JAPAN FORUM

[*Gothic_Cupcake*]

wow some of you made big replys. i would just like to say i liked that movie lots.
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He gave her 12 roses 11 real and 1 fake and said, "I'll love you untill the last rose dies".

[UKOGB]

I saw this film and I think it was OK, but that was before Tom Cruise went crazy Well, I thought it was funny how Tom Cruise's character wasn't even real and many people I knew were disillusioned. More funny was that it was semihistorical. I mean wasn't this supposed to be about the Satsuma rebellion..and Katsumoto was supposed to be Saigo Takamori? I also thought it was funny that some Samurai shown in the film were depicted as untidy warrioirs with their hair messy and everywhere and not in the clean cut samurai fashion while they wore elequant armor like the Gengi did without any weapons. I mean in reality at east a few samurai had access to gunpower. Has anyone seen "Shinsengumi!" (2004) Now those was Edo 1860's Meiji restoration samurais and they gained access to not only guns but also canons.
Overall, it was ok but I just couldn't enjoy it as much as I could have.

[cursore]

I saw it few days ago, I liked the movie a lot, but just as a fantasy story.

I remember when The Gladiator was out, I saw it and I was disgusted by the historical distortions made by Hollywood,: Commodo killing his father in Germany or killed in the coliseum…really ridiculous, but it gave me the input to start reading more about Japanese History.
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Per aspera ad astra

[Japlover]

Most of the people who didn't enjoy `The Last Samurai`, didn't enjoy it because they know too much. Most Japanese people didn't enjoy because they know too much about Japan. Others know too much about history.
But they should realize that the movie wasn't made for them.

There are things that fascinate me and things that I love about Japan but can't describe to family and friends who have never taken an interest in Japan. The movie presented many of these ideas in a way that non-Japanloving gaijin could appreciate and learn something good about Japan.

`The Last Samurai` gets my vote.

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http://au.geocities.com/datingjapaneseladies/

[shaners]

I remember first seeing this movie, and loving it. Granted I did not look at it 'critically' as some of the previous posters did, I just enjoyed the setting, action, and cultural aspects. This movie was one of the first movies to introduce me to Japanese culture. I am an American, and have lived here all my life. To see a movie that (regardless of the common Western ending, where the hero lives) puts down the things I despise most, was wholly refreshing. Being here all my life, I have seen many things I don't agree with, but can never change. I sympathised with Cruise's character most, because I felt - and still feel today, completely out of place in the world I was born into.

For me, this movie was a very moving experience because of that reason. Still today, watching it reminds me fondly of how I finally began to picture a world I could feel at place in, and it was not until a few months ago that I realized that I could make that reality possible.

Until then, like I had all my life, I wandered aimlessly, drawn to wherever life and family took me. Why I worked, I did not know why. Why I went to college, I did not know why. Always I figured I would take a job in English because I was pretty good at it in High School, and was quite bad at learning language. However, entering a college course in German was the start of a chain of events that led me to realize that I not only love language and international culture, but could use this newfound skill in my hobby of exploring all things Japanese. To date, now that my goal is set, I will finish my German studies this semester, then must wait until next fall to start Japanese! Yet I save all my money now, to make the long process of ingraining myself into the culture I adore and respect much easier. But still.. an entire year until I actually 'start' the real processes. I'm thinking of just teaching myself as much as possible through any good books I can find, just to get a serious head start!

Thinking of this movie brings out a lot of thoughts in me, I must admit (some not even having to do with the movie). The movie, despite any flaws it may have carried has nevertheless been an important mover in my entry into understanding myself. I think things like that, which are more inspirational to people for what they stand for to them, are more important than any small flaws could ever be. I have many more little things like this in my life that help me from time to time! Perhaps it's very strange, but it works for me!

[spacerabbit]

I saw the movie for first time on DVD last week and I was very disappointed. Tom Cruise cannot act, he is the same character in every movie. The story is not historical fact and I think it glamorize Samurai is being so noble. Only thing movie did not have overtly is Japanese girl falling for White hero but it still manage to portray that.

[Jahleim]

[i]I hear you Bud.
The thing I have noticed about Hollywood is that they have a real bad habit or uncontrollable urge to make a movie about someone elses culture where there is a problem....Just like the last Samurai.
Now to me wouldnt the Samurai deal with its own problem.....Not according to this movie or Hollywood...It just had to be the Heroic American.
I find it disturbing,and feel for the cultures it has opressed with this habit.
I would feel like it is taking something away from my heritage in some way,You decide for yourselves and decide what you think they are taking away from these cultures....Pride? Honour? Dignity? Their capacity to maintain themselves?
I can watch the movie the Samurai, but I also see the great big gaping holes it has in the story line itself and how the American portray But fail to mention just how the Samurai Class truely shaped Japan,And how the Samurai went on to police the Streets ridding the streets of crime.
I think you understand me,If you know the history and culture.
And if anybody else does they would know the real Samurai Warriors true weapon was "Archery"....Surfice to surfice missiles when douzed in flammable liquid,The Samurai was efficient in rope knots,Thus capable of tying rope around the wrist of knocked out crimminals....
They are renowned for their poetry[/i]