is a good crew such as Watanabe, Koyuki, Sanada, and Tom Cruise.
And Cruise has became such a good actor recently. I have to say I liked his acting in The Last Samurai.
In the Last Samurai Japanese people are seen as people who devote themselves to perfection and spiritual purity. The feeling of the movie is very beautiful, and camera does it's job if not magnificently, well enough.
The Last Samurai was well received in Japan. Japanese people seem to love American movies that are set in Japan. Even Asahi Shimbun praised this. Sure, the movie is far from perfect and this is an action movie after all. But it has it's moments.
The Last Samurai was Ken Watanabe's first Hollywood movie, which made him famous abroad. Since then he was also cast on Memoirs of Geisha. Japanese counterpart in parallel universe of this movie would be Twilight Samurai featuring Hiroyuki Sanada as well.
