Stunning. A must-see

Rating: 9/10 (18 October 2008)

I have never been a big fan of Tom Cruise, but this film was proof enough to me to show that he genuinely can act when he puts his mind to it. Edward Zwick has been one of my favourite directors for a while now, because of his ability to produce such visually enthralling films which always present a controversial issue with a wonderful thought-provoking new light. The cinematography is simply breath-taking,and coupled with the beautiful Japanese rural setting and the adrenaline-fuelled battle sequences, this makes for a very high quality film. Many of the other reviews i have read on this film comment on the similarities between this movie and one of Zwick's earlier productions - "Glory". Evident though they are, I see no reason why this should be held against either the film or director, as everyone involved in the film industry, (and any other industry) develops 'trademarks' that they use from one job to the next. Personally, I would rather see a single duplicated entry sequences of soldiers arriving through mist than the far over-used cliché shot used in most Hollywood productions where the camera pulls out from a close-up of the main character to reveal the danger - the "dun-dun-duuuuun" moment that we see so often in modern films. Zwick has expanded on the emotion and sense of honour create in "Glory" to produce a far deeper and more moving film than he had previously, creating a perfect balance in the depiction of the Japanese culture and driving the narrative forward, capping it all with an outstanding finale. A touching story, supported by a superb score by Hans Zimmer, this film is a must-see for any viewers who appreciate a strong plot and great acting, especially given that Cruise expels for one rare occasion.