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Former US Army Captain Nathan Algren, a bitter alcoholic traumatized by the atrocities he committed during the American Indian Wars,
is approached by his former commanding officer Colonel Bagley to train the newly created Imperial Japanese Army for a forward-thinking
Japanese businessman Omura, who intends to use the army to suppress a samurai-headed rebellion against Japan's new Emperor. Despite his
hatred of Bagley for his role in the Indian Wars, an impoverished Algren takes the job for the money, and is accompanied to Japan by
his old friend, Sergeant Zebulon Gant. Upon arriving, Algren meets Simon Graham, a British translator knowledgeable about the Samurai.
Algren finds the Imperial soldiers are actually conscripted peasants that have no knowledge of firearms or battle. Early in their training,
Algren is informed that the Samurai are attacking one of Omura's railroads; Omura sends the army there, despite Algren's protests that
they are not ready. The battle is a disaster; the conscripts are routed and Gant is killed. Algren fights to the last before he is
surrounded; expecting to die, he is taken prisoner when Samurai leader Katsumoto decides to spare him. Algren is taken to Katsumoto's
village to live among his family. While he is poorly treated at first, he eventually gains the Samurai's respect and actually becomes
friends with Katsumoto. Algren overcomes his alcoholism and guilt, and learns the Japanese language and culture. He develops sympathy
for the Samurai, who are upset that the pace of spread of modern technology has eroded the traditions of their society. Algren and Taka,
Katsumoto's sister and the widow of a Samurai Algren killed, develop an unspoken affection for each other.
One night, a group of ninja infiltrate the village and attempt to assassinate Katsumoto. Algren saves Katsumoto's life, and then helps
defend the village. Katsumoto requests a meeting with Emperor Meiji and is given safe passage to Tokyo. He brings Algren, intending to
release him. Upon arriving in Tokyo, Algren finds the Imperial Army is now a well-trained and fully equipped fighting force. Katsumoto,
to his dismay, discovers that the young and inexperienced Emperor has essentially become a puppet of Omura. At a government meeting,
Omura orders Katsumoto's arrest for carrying a sword in public and asks him to commit seppuku to redeem his honor. Algren refuses
Omura's offer to lead the new army to crush the rebels. Omura sends assassins to kill Algren, but Algren kills them. Algren assists
the Samurai in freeing Katsumoto; in the process, Katsumoto's son Nobutada is mortally wounded, and he sacrifices himself to allow
the others to escape.
As the Imperial Army marches to crush the rebellion, a grieving Katsumoto contemplates seppuku, but Algren convinces him to fight
until the end, and joins the Samurai in battle. The Samurai use the Imperial Army's overconfidence to lure them into a trap and
deprive them of artillery support. The ensuing battle inflicts massive casualties on both sides and forces the Imperial soldiers
to retreat. Knowing that Imperial reinforcements are coming and defeat is inevitable, Katsumoto orders a suicidal charge on horseback.
During the charge, the Samurai break through Bagley's line, but they are quickly mowed down by gatling guns. The Imperial captain,
previously trained by Algren and horrified by the sight of the dying Samurai, orders all of the guns to cease fire, disregarding
Omura's orders. A mortally wounded Katsumoto commits seppuku with Algren's help as the soldiers at the scene kneel in respect.
Days later, as trade negotiations conclude, Algren, though injured, arrives and interrupts the proceedings. He presents the Emperor
with Katsumoto's sword and asks him to remember the traditions for which Katsumoto died. The Emperor realizes that while Japan should
modernize, it cannot forget its own culture and history; he rejects the trade offer and chooses to seize the Omura family assets for
the benefit of his subjects. While various rumours regarding Algren's fate circulate, Graham concludes that Algren had returned to
the village to reunite with Taka.
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Starring ... |
Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn,
Hiroyuki Sanada, Koyuki Kato, Shin Koyamada
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Director: Edward Zwick
Producers: Tom Engelman, Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Kroopf,
Paula Wagner, Edward Zwick
Released - December 5, 2003
Length - 154 minutes
Music Composer: Hans Zimmer
Movie Distributed by Warner Brothers
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