Review of The Last Samurai (2003) by Vanessa W — 20 Nov 2012

I know quite a bit about this time period in Japanese history. It's not that it's extremely historically incorrect, it's just that I'm used to actual Japanese shows/movies about this time period that aren't so...I don't know, idealized? I mean, it's a movie, so I understand, but it's too unrealistic to me.

I also don't like how the white man is like everyone's savior. Tell me how every actual Japanese samurai with some kind of honor is killed off, but this guy makes through? I highly doubt everyone would be so accepting of this random white man. To be honest, it is because of the white man that the samurai are having to fight for their honor and way of life in the first place.

For someone who knows a lot of this period of Japanese history and the mindset of the samurai, it's so idealized in the favor of the white man that it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.