The Last Samurai monomyth

I think our group's observations were pretty similar to the other group's observations in most ways. We have have differed from other groups, though, in the detail of our responses at times. That is because The Last Samurai is a nearly-perfect fit for the various steps of the monomyth. While they are not all in the exact same chronological order, they are are clearly present. And not only that, but they are very specific and obvious in what they are. There is a clear and obvious call to adventure because the main character is literally called upon to travel across the Pacific on an adventure to Japan. There is a wise, older Japanese man, Katsumoto, who gives him advice and is clearly the mentor. The complicated love interest that is formed with a young woman in the Samurai village is so conspicuously one with the Goddess that it is almost corny at times. It was pretty entertaining watching the movie and being able to so clearly see the exact fits of the monomyth. Our film was pretty pat in its use of the monomyth, so I don't think any of our interpretations are off. In fact, The Last Samurai is often referred to as the archetypal storyline, along with Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves (which are really pretty similar movies if you think about it. I watched a video where they describes these movies as being in a sub-genre called "white people feel bad about colonialism") of the modern monomyth in cinema.