The Last Samurai (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Outstanding in every way. I can't think of a movie in recent history that I have enjoyed more.

Great cultural piece.

I bought this DVD on total impulse since i already own it on reg. DVD. I figured this would look really beautiful in HD and i was happy with the quality of the picture. The only think i found lacking in this version is the volume of the sound. I had to crank my TV all the way up just to get some good sound out of it. Perhaps it was an error in the DVD pressing plant or maybe the original soundtrack was mis-recorded...i dont know. Overall this gets 3 stars from me and it would have been 4 stars if the sound wasnt so low.

Last Samurai is no masterpiece

but technically it is

the visuals, the sound effects, the music.

If you want to show off to your friends what a great hi-def system you got, purchase this movie.

If you want a classic, but lord of the rings or gone with the wind instead.

The video/audio transfer has excellent quality like what I experienced from other WB blu-ray discs in addition to being an enjoyable movie.

Although the breathtaking battle scenes are its centerpiece, "The Last Samurai" tries to be more than just a big-budget action flick. While it succeeds at doing this, it has major problems.

The biggest problem for me is Tom Cruise. He's pretty much the same character you see in "Mission Impossible," and while I like him in those types of movies he is completely unconvincing as a gritty Civil War veteran. His performance as a drunk is also an eye-roller, and when I saw "Maverick" in Samurai armor it was so silly I had to laugh out loud.

The other major problem for me is the fact that Katsumoto, a villager in rural Japan during a time when Japan was completely cut off from the West, speaks fluent English. Very convenient for American moviegoers, but completely unbelievable.

To its credit the movie makes little pretense about being historically accurate (in fact, one of the extras on the DVD is a mini documentary called "History vs. Hollywood"), yet still has a strong historical feel. When you examine the costumes, the sets, and the overall "look and feel" of the movie, it's obvious a lot of research went into the development and production of this film.

When judging this movie you have to consider that without a Hollywood star in the lead role and other concessions this movie could never have been made. It is a big-budget epic that requires formulaic mainstream appeal in order to have any hope of getting a return on investment. The bottom line though is that this is a movie worth seeing. The cinematography is stunning, the storyline is touching, it is well acted by its Japanese cast, and the closing battle is like nothing you've ever seen before. Just know that the Japan you see in this movie has a lot of Hollywood in it.

I'm giving this 5 stars. While I think this is a 4-star movie, the quantity and quality of the extras included on the second DVD were excellent, hence the 5 stars.