Thoroughly over-rated

Rating: 2/10 (5 January 2005)

LAST SAMURAI is not the sweeping East meets West epic it aspires to be. By the end, it amounts to little more than a vanity project for Tom Cruise. At first, the story seems to be setting Cruise up for his own personal Lawrence of Arabia, but as soon as his character arrives in as a captive of the Samurais' village, the almighty Hollywood Cliché takes over the story. You've seen this story a hundred times before, in better films... the fish-out-of-water beginnings, followed by the inevitable reluctant-mutual-respect, and eventually, the rebellious partnership. I don't understand all the praise that has been heaped upon this dull, formulaic action film. Perhaps it's American affinity for Asian culture. If you look past those cool sword fights, you'll find a movie that you've already seen a hundred times.