Well executed movie; one major flaw

Rating: 5/10 (3 July 2006)

Excellent study of the Samurai culture. While the benevolence of these warriors is questionable from history, this movie makes a very earnest attempt at portraying their intentions as honorable.
Ken Watanabe as the leader of the Samurai colony shows intense power and charisma in this crucial role. He is a brave warrior, a gifted commander, and a master of all things Samurai; yet he is fierce and ruthless in battle. He takes a captured US soldier under his wing, and converts that man from an enemy to a friend and ally. His new comrade in arms becomes as imposing a force on the field of battle as himself. The supporting cast of Samurai warriors and their families do magnificent jobs in making their characters believable and sympathetic.
The action choreography is handled extremely well, also. When blades are swung at innocent children, you feel intense fear for their safety. The US army serves as the dangerous invader, and this is accomplished well. William Atherton makes a fearful bad guy, as do others.
But then, "Samurai" dishonors itself with a fatal blunder.
It was like the the movie committed hari-kari on itself, casting Tom Cruise as the lead. Usually, Tom's "deer-caught-in-the-headlights" stare can be hidden behind intense action or a particularly good performance by other actors. This movie had both, but is still slashed to pieces by would-be-Samurai Tom. He handles a sword like a kid playing T-Ball. His intensity as a Samurai is about as electrifying and believable as a "Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots" toy.
His performance reveals nothing about the character, why the character changes, why he becomes a traitor, or throws in with his former enemies. It's almost a sin how his lamentable acting job diminishes what could have been a powerful story.