Hi, welcome to Gazette's Movie focus corner!

Reviewer: Johanna

Movie: The Last Samurai

Length: 2 Hours 24 Minutes

Director: Ed Zwick

Writers: John Logan, Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick

Starring:

Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren
Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto
Koyuki as Taka

Story & Review:

Captain Nathan Algren is a soldier who drinks heavily to forget the haunting images of his role in annihilating the Native Americans during the Indian Wars. He is afterwards hired by the Japanese Imperial Army to train their soldiers and to get rid of the Samurai warriors who once protected Japan with their swords. It turns out later that Algren got caught by the Samurais, led by Katsumoto, who ordered Algren to be taken back to their remote mountain village. Slowly, Algren learns about the honor, loyalty, courage and sacrifice that these noble Samurais have. He then develops a sense of belonging within the Samurai community. Katsumoto becomes his friend and Algren grows affection for Katsumoto's pretty little sister Taka.

The show continues to increase in tension as the inevitable collision between the Samurais and the Japanese Army gets nearer each day. The eventual fight between the two forces is really grand and spectacular. Each time someone dies, it is done in a way that keeps the audience captivated.

Look out for an Asian Legolas in the show; the way he shoots those arrows makes you really want to wish for a bow and arrows from Santa.