The Last Samurai (2003)

Name: The Last Samurai (2003)
Genre: Action, Documentary, Drama, History, War
Released: 2003-12-05
Cast: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr.

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Movie Details

Latest 'The Last Samurai' News

HD-DVD's Missing From Some Stores

Audio inconsistencies are found on discs from rival studios.

Apr 19, 2006

Warner Home Video Releasing the First HD DVD Titles

Available for $28.99 SRP beginning April 18th.

Mar 16, 2006

The Last Samurai tops the charts

...generating $13 million in rental revenue alone

May 13, 2004

THE LAST SAMURAI DVD coming May 4th

...audio commentary, video journal, and more!

Feb 12, 2004

'The Last Samurai' carves up the box office

...but still disappoints amid bitter winter weather

Dec 7, 2003

On the red carpet of THE LAST SAMURAI premiere! [Exclusive]

Director Edward Zwick, producer Marshall Herskovitz, and Tom Cruise speak!

Dec 4, 2003

New high-res LAST SAMURAI photos up!

...the film hits theaters tomorrow!

Dec 4, 2003

Explore the sets of THE LAST SAMURAI!

...new Quicktime VRs online!

Nov 20, 2003

Listen to 10 clips from THE LAST SAMURAI score!

...Hans Zimmer creates another epic piece!

Nov 18, 2003

Over 40 new images from THE LAST SAMURAI!

...a huge new gallery!

Nov 10, 2003

New movie stills gallery from THE LAST SAMURAI!

...loads of new pics!

Nov 4, 2003

4 new character banners from THE LAST SAMURAI!

...new posters to get you excited about the film!

Nov 3, 2003

14 new photos from THE LAST SAMURAI!

Set in Japan during the 1870s...

Oct 23, 2003

The final LAST SAMURAI poster is here!

The final artwork now online...

Oct 15, 2003

More photos online from THE LAST SAMURAI!

11 new shots grace the web...

Oct 11, 2003

Another LAST SAMURAI character poster hits the web!

...this time it's Tom Cruise...

Sep 23, 2003

A new character poster from THE LAST SAMURAI online!

The first of the series...

Sep 23, 2003

Tom Cruise talks THE LAST SAMURAI!

Honor, loyalty, compassion: Those aren't just words...

Sep 16, 2003

Never-Before-Seen footage from THE LAST SAMURAI!

Watch Tom Cruise prepare for battle...

Aug 27, 2003

The second one-sheet for THE LAST SAMURAI is now online!

Tom Cruise suits up...

Aug 26, 2003

Critics Score

65%

Release Date

December 5th, 2003

Director

Edward Zwick

Writers

John Logan
Edward Zwick
Marshall Herskovitz

Cast

Ken Watanabe
Tom Cruise
William Atherton
Chad Lindberg
Ray Godshall Sr.
Billy Connolly

The Last Samurai Synopsis

Captain Nathan Algren (TOM CRUISE) is a man adrift. The battles he once fought now seem distant and futile. Once he risked his life for honor and country, but, in the years since the Civil War, the world has changed. Pragmatism has replaced courage, self-interest has taken the place of sacrifice and honor is nowhere to be found ? especially out West where his role in the Indian Campaigns ended in disillusionment and sorrow.

Somewhere on the unforgiving plains near the banks of the Washita River, Algren lost his soul.

A universe away, another soldier sees his way of life about to disintegrate. He is Katsumoto (KEN WATANABE), the last leader of an ancient line of warriors, the venerated Samurai, who dedicated their lives to serving emperor and country. Just as the modern way encroached upon the American West, cornering and condemning the Native American, it also engulfed traditional Japan. The telegraph lines and railroads that brought progress now threaten those values and codes by which the Samurai have lived and died for centuries.

But Katsumoto will not go without a fight.

The paths of these two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, wooed by American interests who covet the growing Japanese market, hires Algren to train Japan?s first modern, conscript army. But as the Emperor?s advisors attempt to eradicate the Samurai in preparation for a more Westernized and trade-friendly government, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai. Their powerful convictions remind him of the man he once was.

Thrust now into harsh and unfamiliar territory, with his life and perhaps more important, his soul, in the balance, 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.