[marajade]

I thought the movie was historically based? Am I wrong.

[Modernman]

They paint the Samurai as being only interested in Japan's success when they were mostly interested in retaining their feudal privileges. The modernizers in Japan realized that the only way Japan could stay independent would be if it modernized.

The movie isn't unhistorical, it just puts a post-modern spin on the events. Sort of like how recent movies and mini-series (including the terrible "Attila") paint the Romans as the bad guys while painting their enemies (such as the Huns) as noble.