A Slice of Budo.

Rating: Null/10 (6 May 2004)

There are flaws in this film. The ending is Hollywood, the mattework of Yokohama Bay is weak, and maybe a few other things, but there is also a great deal right with it. The filming is gorgeous, the acting very good, and the story deserving, if not inspirational. The technical depiction of the arms and armor is sensational. My personal take on the film may be very different than much of the viewing public because I am a longtime martial artist and have studied sword. Those aspects of the film are absolutely excellent on the whole. There are minor things (***maybe spoilers!***) ... for instance, hitting people with a boken (wooden practice sword) doesn't give them a bloody nose of make them limp - it breaks bones, period. Tom Cruise throwing his sword in a climatic battle was the height of absurdity. That said, the kenjutsu/sword and jujutsu (not juJITsu) techniques were very good and realistic overall, and the essense of Bushido portrayed in the film is, at heart, true. The paradox of modern Japan vs. its warrior roots is very much a real and lingering thing. Something to consider is that altho' hokey, the ending is appropriate since the spirit of Budo did and does live on ... just maybe not in the form of Tom Cruise. He did a great job with training, however. See the film and try not to quibble - it has valuable things to show and tell. I related to it from the heart.