FILMMAKER MOVIE REACTION!! The Last Samurai (2003) FIRST TIME REACTION!!

Hope you enjoy my filmmaker reaction to The Last Samurai. :D
Full length reactions & Patreon only polls: / jamesvscinema
Original Movie: The Last Samurai (2003)
Ending Song: / charleycoin
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Twitter: / jamesadamsiii
Website: www.senpaishots.com/
*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Probably the most epic soundtrack I've heard in a minute..this was aweosme! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema SPEED RACER REWATCH will be uploaded Thursday! Enjoy the day!

[@moviebliss3893]

I totally agree. One of my favorites to listen to!

[@Soggypanda]

Speed Racer be on that live action anime stuff, I'm just watching Attack on Titan now...

[@ProfessorThursday]

James. Watch RAN (1985). No vote. You owe it to yourself.

[@moose2577]

Hans Zimmer is the fucking man!

[@sababaratashvili8629]

Vagabond is amazing! I loved reading it.

[@Iamanevilpotato]

This is *NOT* a story of some “white savior” interposing himself onto another people. Solving their problems. This *IS* a story of how another culture saved a man from a distant land. How *IT* gave purpose to his pain, and taught him to find peace in the storm within, and beauty in the world without again. Nathan is *NOT* The Last Samurai. At the end of the movie, it is Katsumoto’s story Nathan recounts to the emperor, *NOT* his own. Edited: Nathan (Nathaniel) is the correct name. Daniel was my “this is your brain on drugs” moment for this morning.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Agreed. Race didn’t even play a big part for me while watching this..it was more so the culture and beliefs! Which is what really saves him..rather than them just being a different race.

[@NikstSWE]

Samurai is both singular and plural. So you can interpret the title how you want. How I see it The Last Samurai refers to all of them. As a culture. As in real life and in the movie, the progress of civilization around the world and technology killed the samurai. And this was a story telling that through its characters. An amazing movie. So many great performances, the locations, the sets, the costumes, the SCORE! One of my absolute favorites and definitely my favorite with Tom Cruise!

[@Iamanevilpotato]

@@JamesVSCinema bleh, I blame the weed. Got a little too into my own head this morning.

[@gh0s7sama]

Thank you. He was an observer for the viewers POV. Saying he was a white savior does a disservice to every Asian actor and character in the film. No one needed saving. Such a beautiful film.

[@Iamanevilpotato]

@@aryankaushik93 Legitimately, sincerely, thank you for the correction. See the original post for the edit. Would have gone the whole day through and not even noticed if you hadn’t said something =p

[@ReallyGoodandKind]

“I will tell you how he lived. “ I’m not crying.

[@walking_corpse1513]

I get goosebumps, every time

[@luketimewalker]

"Let me tell you of these days of HIGH ADVENTURE"

[@jp3813]

@@luketimewalker "Between the time when the Water Tribes drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Ba Sing Se, there was an age undreamed of. And unto this, Zuko, destined to wear the jeweled crown of the Fire Lord upon a troubled brow. It is I, his uncle, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you the days of high honor!"

[@luketimewalker]

@@jp3813 noice heheh

[@jasonh289]

Im 40 yr old guy and i cryblike a baby in the end of this movie.. i dont know why this has such an impact on me. No other movie has done this.. and i dont give damn what people think. This movie was a masterpiece

[@littlesth0b0]

That Samurai v Ninja fight, Ujio's yell at the end - CHILLS! Every single time, that scene is relentless. Love it.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Almost made me want to rebel against my mom, that’s how confident I felt in that scene. Thankfully I came to my senses.

[@mercurymachines4311]

Such an incredible film. Everything about it is first class.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Yup!!

[@03scottwarren]

It’s really good but I kinda liked it better when it was called Dances with Wolves.

[@crimson8183]

@@03scottwarren It has its similarities but overall I think it tells a different story.

[@frightenedsoul]

I watched this movie and The Aviator so many damn times in my early 20s.

[@pirateman1144]

@@03scottwarren There's varying degrees of similar. Some are good, some are bad. I'd argue this falls on the good side while say Avatar falls on the bad.

[@tonatiuhnino3711]

I love this movie. Han Zimmer's score is so engaging and amazing and helps the emotional aspect of the movie. A lot of people don't realize how important the music is to a movie which is why I listen to film score a lot.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Music when placed right can be monumental in a films excellence

[@theraimetrain9918]

"Perfect....They are all perfect" Never fails to make me cry

[@gary0044187]

I loved this scene. from the moment the music cut off and left only the percussion of the Gatling Gun all the way through to the end with those men kneeling. So powerful.

[@christopherorozco1021]

This makes me cry every time. It's a callback to traditional respect and honor and I think every decent man will have the same reaction to this movie. Not even Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan makes me cry this much. This was the first movie that made me cry profusely.

[@journeyoftheslave]

I feel you mate.. never cried so hard during 1st time watching it.. or 2nd.. or 3rd..

[@JamesVSCinema]

I feel you chief!

[@mnomadvfx]

It really does irk me that it doesn't have a decent recent bluray release though. It was shot on film so there is no good excuse for it.

[@michaelriddick7116]

Same. When he tells the ashigaru rifleman to fire at him and he misses. Algren is disappointed not that he performed poorly ... but that he missed. When Ujrio swings the katana at his neck, Algren doesnt move an inch but Ujiro stops the blade, only giving him only a slight cut. Or when he goes into withdrawl and hits the DTs. Algren is in so much pain he just wants it to be over with. I think at the end, part of him hoped the Emperor would do just that but by then it wasnt him dying to be out of his misery but dying for a cause. I always have something close by too wipe my eyes. It beautiful in a way thats really hard to explain to someone else who doesnt *GET* it...

[@marcushankins8171]

I will always have to wipe my eyes just a little at "Perfect, they are all perfect." One of the most beautiful films ever made

[@hellowhat890]

12:10 Hiroyuki Sanada is a legendary actor and stuntman. He always brings the epitome of a samurai to every film he's in. He trains and fights with Tom Cruise in this film. He fights Hugh Jackman in The Wolverine. He cameos in Speed Racer. He fights with Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin. He even fights against Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 3. And his appearance in Avengers: Endgame when he got to fight Jeremy Renner. Super awesome to see him whenever he shows up with action.

[@samrevis6214]

I was obsessed with this movie as a wee lad and I’m so happy it’s been back on the reaction docket lately

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahaha I can see the reason for obsession! It’s damn good!

[@samrevis6214]

@@JamesVSCinema another solid colonial film is Glory with Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick, and Cary Elwes. Another movie I was obsessed with. I love love LOVE the channel and your work, keep it up!

[@stephanvoigt7018]

"His laugh could take the water out of the niagara falls" lol that almost made me spit out my drink! Keep up the good work hermano :)

[@JamesVSCinema]

Lmfaooo roasting Tom Cruise 101 😂

[@eldeano9964]

So his laugh almost took your drink too?

[@LuckyNemo03]

I see you’re a fan of dry humor

[@jeffthompson9622]

I'm reminded by this how underused Mr. Watanabe was in Batman Begins.

[@derrickowen8162]

Right??!! Brilliant actor!

[@ryanhalawani2637]

Seriously, just great in everything he's in. He was really phenomenal in Inception. He really adds a lot of humour and heart to the film. Also, hands down the best parts of the recent Godzilla films. I'm just guessing here based on a few comics that I've read but I think his character in Batman Begins was actually meant to be or at least based off of a character called Sensei. In the comics he is the one who typically trains most of the members of the league of assassin's (shadows in the film version). If I'm not mistaken, he even trained Ra's Al-Ghul and was so respected that he too was granted eternal life from the Lazarus pit in the comics. Would've been cool if he had a bigger role. Also, even though he technically should be an Arab, I completely wouldn't mind Ken Watanabe as an alternate take on Ra's Al-Ghul over Liam Neeson.

[@EDTGO1]

Not really underused, as the whole purpose was that of misdirection.

[@iconocast]

nah he was perfect, u expect him to something hes not

[@courtneyvaldez7903]

He gets consistently underutilized by Hollywood. The same for Hiroyuki Sanada. These guys are brilliant actors, but are barely given anything to do in their films here in the States.

[@Boon2Dock]

If I remember correctly this story is based on a French officer who was in Japan and helped some samurai separatists in the war in Hokkaido.

[@Unriven]

Jules Brunet, legendary stories look him up. He survived those battles.

[@nickmitsialis]

Just one of several; Apparently the Meiji Emperor hired people from all over Europe and the US.

[@sababaratashvili8629]

My manliness and testosterone have increased by 50% after watching this movie. Also, I'm Japanese now.

[@Tenchi707]

It's beautiful

[@harrywhittingham7753]

You can't watch a Tom Cruise movie without roasting him at least once.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Lmfaooo

[@kingjellybean9795]

Did you know tom cruise is actually three 8yr olds in a trench coat pretending to be a grown up... that's why the whole "i love katie Holmes" thing happened.. they had no idea how to act so they did the thing kids do when they are pumped lol

[@Bhead69]

Don’t care what anyone says, Tom cruise is a phenomenal actor. In some ways underrated. He should be in the same discussion with the likes of Tom hanks and Daniel day Lewis

[@TheLanceUppercut]

He's become a bit of a meme because of the goofy shit in his personal life, but I've never seen Tom Cruise not give 100% to a performance.

[@Bhead69]

@@TheLanceUppercut 100% and it’s a shame because damn the man can act and he’s always committed like no other actor

[@nissy9220]

It’s only people that regurgitate information from trash news articles. Tom cruise has been an A lister for like 40 years. Will go down as one of the greatest actors ever

[@gregall2178]

I think All The Right Moves was one of his better performances.

[@nissy9220]

@@DoremiFasolatido1979 name one this he has done illegally? No concept of reality? He’s more successful than you. That’s reality

[@davidross3496]

"Perfect. They are all... perfect." 🌸😭

[@davidsumpter4933]

The last blossom scene is so poetic referring to earlier in the film about a life not wasted.

[@ItilayItshay]

I'm a 37 yr old dude and I still cry like a baby every time I watch this movie. The dialogue, the music, the themes, the music, the cinematography, the music, the acting, the music. Did I mention the music? I can't praise this movie enough.

[@lawrencedockery9032]

Yeah the music for this movie is superb. One of Hans Zimmer's best imo. He really had it rolling in the early 2000's: Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Last Samurai, Batman Begins

[@johnv6806]

Lion king and king Arthur too.

[@TwilightsFire]

The village sequence where he narrates it himself always gets to me, especially this line: "From the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue."

[@floriangrogoll5206]

I am sitting here in Germany near Hamburg and have now seen almost all of your reactions (films). It's so much fun because you're one of the few who mention the connection between music, tracking shots, framing, and lighting. I don't care that you react almost exactly as I did when I first watched a movie. It's about that you manage to be informative, emotionally involved and enthusiastic, without appearing unbelievable or cheesy. That just had to be said. You are definitely one of the best movie reactors on KZbin. RESPECT and greetings from Germany.

[@TheFacelessStoryMaker]

I love the scene of Tom Cruise yelling at the soldier to shoot him during training as it mirrors a near-identical scene in the American Civil War film Glory where Matthew Broderick fires his pistol in the air by a soldier to make him fire and reload faster to simulate what a real battle would be like. That would be a fantastic movie to react to.

[@MandoWookie]

If I'm recalling correctly, it's the same director. Also Glory is a great film.

[@phj223]

If you like samurais and medieval Japan I can heartily recommend the miniseries Shogun (1980), starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune. Make sure you do get the miniseries though, they also cut it down to a movie that sadly throws away many of the plotlines. The full series is just over 9 hours, and it's simply fantastic. Chamberlain plays the pilot of a ship, and he and his crew are shipwrecked on Japan in the year 1600. They soon find themselves caught between the nation's most powerful men, and civil war is threatening.

[@JamesVSCinema]

That sounds really interesting!

[@eldeano9964]

You can never go wrong with Toshiro Mifune, check out hell in the Pacific, with Lee Marvin. Which later got remade into enemy mine with Dennis Quaid and Louis Gosset Jr.

[@johnlloyddy7016]

It's based on James Clavell's fictional novel of the same title that in turn is based on the life of Will Adams, an English sailor who, due to his naval expertise became one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's military adviser.

[@phj223]

@@johnlloyddy7016 That's awesome, obviously I have read Clavell's novel (abt 10 times I imagine), and Tai-pan and Noble House too, but I had no idea Blackthorne's character had a real life counterpart. Toranaga and the civil war and so on I kinda had an idea were based on real events, or at least that the basic premise (warlords of Japan struggling for power) was true. Fascinating stuff about Adams though, what a life!

[@takigan]

Shogun is SO good. I also recommend it.

[@CvpArt]

This movie is definitely one of my favorites. It’s such a beautiful story and the acting is top notch! And that Zimmer score is just godlike!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Godlike indeed!!

[@CvpArt]

@@JamesVSCinema 100%! Zimmer is just one of those composers that almost always hits me right in the feels. There’s just something magical about his music that always gets me emotional. 😄

[@blueshell4859]

The ninja ambush is definitely my favorite action scene in the whole film. The samurai victory shout at the end of it always gives me goosebumps. Badass af

[@TheHistoricalMan]

An all time classic! “Ima miss y’all conversations too” I felt that in my bones bruh.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Bruh it cut deep!

[@maartenlempia312]

I think a great movie that has some similar themes to this one is "Hidalgo" featuring Viggo Mortensen. It's based around a true story and is one of my all time favorites. I find a lot of people have never even heard of it though.

[@stevenhernandeznon-profitf968]

It’s a good one!

[@TigerCheer097]

Yes, I love Hidalgo!

[@puebloking8280]

I had that movie as a kid used to love it

[@johnv6806]

Horse movies don't tend to be that big in the states.

[@RedKytten]

A friend of mine made an observation about this movie that I love. It honors the traditions of both American and Japanese action movies... the American character survives everything, and all the Japanese characters are all killed.

[@ForklifterMatt]

My favorite film of all time!! I love this film man, beautiful soundtrack, some of the best performances ever, gorgeous cinematography. Glad you're reacting to it

[@tomdalsin5175]

Dude, your unending sense of appreciation and openness *builds* this community around it. You are the reason that good people come here to stay. Just keep doing what you're doing, and keep picking incredibly good films like this too.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Tom this made my entire day. Just wanted you to know that man 🙏🏽

[@tomdalsin5175]

@@JamesVSCinema I'm just happy to give props when props are due. As for Vagabond, haven't read it, but I read the novel series it's based on (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashi_(novel)), back in my early teenage years. The series changed me and made me into a total egg (yellow yolk). I got big into Taoism and Zen, and Asian warrior culture in general. Even before that, I actually blame my obsession on the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1980s, before the childish pizza eaters; bloody and philosophical) which my brother showed me in grade 3. I've read some classic books (Book of 5 rings, Art of War, and even The Tao of Pooh) and was obsessed until my early 20s. Doubling down, I trained in a HapKiDo school for 14 years and ingratiated myself with the master's family and of course became a total "weeb" with anime and manga. Now my daughter is becoming a weeb, and of course I encourage it. When she was a baby I read her Dragonball manga as bedtime stories XD... now she's 10 and getting into various series.

[@solidshepard7812]

Genuinely one of my all time favourite movies. Story, Cast, Score... all incredible.

[@embran8486]

This one of the few movies that left me in a complete daze walking out of theatre, besides filled with heroic spirit.

[@puebloking8280]

The "I will tell you how he lived" is the most powerful line in the movie and one of the most moving lines i could think of in film gets me everytime.

[@chrismaverick9828]

The measure of a film is how it draws the emotion(s) from the viewer. Whether it be sadness, indignation, laughter, or satisfaction, a film that masterfully can draw emotion from the viewer, especially without their realizing it until the moment, is phenomenal.

[@nickmattio3397]

“SAAAAKKKKEEEEE!!!!!”-Sake Drunk Tom Cruise

[@dblock5one4]

Actually he's sober and screaming for Sake because he would rather be drunk

[@russellcontreras394]

@@dblock5one4 this, they took away his one way of coping with PTSD, not to mention the withdrawal symptoms. To quote Archer "I'm sure the cumulative hangover, would literally kill me"

[@elizabethoboril938]

I start crying at the "I will miss our conversations" line and continue till the credits role.

[@chiefhandker9432]

Actually blackpowder weapons have seen frequently use during the Sengoku Jidai time.

[@mnomadvfx]

Yeah they do play fast and loose in this film as if the Japanese didn't have firearms long before the end of the shogunate. If you watch closely though, there is a point at which the translator mentions that Katsumoto "no longer dishonours himself through the use of firearms", which at the very least implies they had been in use some time and that purer samurai believed them a dishonouable tool of combat.

[@mandalore1089]

The Tokugawa Shogunate did a lot of good things but man did it stagnate their progress as a country. I can only imagine what Japan would have been like if Nobunaga had fully realized his dream of unification.

[@4040bsc]

Yeah, when they were first introduced to Japan, the samurai loved the shit out of firearms, because of how effective they are as weapons.

[@danielsaavedra8520]

Yeah they were no idiots to use those weapons in late XIX century, they would have used the same weapons, samurai armour would have only be wore ceremonialy

[@AnOldYoungGuy]

This is one of my favorite films, and I'm glad you did a reaction to it. When I first saw it, I also wasn't sure what to make of the title. I thought Tom Cruise was being touted as "the last Samurai" (singular), which I thought was a weird, self-serving concept to allow Tom to play some kind of ninja hero, but partway through my first viewing I realized they were referring to the GROUP of them being considered the last Samurai (plural). Great, very rewatchable, epic film. Probably my favorite Tom Cruise film.

[@stephaniethurmer5370]

I hope you so enjoy this. As a former still photographer, the lighting in many of the scenes falls into the classical and epic category. Ujio became my favorite character. Now I need to watch this movie again for I do not know how many times. Thank you for doing this.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Agreed! Great catch and analysis Stephanie!

[@panisajerseyuelronquillo109]

What makes the setting more beautiful is the fact that Nathan Algren didn't felt he was being held captive by another random tribe he was supposed to fight against. He found peace in that place, and came back to protect what he loves.

[@Qdub34]

This score is perfection and Ken Watanabe deserved an Oscar.

[@jillfromatlanta427]

Ken Watanabe received an Oscar nomination for his performance in this film...his FIRST English/American movie. Totally amazing performance...and Cruise had to bring his A Game to scenes they shared.

[@gta2281]

I think one of the reasons this movie and others like it get guys choked up is because the ideals of duty, honor, respect, obligation an purpose resonate with something deep within all of us. I think those ideals came about because some ancient people discovered them within themselves and brought it forth and that inside all of us is that same capacity. It's just that in these modern times those ideals are forgotten, ignored or mocked. So when us modern men see those ideals portrayed and played out it sparks something in us that longs for that sense of purpose and direction.

[@jamalfoster3329]

DUDE NO WAAYYYYY!! This is in my top 10 films of all time, I can’t even begin to tell you how hyped I am that you got to watch it

[@leendo455]

THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR, MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME, THANK YOU JAMES

[@JamesVSCinema]

Haha anytime!!

[@jamesm1]

Another thing that makes this timeless is the effects are practically flawless. LOTS of pinnacle practical effects throughout and they mostly just used CGI to add muzzle blasts here and there, make explosions larger and more detailed, etc... It's super immersive compared to historical epics from a few decades earlier where even the best like Waterloo are dragged down by guys just kind of falling over dead after being shot and very little blood.

[@OldManTim]

One of my favorite movies. On paper it sounds like one of those terrible Hollywood reditions of the white man saving some other race when in reality they end up saving him. Great film.

[@hatsiepatsie]

This movie is a love letter to a culture both gruesome and immensely beautiful. I know it has some Hollywood sauce all over it and it’s “loosely” inspired on French captain but man does it strike a cord. It’s almost a poetic hero song brought to life.

[@Chyll07]

I am convinced this is Tom Cruise's best. This and "The 13th Warrior" have always had a powerful effect on me.

[@Chyll07]

(For cross culture stories.)

[@coachmikesfilmroom3111]

Always loved the story of Beowulf. 13th Warrior is so very good

[@KS-xk2so]

Hans Zimmer is such a stallion, when people list his best stuff, they don't even mention this one, which is of course awesome!

[@hellowhat890]

Edward Zwick is a master at choreographing massive battles and using hundreds of extras for the fight sequences. The costumes and practical effects all look so genuine and real! Amazing that he also directed Glory too!

[@tedg6589]

19:20 I saw this movie in the theaters and the whole audience went "whoah" too. I don't think anyone was expecting a ninja battle in the middle of this movie!

[@trouty42]

Directed by Edward Zwick, same guy that directed Glory (1989). Both are phenomenal films.

[@r2n749]

Thank you for the message of being here for whoever needs it. I'm sure some of us needed that

[@chaost4544]

What I really like about this film is the plausibility of an outsider evolving to what the main protagonist became. The time period this took place is one of the most interesting periods in Japanese history. They went from a very isolated society to a world power within 50-70 years. Though this is fictionalized there's a lot of truths to what Japan was experiencing at the time and it's 100% plausible this scenario could happen. To me, the "outsider helping the locals" trope works extremely well within this film.

[@tonyharrison2112]

Tom Cruises' character was definitely inspired somewhat by the real-life of William Adams an English Sailor that was the first Englishman to set foot in Japan back in the 17th century. He eventually was granted the title of Samurai and given the Japanese name of Miura Anjin. Quite an interesting character and life he led.

[@ds90seph]

Yeah this one hits a particular place in my heart and soul man. The music by Hans Zimmer is impeccable and it yanks on my emotions like a fish on a hook. The stories' focus on honor and sacrifice really makes all of the death that much more palpable and impactful in the end. Truly a beautiful work of art.

[@erakfishfishfish]

This movie has one of the all time greatest bloopers that made the final cut. Before the final battle, Watanabe and Cruise return to the samurai army and dismount their horses. Watch Cruise’s horse. It kicks one of the extras right in the nuts.

[@marinmohan3714]

Love your reaction and this movie!! Some suggestions: Interview with the Vampire 1994 and The Fountain 2006.

[@halfanimatronic1649]

This movie will always remind me of my Dad. The day me and him were suppose to go see this was the day we found out he had cancer. After his passing my cousin and her boyfriend took me to go see it. "Tell me how he died. No i'll tell you how he lived" that quote has remained my favorite ever since.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Damn..thank you for sharing this seriously.

[@halfanimatronic1649]

@@JamesVSCinema Of course. Thank you for all you do and all you are. I love your channel and that you decided to do this film. Stay up! (:

[@darkshadow578]

I've been watching for a while and the fact that you remind your viewers on a regular basis to be good to one another.. I really think such a simple thing goes a long way. You can never mitigate it completely but the comments here are always noticeably more chill and wholesome. I think it's a great practice that more people should incorporate into their intros. Great reactions as always man!

[@JamesVSCinema]

My man, I’m doing the best I can and seeing this really helps motivate me in the right direction. Cheers my man!

[@samlusby4576]

I joined the peace corps a few years ago and lived and worked on a small farm in Ghana. I cant tell you how much I learned through that experience. There is so much to learn from vastly different cultures to your own it really puts life into perspective. Everyone should try to have an experience like that. WHile it was very difficult and hard to adapt sometimes it was an experience I would never take back.

[@JamesVSCinema]

See you definitely get it Sam. Never stop.

[@julienteheme5532]

I think you would enjoy : - the name of the rose - the city of lost children - a very long engagement - Strange Days

[@disturbed360900]

So glad you watched this and liked it. I can honestly say this is one of if not thee most beautiful films of this genre. Also possibly my most favoured film of all time.

[@JamesVSCinema]

I can see why Ashely!

[@skitchthemovieman]

I'm always amazed at people (elsewhere on the internets) that take cheap shots at this film who haven't seen it. Its a genuinely good flick!

[@jorgecalderon8596]

You are not alone when it comes to the soundtracks 😭 one of the main reason I love this movie!!

[@meatmeat5344]

This movie is a damn masterpiece. Say what you will about Tom's personal life.... He was AMAZING in this film. One of the best performances ever

[@paulcurlin2789]

Not only is this an exceptional movie but it uses Billy Connelly's talents very well. Beautifully done.

[@acidrain92]

Vagabond is one of my top 3 GOAT mangas man, and mentioning it made you the GOAT movie reaction/discussion channel! Awesome stuff dude. I hope the author finishes it one day.

[@monfernova]

Vagabond is very emotional, Musashi's journey is something else man

[@miceatah9359]

isnt it written by kentaro miura the creator of berserk?

[@evilalex87]

One of my favorite films of all time

[@JamesVSCinema]

Can’t blame ya!

[@gary0044187]

Hans Zimmer is always so good. I find myself listening to so many of his scores. and you bring up vagabond, hopefully they will finish it, there were rumors they would in 2019. Also, Ken Watanabe, the actor that plays Katsumoto was fighting cancer at this time. I love the idea that he is doing this movie about noble death while essentially fighting for his life. So we have to admit that this was historical fiction. this conflict didn't go like this, but the people that made this movie decided to sacrifice that for a really beautiful plot and movie.

[@Ben_Demon_Hunter]

Truly a hidden gem- such a powerful story/movie

[@jdh112487]

Hey James! Love the channel dude. This movie came out when I was 15 and is largely responsible for sparking a (now) lifelong interest and love of east asian culture and history. Any film that can achieve that is a huge success in my eyes! Glad you got a chance to finally check it out!

[@craig5169]

One of my most replayed movie scores ever, so beautifully crafted

[@joe.banana]

dude you should definitely watch more historic movies like this! Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, Alexander, Braveheart. They don't make movies like that anymore with all these epic battles and characters :(

[@ryanhalawani2637]

I personally really like Troy. Brad Pitt as Achilles is awesome but I don't think people give enough credit to Eric Bana as prince Hector of Troy. Their final duel is still unmatched as one of the coolest battles in a historic film up there with the final fight in Gladiator. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to disagree about Alexander though. It just didn't do it for me, no offence. But it has been quite a while since I watched it so might give it a go again maybe I was too harsh on it. I would recommend Barbarians on Netflix. Its about the Roman Empire's occupation of the Germanic tribes and their people and tells the apparently real life story of a child taken from the Germanic tribes as a boy and raised in Rome as a soldier only to defy Rome and help liberate Germania. Its a German production and all the Romans speak actual Latin. Its pretty awesome.

[@N1Kki7]

Troy is phenomenal!

[@isengrim1326]

Not sure that Braveheart, Troy or the Last Samurai can be considered to be historical : most of the events depicted are completely modified when they're not invented. Troy is based on a myth, The Last samurai is an invented story vaguely inspired by two wars that are here merged into one and for Braveheart it hasn't been called the worst historical movie for nothing. More specifically, the character of Nathan Algren never existed, the samurai had learned to use fire arms since the Portuguese introduced them in 1543. Considering the events, they are based on the Boshin War and the Satsuma revolt. The Samurai didn't revolt against modernization but against the loss of their privileges, they were aristocrats and as such refused to be considered as equals with the rest of the population. As such, the creation of an army made up of civilians, as shown in the movie, couldn't be accepted by them. Also all of the samurai didn't take up arms and those who embraced capitalism laid the foundation of prosperous companies that still lives on : Honda, Suzuki, etc

[@ryanhalawani2637]

@@isengrim1326 Yeah definitely agree. Troy the movie is to my knowledge based on Homer's Iliad which is itself a mythical epic. However, the likes of Braveheart and maybe the Last Samurai present themselves as being based on historical events which are in fact, as you pointed out, are filled with massive historical inaccuracies and take A LOT of liberties with historical fact. The truth is that's just par for the course with Hollywood blockbuster films that claim to be historical. I guess altering history to a degree is not that bad so long as it fits the story. However, the problem that tends to arise is that the context of historical events become warped and as such different civilizations and cultures become misrepresented. A prime example would be Braveheart. A lot of historians bash that film for portraying the Scots, who were a multifaceted sophisticated society, as practically being barbarians and savages going up against the highly advanced and sophisticated English army. Another example would be the film 300, which I know is actually based on a graphic novel but still claims to be based or at least inspired by historical events. I mean king Leonidas and Xerxes were real people. That film really goes out of its way to portray the Persians as moustache twirling psychotic villains and is actually pretty racist in its depiction of Middle Eastern/Persian culture. I mean the Persians had an empire and frankly, in my opinion, there's no such thing as a just empire. Empires by definition are built upon the conquest of other nations and the subjugation of other people is something that is inherently immoral. However, guess who else had an empire, the Greeks. I think in the case of 300 it was more the case of Hollywood, particularly Zack Snyder, indulging American hatred/paranoia of Middle Eastern people in a post 9/11 world. It also doesn't help that the graphic novel's author is also a massive islamophobe. But yeah, there are many examples were the alterations to history are inconsequential and even benefit the story and there are also lots of times where it hinders it and even skews the general public's opinion about a particular culture based on the narrow-minded stereotypical portrayal used in the movie.

[@Uncle_T]

You NEED to watch Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Yojimbo (and Sanjuro)!!! :)

[@musicaleuphoria8699]

Second that!

[@seanjoseph3813]

I’ll add my vote to “Third that”!

[@eldeano9964]

... Throne of blood, Ran

[@davedamron1876]

Yes, yes and yes! Great films.

[@erakfishfishfish]

Hidden Fortress

[@alexkramerblogs]

So excited for you to react! Been waiting all morning to get my meetings done. This was the movie for my first ever date 😂

[@qyphon.]

The ideology of the samurai is based on honour. When they take the life of an enemy, they do so with respect.

[@ryanhalawani2637]

Ironic as the Jedi were meant to be heavily based on the Samurai lol. What always drew to the Samurai and the stories of their exploits, both factual and mythical, was their Bushido or code of honour. In many ways it mirrors the code of chivalry used by Medieval European knights. There's always something so compelling about the fact that they weren't just mindless warriors but people of honour who lived and died by a code of morals and ethics. Even though a lot of those ideas don't match todays modern sentiments ultimately the ideas of honour, courage, compassion and respect for all even one's own enemy just transcend any time period and represent the ideal character every person should strive toward.

[@markodarkman1061]

The Last Samurai, Colaterall,Rain Man and Born on Fourth July are my favorite Tom Cruise movies, he showed he is not just an action star .

[@russellcontreras394]

The actor that plays "Bob" is actually a huge action star in Japanese samurai movies as usually the main character, so having him here in a non speaking role is a bit of an easter egg of sorts.

[@michaelriddick7116]

HELL YES!!! My favorite movie EVER!!! THIS is how I want to go out!!! Fighting against impossible odds TO MAKE A GOD DAMN POINT! YES!!! 👊💪👊💪👊💪👊 Zimmer OUT DOES himself with this soundtrack!!!

[@JamesVSCinema]

That soundtrack blew my noggin to another level

[@moviebliss3893]

This is in my top 10 favorite films. It keeps being such an incredibly deep and moving watch each time.

[@sifumode9460]

I wish you had included my favorite lines: "Tell me how he died" "I will tell you how he lived" So deep.

[@lEClBoyd]

Check out "The Book of Five Rings" by Musashi Miyamoto. It takes you through the mental and physical determination of his life as one of the greatest samurai in history.

[@saorse5918]

I got that book on my shelf I occasionally go back to it for a good read

[@houndofchulainn76]

I'll add 3 more to that suggestion. Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, and The Unfettered Mind.

[@zr00t]

I saw this first in theaters and loved it then. I cried in the theater and I cry every dang time I watch this film and I cried during your dang youtube video. I'ma have to watch this whole movie again and have a proper cry. Thanks for doing this one.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahaha enjoy the proper cry my friend! Let it out!

[@commandershepard96]

Ken watanabe got an Oscar nomination for this. Should’ve won. When he pushes that tear out at 30:20 it kills me everytime.

[@dfizzleman]

2 things - 1st off I knew this movie would bless your eyeballs! Secondly the scene when they tried to assassinate Katsumoto at the end when everyone grouped up and let out the battle cry had me ready to fight everybody and they mama. 😆 This is one of those movies that is truly timeless

[@kdenandison6992]

So happy you reacted to this one, an all time great in every aspect

[@jahrolo]

The "Parkinson" Interview with Cruise and Connolly on "The last Samurai" is one of the funniest things in Talkshow history :D

[@eyezaropin1304]

Great reaction! I'm glad to see another filmmaker love this movie as much as me, especially since it's my favorite of all time! I believe seeing this movie was part of my destiny to help me realize my true calling and the timing was undeniably perfect.... cause when it came out I just so happened to be in the Navy on an Aircraft Carrier........ stationed in Japan!! Lol. I had been experiencing all the same amazing spiritual feelings that his character was talking about and could relate to so much it was crazy. My favorite line is when Tom says " I believe a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed ". And I think you can guess why lol 😁😁😁

[@jimmyc3755]

To me, athletes meeting in the center of the arena, goes back to ancient Greece. Games were and still are entertainment. Thus, since outdoor arenas were provided in a circle or half circle so more people could see them, it makes sense to begin in the middle than one side or the other. With spectators supporting both teams in the crowd it is important to show that the athletes begin, or restart the contest as equals. Basketball, Football, Hockey, and soccer begin in the center. Many sports do actually. In conflicts not every battle started with a meeting of sides in the middle. Starting in WWII through present day almost none of any ground battles had a meeting in the middle before they started.

[@mousemessiah]

I also like that during dual wielding they stuck to the history of the style where one sword is longer than the other. This style was invented by the Swordsman legend Musashi Miyamoto, who is coincidentally the protagonist of Vagabond, the Manga you spoke of. This style is called Niten Ichiryu.

[@samwisegamgee4952]

Yo James I'm not giving up. The devil all the time 🙏

[@Sevren_]

Yes

[@JamesVSCinema]

I’ll add to the upcoming polls!!

[@badprotocol1105]

It's post-Civil War, Cruise was a Union soldier. What always gets me about Samurai is the concept of a "good death". I really like that.

[@Howler452]

Only thing I wish I saw were your reaction to Nathan Algren's detoxing from his alcohol reliance, and some more commentary on the fight with the shinobi/ninja's. I'm glad you loved this movie. It's personally had a huge influence on me as a story teller and character development over the years and still remains as one of my favourite movies of all time.

[@SpencerKelly93]

The Gatling gun scene at the end of the battle is a nice representation of time (and technology) finally catching up to the Samurai.

[@sevenduster27]

WOW! Great reaction to my one of my favorite films! Thanks for this!

[@shesemerald2011]

If you love Samurai films. 13 Assassins is the greatest of them all!!!

[@Akaeus]

^💯

[@Batman-30]

Seven Samurai, Ran and Twilight Samurai are some good ones

[@ryanhalawani2637]

@@Batman-30 I just watched Seven Samurai recently and was blown away. I heard so many good things about it that I didn't think it would live up to it but it far exceeded it. It especially took off guard that half way through it sort becomes a social commentary about classism and elitism and openly questions the true sanctity of the Samurai.

[@ejeckk]

Under no conditions at any time did you sound like a broken record. The soundtrack IS amazing. It IS beautiful. It IS emotional. I've listened to it at least 20 times in the past month. Additionally, I can only imagine when a cinematographer asks himself why he does that job, he need look no further than 17:33 to know the answer. Amazing film and a wonderful review/reaction.