The Last Samurai

2003 film directed by Edward Zwick

AI overview

"The Last Samurai" is a 2003 film directed by Edward Zwick that tells the story of a Western military officer who becomes involved with samurai warriors during Japan's modernization period. The film explores themes of honor, tradition, and cultural conflict as Japan transitions from its feudal samurai past to a modern industrial nation.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Film · TMDB

7.6

Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.

Released: 2003-12-05154 minDir: Edward ZwickDrama, Action, War

Cast

Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren
Ken Watanabe as Moritsugu Katsumoto
Timothy Spall as Simon Graham
Tony Goldwyn as Col. Benjamin Bagley
Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio
Koyuki as Taka

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Ratings

IMDb

7.8/10

Article

The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic period action drama film directed and produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Logan and Marshall Herskovitz from a story devised by Logan. The film stars Tom Cruise, who also produced, along with Timothy Spall, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Koyuki Kato in supporting roles. The film's plot was inspired by the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, led by Saigō Takamori, and the Westernization of Japan by foreign powers.

Cruise portrays Nathan Algren, an American captain of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, whose personal and emotional conflicts bring him into contact with samurai warriors in the wake of the Meiji Restoration in 19th century Japan. The character of Algren is very loosely based on Eugène Collache and Jules Brunet, both French Imperial Guard officers who fought alongside Enomoto Takeaki in the earlier Boshin War.