Anyone see the Last Samuri?

Heath McKnight · January 8th, 2004, 12:08 PM

SAMURAI was full of so many cliches, I just shook my head...

Cruise was Cruise...

Why kill off so many Samurai in the name of honor? That made NO sense...

The set design and the lead Samurai, Watanbe, were the only good thing. The cinematography was run-of-the-mill.

I give it a B-, because Watanbe was so good. It was a Cruise vanity project.

heath

John Hudson · January 8th, 2004, 12:36 PM

Mr. Murphy

Yes, I am 33. LOL

I agree with your take 100%. That is weird, huh? I always wanted INDY 4 to be centered around the PACIFIC side of WW2. No more NAZI's. B O R I N G.

I wanted INDY to be caught up with the IMPERIAL FLEET and perhaps the dropping of the bomb. Probally too serious for people though and we have to be nice to the Japanese now (Think Pearl Harbor in that everyone was so concerned about upsetting the Japanese instead of telling a real story with historical accuracy)

DISCLAIMER - I am in no way trying to start anything here! I just wish Pearl Harbor had taken itself more seriously and ditched the candy ass love story.

Think INDY 4 in the South Pacific durig WW2. I would love to see it back in it's roots in terms of making a movie that could be nominated. The original RAIDERS was nominated for BEST PICTURE and can you even see the other 2 being considered? NO WAY. If I was helming it, I would take it back to a serious level and try and make THE BEST PICTURE as oppossed to something that will be marketed and sold at Burger King.

VANILLA SKY was kick ass; I almost forgot. I have to check into the Ben Stiller thing. I love Stiller.

I can't say that SAMURAI is a Cruise vanity project. He starred in it, that's it. It's not like Costner (who I also dig) where he wrote, produced, directed and starred!

Heath McKnight · January 8th, 2004, 12:39 PM

I didn't like DANCES WITH WOLVES, mostly because it pretty much shut GOODFELLAS out at the Oscars. I was one p'd off 15 year old!

heath

Christopher C. Murphy · January 8th, 2004, 12:52 PM

Heath, definately a B- on Samuri...for sure.

John, that is funny huh? I like your idea - that would be a great story. It would line-up perfectly with the timeframe too.

You're right, if Speilberg directs something worthwhile it could be nominated. It's amazing how someone can direct something like Raiders and they do AI or Lost World Pt 7!! It seems like a waste of skill. However, he seems to redeem himself in odd ways...like with Minority Report. I think AI and Minority Report are cousins in a way, but I swear that Minority Report blows AI away...IMHO, of course. I haven't heard anyone say AI was good...it was misguided. Stanley Kubrick should have directed, but didn't...so Speilberg did a nice thing and made it come to life. It's like a doctor saving a baby and wife at birth...and then taking them home to raise them. It's still not his baby, but it'll kinda grow up ok. That's AI..not really that great. But, with the right guidence, I bet it would have been great. I also think that Speilberg thought he could capture the greatness...didn't happen!

By the way, we forgot to mention "The Firm" with Cruise. That's a good one too..I'll give him that one too.

I really want some good movies in 2004...come on indies and Hollywood!!!!!

Murph

John Hudson · January 8th, 2004, 02:20 PM

lol :)

Adrian Douglas · January 28th, 2004, 09:20 AM

Richard,

The story may have been mediocre on the suurface but it's the underlying message of honor and being true to your beliefs that give the story it's strength and power. This may not be obvious to you as an American living in the US but as someone who lives in Japan these are two traits that are sadly giving way to vanity and greed. Then again it's going that way all over the world a lot longer. The sad part of the film, this is from my Japanese wife, is that the morals and ethics of the samauri and bushido that were the basis of life for over 1000 years have been all but forgotten in just 120 years.

The Japanese actor by the way is Ken Watanabe. He is a very talented actor and is deservingly very popular here in Japan. Hopefully, this will see him landing some more major roles to let more of the world see this mans talent.

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 09:25 AM

I didn't like SAMURAI because it was full of cliches. Watanabe was cool. Oh, and to slaughter an entire group of Samurai just to make a point? I didn't get that, but then again, I don't get much. ;-)

heath

Christopher C. Murphy · January 28th, 2004, 09:39 AM

The worst part of the movie was the end...all these REAL Samuri are fighting to the last breathe...and Cruise is the last one standing? Yeah, ok...lol.

The absolute worse ending in a movie ever...a close-up of Cruise and fade to black. I mean, come on...after all that story and the whole meaning of it and you have to end on his face? At least end up on that tree in the garden or something with more meaning than Cruise's face.

I actually liked certain parts of the movie. But, I think it should have been thoughtout differently. An alcoholic American goes to Japan and becomes a Samuri and in the battlefield is the LAST one standing...and lives? Come on...it's Hollywood - beyond Hollywood. The "suspention of belief" just doesn't go that far in film...it goes pretty far, but not that much!

Murph

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 09:41 AM

I still can't buy Cruise in the role, because he's larger than life, Cruise.

heath

Christopher C. Murphy · January 28th, 2004, 09:51 AM

I agree.

But, I did like him in a bunch of other movies like Born on the 4th of July, Vanilla Sky and few others. He's good in certain roles.

murph

Adrian Douglas · January 28th, 2004, 09:51 AM

I never said it didn't have holes, I was refering to the underlying message of the story. The thing that did get me was that it only took Tom's character a winter in the mountains to a: speak Japanese, I've been at it for three years and it still kills me, and b: become good with a katana, I'm a fairly big guy, 6ft, 88kg, and swinging one of those things around is bloody difficult. As for 'doing something just to make a point', maybe you should pay us a visit.

Joe Carney · January 29th, 2004, 04:48 PM

If you haven't seen The Last Samuri, but have Seen Dances With Wolves, you know 90% of the plot already.
And yes, in both films, the bad guys wear blue. And are lead by a skanky, greedy white american officer. Oh well.

There was a great documentary on the film on the History channel.
In real life, the modernization of Japan brought civil rights to the average citizen and women.

Under the rule of the Shogun/Samuri, peasants and women had no rights what so ever. Foreigners caught on Japanese soil were executed without trial.

But the hollywood version doesn't want to show that.

The concepts of honor didn't die with the modernization of Japan.

I thought the Japanese women who helped Tom Cruise recover was hot. But then I think Japanese women are the most beautiful of all the asian ethnic groups.

January 8th, 2004, 12:08 PM	#16
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	SAMURAI was full of so many cliches, I just shook my head... Cruise was Cruise... Why kill off so many Samurai in the name of honor? That made NO sense... The set design and the lead Samurai, Watanbe, were the only good thing. The cinematography was run-of-the-mill. I give it a B-, because Watanbe was so good. It was a Cruise vanity project. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 8th, 2004, 12:39 PM	#18
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I didn't like DANCES WITH WOLVES, mostly because it pretty much shut GOODFELLAS out at the Oscars. I was one p'd off 15 year old! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 8th, 2004, 12:52 PM	#19
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Heath, definately a B- on Samuri...for sure. John, that is funny huh? I like your idea - that would be a great story. It would line-up perfectly with the timeframe too. You're right, if Speilberg directs something worthwhile it could be nominated. It's amazing how someone can direct something like Raiders and they do AI or Lost World Pt 7!! It seems like a waste of skill. However, he seems to redeem himself in odd ways...like with Minority Report. I think AI and Minority Report are cousins in a way, but I swear that Minority Report blows AI away...IMHO, of course. I haven't heard anyone say AI was good...it was misguided. Stanley Kubrick should have directed, but didn't...so Speilberg did a nice thing and made it come to life. It's like a doctor saving a baby and wife at birth...and then taking them home to raise them. It's still not his baby, but it'll kinda grow up ok. That's AI..not really that great. But, with the right guidence, I bet it would have been great. I also think that Speilberg thought he could capture the greatness...didn't happen! By the way, we forgot to mention "The Firm" with Cruise. That's a good one too..I'll give him that one too. I really want some good movies in 2004...come on indies and Hollywood!!!!! Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 28th, 2004, 09:20 AM	#21
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Richard, The story may have been mediocre on the suurface but it's the underlying message of honor and being true to your beliefs that give the story it's strength and power. This may not be obvious to you as an American living in the US but as someone who lives in Japan these are two traits that are sadly giving way to vanity and greed. Then again it's going that way all over the world a lot longer. The sad part of the film, this is from my Japanese wife, is that the morals and ethics of the samauri and bushido that were the basis of life for over 1000 years have been all but forgotten in just 120 years. The Japanese actor by the way is Ken Watanabe. He is a very talented actor and is deservingly very popular here in Japan. Hopefully, this will see him landing some more major roles to let more of the world see this mans talent. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

January 28th, 2004, 09:25 AM	#22
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I didn't like SAMURAI because it was full of cliches. Watanabe was cool. Oh, and to slaughter an entire group of Samurai just to make a point? I didn't get that, but then again, I don't get much. ;-) heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 8th, 2004, 12:36 PM	#17
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Mr. Murphy Yes, I am 33. LOL I agree with your take 100%. That is weird, huh? I always wanted INDY 4 to be centered around the PACIFIC side of WW2. No more NAZI's. B O R I N G. I wanted INDY to be caught up with the IMPERIAL FLEET and perhaps the dropping of the bomb. Probally too serious for people though and we have to be nice to the Japanese now (Think Pearl Harbor in that everyone was so concerned about upsetting the Japanese instead of telling a real story with historical accuracy) DISCLAIMER - I am in no way trying to start anything here! I just wish Pearl Harbor had taken itself more seriously and ditched the candy ass love story. Think INDY 4 in the South Pacific durig WW2. I would love to see it back in it's roots in terms of making a movie that could be nominated. The original RAIDERS was nominated for BEST PICTURE and can you even see the other 2 being considered? NO WAY. If I was helming it, I would take it back to a serious level and try and make THE BEST PICTURE as oppossed to something that will be marketed and sold at Burger King. VANILLA SKY was kick ass; I almost forgot. I have to check into the Ben Stiller thing. I love Stiller. I can't say that SAMURAI is a Cruise vanity project. He starred in it, that's it. It's not like Costner (who I also dig) where he wrote, produced, directed and starred!

January 8th, 2004, 02:20 PM	#20
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	lol :)

January 28th, 2004, 09:39 AM	#23
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	The worst part of the movie was the end...all these REAL Samuri are fighting to the last breathe...and Cruise is the last one standing? Yeah, ok...lol. The absolute worse ending in a movie ever...a close-up of Cruise and fade to black. I mean, come on...after all that story and the whole meaning of it and you have to end on his face? At least end up on that tree in the garden or something with more meaning than Cruise's face. I actually liked certain parts of the movie. But, I think it should have been thoughtout differently. An alcoholic American goes to Japan and becomes a Samuri and in the battlefield is the LAST one standing...and lives? Come on...it's Hollywood - beyond Hollywood. The "suspention of belief" just doesn't go that far in film...it goes pretty far, but not that much! Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 28th, 2004, 09:41 AM	#24
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I still can't buy Cruise in the role, because he's larger than life, Cruise. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 28th, 2004, 09:51 AM	#25
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	I agree. But, I did like him in a bunch of other movies like Born on the 4th of July, Vanilla Sky and few others. He's good in certain roles. murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 29th, 2004, 04:48 PM	#27
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	If you haven't seen The Last Samuri, but have Seen Dances With Wolves, you know 90% of the plot already. And yes, in both films, the bad guys wear blue. And are lead by a skanky, greedy white american officer. Oh well. There was a great documentary on the film on the History channel. In real life, the modernization of Japan brought civil rights to the average citizen and women. Under the rule of the Shogun/Samuri, peasants and women had no rights what so ever. Foreigners caught on Japanese soil were executed without trial. But the hollywood version doesn't want to show that. The concepts of honor didn't die with the modernization of Japan. I thought the Japanese women who helped Tom Cruise recover was hot. But then I think Japanese women are the most beautiful of all the asian ethnic groups.