Review of The Last Samurai (2003) by Dave H — 10 Dec 2010

Dances with Sushi. Beautifully crafted, incredibly earnest (even by usual Zwick or Cruiser standards). Another metaphor for the moral crimes linked to imperialistic globalisation, like Costner's earlier epic this attributes nobility and honour to traditional cultures and greed and bloodlust to capitalist ones.

Simplified but valid, and historically inaccurate yet rich with verisimilitude in design. Some of the action is silly (the tidal waves of ninjas brings to mind Enter the Dragon), and Zwick's not confident enough to film much of it in wide-shots, but they still resonate, aided by some slow-mo stuff and a typically great Zimmerframe score.

Whole cast fine, but Connolly and Spall are the standouts - as usual. Too long, too unsubtle (and for my tastes a tad too earnest) but the cliched fish-outta-water humour works well, the NZ scenery is stunning and this is an epic, worthy film.