Tom Cruise’s fighting inThe Last Samuraiearns a positive review from a real-life martial arts and katana instructor. Released in 2003,historical epicThe Last Samuraiis directed by Edward Zwick, with Cruise starring as Nathan Algren, a U.S. Army Captain who finds himself torn between two sides after being taken hostage by samurai warriors in 19th century Japan. The film, which also stars Ken Watanabe and Billy Connolly, features a number of intense action sequences, with Nathan engaging in various battles after learning to fight like a samurai.
In a recent video forInsider, martial arts and katana instructor Seki Nobuhide Sensei analyzes a ninja ambush scene fromThe Last Samurai, grading it for its accuracy. While he admits that the scene is “not very realistic” overall,he does praise Cruise’s fighting and his use of jujutsu while in a confined space. One thing the film gets wrong, however, is its depiction of ninjas, with the martial arts expert revealing thatthe entire goal of a ninja is to not be detected. Check out Seki’s comments or watch the video below (relevant section begins at 11:20):
“As for whether ninja and samurai fought frequently, that is basically not the case. A ninja who ends up engaging in combat is basically a low-skilled ninja because he is caught. If a ninja exposes himself, a ninja would try to escape without fighting.
“A good and rational way to fight is to gradually take away the opponent’s body functions and their movability. It is important to use a katana close to your body when fighting in closed areas. They would avoid ceilings or walls. When the area around you gets crowded, they would maneuver around, such as using the other hand to thrust at the opponent. If the area around you gets more and more crowded, they use jujutsu and other techniques.
“That is a judo-like technique known as ippon seoi nage. This technique is effective in buying time. So I think that in this situation, the method of using jujutsu to buy time works well.
“As a rating, I give it a 7 [out of 10]. It was interesting, although not very realistic.”
What The Last Samurai’s Fight Accuracy Means For Tom Cruise’s Action Career
If there’s one thing that Cruise has become known for, it’s his extreme dedication to the films he works on and to entertaining audiences. Cruise’s commitment inThe Last Samuraimeans that, even thoughthe film’s depiction of ninjas may not be correct, his fighting scenes are hard-hitting and his abilities as a warrior are never really in question. Cruise’s dedication is part of whyThe Last Samuraireviews were generally positive from critics and audiences, with the film currently sporting a 66% critics' score and 83% audience score onRotten Tomatoes.
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Some of Tom Cruise’s best movies of his career are action films, making his all-time list of the genre jam-packed with classics from major directors.
Though Cruise’s commitment to his roles is most apparent in the dangerous stunts that he does, particularly for theMission: Impossiblefranchise, his fighting inThe Last Samuraispeaks to how this attitude manifested itself before he became interested in impossible stunts. Only a year later, for example, with Michael Mann’sCollateral(2004), Cruise’s preparation to play hitman Vincent involved going undercover as a delivery driver and stalking members of the crew. This same attitude is present outside of his action roles, too, with the actor learning to become a bartender forCocktail(1988).
Made on an estimated budget of $140 million,The Last Samuraiwas a box office success, grossing $456 million worldwide.
Our Take On The Last Samurai’s Accuracy
Cruise Excels In This Historical Epic
The Last Samurairemains a standout entry in Cruise’s filmography. While it features the intense moments of action that he is now known for,it also features a moving story and plenty of quiet, thoughtful moments that allow Cruise to show off his dramatic chops as well.
It can be difficult for films to walk the line between historical accuracy and entertainment, andThe Last Samuraiarguably walks this line very well. Clearly, however, those looking for a more accurate depiction of 19th century Japan should instead turn to documentaries. Nevertheless,The Last Samuraifeatures a powerful Cruise performance and remains one of his more memorable roles.
The Last Samurai
Cast
The Last Samurai is a historic epic directed by Edward Zwick, starring Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren, a disillusioned American military officer who finds himself in Japan. Tasked with suppressing the Samurai rebellion, Algren is captured and ultimately assimilates into their way of life. In doing so, he gains profound insights into their culture and honor. The film explores themes of conflict, identity, and cultural transformation in late 19th-century Japan.
