The Last Samurai

Good God, this was horrible! Why I ever watched it, I don't know. You keep thinking that it HAS to get better, but no, shut the movie off. As bad as it is, it actually gets worse as you watch. Horrible, horrible movie, topped only by "Safe" and "Satyricon".

this movie had a lot of outstanding acting and a very powerful story base. it is to bad that most people would only watch the movie but yet they would not understand the message of tiriny and oppression contained within the story. the fact that japan would turn its back on it own traditions in order to embrace the ways of the western civilization.

i have reviewed it many times and each time i have learnt more about the ways of the Japanese samurai and of Japanese tradition. many would just watch this move for the blood and guts but there is a deeper meaning within its plot. for instance: that a man, one man can open his eyes to what his enemies are fighting for and to change his opinion, teaches us that many times we would walk into situations knowing only half the facts. or that while one may seem to think that he is one the right side of a battle, when he sees the other side of the coin that his opinion could possibly change. this movie, although it was written in Hollywood, it has a lot of research behind it. the battles could have been a little more detailed but it held the compassion of war.

A group of tourists on safari in Africa are kidnapped by a self-styled guerrilla general (Henry Cele). Among the group are two Japanese businessmen on a quest for a lost Samurai ancestor and girl whose lover is a white hunter-cum-mercenary soldier. But the kidnap is a scam to enable an Arab in the group to meet with the general and arrange an arms deal. But lo! the lover is coming to save them all in true Crocodile Dundee-style! A strange mix of themes here - Japanese fighting, Stallone style ambushes in the forest, a compound full of prisoners with an elegant house nearby and John Saxon's weird shot at a middle Eastern accent. But strangest of all is Mr Cele's wardrobe - from Shaka style leopard skin outfits - one in a boudoir complete with beaded wig! - to dungarees and a straw hat as he tends his roses. But he looks best in his general's uniform and his striding walk could not be equalled for dignity and presence. Which is just as well as there's little else in this film to spark one's interest and is desperately heavy with 'meaningful' mood musac. Mr Cele alone tackles his role with a credible commitment, giving a saving grace to an otherwise classically B minus movie. It's only worth watching his performance so fast forward the rest!

Huge disappointment. Usually Lance Henriksen can offer some redeeming qualities to even the worst script as he did in Stone Cold. BUT, no one could save this movie. Continuity has been ignored with a passion. The story is WEAK and remains unjustified right through the final credits. This is not even a "rainy day watch." This is movie for laying down and avoiding. AND; as far as the DVD being "digitally re-mastered;" I fear the master was beyond help, because even state of the art home theatre could not make the audio enjoyable. The next time you want visitors to leave, fire this movie up, and you'll have your privacy in no time.

I bought this movie knowing it was a budget title simply for the reason that Lance Henriksen (Terminator) (Aliens) (Millennium) is in it - one of my favourite actors. He is really the only thing that kept this movie going and kept me watching as it is a rather poor movie. he accepts roles in some very low budget movies when really he deserves much much better as his performances in the three movies above i have quoted could not be matched but this one was really poor... The only other good actor in it is the sexy Arabella Holzbog, it was also her first movie. since this she has always been stuck in the b-movie sector and deserves better also and has recently stared in some "alias" episodes. This is not a good movie and there is not a lot to it story wise or anything it is quite pointless but worth one watch if you are a lance or Arabella fan.