The Last Samurai

Name: The Last Samurai
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Released: December 5, 2003
Duration: 154 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Billy Connolly, Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise

2003

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 292 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 292 Ratings

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THE LAST SAMURAI

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 5, 2003

Starring: Billy Connolly, Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise

Summary: The paths of two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, hires a Civil War veteran (Cruise) to train Japan's first modern, conscript army. As he encounters the Samurai traditions, the troubled American soldier finds himself at the center of a violent and epic struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his sense of honorThe paths of two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, hires a Civil War veteran (Cruise) to train Japan's first modern, conscript army. As he encounters the Samurai traditions, the troubled American soldier finds himself at the center of a violent and epic struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his sense of honor to guide him. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Edward Zwick

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 154 min

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Awards & Rankings

19	#19 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
25	#25 Most Shared Movie of 2003

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire - Will Lawrence

The Last Samurai is much more fun than a mere history lesson. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Kirk Honeycutt

Hugely satisfying entertainment that will attract a broad spectrum of audiences around the world. Zwick fully exploits the star power at his disposal, pairing off Cruise and Japanese star Ken Watanabe as two larger-than-life warriors. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Mick LaSalle

Cruise's undeniable star voltage makes it all palatable, and the film is gorgeous to behold and even to listen to, from the rolling green hills to the galloping horses to the "Lohengrin"-like theme music on the sound track. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - Peter Rainer

The Last Samurai is an idyll in which the savageries of existence are transcended by spiritual devotion. That’s a beautiful dream, and it gives the film a deep pleasingness, but the fullness of life and its blackest ambiguities are sacrificed. Read full review

Newsweek - David Ansen

There are pleasures to be had in the handsome, heroic The Last Samurai. But they' all on the surface. Read full review

The A.V. Club - Scott Tobias

What it lacks is artistry, those small touches of personality that might have distinguished its lugubrious history lesson from a bunch of pretty pictures with captions telling the story. Read full review

Salon - Stephanie Zacharek

Cruise pedals hard through The Last Samurai, and the exertion shows. In fact, the whole picture is belabored and lumbering. Read full review

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User Reviews

rodericrinehart

Aug 14, 2010

This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I don't even like Tom Cruise. I'm not sure why the critics are so far off the users on this one. It is well worth a view, even for a Cruise hater.

8 of 11 users found this helpful83

kharagh

Oct 8, 2005

One of the greatest movies in the history of cinema!9.5/10

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ZETA98

Feb 20, 2017

Amazing story about a man that comes from a prophecy and merges with the samurai way of life. This movie is a very powerful one and must be watched without prejudice.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Caestus

Mar 6, 2013

Really enjoyed the movie with the soundtrack, the battle sequences and the story. The corny ending is the only thing, I can complain about. Decent Film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Verbal

Feb 15, 2011

This story brings some originality to Hollywood, and I think it has been unjustly criticized. Between the action, the pseudo-history and the character development, The Last Samurai succeeds in taking you away to another world and inspiring you as it does so.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

mams2000

Dec 27, 2016

I also don't get the bad critic reviews. This movie doesn't mean to be realistic or historical.
It is a beautiful and emotional story with great pictures, amazing music as always by Hans Zimmer and good acting (one of Tom Cruz's best performance in my opinion).
Hence, I give it a solid 8.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

leaveit

Apr 9, 2015

Preceded by Dances With Wolves which was preceded by Lawrence of Arabia, succeeded by Pathfinder and Avatar, this Mighty Whitey film focuses on Japan for its narcissistic and unrealistic boast of cultural tolerance. Look at Tom Cruise's haircut in the poster. Now google "chonmage." There,Preceded by Dances With Wolves which was preceded by Lawrence of Arabia, succeeded by Pathfinder and Avatar, this Mighty Whitey film focuses on Japan for its narcissistic and unrealistic boast of cultural tolerance. Look at Tom Cruise's haircut in the poster. Now google "chonmage." There, now you never have to see this movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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