no introduction is provided, i'm lazy

the movie as a whole is about the conflicts between old and new culture that occurred in Japan in 18th century. the characters are used as representations of cultural contexts.

Captain Nathan is the representation of American culture or new culture. (well, Col. Bagley too but wait wait wait....i'll explain the differences later.)

Simon Graham, a british documentarian is the narrator and the storyteller. there are reasons for using British for this character as well.

The Emperor is the representation of all the Japanese.

Katsumoto is the representation of old culture or Japanese culture.

i think, you have got the idea already for what i am going to present here.

i'll go briefly and pick up only a few things to say here, not all but i ensure that it's enough to cover main points.

at the very beginning of the film, the storyteller, Simon Graham says about how Japan was created from sword, but he believes that Japanese was created by handful of brave men. then the images on screen reveals Katsumoto, the samurai leader sitting peacefully and quietly in grass field in the middle of beautiful landscape. katsumoto is maditating. he sees a white tiger battling with his crews in a foggy battle field.

--- I THINK!, the reason for choosing a british guy to be the documentarian is because:--1, to emphasis the relationship between japan and america. 2, photography was first invented in britain in 18th century. 3, he's an eye witness in the story.

Katsumoto see the white tiger-- Katsumoto foresee that new culture is arising in japan, the new culture comes from white country that is aggressive, dangerous, and powerful. and his samurais and himself have to battle against that new culture (he doesn't have magic power to exactly see the future as the film presents). the uses of peaceful landscapes, silent and calm environment around katsumoto suggest that old japan is peaceful.

the tiger shot ends with extreme close-up of tiger eyes then cut to katsumoto's face and zoom in to focus only his eyes. that means...the white tiger, as new culture and katsumoto as old culture are facing each other in opposite direction and they are going to fight against each other to the core.

the emperor as the representation of confused japaneses. japanese are confused by the rapid growth of new culture as the main stream. with the mind that eagers to know and to accept it all once struggles when Katsumoto confronts him about this issue. that is why he asks Katsumoto, as he is Katsumoto's student, for what he should do.--japan starts to feel uncertain whether to continue westernizing or remains as is. Katsumoto declines to give his suggestion--because, he's the represents of 'old culture', the choice is in all japanese's hands. the emperor as the whole japanese decides to choose new culture. therefore, at the end of the movie he gives a speech to his governers that eventhough japanese has railroads, weapons, western clothing but we must not forget who we are and where we came from. he finally honors Katsumoto and takes his sword and going to learn how samurai lived. this suggests that japanese still remains their own culture and traditions in balance with western culture that has transmitted to japan.

Cap. Nathan fines peace in living with the samurai tribe. he represents the new culture for the part that japanese choose to keep. that is because he is the part that both old and new culture have time to adjust, learn, and know each other. the most significant scene that says it so is when he tries to help Taka with her household works, she tells him that guys don't do this kind of works and he replies that he is not japanese. the way Cap. Nathan gradually be accepted by the tribes and by old culture. the way they allow him to learn how to fight like a samurai, and a lot more. there are cultural trades here between japan and american. and for Col. Bagley, he dies because he represents the part of american culture that is not accepted in japan.

there are a lotttttt more to analyse but let see how you think!

all i care about is, how was the quality of the swordsmanship? authentic movements from iaijutsu/iaido and kenjutsu/kendo? or not?

hmm... i've never been too inclined to analyse a Tom Cruise movie much... is this one different? (although i did like him in Born of the Fourth of July, a very good movie... and I really liked Stanley Kubrick's last movie, Eyes Wide Shut although Tom Cruise's acting in that movie was pretty wooden)

i love most of Kubrick's film...but eye wide shut is an exceptational.

i love Clockwork Orange and The Shine a lot more.

and Tom Cruise?...*bleh!*

Not a T. Cruise fan but i agree that he did well in this movie....

Eyes Wide Shut..?? hmmm only like N. Kidman in the closet scene. hehehee

;p

I too thik Tom had a great roel in this movie. Although I thik Katsumoto adn Taka steal sthe show with their performance ...

All in all a very good movie

Clockwork Orange and The Shining are great movies. 2001 was a great movie but is pretty dated now. Tom Cruise actually played the lead ape in that.

yes, he does...same as Born o the 4th of July.

i dont like hollywood movies, but the last samurai has so many things to read.

Ling! LOL...the one that slammed all the bones?

LOL...i gotta check if there's any white monkey in 2001, if there was one, i'm sure that was you!!!

I love warfare movies, i think it's up with likes of Gladiator, The Patriot and Saving Private Ryan

Wow, very impressive AF. Your right, most Hollywood movies focus on putting the stars on screen with little regard to a good story. Its all about getting people to spend money on ticket...not about making thoughtful movies. Although, a good one comes out every now and then. But then again, who says a movie needs to be thoughtful...can't it just be entertaining just for entertainments sake? See, I keep contradicting myself...I can't make up my mind.

Hmmm....as for me I don't like sad ending movies......its better if katsumoto had lived to become the founder of the Ninja klan......