The Last Samurai

Um, was I the only one bothered by the fact that after 99.99999% of the Samurai die in their last suicide charge, ONLY TOM CRUISE AND THE SAMURAI LEADER ARE LEFT ALIVE ON THE FIELD, which had been peppered for a lonnnng time by Gatling-fire?

That kind of thing is RIDICULOUS. It makes me LAUGH at a film.

Yes, the swordfighting scenes were pretty good, and the story was pretty good too. There is no need, however, for preposterous scenes like the one I mentioned.

---Jeffrey
 
Originally posted by peacefuljeffrey
Um, was I the only one bothered by the fact that after 99.99999% of the Samurai die in their last suicide charge, ONLY TOM CRUISE AND THE SAMURAI LEADER ARE LEFT ALIVE ON THE FIELD, which had been peppered for a lonnnng time by Gatling-fire?

That kind of thing is RIDICULOUS. It makes me LAUGH at a film.

---Jeffrey
Click to expand...

No, I said "I found it strange that Tom was the ONLY survivor out of 500 samuri. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: "
 
There's been a ton of TV programs about behind the scenes and making of the movie -
this is not about Tom Cruise or the movie -
but I watched the TV program "Samurai" aired Monday night on the History channel - and I must say I was pretty impressed.

It was not over-sensationalized (for TV that is), yet it was not too dry either.

I would really recommend watching/taping this program if you can.

Couple of highlights - a section on katana/sword making by a true swordsmith/master....
and the tale of fighting without fighting - casting an insistent challenger adrift on a dingy, on the pretext of settling the challenge on a nearby island - the same scenario was used in Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon"

The interviews/commentators seem to be at least acreditted - so the stuff seemed "authentic" but interesting. I wish my history classes were this well done.

There seems to be one more chance to catch this worthwhile program (no Tom Cruise) - this is my local listing - your channel # and times may be different - use http://www.tvguide.com/listings/search/ and search "samurai" for your own area.

10:00 AM Channel 52 HIST Saturday, 13
Samurai
120 mins. (VCR Plus+ 5810400)
A history of the Japanese warriors, who were primarily mounted
archers, but are best known for their skill with swords. Included: a
visit with a swordmaker; interviews with historians.
Release Year: 2003
Additional Airings
Date Time Channel VCR Plus+
Sat, 13 10:00 AM 52 HIST 5810400
 
We have made a few comments about true history and Mr. Cruise's sense of what 'bushido' really is. Like all things, after our Civil War, the very things he admires about this group were things that failed to exist.

For example, as modernization was overtaking them, it was the samurai that helped his leader stifle change. In effect, the samurai became like an enforcer for the mob.

I know from other studies that strict class warfare was the rule. The samurai may have used guns themselves but disliked them in general. They were irritated that with modern inventions, even a peasant could kill a samurai. (And you know, we have the same 'gun vs. knife' debates here in the forum!)

By the 1870's the samurai were just a law onto themselves and history had passed them by. This is not just an Asian concept, but the age of chivalry is over as well. If you have a dispute with your neighbor over a late night barking dog, try slapping a gaunlet across his face and find out who they arrest.

I still think it's a great movie, it will win many awards, it was beautifully filmed and I'll probably see it many times; perhaps even buy the DVD and enjoy it for many years. It is not a history book, however.
 
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