THE LAST WARRIOR
US, 1989, 94 minutes, Colour.
Gary Graham, Cary- Hiroyuki Tagawa, Maria Holvoe.
Directed by Martin Wragge.
The Last Warrior will remind audiences of Heaven Knows, Mr Allison, the American soldier stranded with the nun on an island in World War Two, as well as Hell In The Pacific, where Lee Marvin as an American soldier confronted Toshiro Mifune as the Japanese soldier and symbolised the futility of war and fighting.
It is a strange choice of a film for the late '80s, there is good location photography, the creation of atmosphere for the American as lookout on a Pacific island, the establishing of the life of the mission on the island. The Japanese soldiers are also well portrayed. The film builds up to a climax of honour between American and Japanese, symbolising the end of the war for both powers.
Quite well made of its kind - but familiar material from the past.
1.Impact of World War Two? Its memory in the '80s? The purpose of this film? Americans and Japanese? The war, honour?
2.The beauty of the island, the jungle and the mountains, the sea? The use of the locations? The wrecked ship? Musical score?
3.Scenes of battle, action, the duels between Japanese and American?
4.Initial information about the war, names and dates? The voice-over commentary? The war strategy? The purpose of the lookout on the island, the dangers, communication? The islanders and the mission? The Japanese navy and repairs? The final information about the end of the war?
5.The introduction to Gibb, as lookout, the widower, with the Polynesian girls, his painting? Contact with the missionaries? His easy style? The radio communication? Seeing the boat, his instant action, the warning to the mission, the escape, the capture of the missionaries? Katherine left behind? Taking her to the wreck, using it as a headquarters? The struggles, the loss of the gun? His being stalked by the Japanese soldiers? Hiding, the need for food? The clash with the Japanese, their deaths? His hut and the booby traps? The cliffs and the fighting? The build-up to the confrontation, using his wits? His being weaker? The duel with the swords? Japanese soldier wanting to train him? Katherine and her fears, angers? Their being together? The torture from the Japanese, the fight to the death?
6.The presentation of the Japanese soldiers, ordinary, photos, their deaths? The hero and the voice-over, wanting to teach the American soldier, what was fitting, fate? Death with honour?
7.Katherine as a nun, her Swedish background, admiration for the missionary? Left behind, her fear, awkwardness? Food, clothing, water? With the gun? Alone? Back to the chapel? The fear of the Japanese? Her dependence on Gibb? The end?
8.A portrait of World War Two? With the perspective of the '80s? Relationships with the Japanese? Themes of honour, the martial arts?
