I just watched The Last Samurai. I liked it a lot. It was a little long. I really liked the first part more than the ‘climax’ part. Kinda like Pearl Harbor. I would have liked it better as kind of an interesting documentary. Well I say that, but if they had made it that way I’d be complaining about how it had no ending.
I find the feudal Japanese/samurai culture very fascinating. I’m sure the movie isn’t 100% accurate, but still. The whole thing of not being afraid to die- you don’t really have that in western cultures. And the notion that suicide can be honorable- that’s a completely different concept (and it’s in a very different mindset from suicide bombing, in case my comments bring that to mind).
Anyway, that’s enough of my ranting about Japanese. If you want to learn more, just pick up a copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III.