Customer Reviews

The Last Samurai (Screenplay and Movie Guide)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book not a technically accurate in some instances, but a good introduction to a culture and civilization which is often unnecessarily portrayed as inscrutible.

Some military misconceptions: bushido is portrayed as a tangible code of rules instead of an ambiguous warrior ethic. They say that the Way of archery (kyudo) was Japan's first martial art and that it existed before the Way of the spear (yarido), which in turn existed before the Way of the sword (kendo), but the Way refers to peaceful applications of deadly arts, which are more accurately (though not universally) referred to as kyujutsu, yarijutsu, and kenjutsu. In another instance, it says, "ashigaru," which means foot soldier, practiced the specialty of "The Way of the Bow and the Horse."

There are excerpts from the screenplay, but they are far from complete and are used basically as side bars to David James's photographs which are stunning. Something that could have truly added to the book is a listing of credits.

On the positive side, the book does a good job of explaining Algren's flashbacks to the Sand Creek massacre, the production of costumes, set, weapons and armor. And of particular note is the training of horses for the film.

Beautiful pictures and insights into the movie, but almost as much, and in some instances, more can be found at its website - www.lastsamurai.com. Don't use this as a reference book. It was designed as a coffee table companion to a movie which Zwick, the director, himself describes as "literary fancy."

Almost forgot! Go see the movie.

Nick Jamilla, author of Shimmering Sword: Samurai, Western, and Star Wars Sword Fighting.

Yes, this is a good movie book. This book helps American people to understand Japanese history, which this movie is based on.
However, I found some mistakes in the Japanese translation. For example, the definition of Ashigaru and Kote are totally wrong. (Ashigaru should be Yabusame, and Kote is glove.)
I am really disappointed about these mistakes, because the movie is excellent and I could feel that all the staff tried to make everything authentic.
But overall, this book helps people to understand the different culture, which even new Japanese generation like me sometimes feel difficult to understand.

This book is filled with magnificent photographs and information of history contained throughout the film, along with behind the scenes info. The book also contains segments of the movie script.
An excellent companion to the outstanding movie.

This movie is incredible. It is film's answer to penicillin. I own (4) copies of this movie and I watch it on (4) different screens simultaneously. Except I'll start them at different points. Then I get to excitedly look ahead at what's going to happen, then look back at what's already happening, then back and forth, etc etc etc. This is how I usually spend my Saturday evenings and most every other day of the week.

Overall, this movie is a 6 out of 5 and that's being modest. By my estimation, the book is probably a 7 out of 6 (nearly as good as the movie). Those who don't agree better recoqnize.

While visiting the magazine section of our local supermarket there on the shelf was THE LAST SAMURAI a book that certainly should be at the very, very top of everyones Christmas list. This 160 page paperback is in full color with outstanding photography from the film and a layout that should win a top book award. It includes the screenplay, behind the scenes articles, the history of the Samurai, and is a real knockout. Order it now. It's the perfect gift for that Samurai on your shopping list!

The Last Samurai was the best movie ever. It is about a white guy who was being hunted by his own police squad in the future and accidentally steps back in time. Where he became captured by these Japanese savages. And he then taught them how to fight with swords. It took Tom Cruise only from fall to spring to master the art of the sword, but it took those silly Japanese people from birth until adulthood to master. He also learned Japanese in the same period of time. Since it took so long for the Japanese "Samurais" (as they called themselves) to learn the way of the sword/warrior. He decided to time travel again and disguised himself as a war hero who went to Japan to teach tactics to the Japanese. Then he tried to convert all the soldiers to scientology but they refused. So he defected and got back w/his Samurai crew to fight the soldiers. Unfortunately, all the samurai's were wiped out. So he went back to the samurai village to boink the samurai's wives/daughters/girlfriends and became the first guy in history to catch Yellow Fever. Eventually he got tired and went back in time to absolve himself of all wrong doings by the use of a bald chick who was a psychic. And him and all the scientologists lived happily ever after. Glory be to Xenu!!!

Plus, I believe Tom Cruise really loved making the movie because he was taller than all the rest of the cast. He has not felt so tall since he made a live action Lucky Charms commercial with all those kids who were after his lucky charms.

There is always a critic about certain movies,but this movie is to much of a masterpiece to be bad mouthing about. I seen this movie twice and to tell you the truth I was amazed again. The picture is this movie is beautiful. Also the way of the Samurai and the japanese culture in addition will leave you in awh. You will walk out of the theater a nem person and you will eventually learn from this movie as I did. All the actors in this movie were faboulus,they all did great. MUST SEE MOVIE FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND YEARS TO COME. I CANT WAIT TO IT COMES OUT ON DVD...

Exactly who is this Colonel Covington?

As a decade-long resident of Colorado and reenactor, I can't believe such a beautiful book as this would seemingly slip as to give a name to a person who never existed.
I am familiar with Col. John M. Chivington, the Butcher of Sand Creek, and his bloody troop. It is hard to NOT know of this fiend who used his faith to justify outright slaughter. Wars need to be fought among soldiers, not towards innocents. Ah, but I digress.

I would have much wished that the folks at Time Inc. had caught this typo before these books were sent to press. It would have made all the difference to preserve the integrity of this book.
At least from a historical perspective.

My view is petty in light of this book's appeal. Forgive my mentioning the point but it is the only thing that marred my looking through it and savoring its images and glimpse into the film.