Last Samurai

Ianab · December 05, 2003, 12:36:10 AM

Anyone interested in seeing the local scenery here should go and watch the new Tom Cruise movie 'Last Samurai'
It was 90% shot in Taranaki NZ and not in Japan as supposed. The 'parade ground' is the local cricket field in the city park and the Japanese forest is the pine plantation that surrounds the city resevior. The village and battle field were filmed on local farmland. By coincidence our Mt is a double for Mt Fuji so I guess that helped set the scene too.
Oh.. and the reviews says it's a pretty good movie too

Ian

SasquatchMan · December 05, 2003, 06:22:18 AM

Huh! I'd always thought New Zealand was the Soutern tip of Japan anyhow! :D

IndyIan · December 05, 2003, 10:22:47 AM

Hi Ian,
That is one movie I'd like to see. Every time I see a Samurai movie I have an urge to buy a katana... Wonder how well you could limb or prune with one... ;D

Also New Zealand is fast becoming a country I'd like to see as well. We rented Whale Rider a couple weeks ago, great story and great scenery.

Are the young people still leaving the country? I heard a few years ago that many would leave to work elsewhere in the world. I'd think with the internet these days people would feel less isolated. I imagine the tourist industry is taking off these days though with all the exposure that The Lord of the Rings has given NZ.

Have a good day,
Ian

Ianab · December 05, 2003, 05:55:31 PM

Hey Ian
Dont worry NZ hasn't been depopulated just yet ;)
In fact there seems to be a waiting list to get in now.
The thing about young folks going overseas to work is sorta a tradition here, a lot of people in their 20s will go to Australia or Europe for a working holiday for a couple of years. Called the big OE. They usually come home when they get sick of the rat race

Ian

Sam · December 08, 2003, 02:32:33 PM

Hey Ian

I watched The Last Samuri on Saturday. The scenery was beautiful and the movie was excellent! 8)

I would highly recommend it...you might want to take a few tissues though :'(

Sam