A profound message against the war

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2004)

I like very much the traditional Japanese culture and its sense of honor, and this was the main reason for going and seeing the movie.
Yet I found there a much more profound and topical message.
Personally, I consider the whole movie, especially the intense last run towards the gun machines, not only as a celebration of Samurai sense of honour. Instead, I think this is a strong message against violence and war; Samurai choose to die rather than surrender, Omura prefer to kill rather than renounce to its own interest. How many times people kill or die for an idea, for personal interest, or even for nothing at all? How many times people kill or die because they are like actors in a game, and are obliged to play their role up to the (obvious) end?
A message that is sadly valid in the time being, no matter if we are the ones running against the gun machines, or those opening the fire.