History TearJerker / TheLastSamurai

* The public shaming of Nobutada. Soldiers beat him to the ground, take away his ''daisho'' (katana and wakizashi swords), and then cut his ''chonmage'' (topknot) off as a method of humiliation. To a samurai, their honor is their life, and to many samurai, a ''chonmage'' was a symbol of honor. When his hair is cut, the cries of [[spoiler: Nobutada]] combined with the score of Hans Zimmer is simply heartbreaking.

-->"I will miss our conversations."

* The samurai's charge almost breaks through... but then they are coldly gunned down by the army's new Gatling guns. Already emotional enough, but then Hans Zimmer's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcdQIwSS2Sw score]] turns it into an incredibly gut-wrenching spectacle.

* Algren's flashback to his time in the U.S. Cavalry under the command of Bagley doubles as both this trope and NightmareFuel. Bagley led a punitive attack against a Native American village; despite Algren's protests that the villagers had nothing to do with recent attacks on U.S forces, Bagley ordered the attack anyway, he and his men cutting down [[WouldHitAGirl women]] and [[WouldHurtAChild children]] without mercy and Algren swept along in the massacre. The final shot of the scene is Algren sobbing his eyes out, clearly tormented by his guilt over [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone his participation in the massacre]] and regret [[ItsAllMyFault he didn't do more to stop Bagley]]. All this is made worst by how Westerners continue to talk about the Native Americans as savages, justifying their atrocities, of which there are still more to come years after the film.

* [[spoiler: The public shaming of Nobutada. Soldiers beat him to the ground, take away his ''daisho'' (katana and wakizashi swords), and then cut his ''chonmage'' (topknot) off as a method of humiliation.]] To a samurai, their honor is their life, and to many samurai, a ''chonmage'' was a symbol of honor. When his hair is cut, the cries of [[spoiler: Nobutada]] combined with the score of Hans Zimmer is simply heartbreaking.

* The samurai's charge almost breaks through... [[spoiler: but then they are coldly gunned down by the army's new Gatling guns]]. Already emotional enough, but then Hans Zimmer's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcdQIwSS2Sw score]] turns it into an incredibly gut-wrenching spectacle.

** Moments later, [[spoiler: Algren helps Katsumoto commit suicide... and as Katsumoto]] is dying, he sees a Cherry Blossom tree in bloom. As he sees the blossoms fall, he finally realizes, "Perfect. They are... all... ''perfect''...". Pass the Kleenex, please.

** The reaction from the Japanese Army to the passing of Katsumoto and the samurai by all bowing before their bodies as a mark of respect is incredibly moving.

** It's the sheer industrial ''finality'' of it that hammers it home. The samurai charge home, even against overwhelming numbers and modern guns and artillery and they not only fight but ''break through''. And as they charge the last Imperial positions, Omura orders the [[MoreDakka new guns]] drawn up. The samurai draw every ounce of effort from their mounts, but the gatling guns open up. And it stops the charge [[RealityEnsues dead]]. For all their honour, for all their lifetime of training, for all their courage, the samurai ''slam'' into (as described perfectly by one of the BTS gunnery experts) a wall of bullets and are cut down to a man. No matter what, no matter how they may wish to fight, the age of the warrior is over. Gunpowder is the god of the battlefield now and it shreds the Last Samurai to pieces.

** In a similar vein, Higan dueling with Algren in the rain. You can see the anger in his face as he tries in some small way to avenge his father.

** The conversation between Algren and Taka's oldest son, where they both admit being scared, ending with the boy begging him to just ''go'' already as they both try not to cry. The hug makes it even worse.

* Nobutada's LastStand

* The SadBattleMusic moment during the climax, with shows how tragic it is to see not samurai and Imperial soldiers killing each other, but ''people of the same country'' killing each other over the country's "modernization" vs HonorBeforeReason.

* [[spoiler: The public shaming of Nobutada. Soldiers beat him to the ground, take away his Katanas, and then cut his top knot off as a method of humiliation.]] To a samurai, their Honor is their life, and to many Samurai, a top knot was a symbol of Honor. When his hair is cut, the cries of [[spoiler: Nobutada]] combined with the score of Hans Zimmer is simply heartbreaking.

** Moments later, [[spoiler: Algren helps Katsumoto commit suicide... and as Katsumoto]] is dying, he sees a Cherry Blossom tree in bloom. As he sees the blossoms fall, he says, "Perfect. They are... all... ''perfect''...". Pass the Kleenex, please.

* Algren's flashback to his time in the U.S. Cavalry under the command of Bagley doubles as both this trope and NightmareFuel. Bagley led a punitive attack against a Native American village; despite Algren's protests that the villagers had nothing to do with recent attacks on U.S forces, Bagley ordered the attack anyway, he and his men cutting down [[WouldHitAGirl women]] and [[WouldHurtAChild children]] without mercy and Algren swept along in the massacre. The final shot of the scene is Algren sobbing his eyes out, clearly tormented by his guilt over [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone his participation in the massacre]] and regret [[ItsAllMyFault he didn't do more to stop Bagley]].

* The SadBattleMusic moment during the climax, with shows how tragic it is to see not samurais and Imperial soldiers killing each other, but ''people of the same country'' killing each other over the country's "modernization" vs HonorBeforeReason.

* The SadBattleMusic moment during the climax, with shows how tragic it is to see not samurais and Imperial soldiers killing each other, but ''people of the same country'' killing each other over the country's "modernization".

* The SadBattleMusic moment duing the climax, with shows how tragic it is to see people of the same country killing each other over the country's "modernization".

** The way that, when presented it by Algren, the Emperor looks at and holds Katsumoto's sword. He knows that the man who was his teacher and most loyal servant is dead and this thing is all that's left of him and his ideals. What happens next is simultaneously awesome and heartwarming.

** Moments later, [[spoiler: Algren helps Katsumoto commit suicide... and as Katsumoto]] is dying, he sees a Cherry Blossom tree in bloom. As he sees the blossoms fall, he says: "Perfect. They are... all... ''perfect''...". Pass the Kleenex, please.

** Moments later, [[spoiler: Algren helps Katsumoto commits suicide... and as Katsumoto]] is dying, he sees a Cherry Blossom tree in bloom. As he sees the blossoms fall, he says: "Perfect. They are... all... ''perfect''...". Pass the Kleenex, please.