2003 Film List - Page 15

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Seth Paxton · 12-06-2003, 10:23 PM

The Last Samurai
7 of 10
If you ever wanted to understand the difference between an Oscar level film and a routine formula action flick posing as one just sit down and watch Dances With Wolves and then The Last Samurai. This is not a knock on TLS for being LIKE DWW in terms of premise. It just so happens that the similarity clearly shows how something can be done well or done clumsily. Samurai is clumsy formula at its worst, wasting an Oscar-level premise on an empty script that fails to follow any of its deeper paths to greatness.

While I knocked Gladiator as being non-Oscar caliber (and I still do), it certainly was much more worth of that praise than this film.

TLS constantly falls back on the very worst in direction and script cliches, for example two DIFFERENT inner monologues (just who's telling us this story anyway?) are used in some bastardization between DWW and Road Warrior, yet so sparingly that it fails to be established as a consistent convention (just think about the reporting/telegraphy station gimmick at the end of Gangs of New York for "not established).

I also didn't appreciate the use of flashbacks to explain why this already established broken, drunken warrior would be crying out for saki. I guess the director thinks none of us would get it.

The only way I can explain some of the better reviews this film is getting is that you can make up for a lot in the last act and that is one of the film's greatest strengths...very well staged battle sequences. There is nothing like seeing hundreds, maybe thousands, of real extras well choreographed. The final battle did have some staging that is reminiscent of Kurosawa (at least half a point came strictly for that alone)...but the comparisons end there.

Not a bad film but definitely a letdown as an Oscar contender. Nowhere near the same league as the film from a similar genre, Master and Commander.

Edwin Pereyra · 12-06-2003, 11:10 PM

It appears that you and I are on the same page with The Last Samurai, Seth, although I did not find the manipulation as blatant as in The Patriot. Speaking of false moments, how about the sudden visions of tree blossoms as katsumoto was about to... you know what.

Quote:

Nowhere near the same league as the film from a similar genre, Master and Commander.

Not even close.

~Edwin

Dana Fillhart · 12-06-2003, 11:36 PM

Ok, in case anybody caught my gaffe, I've fixed the really egregious error in my datbase: I've fixed the title of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (from [/b]The Far Side of the Road[/b])...

I've heard of the phrase "It's a small world" before, but I sure as hell didn't mean it so literally!

Arman · 12-07-2003, 12:04 AM

Edwin Pereyra · 12-07-2003, 09:37 AM

Arman, my ratings may not reflect it but currently there are about 25 or so films that separate Master and Commander (M&C) vs The Last Samurai (TLS). That's what I meant when I said "Not even close". For me, not all films are the same even though they might get the same rating.

M&C is at the top of my 3 1/2 star ratings while TLS is close to the bottom of my 3 1/4 rating.

For me, TLS is one of the hardest films to rate. There is so much to like about it but at the same time, there is so much not to like about it. That's why it is better to rely on someone's worded review rather than just the simple star rating. Who knows, I might downgrade it even more the more I think about it.

I'm glad that you enjoyed it though.

~Edwin

Stevan Lay · 12-07-2003, 10:29 AM

Some interesting responses to The Last Samuri I'm reading here. I'm just wondering now on what should be read into that 'advance screening' effort by Warner Brothers.

Arman · 12-07-2003, 11:03 AM

Edwin Pereyra · 12-07-2003, 11:24 AM

Arman, if you are still questioning whether I enjoyed TLS while at the same time saying that you know what I meant, then I think you are contradicting yourself.

I enjoyed TLS more so for its technical aspects. I am able to recognize a film's strengths while at the same time comfortable talking about its many faults. To me, that is honest critiquing.

~Edwin

Arman · 12-07-2003, 11:30 AM

Edwin Pereyra · 12-07-2003, 01:59 PM

I was reviewing my rating for last year’s Gangs of New York in which I also gave that film 3¼ stars. I would put Samurai and Gangs along the same lines – technically beautiful and at times, wonderfully acted but very uneven in its story, intent and plotting.

At least, I’m consistent with my ratings. For a moment there, I thought I was being inconsistent.

~Edwin