Battlefield Epics - The Last Samurai/Troy/Alexander (Box Set)

Advantages: Filming techniques/Story/Sets/Photography
Disadvantages: Accents!

...Α Λ Ε Ξ Α Ν Δ Ρ Ο Σ Another Hollywood production based in historical facts (when they decide to get it right … because if you remember, ‘Troy’ the movie made the war last a few weeks but in Homer’s Iliad, the war lasted more than 10 years!). Before I saw the movie I prepared myself to see Greek history made into phrase one more time in order to provide entertainment … Big names on this movie, Oliver Stone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Christopher Plummer and two British men, David Bedella and Gary Stretch. What is the movie about? The movie is a glorification on the history and life of the greatest and most talented military leaders, general and conqueror ever lived, Alexander the Great. It is a very rich movie and I found myself drifting away somewhere between... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: epic
Disadvantages: cliched movie

...There's little room for surprises among the inevitable clichéd trappings of The Last Samurai, an epic cinematic scenario about a battle-worn war hero who has lost his soul but finds redemption in an ancient Japanese society he once perceived as the enemy. Story A decorated soldier, Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) fought bravely during the Civil War, but in the years thereafter, pragmatism and self-interest embittered him. He now drinks heavily to drown his nightmares--particularly the ones about his role in decimating the proud Native Americans in the name of progress during the Indian Wars of the 1870s. As a mercenary for hire, Algren heads to Japan to train the newly formed Imperial Army and usher it into the burgeoning age of modern Western culture--a shift that will put Japan's ancient customs and values in jeopardy, including... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Modern day epic
Disadvantages: none

...to the actors and set designers as he discusses the scenes. 'History Vs Hollywood: The Last Samurai' this is from the History channel and shows what the film got historically right and what it got very wrong. 'Tom Cruise: A Warriors Journey' this is a feature all about the character of Algren with interviews with Cruise and other cast and crew members. It gives an insight into how Cruise went about playing the part. 'Edward Zwick: Directors Video Journal' although this is quite long and Zwick's voice gets a bit annoying after a while, it is a good feature showing loads of background information on how Zwcik directed the film. 'Making An Epic: A Conversation With Edward Zwick And Tom Cruise' this feature is very good as the star and director discuss what they are trying to achieve with the film. 'A World Of Detail: Production Design With Lilly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful