It made me a believer

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2005)

I must say that I watched this movie with nothing but skepticism and I only watched it because my mother said it was good. I remained skeptical for the first 20 minutes or so. I thought that some white guy was going to stroll into Japan, whoop up some highly skilled Samarui warriors, become a Samurai himself and then be their greatest leader ever.
Well, it did not go down like that, and I'm pleased it did not. In fact it was quite the opposite. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) was teacher turned student as he had to be humbled by his captors. He learned a lot more than just how to sword fight, he learned honor, respect, humility, and a lot more intangibles that make a people wholesome and good.
I was converted, and for that reason I have to rate this movie high. I never was a Tom Cruise fan, but the last three movies of his I saw (Minority Report, The Last Samurai, and Collateral) have given me a change of heart towards him as an actor.