Well meaning flop

Rating: 3/10 (20 June 2008)

This movie has a spirit of realism about it, mixed in with the modernism of blood and gore (not that blood and gore is modern, but the fascination, obsession, and glorification of it is). Cruise plays the "Steve Martin" role (as Raymond Burr's Steve Martin was inserted into "Godzilla" for an American or English speaking character.) It is his character that probably weakens this movie the most. The film centers on the escapades of traditional samurai in a changing empire. It would definitely have been a stronger movie had the English speaking character not been inserted just for...what was he there for? He serves no purpose, and he is not really identifiable as a character. He is void of personality and evokes no sympathy from the viewer. He isn't bad. He just isn't anything. This is no reflection on Cruise the actor. It is a reflection on a dull, ho hum character badly written. This makes the movie plod along, and the viewer just wants to get it over with. It was well intentioned, but a flop.