However for all the ridicule we heaped upon it, I wasn't ruling out the possibility, however faint, that it might actually be good, and I felt more strongly that it might be popular, if not epic.  It's the sort of movie that Malaya and I kept saying, "You know, if that starred anyone but Tom Cruise, we'd be so much more willing to give it a shot."  He's just so smirky and mono-emotional, and he just plays Tom Cruise in different costumes in every movie.  Plus the Scientology thing turns us off as well.  Even besides that, I can't see us ever forgetting that it's Tom "pearly whites" Cruise and getting into the movie completely, especially in a period piece film like this one. His smirking and intense little frowns work fine for something like Mission Impossible or that forgettable sci fi one he made with Spielberg, but for a movie that requires actual acting, especially one that's not modern day, we just can't suspend our disbelief.

The funny thing about The Last Samurai is that while it's positively reviewed overall (68% overall positive), it's far less liked by major critics (59% positive), and when they don't like it, it's almost entirely due to Cruise. In fact, I can't ever remember seeing so many reviews that are so totally about the person acting in the movie, rather than the film itself.  I didn't see one really bad review; they're all like 2.5/4 stars, while it takes 3/4 to be a recommend, so no one seems to hate it; they just don't think it's good. A few quotes:

Newsday:

Contra Costa Times:

NY Daily News:

Despite the fact that I mostly agree with these critics, I think they're pretty much full of shit. Especially the Newsday guy.

You'll note that I said I agree with them, and I think Malaya would also, but I think the vast majority of movie viewers, people who don't think about religion or philosophy or look any deeper into their celebs than pretty photos in People, could care less about Tommy's cult or divorce or gay rumors, and they like to see him in flashy movies where he smirks a lot.  They don't care about the things we dislike him for.  The average person likes movie stars and big celebrities who are pretty; and whether or not they've actually got any talent is pretty much beside the point, though that's more true of music than movies. And Cruise is a big star, and he pretty much guarantees a big hit movie of the $100m variety.  Christ, Vanilla Sky made $100m and the movie and its promotion was one big incoherent mess.

Despite this, The Last Samurai didn't open very well. It made $24m opening weekend, which isn't bad until you consider that's been beaten this year by quality films such as Daddy Day Care, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Scary Movie 3, Daredevil, and so on.  Hell, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World opened bigger and it had about the most unwieldy movie title ever, had an even less commercial setting, and was even longer.

Most Samurai predictions were for about $32m, and I'd say it fell short because people like me who would like the movie can't stomach Tommy in it, and the people who stand in line to see him in the latest slick thriller aren't interested in this sort of period piece.  I also think The Last Samurai is opening at a bad time, with Master and Commander sucking up adults who want an epic before it, and the audience black hole that is Return of the King coming up two weeks later.

I hadn't given any serious consideration to seeing Samurai, though if it had gotten raving reviews I might have wanted to.  The odd thing is that I love the subject matter; the concept of old samurai resisting modernization and fighting back with their swords and spears and horses is right up my alley.  I love sword fighting and my favorite Anime movies are always set in mythological Japan. Go go Ninja Scroll! It's just that the Hollywoodization of Samurai, with the white man/savoir cast in to rescue the savages while learning from them, is such a cliché that it ruins the movie for me. Especially when it's the ultimate Hollywoodized white man savoir type, in the person of Tom Cruise.

I'm still not planning on seeing it myself, despite the fact that Malaya and I both love sword fighting and martial arts and Japanese mythology, but if any of the rest of you are interested in it, or swayed by one viewer's testimony, go for it.  And I'd like to hear your thoughts, if you've seen the film.

December 11, 2003

Two comments from readers who saw and liked The Last Samurai.

O.k., so you've got some valid points but let's just get over our little uber-cynical thing you've got going on. It did have rather good fighting scenes, which I thought enhanced the movie quite a bit, and it also had a rather good story. You said you were turned off by the cliche story hence Dances with Samurai. And while that has some validity, I thought that it worked quite well. Anyways, I doubt this does much to warm you to it, esp. since you are such a cynical bastard, but I for one thought that it was excellent, even with all of Cruise's problems. (He played a mostly drunk, nightmare plagued, and hardened West vet. pretty well)

--Greg

And a longer review from Jacob, from which I've removed most of the plot summary, since it would be spoilery for those of you who haven't already read a dozen reviews of the movie, like I have.

A group of friends and myself went to see The Last Samurai opening night. We were not expecting it to be as good as it was. I too, from the previews, was expecting something as to what you wrote that you were expecting. However, I was not prepared for what I saw. It is truly epic. I usually do not like Tom Cruise, but he worked in this role. It did not seem to me to be a typical “white man goes out to educate savages and learns from them” film, as we quickly find out that the Samurai way of life is presented in a far more civilized and honorable way than the Western culture. 

[snip]

I know that, on the surface the film does not sound like much, but the film is difficult to explain, as much of the film is calm and subtle in its storytelling, developing Cruise’s character as a captive as he comes to understand the new culture he finds himself in. There is also a small love story, which is vastly underplayed, thankfully, and thus hits on just the right note.

In the end, I found this film on a scale of Braveheart or Gladiator, but with less violence and blood, and more story and character development. Everyone I went to the film with also immensely enjoyed it as well.

[sip]

That all being said, this may not be a movie for everyone, but it is definitely worth seeing sometime, if not in theatre, on video or DVD.

Thanks for reading,

Jacob