The fun thing about The Last Samurai is that the title doesn't refer to Tom Cruise. He does not play a samurai in the film. He plays an American officer.

He hangs with a group of samurai, who are collectively the last of their kind.

That said, plenty of people complained about it in its day.

[–] xavier666@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I might be terribly incorrect.

But i remember that Tom Cruise's character switches sides in the movie after spending time with the Samurai (He was captured by them). He trains under them and becomes a Samurai. In the end, they fight against the (British?) and lose due to a gattling gun. All the Samurai die except for Tom's character. So symbolically, Tom is the Last Samurai.

[–] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It is implied that Tom Cruise dies at the end. I think the confusion comes from a voice over, but you never see the character on screen again.

He also does not "become a samurai". He fights alongside them, but at no point do they call him a samurai.

Edit: looks like that link is wrong. He doesn't die at the end. I guess memory is a fickle beast.

[–] Newsteinleo@infosec.pub 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yes, it's a classic "white savior" trope.

[–] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

What did he save? Literally everyone but Meiji-backed forces dies at the end.

[–] johnnyb@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 week ago

he die didn't save shit though :D

[–] Dr_Box@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Nah I think both of these are examples of pandering. The Last Samurai is even worse because there was no reason at all for Tom Cruise to be there historically. Yasuke at least was a real samurai and I think if you were to ignore the fact that ubisoft is obviously pandering for publicity and cash his story isn't much different than Will Adams' portrayal in Shogan.

[–] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Say what you will about the white savior trope, but wasn't there a historical reason for Tom Cruise's character to be there? Japan was accepting foreign influence and modernization at that time, from what I know of history.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Except The Last Samurai isn't remotely historical.

Tom Cruise's is very roughly based in a French admiral. That admiral got sent specifically to Japan to create political relations with a certain faction of Samurai to further French interests there. The French admiral was made samurai as honorary title and put into service of the household.

During the final battle (which was a castle siege, and both sides were using guns), the French admiral was released from service and sent home.

If a movie or a series were to be made of this, and if it were to be somewhat accurate, it'd be closer to a political thriller with some battles in between.

[–] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Good thing I was expecting historical fiction then and not a documentary or even a dramatization of true events.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It can be a bit of both. You can tell a good story that also stays true to the historical events. Not being being able to do that shows a lack of skill and imagination.

[–] PapstJL4U@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

To tell a story history is not binding. It neither a lack of skill or imagination - it's an intended. What you have shown is a lack of understanding of the art of telling a story.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

There is a lot of highly critical discourse around the Last Samurai. Not current, because it's not a current movie, but saying that it's "okay" suggests ~~you~~ they haven't looked for criticism.

Also, weary.

Edit: clarity.

Edit2: I have since been made aware by @SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world of a different perspective that makes a lot more sense, see comments below.

[–] ka1ikasan@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 week ago

Yup, Last Samourai is 22 years old. Back then a lot of social issues have not been widely discussed.

[–] emb@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago

Game seems cool, but it requires a download to play. They don't meet my basic requirements for a game I'd even consider buying.

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's an actor ACTING as someone else that's the whole point of ACTING. People need to stop with this bullshit.

[–] galanthus@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How do you act like you have black skin, for instance?

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago

How do you act as anyone else ever? Unless you are a genetic clone of the person you must not be allowed to act!

[–] Halosheep@lemm.ee -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You're right. We should absolutely, not once, not ever, have a person who doesn't perfectly, down to the finest detail, match the description of the character they are depicting act for that role.

I saw a local stage play of madame web where a woman played a male character. It literally wasn't even a distraction and they sold the character well.

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Commenter said Black Skin.

You said "finest detail".

What are you smoking?

[–] Halosheep@lemm.ee -1 points 1 week ago

Commenter sounds like they would complain about Arial being black because her original character was white.

You really wanna defend that?

[–] RxBrad@infosec.pub -1 points 1 week ago

People raging about videogames being woke

VERSUS

People raging about people raging about videogames being woke.

...FIGHT!!!