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Add It Or Trash It: The Last Samurai |
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Find out if Edward Zwick, director of The Last Samurai, made a good decision by taking out the two deleted scenes included in the DVD extras for the film.
On the 2-Disc Widescreen Edition of The Last Samurai, there are two deleted scenes:
The Beheading, and Algren and Katsumoto.
Should the director have included these scenes in the final cut or was it a good idea to leave it on the cutting room floor? Let’s examine further:
Deleted Scene #1 Title: The Beheading
Description Setup: Algren (Tom Cruise), who constantly drinks, has accepted the job of training and leading a Japanese army against the Samurai. He sails to Tokyo where he meets the photographer Simon Graham (Timothy Spall) after his ship docks. It is momentarily after this that the deleted scene begins.
Deleted Scene Description: Simon is taking a photograph in the streets of Tokyo and Algren is sitting on a crate drinking. Algren stands up, spotting a samurai walking down the street. It’s the first time he’s seen one.
Algren
Samurai
Simon
Yes it is
The samurai is stopped by two well-dressed Japanese men who begin taunting him for still wearing a top knot and for carrying two swords, both which had been outlawed. The samurai tries to move on, but the two men step in his path keeping him from leaving. They continue to taunt him and when one of the men lifts his cane and touches the samurai with it. The samurai, without warning, draws his sword and instantly beheads one of the gentlemen. The other guy is in shock for a second then steps back and falls to his knees while nervously bowing. The samurai then walks on, as if nothing happened, making eye contact with Algren.
Add it or Trash It? Trash It
Why? This scene should have never been filmed because it creates so many fundamental problems that the movie would not have been able to overcome. For one, it distracts from Algren and the audience anticipating the Samurai arrival in the foggy battle. We still don’t know what they look like and our first glimpse is through their fearsome and intimidating battle with Algren’s trainees.
Second, the samurai just murdered someone in the streets of Tokyo with dozens of witnesses. Would he be hunted down? Would justice be brought to him? It creates a side story that doesn’t need to be created.
Third, this sequence distracts from the message of honor the movie tries to instill. By drawing his sword and striking down an unarmed man, the samurai was dishonoring himself and his people.
Deleted Scene #2 Title: Algren and Katsumoto
Description Setup: This scene takes place after Algren has been in the Samurai camp for a few months, but before the Ninja try to assassinate Katsumoto.
Deleted Scene Description: Katsumoto is practicing his sword fighting with a couple of other samurai. He comments to Algren, who is watching, that Algren’s skills are improving. Algren looks over in the distance at a group of a dozen samurai fighting. Katsumoto notices.
Katsumoto
They are fine warriors
Algren
A single round from a howitzer can kill all those men
Katsumoto stops practicing and looks over at Algren. Algren continues.
Algren
You know this word? Howitzer?
Katsumoto
I know this word. How quickly can they fire?
Katsumoto immediately goes back to practicing, awaiting an answer.
Algren
Three rounds a minute… more if the crews good.
Algren then tells Katsumoto about Gettysburg and how 3,000 men died from a howitzer in 15 minutes and that it is accurate up to a mile away. Talk then turns to honor, something Algren seems to question in regards to battle. Katsumoto then walks up to a samurai sword and lifts it, with a respectful bow.
Katsumoto
The Emperor gave this blade to my family 400 years ago. Many of my ancestors have died in his service. Our lives mean nothing. Honor is everything.
The two debate about honor for about another minute
Katsumoto
I was taught that Americans were difficult people
Algren
I was told the Japanese were agreeable and polite
There is a slight pause. The scene ends.
Add It or Trash It? Trash It (barely)
Why? This scene contains some important dialogue and action from Katsumoto in regards to the subject of honor and a sword his family was given from the emperor 400 years earlier. Outside of that segment, though, there is a lot of almost idol chit chat about howitzer guns and battles that do nothing to really move the movie forward. But even more importantly, the director points out that this scene was developing the interactive relationship between Katsumoto and Algren too quickly. In the finished film, Algren helping to protect Katsumoto from the Japanese is what furthers their relationship and interactivity. Having the deleted scene in the movie almost ruins that connection. Had the director been able to find a way to add just the scene acknowledging Katsumoto’s connection to the emperor then it would have made a good addition. As an entire scene, however, it does not move the movie forward, which is why it was rightfully discarded.
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