Quite possibly the best movie ever.

I could quit right there and walk away 100% accurate, but a review needs more content than that. I walked into this movie expecting nothing. All I really knew about it was that Tom Cruise is hired to kill samurai and then ends up joining them. Honestly, the main reason why I went to watch The Last Samurai was because I thought I could learn a little about Japan. In fact, a few friends and I doubted it so much that we figured for the fight scenes a stunt double of Cruise would be used with a still picture from Risky Business superimposed on his face. Nothing of the sort.

Instead, what was presented to the audience was a beautiful story with good acting, wonderful scenery and great directing. Clocking in at almost three hours, The Last Samurai joins other long movies, such as LotR and Braveheart, among some of the best to watch.

The Last Samurai teaches us new meanings for pride, honor and loyalty. It is a story of a nation torn by change. One segment holds true to the traditional standards while the other is led by progress at the cost of sacrificing their own history. The underlying plot deals with a man haunted by his past; a man of great skill who is searching for redemption.

Earlier I compared The Last Samurai to Lord of the Rings and Braveheart. However, this movie far surpasses both of them, even Gladiator, The Matrix and any other movie I can think of. Even the lowest of samurai are as skilled with a bow as Legolas. The only difference is they can make it look more realistic. Even though Return of the King opens on the 17th and will be a box office smash and will also probably be an awesome movie, expect The Last Samurai to walk away with every Oscar known to man.

In other movie related news, a new entry into my list of top ten movies to show in Hell if I were the devil opened this week: Honey. You go girl!


staff out...

Previous News  |  The Ekaj Archives  |  Back to Main  |  Next News

Questions? Comments? Sugestions?  E-mail the staff.