The Last Samurai(2003)

What is Communication?

Communication means to receive, give or exchange information or messages, which actually serve the purpose of creating connection between people or places. The message starts from a sender or an encoder and at the other end is a receiver or decoder. The encoder and decoder can be a living creature talking, or the sending and receiving of data by machines. People communicate using words, sign language, body language, dances and arts. Animals do use body language too, as well as sound and smell to communicate with one another.

What is Intercultural Communication?

Intercultural communication takes place when individuals influenced by different cultural communities negotiate shared meanings in interaction. What counts as intercultural communication depends in part on what one considers a culture, and the definition of culture itself is quite contestable. Some authorities limit the term “intercultural communication” to refer only to communication among individuals from different nationalities. Other authorities, in contrast, expand the notion of intercultural communication to encompass inter-ethnic, inter-religious, and even inter-regional communication, as well as communication among individuals of different sexual orientations. In this sense, all interactions can be arrayed along some continuum of “interculturalness.” Interactions are most highly intercultural when individuals’ group identities are most salient in determining the values, prejudices, language, nonverbal behaviors, and relational styles upon which those individuals draw. To the degree that interactants are drawing more on personal or idiosyncratic values, personality traits, and experiences, the interaction can be characterized as more interpersonal than intercultural. When individuals from different cultural backgrounds become more intimate, their interactions typically move along the continuum from more intercultural to more interpersonal, though intercultural elements may always play a role. For casual or business communication, sensitivity to intercultural factors is the key to success.

The Last Samurai(2003) movie reviews

Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is haunted by dreams of how he was ordered to massacres Indian women and children in General Custer's army. Algren agrees to go to Japan to train the Emperor's newly formed army to use guns. For six months work, he will receive three years pay. The new army is to put down a rebellion against the Emperor's Westernization policies. The rebellion is led by a Samurai warrior named Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) who follows ancient teaching and a traditional way of life.

Nathan Algren

The army is not ready for battle; they cannot even hit the target when firing their rifles, but Omura orders them into battle anyway. They march against Katsumoto, whom they outnumber four to one. The army has guns, while the samurai fight only with swords and arrows. Because the Japanese officers are not ready to lead, Algren stays at the front with the men. The samurai approach on horseback, the inexperienced army panics and fires to soon. While they are reloading their rifles, they are overrun. Algren fights in hand to hand combat, making a valiant stand against four samuai. His tenacity causes Katsumoto to spare his life and take him prisoner. The samurai return to the mountain village for the winter.

Katsumoto

Algren is weak, but is place in the home of the warrior he killed and is nursed to health by the warrior's widow, Taka. He makes daily walks around the village and begins conversation with Katsumoto, who speaks English and wished to learn about his new enemy.

Taka

Algren begins to admire the discipline of the samurai. He practices swordplay with the children at first, then gradually begins working out with the warriors. He learns to speak Japanese and gradually becomes more and more comfortable with the small village ways. One evening, soldiers sneak into the village. Their intent is clearly to kill Katsumoto. Algren grabs Taka and the children and takes them into the house and prepared to defend their lives. He and Katsumoto end up fighting side by side. The enemy soldiers are defeated, but Katsumoto knows that he must go to the city and appeal directly to the emperor to stop the contract with the Westerners.

Algren learns to play sword

Algren says good bye to the villagers and they ride into Tokyo. Algren is released and reluctantly rejoins his army leaders. Katsumoto goes to see the Emperor, but is a showdown with the Emperor and his council, he is rebuffed and put under arrest. Algren knows that Katsumoto will surely take his own life and calls on his photographer friend to gain entrance into the prison. Once inside, he gives a sword to Katsumoto and convinces him to escape. Katsumoto's son, Nobutada, is killed heroically defending his father's escape.

Omura sends two battalions into the hills to do battle with the samurai. This time Nathan Algren will fight beside Katumoto and his men. And this time, they will be outnumbered by four to one and will face new cannons and a rapid-fire gun. Algren suits up in the armor of Taka's deceased husband, which she says will honor the family.

The first charge in battle of samurais against western soldiers

The samurai have a chance to surrender, but they decline. Their strategy is to draw the enemy in close to counteract the effectiveness of the cannons. In the first round of battle, they are successful in driving the Emperor's army back. But they know that Omura will send for reinforcements and that the battle is not over. So they charge again, this time facing the rapid-fire gun. They are not able to overcome the machinery and are massacred. Katsumoto is hit and Algren holds him and helps him to take his own life so that Katsumoto dies with honor. The enemy soldiers are so touched by his valor that they kneel and remove their hats to honor the last great samurai.

As the Emperor is ready to sign the contract, Algren asks to see him. He presents the sword of Katsumoto and tells the Emperor of his life and last wishes. The Emperor is finally empowered by the story to speak his mind and put Omura in his place. The movie ends with the tale of the American captain living a quiet life in the mountains with Taka and the children he learned to love.

The Last Samurai Movie Gives Lessons of Ancient Culture

For whatever reason, which prompted the enthusiasm, the movie-going public is roaring for martial arts-ninja-samurai-style action. Maybe the Matrix kicked it all off, or even Karate Kid, but no matter the start, we, the audience, still love it. The Last Samurai gives us those fight scenes we’re craving for while, at the same time, does some justice to these ancient Eastern arts. This is one of the trumped up movies that actually fulfills the expectations.

The Last Samurai focuses on a battle-worn captain in the late 1800’s American military, Nathan Algren, (Tom Cruise) hired by the Japanese to help convert the Japanese military into a modern, western-type army. His first enemy to face is the Japanese, past ancient defenders, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) and his samurai warriors. While Nathan’s tactic is to learn his enemies strategies, he never expected to learn firsthand, when he became the prisoner of the enemy. A man tortured by the ghosts of his past, he finds mental salvation in the hands of his captors while his training has previously been to destroy them.

With the flood of modernization as the only path to victory in the age of imperialism, the simplicity, stark beauty and calm serenity of the isolated Japanese islands invade your mind like a shock of cold water. The misty mountains, Japanese gardens, bamboo huts and quiet temples slow down the fast urgency of progression. Starting the film in the go-go-go bustling America and moving towards this beauty in Japan helps the audience to understand how the land has an effect on Nathan.

One of the strongest points the movie makes is to show the value of not being in such a hurry, being able to appreciate something that’s been done right for hundreds of years. The young emperor feels that his only option is to jump on the train of progression, while he does not see that he is destroying its past. Is it always the best choice to take the path of technology and modernization? In the case of The Last Samurai, it comes down to a difference of opinion. While the new world ways might seem to hold all the answers for some, it also destroys the lives of others.

While seeing Tom Cruise for the lead in a samurai movie might first seem laughable, I have to give the acting some credit. A bitter man is given the task to repeat the past he was ashamed of, only in another country. Cruise plays a character that turns out to be surprisingly open minded; very willing to learn languages, customs and tactics that are foreign to him. Despite his apparent death wish in the beginning, his passion for what he’s doing shines through and makes Nathan Algren an admirable character.

Finally knowing something about the Japanese culture (though not quite an expert, I assure you) this film impressed me that it took time to explain some of the quieter ways of the culture. Ways such as meditation, movements through inner strength, the teaching of honor from a young age and actions that garner their strength from feeling rather than thinking.

While The Last Samurai is impressive, there are a couple downfalls to it. Probably the most apparent is how quickly Nathan becomes an accomplished samurai. It is apparent that he is a skilled fighter and tactician from the beginning of the movie, which can attribute to some of his fighting skill at the end, but I think too big of a leap was made in too short of a time. This is an art developed over a long time, not just a winter season. There is also the final battle scene where Nathan is the last man standing. At least 30 or so other men and horses all fell to the machine guns, he was able to remain standing. I guess that’s the life of a hero.

The movie is suspenseful, full of action, skilled sword fights, martyrs, untouchable love, and men of honor. It is worth seeing for the scenery and fight scenes alone. So while there are a couple hokey scenes, I can’t help but like this film and appreciate the intention to commemorate a culture full of a mystery foreign to this American culture.