Change Your Image
TMifune1961
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
The Last Samurai (2003)
A Beautiful Tale Of Redemption and Inner-peace
"The Last Samurai" is often criticized as another "white man goes into a different culture, identifies himself with their beliefs, and changes his view and outlook upon them only to join with their cause." Like "Dances With Wolves" for example. It's been disgustingly reviewed, on this board too, as another ripoff of just such a film. This film is beloved by people (Especially Japanese) and if any College Professor calls this film as another example of "Orientalism" or "White-Man's Burden" they are dead wrong and need to do some research or have their PHD removed. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is a man haunted by the actions he took by killing a Native American tribe by the orders of Colonel Bagley (Tony Goldwyn) and drowns himself in alcohol to numb the inner pain he feels. He's hired to train Japanese soldiers during Japan's Meji Period. He's captured during the soldiers first battle with the samurai and brought to their village. After the hell of alcohol withdrawal he endures, he slowly begins a friendship with Katsamoto (Ken Watanabe) who, through the samurai code of Bushido, accepts begins to forgive himself and find a new reason for living. Through the experiences he encounters with the village people he begins a transition and while he doesn't immediately realize it, is being mentored by the people, especially Katsamoto himself. He begins to realize what these so called "primitive savages" are fighting to uphold: the code of the Samurai itself. What I find interesting is that both Algriens and Katsamoto's values rub off one another. This is why Algrein chooses to associate himself with the samurai and Katsamoto's cause. "We've become nothing but a country of whores, selling ourselves to the highest bidder" is what Katsamoto says during the film. The bottom line is this: don't let the cover image of Tom Cruise or whatever opinion you have of him, dissuade you from seeing this tale of redemption and inner-peace.
Batman (1989)
The Triumph Of BATMAN 1989
This film captures the essence of the original Bill Finger/Bob Kane interpretation of the character, brought into a modern time that addresses the practicality of the real issue of dealing with criminals like the Nicholson Joker. In order for Batman to be successful he must maintain a ruthlessness and intelligence that the Christopher Nolan Batman does not have. Besides, a great man once said, "A good movie should be easy to understand and fun to watch". That man is Akira Kurosawa. The reason this is both the greatest Batman film and the essential Batman film is that it speaks for itself. Part of the marketing for the film was just the Bat symbol and the Bat symbol alone. But I digress. In conclusion, this film (From it's Music, Production Design, and Direction) is Exceptional, won Academy Awards, and leaves you feeling great after seeing it. It's a Batman film of its time but it's also the greatest Batman film of all time.