A beautiful movie with great meaning, we really enjoyed this one! more warrior movies is always a good thing! Want to watch 3-4 weeks EARLY and access the UNCUT reaction? Join us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/spartanandpudgey
13th warrior 1999 viking war movie, king arthur 2004, troy brad pitt 2004 greece spartan vs trojan war, gladiator 2000 rome war, kingdom of heaven 2005 templar crusade war, braveheart 1996 scottish english war,
just to add to the movies already given by the other commenter... ------------ historical/military/war/freedom movies: (not ranked, just listed) 1. Last of the Mohicans (1992) 2. Troy (2004) 3. Gladiator (2000) 4. 300 (2006) // (the sequel though is krappy, aside from the action/fighting/battles, especially seeing the spartan/leonidas queen, that got r'ped in 300 by that traitor and then killing him, now being shown also as the warrior bad'ss that she too is, at the ending battle scene with the mc in the sequel movie) 5. Braveheart (1995) 6. King Arthur (2004) 7. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (has a young morgan freeman doing/being a badass fighter) 8. The Mummy (1999) 9. The Mummy Returns (2001) 10. The Scorpion King (2002) 11. The 13th Warrior (movie of michael crighton's "eaters of dead" book: beowulf saga / vikings) 12. Dances with Wolves (1990) 13. The Patriot (2000) 14. The Rocketeer (grins, has a sexy young Jennifer Connely, grins) 15. Prince of Persia (2010) 16. The Last Samurai 17. A Knight's Tale 18. Dragonheart (sean conner as the dragon, this was eragon way before eragon was ever written and then made into a movie, lol) // this is fantasy, not historical, lol, but still good and it is “historical-like” 19. Highlander // this is fantasy, not historical, lol, but still good and it is “historical-like” 20. Gods of Egypt // egyptian mythology 21. Apocalypto 22. Pocahontas (disney animated movie) 23. Mulan (disney animated movie) 24. Aladdin (disney animated movie) 25. Robin Hood (disney animated movie with animal characters) 26. First Knight (1995) // (sean connery) 27. Sparticus (1960) 28. Ben-Hur (1959) 29. Pathfinder (2007) // but it’s really not very good: about vikings that came to america, with its conflict/plot of: vikings vs native americans 30. The Mask of Zorro (1998) (and its sequel: The Legend of Zorro, 2005) (and there's the older/original TV series too, and maybe even some older/original movies too, probably, lol) there's some others as well, like '10,000 BC' movie and that more recent one (edit, looked it up, movie name: Alpha) about the origin of the creation of "dogs", when man and wolf, joined forces in early human history (ice age, far before 10,000 BC, lol) ------------- tv films: (not ranked, just listed) 1. Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula, this IS actually a true historical documentary of the historical Vlad the Impaler, it's really good, too 2. Dark Kingdom: Ring of the Nibelungs (seigfried and brunhilde saga, grins Kirstanna Loken is such a sexy and badass brunhilde, grins) 3. Helen of Troy (has sexy sienna guillory, resident evil 2 movie jill valentine fame, naked, grins, one of the most powerful scenes and lessons of all time, Helen literally usurps all power and the very "crown" away from the greek king, all his time and effort making allies and alliances, loyal military/soldiers, and etc, with just her naked body alone, grins, ya, she was taught well by her "abductor" in the art of politics, grins, really good movie too)
This is loosely based on Samurai William a true event, look it up it's fascinating. Also for hundreds of years Japan was closed off to foreigners. Their emperor was treated like a god. A Shogun would have many Samurai working under him, only the Samurai carried weapons and could kill peasants as they saw fit for any perceived offence. The code of Bushido was very strict and so was the hierarchy. Samurai would quite often challenge each other to Duels. If a Shogun was killed or Samurai failed in some respects most would kill themselves in the manner you saw in the film, called Seppuku. If not they would become Rónin which means masterless samurai. Probably the most famous Samurai and arguably the best swordsman ever was Miyamoto Musashi - you should look him up he had an insane life, and wrote a book still used in boardrooms today called The Book Of Five Rings.
I just want it to be clear cause I've seen a lot of people/reactors get it wrong... First: Samurai is Plural in the title. These are the last of the Samurai. Second: Individually, Katsumoto, not Nathan, was "The Last Samurai". His death, his sacrifice, was the last lesson he leaves behind for Nathan, the Emperor, and Japan. Death before Dishonor. The Way of the Samurai. Bushido.
@@jarlnils435 Two different people. The man you're talking about, Masujiro Omura specialized in warfare and Western medicine. The Omura portrayed in this movie is fictional, and is not a warrior or medical expert in any regard. He's a businessman, specializing in railroads. Whereas Masujiro Omura actually received formal Western military training and education, the Omura in the movie knows nothing of war, which is why he hired Western soldiers to train the Imperial Army.
you can argue Algren is still _the last samurai,_ since as of Katsumoto's death, Algren is the last one to hold true to the samurai code. honorary samurai, if you will...
Katsumoto: The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend a lifetime looking for one, and it wouldn’t be a wasted life His last words: Perfect. They are **all** perfect
The perfect explanation of the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, nothing is perfect, but being imperfect is unique, and the uniqueness is perfection. No blossom, both individual flowers and the experience each year and location of blossoms flowering and falling, is the same, which makes every experience of blossoms perfect.
Nathan wanted to die at the beginning of the story. That's why he tells that soldier to shoot him, and why he doesn't flinch with the sword at his neck. He's not being badass, he just doesn't care about living. Don't confuse the two
One thing could explain the other. One could say him not caring about living made him lose his fear of death, which in turn made him such a formidable warrior.
@@KenpoKid77 - Yes, but "badass" implies bravery and bravery is doing something despite being afraid, so once he lost his fear of death, he also lost his bravery. He regained it later in the movie because he obtained something to live for again. It's not brave (or badass) for someone who doesn't fear spiders to walk into a room full of spiders but it WOULD be brave (and possibly badass) for an arachnophobic to do so.
@@KenpoKid77 that is exactly how samurai fight, they fight under the assumption that they will die in every battle, therefore they have no fear of death. nathan is simply suicidal at the start of the film, but after he gets sober and lives with katsumoto he finds purpose and his reason to live. that is why katsumoto says "you have found your honor again", because even though their final charge was suicidal it was not for personal reasons.
Really fun movie fact: Hiroyuki Sanada (Ujio) and Tom Cruise (Nathan) during Nathan's capture scene when Ujio first confronts him as "Swine" and swings his sword at Nathan's neck was authentic. What makes this very scary and thrilling is that the stunt was requested by Tom Cruise to be performed with a real Katana by Hiroyuki Sanada as if "It would be the real thing". Hiroyuki Sanada is a masterful martial artist, and swordsman and stressed that even with his skill that this is a life threatening stunt to perform. However Tom convinced the production crew and Hiroyuki Sanada to have him swing a katana at his neck. Hiroyuki Sanada when he swung and stopped the sword came so close to Tom's neck that it ACTUALLY drew blood, all at the same time TOM CRUISE DID NOT FLINCH. The acting and skill from both parties cannot be diminished, and every time I watch that scene I am in awe that 1) Tom didn't natural flinch or react to the swing, and 2) Hiroyuki Sanada perfect timing with a full swing and stop of a Katana at Tom's neck to give us such an authentic scene.
@@gilgamesh9x It's kinda interesting, that in the Shogun Sanada plays a role of the guy, who has created the same political system which is being crumbling in the Last Samurai.
As a kid I wasn't into samurais or anything. I was much more into Rome, Egypt, and Greece. I saw this movie when it came out, at around 14 years old. I started to learn about the country of Japan after seeing it and now I live and work in Japan. It's not a stretch to say this movie set me on my path and changed my life.
14:15 - I'm sure someone's already told you, but this is _sepuku_ - a man disgraced is allowed to kill himself (via ritual disembowelment) in order to recover his dignity from his shame in defeat. Katsumoto beheading him is to _also_ preserve the man's dignity, so that he does not die crying out. Honor between opponents. The act is considered mutually honorable.
In sepuku it isn't an enemy who beheads the person who is to die, it is a friend or family member who is tasked with beheading the man to preserve their dignity
@@bloodforthebloodgod That's a good detail I didn't know, it's good to know because it seems that general Hasegawa and Katsumoto were friends and why he chose not to fight him. So that makes more sense
@@bloodforthebloodgod Worth noting as well, you're not actually supposed to fully decapitate someone when assisting in seppuku. The seppuku in this movie is actually quite sloppy in terms of realism - Katsumoto screams before delivering the kaishaku cut, which would both draw attention to himself (a big no-no for the kaishakunin - the person assisting in the ritual - as it's not your show) and also startle the heck out of Hasegawa, and he cleaves Hasegawa's head clean off his shoulders, which causes his head to bounce off and go rolling away, spilling blood everywhere - kind of defeats the purpose of the ritual, which is supposed to be a solemn, dignified death, not an execution. The kaishakunin is supposed to give a fairly shallow cut - just enough to sever the spinal column, which is what actually causes the death. You want to leave enough of the front of the neck remaining so that the head stays attached to the body and minimizes the mess. There's also one other slightly inaccurate detail, which is that an enemy general would probably not be given a knife to perform seppuku with (since using that knife to try and take as many people down with you as you can would be seen as just as honourable a death as one by seppuku) - instead a proxy, like a fan, would be used and the kaishakunin would make his cut as soon as the prisoner reached for it. That one's somewhat more forgivable, as Katsumoto and Hasegawa apparently knew each other and had fought alongside each other previously, so Katsumoto may have trusted him enough to not need the facsimile.
Great movie. The soldiers weren’t cowards, nor where the samurai. They both fought for what they believed in and both saw their brothers in arms die. The only cowards were the weasel leaders that hid behind the soldiers.
This is one of my all time favourite films and I personally think one of Tom's best performances. You will absolutely adore this and need it on the shelf!!!
" Perfect", is not about death but about life. When Ken Watanbe speaks about cherry blossom its about having fullfilled and meaningful life. So when he dies he sees a perfect blossom,meaning his life was meaningful and he lived and died by samurai code
And when he told Nathan "you could spend your life searching for the perfect blossom and it would not be a wasted life" he now realizes they're all perfect. There is no flaws, the flaws are what makes something beautiful.
He seemed to want to die, but even so -- if he wanted to die, that would have been _why_ he didn't fear death. :) So, it is still true that he didn't flinch because he didn't fear death.
One thing that most people seem to miss is the different ways of honor and acting honorable. Katsumoto is intrigued by Nathan when they first meet because instead of admitting his defeat, Nathan keeps fighting on and on, while still obviously being a very skilled warrior. Katsumoto then decides he needs to learn about his new enemy because of this, because they obviously subscribe to different values. The fight with wooden swords in the rain vs. Ujio further demonstrates this. Nathan keeps getting up over and over, but Ujio is expecting him to admit his defeat. In the end, they end up respecting each other and understanding each others different ways of honor. "You have your honor again (because you fought and didn't give up), let me die with mine". Some people also say that this movie falls into the "white saviour" trope, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Nathan doesn't save the samurai, they save him.
When I first heard about this moving coming out in the theater a friend of mine said you have to see it. When I asked why he said, "I cried tears of man joy." I did not understand until I watched it for myself, and he was totally right. Such a beautiful movie.
My favorite interaction is at the end when the Emperor asks Algren, “Tell me how he died” and then Algren responds with “I will tell you how he lived”. Those two lines of dialogue, in my opinion, might be some of the best in all of cinema.
This movie is flat out beautiful. It's sad as hell, but boy does it hit deep. This has an amazing cast and some terrific acting. I think this is Tom Cruise's best overall acting role. It just stands out and he really does seem like someone who can't escape his past and the guilt from it. That's why the end, when Katsumoto tells him he regained his honor, hits so deep. And also the cinematography in this is flat out GORGEOUS as well. The shots of the landscape, the ability to capture the battle and watch it move so seamlessly...this movie is amazing.
26:16 .... that battle cry has always given me chills! I remember renting the dvd, yup that's what I typed, and then buying a new dvd when I finished watching it. This became an instant favorite.
The reason for cutting off the head is simple to keep one's honor after defeat one must disenbowl one's self but If one screams out honor is lost so out of respect to a defeat enemy and to see insure they don't lose honor by screaming out the head comes off and they can't scream so their honor is intact in the afterlife.
The guy "Mr KFC" is Billy Connolly. Outstanding Scottish Comedian; i recommend you check out some of his stand up; he has a very wicked sense of humor..think Ricky Gervais. Hes well known for his yelling and screaming passionately about everything which is why he would have been cast in that role. Also been in quite a few movies. He was the cousin of the dwarf king in the hobbit riding the goat. His movie The Man Who Sued God is quite a good light hearted movie as well
This is a beautiful film. This is the movie that made me a Tom Cruise fan. Both he and Ken Watanabe give excellent performances. Hiroyuki Sanada also gives a fantastic performance as well. Beautiful score and cinematography. Just a perfect film.
The sword fighting in this movie was reviewed by a few Japanese kendo experts who had not seen the movie, and while they were polite about Tom Cruise's skill, Hiroyuki Sanada, the actor playing the samurai who spends half the movie smacking Tom around, was praised for his skill. Apparently, he's really good.
He's good for a trained actor who's also a martial artist. Tom Cruise has no such background so in comparison he obviously stinks. At the end of the day it's just a movie.
48:17 Samurai can be singular or plural, so my interpretation has always been that the movie is referring to the last group of Samurai, not Tom Cruise in particular.
@@AjZ530 It could be. It's up to interpretation. But the only thing I'm fairly positive of is that it doesn't refer to just Tom Cruise. It could be all of them up to and including Tom Cruise, or it could be just Katsumoto.
I am glad you touched on what i usually comment in reactions to this movie. How good was handled story with Taka. How subtle was showing of them having feelings for each other.
Seen this film a hundred times and here I am crying again. Truly one of the greatest. And the soundtrack is just beautiful. Thanks for the great reaction guys!
@ToeTag1968 Yeah, that's true. It could also be talking about the community as a whole. Either way, it's definitely not referring to Tom Cruise's character.
There's something to be said - a pretty big something - about solo movies - they have to tell the entire story in that movie, and there's no room for leaving things out.
“Why do I have a feeling this will break me?” Because it breaks us all. This movie is an example of storytelling at its very finest. The writing, music, acting are all at the pinnacle of their game. It is the only time I’ve been in a full movie theater, that everyone left in silence other than the subtle sounds of sadness. Absolutely beautiful!
While the Last Samurai is cool, it does have quite a few historical inaccuracies that make it seem like the Samurai were just good or whatnot. After all, the merchant class until relatively the new modernized era of the industrial revolution were pretty low. The Samurai at the time felt threatened by the changing of their status from landowners and warlords to people that now all of a sudden are getting erased by the new power of the merchant class which is represented with Omura here. Mind you the samurai by no means were always the honorable and seemingly benevolent social class at the time just like how not all medieval knights were honorable either.
14:20 it is called "harakiri" the japanese used to believe that the spirit resided in the guts, therefore, if a samurai lost in a way that they couldnt repair (for example, a samurai can loose a battle, as long as he win the war, but in this specific scenario, since his entire army was whiped, it was clear that he lost the war) the samurai will cut his own gut to set his spirit free, than, someone else will cut of his head to aliviate the pain. this is also why after the battle was over, the samurai would walk on the field, piercing every dead boddy on the gut, to set the spirit of the dead free
If you enjoyed “The Last Samurai,” you might appreciate “The Twilight Samurai” (2002), set around the same time and starring Hiroyuki Sanada, who also portrayed Ujio in “The Last Samurai” - the man initially in conflict with Tom Cruise but later becoming his trainer and friend. In “The Twilight Samurai,” Sanada takes on the role of Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai who returns home every evening to care for his mother, suffering from dementia, and his young daughter. While not as action-packed as “The Last Samurai,” it offers a well-scripted introspective drama depicting the last days of the samurai before the Meiji Restoration.
For whatever reason, I can never remember his first name, but as soon as I read "Sanada" I could picture an actor and was thinking "Is that that one guy who's in everything and always puts on a stellar performance?" So I googled it... YEP! That's exactly who I was picturing ❤
the guy( Hiroyuki Sanada) that played your favorite character(Ujio) also played Scorpion in the new Mortal Kombat movie. He's a legendary actor in Japanese cinema.
This is a top-ten movie for me. I don't care that parts of it are historically inaccurate. It has all the things I love, including a bittersweet and cathartic ending that gives you a good cry.
Great reaction to a great movie. One of my favorite characters too is Katsumoto's right-hand man played by Hyrioku Sanada who is also in these films: 47 Ronin; Avengers Endgame; Rush Hour III; and Bullet Train. In each one, he plays a samurai-sword-wielding character. Thanks again for this reaction!
My gf recently broke things off, it's been horrible the past few days nothing but pain, sadness, and regret... your guys reaction to this but in general have helped, thank you guys! This is one of my moms favourite movies, i remember her watching it all the time when i was young and never understood why but once i watched it as a grown man i understand the true depth of this movie, i cry every single time i watch it such a good movie! Doing whatever you can to help those you've come to love, the honor and respect, being at peace... This movie hits deep I recommend Hacksaw Ridge, another phenomenal movie that grabs your heart.
we are sorry to hear that, sending to strength 💪🏼 from the both of us! we are glad we can take your mind off things for a bit. yeah the meaning and themes in this movie are excellent, can definitely see why it's an iconic movie
@SpartanandPudgey I appreciate that a lot guys, thanks again! It's been very tough the past few days but I keep pushing every day. Fantastic movie, another good samurai type movie is 47 Ronin, not many people react to it on YT but it's somewhat of a fantasy take but it's a movie with similar themes to this one (trying not to spoil) Keanu reeves is in it too
I've watched this movie more than 30 times, believe it or not!... I know every line, every piece of the story, and if this movie hasn't moved you, surely you're not Human!
The Last Samurai is my all-time favorite and made a huge impact in my life. Life in every breath stuck with me. This movie taught me to live life and not fear death.
“Mindless” is actually the state of zen to do anything, how top gymnasts, musicians and martial artists perform their trades. That’s why Bruce Lee said “Don’t think--feel.”
This is one of my favourite Tom Cruise films. Everyone in it was amazing in their roles and the film itself is beautifully shot and scored. Thanks for the fantastic reaction guys. Loved it.
I HIGHLY recommend you guys read Myke Cole's book The Bronze Lie. This whole idea of spartans as some super disciplined, self-reliant and brutal warrior culture is cartoonish and not in line with their real history. It has more to do with propaganda that the greeks put out to motivate their people to fight harder and to try and scare their enemies, propaganda that ended up becoming myths that people believe today and try to shape their lives and worldviews around.
This couldn't have been better timed - I'm home sick and desperate for a distraction, and here you guys are, reacting one of my favourite films! (For me at least it's one of those 'comfort movies' that you can watch again and again.)
I saw this film when it came out and instead of Lord of the Rings, this is a movie I watched 10 times in theaters. It's such a beautiful moving film with great action and sequences.
Mr KFC is Billy Connolly - he is very much worth watching --> "The Man Who Sued God" strongly recommended :D another great movie: "Dogma" with Ben Affleck and Matt Daemon thx for choosing "The Last Samurai" one of my TOP 5 favorite movies
I love that u guys are doing proper movies! I recommend ”Master & Commander” with Russel Crowe! Also fun fact, in real life te Samurai used guns ALOT!! the real life general during the rebellion only stopped using them cuz his men ran out of ammo 😂
Damn spell correct "Akira Kurosawa" the director of the Seven Samurai. Also the real story of the 47 Robin has been done numerous times. Best one is called Cushingura which was made in 1941 and has since been colorized.
the character of tom cruise is inspired by a character who really existed. he was a French captain named Jules Brunet who fought alongside the Tokugawa shogun in the 19th century
Though only a small part of this movie, it furthers the misunderstanding about the Battle of Thermopylae along the the movie "300". The originally force that arrived at the pass was 7,000 strong and the Greeks were aware of the path through mountains. The had but a force of 300 Thebans there to guard it and give warning of an attempt to flank them. The Persians were inform not some deformed Spartan but by Theban farmer who didn't want their lands ravaged by the Persian army. Also, the pass was eventually left unguarded as the Thebans, fearing an attack on a nearby village in their territory, moved off the mountain without telling the forces in the pass. The battle lasted 7 days with only 3 days of actual combat. Once the Greeks realized they were going to be flanked, Leonidas dismissed the rest of the troops. However, 700 Thespians remained to support them. Because the action of this rear guard force, the other Greek forces were able to escape though all of the rear guard was killed. There was also a complimentary naval battle at a narrows near by where an outnumber Greek navy held off the Persian navy. This action supported the land action since the Persians couldn't easily resupply their forces nor were they able to flank the Greek army via the sea.
The reason Ujio is pissed at Nathan when he fights with the boy, is because the wodden sword (bokken) hes using. The bokken replaces the real sword (in training) and you are ment to handle it with great respect. He doesnt grant Nathan the "honor" to wear a (symbolic) sword.
I would imagine if a peasant picked one up they might actually been killed or at least receive corporal punishment of some type as only Samurai were allowed swords.
A really good movie, as long as you don't mistake it for history. The Meiji Restoration began in 1868, in America, we had JUST gone through the most destructive war in our history to date, our Civil War. Needless to say, we played only an extremely minor role in what was happening in Japan at the time.
Also the ritual suicide of Seppuku is: Samurai carry two blades. The Katana for fighting, and the Wakizashi for Seppuku. To make a noise or cry out during this ritual is to bring dishonor to yourself. That is why an opponent or friend may act as a Samurai's "Second", and decapitate them after the initial disembowelment. To keep the Samurai from dishonoring himself. Female Samurai are the same, but they get to slit their throats instead of their belly.
its actually kind of an open end, is not literally Nathan come back to the village, he was dying for the battle wounds, he barely made it to see the emperor. The last scene is more like his “friend” want it to end Nathan history
Well done! The best Last Samurai reaction video I've ever seen. This epic film is my favorite samurai movie of all time, so saying yours is the best is not a flippant or shallow statement. Bravo. Tne one thing I think you might have missed is a very important life lesson, which is why I'd like to suggest that you consider it. When Katsumoto dies and says "They're all perfect," he was referring to the cherry blossoms. Remember earlier he'd said that "You could search your entire life for the perfect cherry blossom and it would not be a wasted life." Well, at the end of his own life he realized and understood, as we all should, that every blossom is perfect because it was made by the Creator. Anyway, first time I've seen you guys or your channel. Liked and subscribed. I also think you guys make a very cool and cute couple. Much love and respect from a simple but warrior-spirited middle-aged man, deep in the ❤ of Texas. Peace
wow that's high praise! we're really glad you enjoyed the reaction! the movie was awesome, may the warrior spirit stay strong within you! welcome to our community 🥳💪🏼
A new FX miniseries called Shogun will launch this February, I think you would love it. It's based on a great book by James Clavell and its story is similar to The Last Samurai, sort of. It's a retelling of the real life story of William Adams, an English navigator who was the first Brit to reach Japan in 1600 and his involvement in the politics of the Japanese warlords vying for power. And Hiroyuki Sanada, the samurai that you called 'a beast' and 'a legend' during this reaction, plays one of the main parts in this miniseries.
I read the book decades ago and also saw the earlier mini series which was good as I remember but it's been so long I barely remember it anymore so it will be great to see the new miniseries.
@@NZ20c I don't know why you would assume the new series is the more anglicized version. There are more Japanese people involved in this new series than in the older one, both on the acting side and in the production, and given the current climate of cultural sensitivity, I would bet my life that it will be a much fairer representation of 17th century Japanese society.
When he say “Perfect, they are all perfect” he’s not talking about his death. He’s finishing his haiku that earlier in the movie he started. “The perfect blossom is a rare thing You can spend your life looking for one, and it would be a wasted life Perfect, they are all perfect “
42:49 is one of my all-time goosebump moments when I saw this in theaters. When he rolled up with that music I was cheering 😂 My favorite character in the movie by far.
14:21 - That’s called Seppuku, or self-disembowlment. It’s a ritualistic way of ending things, typically done by samurai or those of higher class as a way of atonement before death. They stab themselves in the stomach and cut deep across, and if they don’t make a sound during it, their head is swiftly (respectfully) removed to end their pain.
I love History Buffs' summary: "Years of training with the sword and bow, cast aside for the efficiency of mass-produced weapons", and "choosing to go out on their own terms, rather than fade from the pages of history; to die with honor, rather than live without purpose..."
I figured you guys would still be working on Breaking Bad. If you want samurai films, try some of the real Japanese films. Ones made by Anita Kurosawa films, or The Shoguns Assassin. One of my favorites is called After the Rain. It's about a master swordsman Robin looking for a clan worthy of his skills. He's very humorous and humble but seems to manage to piss people off because of it.
The imperial army bowing wasn't about feeling bad for what they did, it was about showing respect to an enemy who gave it their all. And it was used as a "passing of the torch" moment for Japan becoming a modern nation while still honoring their past.
The samurai in the blue armor is Hiroyuki Sanada, a very well-known and award-winning actor in Japan. And Katsumoto was played by Ken Watanabe, who was in "Batman Begins" and "Inception" among other films.
The beginning where he threatens to kill the man if he doesn't shoot him, I've always enjoyed that it wasn't just proving a point that they weren't ready. That was the main point. But the moment where the man missed was genuine sorrow that he didn't die. He doesn't fear death, but sometimes, he longs for it. It was another moment he should have died and did not.
Nathan was a cavalry officer so yes he did have a sword. The officers usually had a pistol and a sword as their main weapons because at the time most officers didn't join in on the cavalry charges in battle.
Many people including myself at first watch was confused about the counting system of the betting guys during Algren's sparring. They are counting how many offensive moves the individual makes, so blocking the opponents attack only counts as "their" move.
25:00 Well, because they ARE ninjas ;D or shinobi, as they were mostly called, and this is probably their most accurate depiction in cinema. While they didn't dress in black all the time, their clothing and disguises did depend on the mission, environment, and time of day.
The industrialization of war destroyed the warrior, turned warriors into parts of an machine instead of heroes. One of the lessons of this movie. The indirect artillery fire, the machine gun, the dropped bomb, the drone.
Interesting historical fact: Custer had 4 gatling guns as part of his cavalry train, but moved ahead of them for the final battle as they were bulky and moved by horse wagon. Gatling guns at the time, as seen in this movie, were used as defensive units attached to the artillery instead of offensive as they would eventually become.
Worked as an extra on this movie. It was made in my region of Taranaki, Specifically New Plymouth. We had to sign a document saying we were not allowed to make eye contact with him. If you look carefully at the training ground scene at Pukekura Park, you can see the State Insurance Building in the back..lol.
I find the parallel of what Nathan and the Omura (Snake politician) represent in this movie truly powerful. Omura and his greedy colleagues were perfecting the western way of politics and capitalism. Nathan was learning and understanding the Japanese way of honour and devotion. The emperor in the end chose Nathan who learned and adapted the Bushido way of life and rejected the self serving nature of Omura and the foreign way. His choice can therefore be interpreted to him selecting Katsumoto and the old way of Japanese/Samurai life.
The way I've always interpreted the soldiers bowing after Katsumoto dies, is that they know the samurai fought honorably and died with honour. It was the end of the ways of the samurai, because other parts of the world had developed technology past bows & arrows and swords, so if the Japanese retained the samurai way and they were invaded by a foreign power with firearms and canons, the Japanese would be destroyed. They basically HAD to modernize but many of the soldiers (and the emperor) also finally realised with the death of Katsumoto and his men, that it didn't have to come at the expense of everything they stood for as a culture and everything about their old ways. Such as honour.
Hate to break some people's perceptions here but there has never been such a thing as honor on the battlefield. You're not thinking of honor but the survival of yourself and your own. Any movie or tale that says otherwise is only trying to make us better than what we are in our worst moments.
Please react to "Quigley Down Under". It's about an American cowboy who goes to Australia for work, but goes against his employer. According to Wikipedia, it was shot in Victoria, Australia.
The one inaccuracy in this film (among others) is that Samurai in Japan had been using guns for over 200 years and were very successful at using tactics based around gun warfare.
A beautiful movie with great meaning, we really enjoyed this one! more warrior movies is always a good thing!
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the last of the mohicans 1992 wonderful movie war love history love you guys
13th warrior 1999 viking war movie, king arthur 2004, troy brad pitt 2004 greece spartan vs trojan war, gladiator 2000 rome war, kingdom of heaven 2005 templar crusade war, braveheart 1996 scottish english war,
beowulf 2007 viking war movie monsters, the patriot american war of independence mel gibson
just to add to the movies already given by the other commenter...
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historical/military/war/freedom movies:
(not ranked, just listed)
1. Last of the Mohicans (1992)
2. Troy (2004)
3. Gladiator (2000)
4. 300 (2006) // (the sequel though is krappy, aside from the action/fighting/battles, especially seeing the spartan/leonidas queen, that got r'ped in 300 by that traitor and then killing him, now being shown also as the warrior bad'ss that she too is, at the ending battle scene with the mc in the sequel movie)
5. Braveheart (1995)
6. King Arthur (2004)
7. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (has a young morgan freeman doing/being a badass fighter)
8. The Mummy (1999)
9. The Mummy Returns (2001)
10. The Scorpion King (2002)
11. The 13th Warrior (movie of michael crighton's "eaters of dead" book: beowulf saga / vikings)
12. Dances with Wolves (1990)
13. The Patriot (2000)
14. The Rocketeer (grins, has a sexy young Jennifer Connely, grins)
15. Prince of Persia (2010)
16. The Last Samurai
17. A Knight's Tale
18. Dragonheart (sean conner as the dragon, this was eragon way before eragon was ever written and then made into a movie, lol) // this is fantasy, not historical, lol, but still good and it is “historical-like”
19. Highlander // this is fantasy, not historical, lol, but still good and it is “historical-like”
20. Gods of Egypt // egyptian mythology
21. Apocalypto
22. Pocahontas (disney animated movie)
23. Mulan (disney animated movie)
24. Aladdin (disney animated movie)
25. Robin Hood (disney animated movie with animal characters)
26. First Knight (1995) // (sean connery)
27. Sparticus (1960)
28. Ben-Hur (1959)
29. Pathfinder (2007) // but it’s really not very good: about vikings that came to america, with its conflict/plot of: vikings vs native americans
30. The Mask of Zorro (1998) (and its sequel: The Legend of Zorro, 2005) (and there's the older/original TV series too, and maybe even some older/original movies too, probably, lol)
there's some others as well, like '10,000 BC' movie and that more recent one (edit, looked it up, movie name: Alpha) about the origin of the creation of "dogs", when man and wolf, joined forces in early human history (ice age, far before 10,000 BC, lol)
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tv films:
(not ranked, just listed)
1. Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula, this IS actually a true historical documentary of the historical Vlad the Impaler, it's really good, too
2. Dark Kingdom: Ring of the Nibelungs (seigfried and brunhilde saga, grins Kirstanna Loken is such a sexy and badass brunhilde, grins)
3. Helen of Troy (has sexy sienna guillory, resident evil 2 movie jill valentine fame, naked, grins, one of the most powerful scenes and lessons of all time, Helen literally usurps all power and the very "crown" away from the greek king, all his time and effort making allies and alliances, loyal military/soldiers, and etc, with just her naked body alone, grins, ya, she was taught well by her "abductor" in the art of politics, grins, really good movie too)
This is loosely based on Samurai William a true event, look it up it's fascinating. Also for hundreds of years Japan was closed off to foreigners. Their emperor was treated like a god. A Shogun would have many Samurai working under him, only the Samurai carried weapons and could kill peasants as they saw fit for any perceived offence. The code of Bushido was very strict and so was the hierarchy. Samurai would quite often challenge each other to Duels. If a Shogun was killed or Samurai failed in some respects most would kill themselves in the manner you saw in the film, called Seppuku. If not they would become Rónin which means masterless samurai. Probably the most famous Samurai and arguably the best swordsman ever was Miyamoto Musashi - you should look him up he had an insane life, and wrote a book still used in boardrooms today called The Book Of Five Rings.
I just want it to be clear cause I've seen a lot of people/reactors get it wrong...
First: Samurai is Plural in the title. These are the last of the Samurai.
Second: Individually, Katsumoto, not Nathan, was "The Last Samurai". His death, his sacrifice, was the last lesson he leaves behind for Nathan, the Emperor, and Japan. Death before Dishonor. The Way of the Samurai. Bushido.
Say it louder for tiktok brainrot generation at the back.
well, Omura is a hatamoto samurai of the mori clan of the choshu domain.
@@jarlnils435 Two different people. The man you're talking about, Masujiro Omura specialized in warfare and Western medicine. The Omura portrayed in this movie is fictional, and is not a warrior or medical expert in any regard. He's a businessman, specializing in railroads. Whereas Masujiro Omura actually received formal Western military training and education, the Omura in the movie knows nothing of war, which is why he hired Western soldiers to train the Imperial Army.
@@KenpoKid77 point to you
you can argue Algren is still _the last samurai,_ since as of Katsumoto's death, Algren is the last one to hold true to the samurai code.
honorary samurai, if you will...
Katsumoto: The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend a lifetime looking for one, and it wouldn’t be a wasted life
His last words: Perfect. They are **all** perfect
I'm glad you commented this and they saw it. Was sad to see the meaning of that scene go over their heads in the moment.
Blossom is a stand-in for a life one lives.. in their own way, every life is perfect.
The perfect explanation of the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, nothing is perfect, but being imperfect is unique, and the uniqueness is perfection.
No blossom, both individual flowers and the experience each year and location of blossoms flowering and falling, is the same, which makes every experience of blossoms perfect.
Nathan wanted to die at the beginning of the story. That's why he tells that soldier to shoot him, and why he doesn't flinch with the sword at his neck. He's not being badass, he just doesn't care about living. Don't confuse the two
Facts, who wouldn't want to die if they participated in one of the most infamous ethnic cleansings and genocides of all time
One thing could explain the other. One could say him not caring about living made him lose his fear of death, which in turn made him such a formidable warrior.
That which is dead may never die.
@@KenpoKid77 - Yes, but "badass" implies bravery and bravery is doing something despite being afraid, so once he lost his fear of death, he also lost his bravery. He regained it later in the movie because he obtained something to live for again. It's not brave (or badass) for someone who doesn't fear spiders to walk into a room full of spiders but it WOULD be brave (and possibly badass) for an arachnophobic to do so.
@@KenpoKid77 that is exactly how samurai fight, they fight under the assumption that they will die in every battle, therefore they have no fear of death. nathan is simply suicidal at the start of the film, but after he gets sober and lives with katsumoto he finds purpose and his reason to live. that is why katsumoto says "you have found your honor again", because even though their final charge was suicidal it was not for personal reasons.
Really fun movie fact: Hiroyuki Sanada (Ujio) and Tom Cruise (Nathan) during Nathan's capture scene when Ujio first confronts him as "Swine" and swings his sword at Nathan's neck was authentic. What makes this very scary and thrilling is that the stunt was requested by Tom Cruise to be performed with a real Katana by Hiroyuki Sanada as if "It would be the real thing". Hiroyuki Sanada is a masterful martial artist, and swordsman and stressed that even with his skill that this is a life threatening stunt to perform. However Tom convinced the production crew and Hiroyuki Sanada to have him swing a katana at his neck. Hiroyuki Sanada when he swung and stopped the sword came so close to Tom's neck that it ACTUALLY drew blood, all at the same time TOM CRUISE DID NOT FLINCH. The acting and skill from both parties cannot be diminished, and every time I watch that scene I am in awe that 1) Tom didn't natural flinch or react to the swing, and 2) Hiroyuki Sanada perfect timing with a full swing and stop of a Katana at Tom's neck to give us such an authentic scene.
I will forever treasure this movie as my introduction to Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada
Likewise especially with Hiroyuki Sanada loved all of his movies
i can't >wait< for Shogun to come out... Sanada plays a major role in it.
@@gilgamesh9x It's kinda interesting, that in the Shogun Sanada plays a role of the guy, who has created the same political system which is being crumbling in the Last Samurai.
As a kid I wasn't into samurais or anything. I was much more into Rome, Egypt, and Greece. I saw this movie when it came out, at around 14 years old. I started to learn about the country of Japan after seeing it and now I live and work in Japan. It's not a stretch to say this movie set me on my path and changed my life.
Respect!!
Thank you for coming
I hope you enjoy and learn many things from here by one of the Japanese
14:15 - I'm sure someone's already told you, but this is _sepuku_ - a man disgraced is allowed to kill himself (via ritual disembowelment) in order to recover his dignity from his shame in defeat. Katsumoto beheading him is to _also_ preserve the man's dignity, so that he does not die crying out. Honor between opponents. The act is considered mutually honorable.
In sepuku it isn't an enemy who beheads the person who is to die, it is a friend or family member who is tasked with beheading the man to preserve their dignity
@@bloodforthebloodgod That's a good detail I didn't know, it's good to know because it seems that general Hasegawa and Katsumoto were friends and why he chose not to fight him. So that makes more sense
@@bloodforthebloodgod Katsumoto takes the place of friend, as Hasegawa has no other friends present who are samurai.
@shoyupacket5572 that's literally what I said in my comment
@@bloodforthebloodgod Worth noting as well, you're not actually supposed to fully decapitate someone when assisting in seppuku. The seppuku in this movie is actually quite sloppy in terms of realism - Katsumoto screams before delivering the kaishaku cut, which would both draw attention to himself (a big no-no for the kaishakunin - the person assisting in the ritual - as it's not your show) and also startle the heck out of Hasegawa, and he cleaves Hasegawa's head clean off his shoulders, which causes his head to bounce off and go rolling away, spilling blood everywhere - kind of defeats the purpose of the ritual, which is supposed to be a solemn, dignified death, not an execution.
The kaishakunin is supposed to give a fairly shallow cut - just enough to sever the spinal column, which is what actually causes the death. You want to leave enough of the front of the neck remaining so that the head stays attached to the body and minimizes the mess.
There's also one other slightly inaccurate detail, which is that an enemy general would probably not be given a knife to perform seppuku with (since using that knife to try and take as many people down with you as you can would be seen as just as honourable a death as one by seppuku) - instead a proxy, like a fan, would be used and the kaishakunin would make his cut as soon as the prisoner reached for it. That one's somewhat more forgivable, as Katsumoto and Hasegawa apparently knew each other and had fought alongside each other previously, so Katsumoto may have trusted him enough to not need the facsimile.
"I will tell u how he lived"
I tear up everytime
Same.
And PS. the samurai who was having conflict with Algren was named UJIO, played by one of the greatest actors in Japan, Hiroyuki Sanada.
he's who I thought they were gonna pick for Firelord Ozai in the new netflix avatar show. I'd be happy to see him as Piandao too.
@@t3hi84n2g
He is in the new Shogun TV series.
@@TazorNissen good show up until the last episode IMO.
Great movie. The soldiers weren’t cowards, nor where the samurai. They both fought for what they believed in and both saw their brothers in arms die. The only cowards were the weasel leaders that hid behind the soldiers.
This is one of my all time favourite films and I personally think one of Tom's best performances. You will absolutely adore this and need it on the shelf!!!
Same here
+
" Perfect", is not about death but about life. When Ken Watanbe speaks about cherry blossom its about having fullfilled and meaningful life. So when he dies he sees a perfect blossom,meaning his life was meaningful and he lived and died by samurai code
Well, not "a" perfect blossom, but realizing that "they're all perfect"
And when he told Nathan "you could spend your life searching for the perfect blossom and it would not be a wasted life" he now realizes they're all perfect. There is no flaws, the flaws are what makes something beautiful.
@@russellward4624 EXACTLY! I never understood how people missed that reference at the end.
Nathan (Tom Cruise) didn't flinch not because he didn't fear death, but because he wanted to die.
He seemed to want to die, but even so -- if he wanted to die, that would have been _why_ he didn't fear death. :) So, it is still true that he didn't flinch because he didn't fear death.
One thing that most people seem to miss is the different ways of honor and acting honorable. Katsumoto is intrigued by Nathan when they first meet because instead of admitting his defeat, Nathan keeps fighting on and on, while still obviously being a very skilled warrior. Katsumoto then decides he needs to learn about his new enemy because of this, because they obviously subscribe to different values.
The fight with wooden swords in the rain vs. Ujio further demonstrates this. Nathan keeps getting up over and over, but Ujio is expecting him to admit his defeat.
In the end, they end up respecting each other and understanding each others different ways of honor. "You have your honor again (because you fought and didn't give up), let me die with mine".
Some people also say that this movie falls into the "white saviour" trope, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Nathan doesn't save the samurai, they save him.
When I first heard about this moving coming out in the theater a friend of mine said you have to see it. When I asked why he said, "I cried tears of man joy." I did not understand until I watched it for myself, and he was totally right. Such a beautiful movie.
Thats not KFC man. Thats the legendary Billy Connolly.
King Dain Ironfoot in the Hobbit movies!
And he still died with the secret recipe to the chicken 🍗
The big 'un!
I think you mean "The Big Yin"@@roban28
He's Da (The Duke) from The Boondock Saints.
My favorite interaction is at the end when the Emperor asks Algren, “Tell me how he died” and then Algren responds with “I will tell you how he lived”. Those two lines of dialogue, in my opinion, might be some of the best in all of cinema.
This movie is flat out beautiful. It's sad as hell, but boy does it hit deep. This has an amazing cast and some terrific acting. I think this is Tom Cruise's best overall acting role. It just stands out and he really does seem like someone who can't escape his past and the guilt from it. That's why the end, when Katsumoto tells him he regained his honor, hits so deep. And also the cinematography in this is flat out GORGEOUS as well. The shots of the landscape, the ability to capture the battle and watch it move so seamlessly...this movie is amazing.
26:16 .... that battle cry has always given me chills! I remember renting the dvd, yup that's what I typed, and then buying a new dvd when I finished watching it. This became an instant favorite.
Love Ken Watanbe and the other Japanese actors in this- they maintain the dignity and gravitas I expect from a real Samurai (having never met one...)
Samurai weren't paragons of dignity. They were just warriors. Also, they loved the hell out of guns, used them constantly.
i think the nintendo and mitsubishi families are samurai.
There are actually a lot of famous samurai clans still alive today of course their not samurai now but it’s still interesting
@@gabagool_and_psychiatry4856 Nintendo is not a Samurai Clan, it is a video game company.
Let's say to what the average westerner thinks a real Samurai would be, reality is a lot less flattering to the Samurai.
47:55, they aren't just bowing for the dying Samurai. They are bowing because a noble time in their culture is ending in front of them.
The reason for cutting off the head is simple to keep one's honor after defeat one must disenbowl one's self but If one screams out honor is lost so out of respect to a defeat enemy and to see insure they don't lose honor by screaming out the head comes off and they can't scream so their honor is intact in the afterlife.
The guy "Mr KFC" is Billy Connolly. Outstanding Scottish Comedian; i recommend you check out some of his stand up; he has a very wicked sense of humor..think Ricky Gervais.
Hes well known for his yelling and screaming passionately about everything which is why he would have been cast in that role. Also been in quite a few movies. He was the cousin of the dwarf king in the hobbit riding the goat. His movie The Man Who Sued God is quite a good light hearted movie as well
Don't forget still crazy!
also the dad in Boondock saints
This is a beautiful film. This is the movie that made me a Tom Cruise fan. Both he and Ken Watanabe give excellent performances. Hiroyuki Sanada also gives a fantastic performance as well. Beautiful score and cinematography. Just a perfect film.
For me, The Last Samurai goes right up there alongside The Shawshank Redemption as one of the best films of all time.
The sword fighting in this movie was reviewed by a few Japanese kendo experts who had not seen the movie, and while they were polite about Tom Cruise's skill, Hiroyuki Sanada, the actor playing the samurai who spends half the movie smacking Tom around, was praised for his skill.
Apparently, he's really good.
He's good for a trained actor who's also a martial artist. Tom Cruise has no such background so in comparison he obviously stinks. At the end of the day it's just a movie.
Thank you for stating the obvious.
@@Whiskey0880 How else are they going to be the first to tell everyone the trivia page they read?
Sanada is 100% pure certified badass. He fuckin killed it in this movie, and he's been great in everything he's ever been in ever since.
48:17 Samurai can be singular or plural, so my interpretation has always been that the movie is referring to the last group of Samurai, not Tom Cruise in particular.
I always figured it was both
@@AjZ530 It could be. It's up to interpretation. But the only thing I'm fairly positive of is that it doesn't refer to just Tom Cruise. It could be all of them up to and including Tom Cruise, or it could be just Katsumoto.
So glad nobody spoiled the reference to Spartans in this movie. This film is sooo you
I am glad you touched on what i usually comment in reactions to this movie. How good was handled story with Taka. How subtle was showing of them having feelings for each other.
Seen this film a hundred times and here I am crying again. Truly one of the greatest. And the soundtrack is just beautiful. Thanks for the great reaction guys!
Katsumoto is the titular "last Samurai".
Samurai is also plural. It could also mean the end of the Samurai culture. It's neat that the title has multiple meanings.
@ToeTag1968 Yeah, that's true. It could also be talking about the community as a whole. Either way, it's definitely not referring to Tom Cruise's character.
There's something to be said - a pretty big something - about solo movies - they have to tell the entire story in that movie, and there's no room for leaving things out.
Excellent film. This is right up your guys' alley, you will both love this one. Writing, acting, filming, everything is top notch.
“Why do I have a feeling this will break me?” Because it breaks us all. This movie is an example of storytelling at its very finest. The writing, music, acting are all at the pinnacle of their game. It is the only time I’ve been in a full movie theater, that everyone left in silence other than the subtle sounds of sadness. Absolutely beautiful!
While the Last Samurai is cool, it does have quite a few historical inaccuracies that make it seem like the Samurai were just good or whatnot. After all, the merchant class until relatively the new modernized era of the industrial revolution were pretty low. The Samurai at the time felt threatened by the changing of their status from landowners and warlords to people that now all of a sudden are getting erased by the new power of the merchant class which is represented with Omura here. Mind you the samurai by no means were always the honorable and seemingly benevolent social class at the time just like how not all medieval knights were honorable either.
I thought somone named Spartan would have definitely seen this classic. Was so hyped to see this suggestion pop up. Time to get some snacks and watch!
The only movie that would surprise me if they hadn't seen it would be 300.
Its hilarious acting as if his spartan "cosplay" was an actually in the "real" history of Thermopylae. So stunning and brave
14:20 it is called "harakiri" the japanese used to believe that the spirit resided in the guts, therefore, if a samurai lost in a way that they couldnt repair (for example, a samurai can loose a battle, as long as he win the war, but in this specific scenario, since his entire army was whiped, it was clear that he lost the war) the samurai will cut his own gut to set his spirit free, than, someone else will cut of his head to aliviate the pain.
this is also why after the battle was over, the samurai would walk on the field, piercing every dead boddy on the gut, to set the spirit of the dead free
If you enjoyed “The Last Samurai,” you might appreciate “The Twilight Samurai” (2002), set around the same time and starring Hiroyuki Sanada, who also portrayed Ujio in “The Last Samurai” - the man initially in conflict with Tom Cruise but later becoming his trainer and friend. In “The Twilight Samurai,” Sanada takes on the role of Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai who returns home every evening to care for his mother, suffering from dementia, and his young daughter. While not as action-packed as “The Last Samurai,” it offers a well-scripted introspective drama depicting the last days of the samurai before the Meiji Restoration.
For whatever reason, I can never remember his first name, but as soon as I read "Sanada" I could picture an actor and was thinking "Is that that one guy who's in everything and always puts on a stellar performance?"
So I googled it... YEP! That's exactly who I was picturing ❤
the guy( Hiroyuki Sanada) that played your favorite character(Ujio) also played Scorpion in the new Mortal Kombat movie. He's a legendary actor in Japanese cinema.
The ritual beheading of the general you saw in the beginning is called Seppuku / Harakiri , a common practice among defeated samurai.
Actually, Japanese people don't say Harakiri. Only foreigners.
This is a top-ten movie for me. I don't care that parts of it are historically inaccurate. It has all the things I love, including a bittersweet and cathartic ending that gives you a good cry.
Great reaction to a great movie. One of my favorite characters too is Katsumoto's right-hand man played by Hyrioku Sanada who is also in these films: 47 Ronin; Avengers Endgame; Rush Hour III; and Bullet Train. In each one, he plays a samurai-sword-wielding character. Thanks again for this reaction!
He has a martial arts background, so it looks so convincing because he’s not acting. He’s showcasing a true skill of his.
“The way of the samurai is no longer necessary”. “What could be more necessary?” 💯🔥🤙🏽
47:45 "They are all perfect."
He found an ending to his poem.
My gf recently broke things off, it's been horrible the past few days nothing but pain, sadness, and regret... your guys reaction to this but in general have helped, thank you guys!
This is one of my moms favourite movies, i remember her watching it all the time when i was young and never understood why but once i watched it as a grown man i understand the true depth of this movie, i cry every single time i watch it such a good movie! Doing whatever you can to help those you've come to love, the honor and respect, being at peace... This movie hits deep
I recommend Hacksaw Ridge, another phenomenal movie that grabs your heart.
we are sorry to hear that, sending to strength 💪🏼 from the both of us! we are glad we can take your mind off things for a bit.
yeah the meaning and themes in this movie are excellent, can definitely see why it's an iconic movie
@SpartanandPudgey I appreciate that a lot guys, thanks again! It's been very tough the past few days but I keep pushing every day.
Fantastic movie, another good samurai type movie is 47 Ronin, not many people react to it on YT but it's somewhat of a fantasy take but it's a movie with similar themes to this one (trying not to spoil) Keanu reeves is in it too
This movie has always helped me through my toughest moments in life. Every time life gets hard I put this on.
@@SpartanandPudgey you should react 2012
@@SpartanandPudgey BOB only protected Katsumoto & Nathan Algren
I've watched this movie more than 30 times, believe it or not!... I know every line, every piece of the story, and if this movie hasn't moved you, surely you're not Human!
Band of brothers! Best mini series of all time
The Pacific is arguably better though
@@The1506daniel Arguably it's not
no it's not come on now@@The1506daniel
@@The1506danielnot at all, BoB is far superior
@@The1506daniel first time I've heard someone say this.
The Last Samurai is my all-time favorite and made a huge impact in my life. Life in every breath stuck with me. This movie taught me to live life and not fear death.
“Mindless” is actually the state of zen to do anything, how top gymnasts, musicians and martial artists perform their trades.
That’s why Bruce Lee said “Don’t think--feel.”
This is one of my favourite Tom Cruise films. Everyone in it was amazing in their roles and the film itself is beautifully shot and scored. Thanks for the fantastic reaction guys. Loved it.
I HIGHLY recommend you guys read Myke Cole's book The Bronze Lie. This whole idea of spartans as some super disciplined, self-reliant and brutal warrior culture is cartoonish and not in line with their real history. It has more to do with propaganda that the greeks put out to motivate their people to fight harder and to try and scare their enemies, propaganda that ended up becoming myths that people believe today and try to shape their lives and worldviews around.
31:55 I know this is a very serious scene, but the way Australians say the word no "nough" will always be funny to me.
Yeah, there's like 43 more syllables in it, lmao
_OARUE NOARUEUGH 😭_
KFC man is Billy Connolly, considered to be one of the greatest comedians ever. Google his early stuff for a real treat.
16:44 HANS ZIMMERMAN CAN'T MISS!! His music tells a whole story by itself.
This couldn't have been better timed - I'm home sick and desperate for a distraction, and here you guys are, reacting one of my favourite films! (For me at least it's one of those 'comfort movies' that you can watch again and again.)
I saw this film when it came out and instead of Lord of the Rings, this is a movie I watched 10 times in theaters. It's such a beautiful moving film with great action and sequences.
One of my all times favourite. I've lost count of how many times I've watched it and it always manages to break me. Masterpiece
Mr KFC is Billy Connolly - he is very much worth watching --> "The Man Who Sued God" strongly recommended :D
another great movie: "Dogma" with Ben Affleck and Matt Daemon
thx for choosing "The Last Samurai" one of my TOP 5 favorite movies
I love that u guys are doing proper movies! I recommend ”Master & Commander” with Russel Crowe!
Also fun fact, in real life te Samurai used guns ALOT!! the real life general during the rebellion only stopped using them cuz his men ran out of ammo 😂
Damn spell correct "Akira Kurosawa" the director of the Seven Samurai. Also the real story of the 47 Robin has been done numerous times. Best one is called Cushingura which was made in 1941 and has since been colorized.
Kurosawa is so great
It just won't let you type Ronin, hahahahaha.
the character of tom cruise is inspired by a character who really existed. he was a French captain named Jules Brunet who fought alongside the Tokugawa shogun in the 19th century
Though only a small part of this movie, it furthers the misunderstanding about the Battle of Thermopylae along the the movie "300". The originally force that arrived at the pass was 7,000 strong and the Greeks were aware of the path through mountains. The had but a force of 300 Thebans there to guard it and give warning of an attempt to flank them. The Persians were inform not some deformed Spartan but by Theban farmer who didn't want their lands ravaged by the Persian army. Also, the pass was eventually left unguarded as the Thebans, fearing an attack on a nearby village in their territory, moved off the mountain without telling the forces in the pass. The battle lasted 7 days with only 3 days of actual combat. Once the Greeks realized they were going to be flanked, Leonidas dismissed the rest of the troops. However, 700 Thespians remained to support them. Because the action of this rear guard force, the other Greek forces were able to escape though all of the rear guard was killed. There was also a complimentary naval battle at a narrows near by where an outnumber Greek navy held off the Persian navy. This action supported the land action since the Persians couldn't easily resupply their forces nor were they able to flank the Greek army via the sea.
The reason Ujio is pissed at Nathan when he fights with the boy, is because the wodden sword (bokken) hes using. The bokken replaces the real sword (in training) and you are ment to handle it with great respect. He doesnt grant Nathan the "honor" to wear a (symbolic) sword.
I would imagine if a peasant picked one up they might actually been killed or at least receive corporal punishment of some type as only Samurai were allowed swords.
This is a detail a lot of people miss if you aren't familiar with Japanese culture. Only samurai could use or wear swords in their society.
A really good movie, as long as you don't mistake it for history. The Meiji Restoration began in 1868, in America, we had JUST gone through the most destructive war in our history to date, our Civil War. Needless to say, we played only an extremely minor role in what was happening in Japan at the time.
Man, i was excited for a second, i thought the thumbnail said "The Last Kingdom".
Great film with spectacular battle scenes , great characters and beautiful scenery 😊
Watanabe is monumental il this movie, outstanding performance.
One of my all-time favourites. So beautiful.
Also the ritual suicide of Seppuku is: Samurai carry two blades. The Katana for fighting, and the Wakizashi for Seppuku. To make a noise or cry out during this ritual is to bring dishonor to yourself. That is why an opponent or friend may act as a Samurai's "Second", and decapitate them after the initial disembowelment. To keep the Samurai from dishonoring himself. Female Samurai are the same, but they get to slit their throats instead of their belly.
its actually kind of an open end, is not literally Nathan come back to the village, he was dying for the battle wounds, he barely made it to see the emperor. The last scene is more like his “friend” want it to end Nathan history
Well done! The best Last Samurai reaction video I've ever seen. This epic film is my favorite samurai movie of all time, so saying yours is the best is not a flippant or shallow statement. Bravo.
Tne one thing I think you might have missed is a very important life lesson, which is why I'd like to suggest that you consider it. When Katsumoto dies and says "They're all perfect," he was referring to the cherry blossoms. Remember earlier he'd said that "You could search your entire life for the perfect cherry blossom and it would not be a wasted life." Well, at the end of his own life he realized and understood, as we all should, that every blossom is perfect because it was made by the Creator.
Anyway, first time I've seen you guys or your channel. Liked and subscribed. I also think you guys make a very cool and cute couple. Much love and respect from a simple but warrior-spirited middle-aged man, deep in the ❤ of Texas. Peace
wow that's high praise! we're really glad you enjoyed the reaction! the movie was awesome, may the warrior spirit stay strong within you!
welcome to our community 🥳💪🏼
A new FX miniseries called Shogun will launch this February, I think you would love it. It's based on a great book by James Clavell and its story is similar to The Last Samurai, sort of. It's a retelling of the real life story of William Adams, an English navigator who was the first Brit to reach Japan in 1600 and his involvement in the politics of the Japanese warlords vying for power. And Hiroyuki Sanada, the samurai that you called 'a beast' and 'a legend' during this reaction, plays one of the main parts in this miniseries.
I read the book decades ago and also saw the earlier mini series which was good as I remember but it's been so long I barely remember it anymore so it will be great to see the new miniseries.
The original shogun mini series is a classic. Watch before the more anglicised feb version.
@@NZ20c I don't know why you would assume the new series is the more anglicized version. There are more Japanese people involved in this new series than in the older one, both on the acting side and in the production, and given the current climate of cultural sensitivity, I would bet my life that it will be a much fairer representation of 17th century Japanese society.
Pudgey (One Minute In The Movie) “Looks Like The Guy From KFC” 😂😂😂 Had Me Rolling
This is one of my all time favorite movies. The ending gets me every time. Such a powerful film. Glad you got to experience it!
When he say “Perfect, they are all perfect” he’s not talking about his death. He’s finishing his haiku that earlier in the movie he started.
“The perfect blossom is a rare thing
You can spend your life looking for one, and it would be a wasted life
Perfect, they are all perfect “
42:49 is one of my all-time goosebump moments when I saw this in theaters. When he rolled up with that music I was cheering 😂 My favorite character in the movie by far.
14:21 - That’s called Seppuku, or self-disembowlment. It’s a ritualistic way of ending things, typically done by samurai or those of higher class as a way of atonement before death. They stab themselves in the stomach and cut deep across, and if they don’t make a sound during it, their head is swiftly (respectfully) removed to end their pain.
I love History Buffs' summary: "Years of training with the sword and bow, cast aside for the efficiency of mass-produced weapons", and "choosing to go out on their own terms, rather than fade from the pages of history; to die with honor, rather than live without purpose..."
I figured you guys would still be working on Breaking Bad. If you want samurai films, try some of the real Japanese films. Ones made by Anita Kurosawa films, or The Shoguns Assassin. One of my favorites is called After the Rain. It's about a master swordsman Robin looking for a clan worthy of his skills. He's very humorous and humble but seems to manage to piss people off because of it.
I can relate to this, story of my life - Jaime Lannister.
If you liked this you should watch "Master and Commander" amazing movie.
The imperial army bowing wasn't about feeling bad for what they did, it was about showing respect to an enemy who gave it their all. And it was used as a "passing of the torch" moment for Japan becoming a modern nation while still honoring their past.
The samurai in the blue armor is Hiroyuki Sanada, a very well-known and award-winning actor in Japan. And Katsumoto was played by Ken Watanabe, who was in "Batman Begins" and "Inception" among other films.
Totally wasted in Batman Begins. though I liked that movie.
NO WAY you're reacting to one of my favorite movies ever!!!! Please do more polls on TH-cam too :) going to grab some potato chips for this one!
The beginning where he threatens to kill the man if he doesn't shoot him, I've always enjoyed that it wasn't just proving a point that they weren't ready. That was the main point. But the moment where the man missed was genuine sorrow that he didn't die. He doesn't fear death, but sometimes, he longs for it. It was another moment he should have died and did not.
26:23 I can't believe I've missed that until now but I believe that "roar" was "kachidoki" ("victory cry").
Nathan was a cavalry officer so yes he did have a sword. The officers usually had a pistol and a sword as their main weapons because at the time most officers didn't join in on the cavalry charges in battle.
Many people including myself at first watch was confused about the counting system of the betting guys during Algren's sparring. They are counting how many offensive moves the individual makes, so blocking the opponents attack only counts as "their" move.
25:00
Well, because they ARE ninjas ;D
or shinobi, as they were mostly called, and this is probably their most accurate depiction in cinema.
While they didn't dress in black all the time, their clothing and disguises did depend on the mission, environment, and time of day.
The industrialization of war destroyed the warrior, turned warriors into parts of an machine instead of heroes. One of the lessons of this movie. The indirect artillery fire, the machine gun, the dropped bomb, the drone.
Interesting historical fact: Custer had 4 gatling guns as part of his cavalry train, but moved ahead of them for the final battle as they were bulky and moved by horse wagon. Gatling guns at the time, as seen in this movie, were used as defensive units attached to the artillery instead of offensive as they would eventually become.
This movie is beautiful... Absolutely beautiful... Ken Watanabe's acting absolute brilliance and Cruise's acting is just amazing
Worked as an extra on this movie. It was made in my region of Taranaki, Specifically New Plymouth. We had to sign a document saying we were not allowed to make eye contact with him. If you look carefully at the training ground scene at Pukekura Park, you can see the State Insurance Building in the back..lol.
The actor that plays the minister also plays the bad guy in Fearless (staring Jet Li). Another gem of a movie. Recommend to react.
I find the parallel of what Nathan and the Omura (Snake politician) represent in this movie truly powerful. Omura and his greedy colleagues were perfecting the western way of politics and capitalism. Nathan was learning and understanding the Japanese way of honour and devotion. The emperor in the end chose Nathan who learned and adapted the Bushido way of life and rejected the self serving nature of Omura and the foreign way. His choice can therefore be interpreted to him selecting Katsumoto and the old way of Japanese/Samurai life.
The way I've always interpreted the soldiers bowing after Katsumoto dies, is that they know the samurai fought honorably and died with honour. It was the end of the ways of the samurai, because other parts of the world had developed technology past bows & arrows and swords, so if the Japanese retained the samurai way and they were invaded by a foreign power with firearms and canons, the Japanese would be destroyed. They basically HAD to modernize but many of the soldiers (and the emperor) also finally realised with the death of Katsumoto and his men, that it didn't have to come at the expense of everything they stood for as a culture and everything about their old ways. Such as honour.
Hate to break some people's perceptions here but there has never been such a thing as honor on the battlefield. You're not thinking of honor but the survival of yourself and your own. Any movie or tale that says otherwise is only trying to make us better than what we are in our worst moments.
Please react to "Quigley Down Under". It's about an American cowboy who goes to Australia for work, but goes against his employer. According to Wikipedia, it was shot in Victoria, Australia.
The one inaccuracy in this film (among others) is that Samurai in Japan had been using guns for over 200 years and were very successful at using tactics based around gun warfare.