The Last Samurai
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 5, 2003
8.0
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 404 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
333
Mixed:
45
Negative:
26
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User Reviews

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6
JaredC.Nov 2, 2007
While it certainly is not groundbreaking or original, Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai doesn't succeed in telling a moving story in a well-crafted manner, while the film succeeds in its dull tagline that Zwick was trying to develop. While it certainly is not groundbreaking or original, Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai doesn't succeed in telling a moving story in a well-crafted manner, while the film succeeds in its dull tagline that Zwick was trying to develop. Zwick's target was trying to keep the film as silent as possible. And for its 5th nomination for an Oscar, it should win for horrible producing.… Expand
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5
pgmarkDec 16, 2010
Another tired Tom Cruise performance.. or maybe it was the box he was in atm. I guess he did it as well as anyone could for this typically Hollywood "big" picture. The other performances saved the movie... Japanese characters were great!

TooAnother tired Tom Cruise performance.. or maybe it was the box he was in atm. I guess he did it as well as anyone could for this typically Hollywood "big" picture. The other performances saved the movie... Japanese characters were great!

Too bad Hollywood makes these unbelievable Superman stories.. instead of a toned down version that would be at least believable.… Expand
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5
TyranianNov 11, 2019
Entertaining, visually successful film undone by melodramatic ending. Cruise is fine.
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5
jzmeJan 8, 2013
I expected more from this film because of Cruise and its fame. Movie was disappointing. Too fake and isn't raw enough. There are few things that bother me; How did Taka & her family suddenly got close to Algred and how Katsumoto grew to beI expected more from this film because of Cruise and its fame. Movie was disappointing. Too fake and isn't raw enough. There are few things that bother me; How did Taka & her family suddenly got close to Algred and how Katsumoto grew to be compassionate with Algred when he is the so called Samurai. The movie didn't live up to its title. However, Tom Cruise's performance was undeniably good.… Expand
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4
amheretojudgeSep 28, 2019
There is so much to exhale and so much to "awe" let's call it a truce and give the devil its due, Cruise never disappoints.

The Last Samurai I don't like sword fighting. I have never liked sword fighting. Maybe, I don't get it. But IThere is so much to exhale and so much to "awe" let's call it a truce and give the devil its due, Cruise never disappoints.

The Last Samurai

I don't like sword fighting. I have never liked sword fighting. Maybe, I don't get it. But I certainly do not agree to the rhythm of it. To a degree that I might even be hostile to the idea. To me, it is baffling to even suggest it. BUT. Then comes the director Edward Zwick. His picturization of that side (I am saying "that" for I never connected with the sword fighting) of the action with a perspective from our version of the war, the one we know, which could be the key to understand the romance between two sword fighters. And I am not saying that every decision in the film is correct.

And I am not even remotely touching to the storyline or the emotions that is claimed as the influence to all the "cling-clang!" noises. Let's just stick to the action itself. The only weak point that I think was the slow motion shots. I didn't find it necessary to slow down these brilliantly choreographed, dangerously performed and sharply edited action scenes. Its rapid and short nature is what made its threats and promises and myths to be supremely fearful.

With a zap an arrow hits and a swoosh the sword swings by, and in no time your perception changes about the film. What kind of a film? How its nature is going to be? And where will this bloodshed of a war going to end? Another advantage and my brother would argue the only advantage is Tom Cruise. He brings in authenticity, practical filmmaking and entirely new experience of thrill in your head when you keep the fact in mind, that he learned all those things, he did all those things and they pulled it off in this big a scale. Maybe, he is The Last Samurai of cinema.… Expand
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6
liamexeSep 5, 2022
Tom Cruise There was some eerie and outstanding acting in the sequence where he is selling guns while intoxicated and partially remembering his time fighting Indians. It's terrifying when his military commander approaches him and CruiseTom Cruise There was some eerie and outstanding acting in the sequence where he is selling guns while intoxicated and partially remembering his time fighting Indians. It's terrifying when his military commander approaches him and Cruise offers to assassinate him for free. Freaky moment when Cruise demonstrates how to scalp someone to the translator. However, these are only a few scenes. Cruise isn't horrible during the rest of the film; it's just that outside of those three scenes, he doesn't have many lines that are really noteworthy. In addition, around the halfway point, you're probably thinking, "Oh no, not another dull Hollywood plot," which is of course the case.… Expand
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