The Last Samurai (R, 2003)

common sense media says

Outstanding action and performance; lots of blood.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has extreme and graphic violence with many grisy wounds and a lot of blood. Many characters are killed, including some we have come to care about. Parents should especially be aware of the way that this movie portrays the traditional samurai notion of suicide as an honorable choice in the event of a defeat. The movie also includes some strong language, alcohol abuse, smoking, and sexual references. One of the movie's strengths is its respect for the Japanese culture and its portrayal of strong and respectful relationships between people of different races and cultures.

Violence: Intense battle violence, graphic injuries, characters killed, suicide Nightmare material.
Sex: Sexual references.
Language: Strong 19th century language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Character abuses alcohol, smoking.

More on The Last Samurai

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what it means to say that "A man does what he can until his destiny is revealed."

What's the story?

What's the story?
THE LAST SAMURAI centers on Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a Civil War veteran irredeemably corrupted by wartime atrocities and devoid of honor. When he is offered a job to train Japanese soldiers in modern fighting techniques, he does not care whose side he will be on. He is still haunted by a raid that killed civilian Indians. Algren goes to work training soldiers in modern tactics so that they can defeat a samurai rebellion led by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe). Against his best judgment, the troops are sent in against the samurai too soon. They are defeated, and Algren is captured. Algren learns that the samurai believe that they, not the troops Algren has been training, are doing what the emperor needs. He's impressed and ultimately moved by them. Algren -- or at least the man he once was -- has more in common with the samurais' life of "service, discipline, and compassion" than he has with any of his peers. The samurai have all the honor and self-respect that Algren left behind when he followed orders he despised. Algren is trained by the samurai in the ancient arts, which include not just fighting but living.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The Last Samurai has some outstanding action scenes and memorable performances, but its greatest strength is its scope. Director/co-author Edward Zwick imbues every part of the screen with respect, even majesty. The epic reach of the movie is grounded in committed and thoughtful performances, especially Watanabe and Koyuki as Taka, his sister. Cruise delivers his usual performance, sincere and loaded with movie star charisma. His mastery of the samurai fighting techniques is impressive.

However, the movie's greatest weakness is that while we know that Algren's commanding officer is a bad guy, the emperor is a weak guy advised by a greedy guy, and Katsumoto is a good guy, we never understand the substance of the conflict well enough to take sides. One side may be corrupt, but it is grappling with the inevitable in engaging with modernity. The other side may have honor and dignity, but in embracing its own extinction it seems to have forgotten how to do anything but fight, no matter what the consequences to its community. And the last 20 minutes or so are disappointingly formulaic, undercutting the power of everything that went before.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Edward Zwick
Cast: Ken Watanabe, Masato Harada, Tom Cruise
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 154 minutes
Theatrical release: December 4, 2003
DVD release: May 4, 2004
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong violence and battle sequences

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

campcott4
kid, 13 years old
 
the best samurai flick ever!
Awesome Japanese warrior adventure movie set in Civil war times with Tom Cruise portraying a Northern civil war hero who is dragged into a Japanese war of attiquite goverment, and ancient war skills.

jammy145
kid, 11 years old
 
PURE GENIOUS
BRILLIANT PURE BRILLIANT i love this film all though its violent i dont care its brilliant and appropriat for kids but maybe a liitle less gore next time but still brillIANT.

lordmax
teen, 17 years old
 
Great for anyone who likes this time period
This is, i think, the best movie dealing with samurai i have ever seen. The music and cam work are great (dosent linger on large wounds) and the story is fasanating. Also, it is a perfect 13+ action flick. High body count with lots of kick-a charaters. great for older teens

sweetie1025
teen, 16 years old
 
Great for everyone!
If your kids have problems with violence and aren't desensitized like most people then this movie is not for them. But if they are like me, they will love it! There is just decapitation and blood spurting, nothing too bad or really graphic. This movie is great, when my dad and I watched it, he cried at the end. Really great!

NickD531
teen, 16 years old
 
Good, But Not Great.
This film is good and it is entertainng, but it didn't amaze me. It has a rather slow start, and then get's very violent towards the end. While this film is R rated, I think most teenagers will be able to handle it. But it houldn't be shown to pre-teens due to its violent content, which is bloody, but isn't very graphic, limited to blood flying in battle etc.

memmer66
teen, 18 years old
 
A Must See!
This movie has good values in it. Yet it's extremely violent (don't recommend for kids under 10). It is such a good movie -- it is a 10, "A MUST SEE!"

BlueDragonMaster98
teen, 18 years old
 
Strong and good, but it could be better
It's a good movie for action fans and the story is good. Mixed messages occur when a business man wants to wipe out the Samurai, and a strong Samurai leader who wants to protect the ancient ways and arts of Japan. Algren is a drinking soldier who hates killing innocent Native Americans (not that good of a role model at first, but he at least has a reason). Decide for yourself but this does give a small insight in the way of the Samurai (Bushido, pronounced as Boo-she-doe), and it does incorporate martial arts and focusing your mind, but not extensively.

Tarquin
kid, 10 years old
 
OK Iff your fine with blood and gore
Its an amazing story, about an drunk American captain who drinks to forget about the way he slaughtered the innocent native Indians. He travels to Japan to conquer the samurai when he gets captured and he is let free in winter until he convinces the leader to escape. He becomes a samurai. There nineteenth century language and gore splat. In the beginning.

BeenieLad
kid, 9 years old
 

bubbo
adult
 
An excellent epic film. Good for older families who don't mind intense battle violence and a bit of blood.

 
Tom Cruise's best work!
The Last Samurai contained everything I love about Japan. Most importanly, honor. From the hari-kiri (suicide) to the refusal to backdown against a staggering army, the movie depicts the last honorable military profession: the samurai.

 
Much better than I expected froma Tom Cruise movie
Good acting, good feel to the movie, and just very good overall. There wasn't much of a problem except for the violence near the end of the movie. The formula seemed to follow that the violence increased as the movie progressed, so it wasn't too bad until near the end of the movie. There was a good amount of blood, but nothing like what was in "Shindler's List" or "saving Private Ryan". Overall, it was much better than I expected.

Termiteruler
teen, 14 years old
 
Breathtaking
This movie is amazing. I've seen many movies of the same type, but I'm going to get content out of the way before I keep going. The violence is not terrible, you see flashing decapitation at a distance and much swordfighting, but it's nothing that will freak you out. If you saw Troy or Kingdom of Heaven, this is about the same or tamer. There's little else to worry about in my opinion. Some alcohol, but no issue. The content is not terrible. The movie follows an American officer who is a veteran of America's anti-Indian campaign to Japan in the late 19th century, where the Emperor has recently abolished Bushido and decided to industrialize. He needs a nation to train his military, and the US doesn't shy away from a power opportunity. The officer is sent to Japan and then begins to train the Imperial Army. After the first battle, however, the poorly trained troops are crushed by the Samurai, but the American's brave fighting allows him to be captured. Eventually he ends up taking arms up with the Samurai and fights with them until the end. The movie was made with Japanese involvement, and it is amazing. The movie has so many morals and points about morality to your enemies, respect, and honor. This is a true movie about a warrior's honor. Everything is well directed and choreographed, and the last battle was so emotional for me I was in tears at the end. The message was so overwhelming for me. You'll know you've seen it right and taken the message to heart if you just emotionally break down. If you want to teach your kids or yourself nobility, do not skip over this one. It will touch you.

Plague
parent
 
The Last Samurai
My favorite Tom Cruise movie of all time. Great acting, plot, and intense battle scenes.

 
Awesome movie, not overly violent, some blood "Sprays" from enemies and allies wounds, two guys get decapitated, nothing graphic.

CelticBoy
teen, 15 years old
 
awesome
this movie is awesome and everyone should see it

 
a good movie...
i didnt see this right when it came out...i saw it way later when i bought it under the good report from a friend...despite tom cruise, who does a good job, its a GREAT movie!!! i really like it, except for the swearing which i can always do without. but one thing, NO SEX SCENES!!! YAY! action/battle movies usually do, like Braveheart and etc. and i always turn them off if its starts and that ruins the movie. this had like...one kiss i think and thats it. very emotional and a new twist with japanese warriors which isnt seen that much...i love it when there is good old fashioned fighting with swords, the REAL thing! dont recommend it for kids, but its one of those great stories that shows something worth fighting for, even dying for. a must see!!!

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