The Last Samurai (1974) is not unlike the more popular The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise in that both are set in the era that saw the rise of Imperial Japan under the Meiji emperor who instituted the Meiji Restoration, a modernization and opening-to-the-West for profit and power social program which did away with the old-school neo-Confucianism-style caste system including the samurai and instituted a number of reforms, some good some not so good. But THIS The Last Samurai gives us a more intimate and detailed look at life during the waning days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, following the life and times of a skilled samurai swordsman as he makes the transition from the old way of life to the new.

Featuring truly amazing fight choreography,clearly guided by master kenjitsu players (and requiring a great deal of serious preperation by the actors), wonderful characters and fine performances all-around plus giving us a different perspective on the history of Japan as the Meiji Emperor consolidated power, The Last Samurai (1974) is an outstanding chanbara film as well as an engaging history lesson.A must-see for fans of samurai films and Japanese history.