The Last Samurai

mr_burninator

Yeah i know it's not another 'Is Bonsai Art' debate, but i was wondering if anyone has seen the movie "The Last Samurai." I thought it was a pretty good movie and especially liked the symbolism of the cherry blossoms. Let me know what you guys thought about the comparisons of eastern and western culture, the emphasis on honor, or whatever else struck you interesting. Just remember that when you back up your comments (both positive and negative hopefully) use spoiler warnings if necessary for those who haven't seen the movie. Looking forward to some good movie reviews.

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Master-S.T-

I Thought the movie was wonderful and the whole thing on the Cherry Blossem was Wonderfull...
You can spend your Entire life searching for a perfect cherry blossem, and you would not have lived a life without meaning.
Somthign along the lines of that i think lol...maby someone can help... but the movie is wonderful and the whole meaning is great ... One of the best movies sence Crouching Tiger-and then blood of the dragon...and so on and so on.
But the whole eastern Meets western thing...I truely enjoy and apreciate ...
Others might not...But the Eastern Culture has so much Indepth about it ..and has So much history ..that is just So enjoyable to read an dhear about...Then considering ours...and might be abit boring to others...
But at the end we are all searching for that one thing...and when we find it ...or fail...we will not have lived a life poorely.

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RonMartin(deceased)

Saw the movie and didn't like it. Saw no symbolism. Half way through the movie saw the insides of my eyelids.
Did see it all the second time around though. Wife made me because I spent the money to rent it ;o(
Won't do that again

Master-S.T-

well if i dont need to worry abotu any Spoilers i will Give you ron the Whole Symble For the point of the movie. That all...And i think if you understood it and knew it you woudl have more respect for it i beilve.

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W3rdSmyth

Studied Judo, Jujitsu, Shinkendo, Iajutsu and Kendo for 15 years. Spent 10 years studying Buddhism and Daoism. Am about two and a half years into bonsai.

Saw the movie.

Liked the movie.

Bought the movie.

Watched the movie 10 more times.

Several flaws, historical and cultural inaccuracies, but far fewer than there could have been. All in all I felt the movie was very well done.

FredL

Mr. B, I rarely watch a movie more than once, but I saw this one three times and will probably see it again. I thought it was the best movie I've seen in the last 8 or 10 years and it affected me profoundly. Seeing it changed the way I see my own family history enormously, giving me insight that I'd never had before on the effect of destroying a people's culture, the effect of culture on art (particularly bonsai) and the significance of the differences in mentalities of tribal peoples and modern, individualistic Westerners. It gave me a sympathy for tribal people that I never had before. Before I saw this movie, I felt pretty much like the American Indians should understand the old ways are dead and it's time to "get over it". Now I understand that it's not that easy to "get over it" and that my own family heritage affected me and my life a hell of alot more than I ever understood in the past. Including, I imagine, why my several visits to Japan had such an impact on me. As well as Bonsai, probably.

After seeing this movie, I came to see Bonsai rather differently and understood, as I hadn't in the past, why there are those in Japan who belive that no Westerner can ever really "get" bonsai. I think that's an extreme viewpoint, but I do undersand now why there are those who hold it.

Fred

RonMartin(deceased)

First off I don't think I understand what you are trying to say. Maybe it is just your spelling. Not sure. Could be my limited abilities.
But let me say this. Everyone should be able to get what ever they want from this movie. You are entitled to your opinion on it. Hopefully so am I.
I thought it was another in a long line of bombs by the same artist. But then that is only me. Maybe you saw something that I did not.
All I saw was a bunch of Hollywood and not a lot of reality.
But I do bet that a lot of people will latch onto it. They did after all rave about the Karate Kid. Or art least the trees in the movie. Pity they were all silk trees. Just movie props.
Bet I get called out on this one but I do have the definitive answer. )

Will_Heath

I'm not sure what you were attempting to say here. I took it as saying that you were unable to find a style that suited your taste. I know people who have been in one style for 20 years and more, they are just now starting to learn and none of them are movie critics.

The movie was entertainment, and just average entertainment in my personal opinion, it showed no more about the martial arts than the Karate Kid did about bonsai, pale shadows of reality.

I watched it once and I see no reason to see it again. But that's just my humble uneducated opinion, for what it's worth.

jo schmoo

i loved the movie. eastern culture is so fascinating to me. the life of the samurai is one of the best kind of people i can think of. i mean the honor of these people, for me, is beyond words. i mean when you get your enemy to bow down to you is great. i know that a lot less lives are lost in modern day warfare but the honor in killing a human being is gone. i think we should revert back to this kind of warfare because you should be able to at least be close to an enemy to bring the honor back. i agree that the symbolism was huge.

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