I am a movie connoisseur, you might say. In fact, I am quite critical at times of many movies. The Last Samurai, directed in 2003 by Edward Zwick, is probably one of my favorite movies of all time. Although I must say it is a very long movie, the scenery and the score absolutely make this movie. I am not much of a fan of Tom Cruise, but he does an amazing job in this movie.
The movie is through the point of view from that of an American Civil War veteran by the name of Captain Algren, who has a drinking problem (Tom Cruise). He comes to Japan to train warriors of the Emperor away from the Samurai way. Captain Algren quickly realizes of the importance of the Samurai way of life and eventually wants to learn it. Katsumoto, the leader of the Samurais, teaches Captain Algren of the warrior honor code. At first Algren does not have an opinion of what side he is on; he just knows that he is there to train these warriors. However, after learning of the warrior honor code, he soon realizes that, whether he likes it or not, he much choose which side he must be on.
This movie is absolutely amazing. I give it a ten out of a ten. The story line, the scenery, and the actors make this movie truly beautiful. I cried for most of the last thirty minutes of the movie, but in my opinion it is not a good movie unless it makes me cry. The first line of the movie is truly beautiful and sums up the entire movie. "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."