In the face of an enemy, in the heart of one man, lies the soul of a warrior.|Jan. 09, 2003|USA|154 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Drama;History;War
Description: In 1876, Nathan Algren, a former Army Captain and skilled yet troubled soldier, haunted by the horrors he witnessed during the American Indian Wars, accepts a job offer from his ex-commander, Colonel Bagley. Tasked with training the newly formed Imperial Japanese Army, Algren, despite his disdain for Bagley, takes the position out of financial necessity. Accompanied by his old comrade, Sergeant Zebulon Gant, Algren travels to Japan, where he meets Simon Graham, a British translator and photographer well-versed in samurai culture.
The Imperial soldiers, inexperienced and untrained, are quickly deployed against a samurai rebellion led by Katsumoto. The battle ends in chaos, with the unprepared soldiers fleeing in fear. Gant is killed, and Algren, severely injured, expects to die. However, Katsumoto, who had a vision of a White Tiger, believes Algren to be the tiger and spares his life, taking him prisoner.
Algren is brought to Katsumoto’s village, where he gradually overcomes his suspicion and embraces the samurai way of life. Over time, he recovers from his alcoholism, learns Japanese, and masters samurai combat techniques. He grows sympathetic to Katsumoto’s fight against the erosion of Japanese traditions by Western influence. Meanwhile, a quiet bond forms between Algren and Taka, Katsumoto’s sister and the widow of a samurai Algren had killed in battle.
Cast director: Edward Zwick
Cast actor: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr., Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Masato Harada, Masashi Odate, John Koyama
Original name: The Last Samurai