The last samurai [DVD video]

Tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren is coerced by a mercenary officer to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this modernization are the samurai warriors who are holding fast to their traditions of honor, despite their strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader, Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test.

General Note:

Originally released as a motion picture in 2003.

Special features: disc 1: theatrical film with commentary by director Edward Zwick; disc 2: deleted scenes with commentary; history vs. Hollywood: 'The last samurai' [History Channel documentary]; Tom Cruise: a warrior's journey; Edward Zwick: director's video journal; making an epic: a conversation with Edward Zwick and Tom Cruise; a world of detail: production design with Lilly Kilvert; Silk and armor: costume design with Ngila Dickson; Imperial Army basic training; From soldier to samurai: the weapons; Japan premieres (Tokyo & Kyoto red carpet); theatrical trailer; DVD-ROM web link.

Performers:

Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Masato Harada, Koyuki, William Atherton, Shun Sugata, Shin Koyamada, Scott Wilson, Togo Igawa, Shichinosuke Nakamura.

Contents:

Disc 1: The Last Samurai: theatrical film with commentary by director Edward Zwick -- Disc 2: Special features : Deleted scenes with commentary; History vs. Hollywood: 'The last samurai' [History Channel documentary]; Tom Cruise: a warrior's journey; Edward Zwick: director's video journal; Making an epic: a conversation with Edward Zwick and Tom Cruise; A World of detail: production design with Lilly Kilvert; Silk and armor: costume design with Ngila Dickson; Imperial Army basic training; From soldier to samurai: the weapons; Bushido : the way of the warrior; Japan premieres (Tokyo & Kyoto red carpet); theatrical trailer; DVD-ROM web link.

Technical Details:

Enhanced DVD video; Dolby digital surround 5.1.

DVD-ROM system requirements: InterActual Player (included on disc), Microsoft Windows 98SE, Microsoft IE 5.5, Macromedia Flash Player 6.0, an Internet connection, a DVD-ROM drive and a DirectShow-compatible DVD decoder.

Subject Term:

Samurai -- Japan -- Drama.

Soldiers -- Conduct of life -- Drama.

Geographic Term:

Japan -- History -- 19th century -- Drama.

Genre:

Feature films.

Historical films.

Action and adventure films.

Video recordings for the hearing impaired.

Language:

English