Critical Review of “The Last Samurai”

Films and Cultural Heritage

Films have been widely used to collect, preserve, and inform people of their cultural heritage. However, some film makers either omit, add, or neglect other crucial elements of the actual historical event, resulting in a tainted history. Some directors go so far as to embellish a decent story in order to show off their ingenuity and creations. The Last Samurai has been pointed out as a notable example of a film whose goal may have been to highlight and preserve a particular moment in the actual historical progression of events in Japanese history. The movie has gotten a lot of reviews, some of which have been critical while others have defended the director. This article undertakes a close critical review of “The Last Samurai” in close contrast with the true documented Japanese historical account thus trying to outline the authenticity of the film in contrast with Japanese history.

The Story and Characters

The movie features Tom Cruise who plays the role of Captain Nathan Algren, Civil War protagonist whose successive involvement in the military drives against the Indians had left him afflicted with nightmares and great sorrow. He is an alcoholic and is brought to Japan at the request of the spiritless emperor by Colonel Bagley. Japan leadership is portrayed as being ready to receive the western kind of life after several years of self- seclusion supported by the conservatives of the Japanese culture. Captain Nathan Algren is employed to train fighters who are intended to quell and suppress uprising from the samurai whose allegiance to the emperor spells doom to the modernization agenda of the country. He later finds himself fighting tribal rebels who develops an attraction towards their spirituality. He is captured by the fighters of the feared Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), converts to adopt the ways of the samurai fighter, Bushido and ends up fighting on their side (Dower & Rogers, 1986). Algren adopts new life, stops drinking, recollects and later becomes a master swordsman as he develops fighting skills to receive Yoda-like knowledge from Katsumoto (Duke, 2009).

Inaccuracies and Misleading Information

Close regards for the true history of Japan rejects some of the outlines from the movie. There are countable factual inaccuracies and a group of misleading erroneousness that may deliver untrue information to the viewers (Turnbull, 2012). While in the film, the insurgence led by Katsumoto was based on preserving a traditional kind of life, for instance, the use of the traditional Japanese weaponry, the true cause of The Satsuma Rebellion was ignited by Samurai who resisted a set of new laws formulated in1870s that occasioned the loss of high esteem and wealth for Samurai. The fighters in both sides used western military technology such as firearms as opposed to the scenes displayed in the movie.

Katsumoto’s Relationship with the Meiji Emperor

Another inauthentic case regards the Katsumoto’s connection with the Meiji Emperor. The film indicates that Katsumoto was the teacher to Meiji Emperor a case that is strongly wrong from historical Japanese last samurai, Saigo Takamori. Saigo Takamori did not have very high allegiance as Ken Watanabe displays his loyalty to the emperor as indicated in the movie. The true historical account states that Takamori was amongst the people who undertook installation of the Meiji as the Emperor thus Takamori did not regard Meiji with fear of near demi-god. The movie also depicts Samurai as blindly loyal to the authorities which is untrue (Duke, 2009).

Conclusion

In conclusion, I feel that recreation of the film’s storyline changes the truth, well known and accepted Japanese account of the last samurai. With changes in many segments and recreation of the story, it is unimaginable that many viewers will accept the film account as the true Japanese historical account which is not fair history lovers. I think movie directors should endeavor to expose true historical account to avoid the clash. Employment of fiction and creativity is equally good.

References

Duke, B. C. (2009). The history of modern Japanese education: Constructing the national school system,1872-1890. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press.

Dower, J. W., & Rogers D. Spotswood Collection. (1986). Japanese history & culture from ancient to modern times: Seven basic bibliographies. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Turnbull, S. R. (2012). Samurai: The Japanese warrior’s (unofficial) manual. New York: Thames & Hudson.