The Last Samurai Blu-ray

The Last Samurai

 (2003)

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Set in Japan during the 1870s, The Last Samurai tells the story of Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a respected American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the Emperor attempts to eradicate the ancient Imperial Samurai warriors in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly government policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his own sense of honor to guide him.

For more details about The Last Samurai on Blu-ray, see The Last Samurai Blu-ray Review

Starring: Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn
Director: Edward Zwick

The Last Samurai Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

The Last Samurai boasts gorgeous cinematography, landscapes, costumes and lighting. The 2.40:1 1080p VC-1 codec pays it off well. The video has a few technical issues and may have used noise reduction during some stage of production, but overall, the detail, colors and contrast are all very good. Depth is quite stunning on some of the landscape shots and sequences when the Japanese soldiers were lined up for training. Good detail on the uniforms and backgrounds showed off the textures capable at 1080p. Dark scenes were good, with gobs of detail, although a touch blotchy in areas where one might expect shadows.

The picture is the best indicator that Zwick's cinematography decisions are those of a technician and not an artist. Watch the framing--the choices of what to show and what not to show--and the camera angles. These videographical decisions appear mechanically flawless, capturing the characters, landscapes and action beautifully. But something is missing. Instead of artistry and magic on the screen, the picture seems crafted. Again, it is quite beautiful, with good definition and adequate depth in 1080p, but the soul seems to be missing, for lack of a better explanation. Nowhere is this problem clearer than the monochochromatic battle scene shot in the forest. The blues and blacks appear unnatural and seem like a gimmick.

The Last Samurai Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

The Last Samurai is one of Warner's HD DVD ports that only includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. While it is quite good, at 640 kbps, the treble does not seem as extended and the soundstage doesn't seem as expansive as most lossless PCM tracks. While the sound effects, gunshots and voices have good tonal characteristics and forwardness, composer Hans Zimmer's orchestral arrangement was generally shelved further back in the mix. The massed strings did not achieve good definition, but delivered the liquid midrange that some audiophiles enjoy.

The best thing that can be said of the DD track was the way it was engineered. Attention to detail and dynamics are very good. Listen to the scene when the ninja silently invade the sleeping village, and the ensuing battle with the samurai. The mix of dialogue, sound effects and ambient noises is very good. Best of all, it is truly immersive, with good use of the surrounds and LFE, which delivers deep, tight bass in all of the battle scenes. The average HT fan will have no complaints.

The Last Samurai Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

Topic

Replies

Last post