Unless your a chick too much Tom is a bad thing

Rating: 7/10 (5 December 2003)

We all know Tom Cruise is one of the biggest stars in hollywood with numerous box office hits under his belts (and the ladies love him) but the problem with The Last Samurai is there is too much Tom Cruise. Tom's character Nathan Algren,who is struggling to find himself(or kill himself)overnight converts from western drunkerd to samurai warrior and lame vioce over jornaul entries due a bad job of trying to convince the audience that more than 5 minutes has elapsed(captain's log stardate 1876). The relationship between the leader of the Samuri Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) and Cruise isnt explored enough and allowed to develope, it is only briefly used to show the conflict between the Japanese and American culture. The director Ed Zwick too easily allows Cruise's character to domninate a warlord that had the strengh and courage to lead a revolt as well as restore Algren life. The weak romance between Cruise and the wife of a dead samurai doesnt connect emotionally. Not to mention the one or two of the now classic MI2 Tom Cruise super slow-mo shots that ruin a few scenes. Despite all of the above that movie does deliver some of the best fight sequences in recent memory. The swords are sharp , blood is shed, and the Samurai display there skills in battle very satisfyingly(die NINJAS die!).The movie displays the fear/ respect of the Samuri have of the people in a very western (magnificant seven) feel, but does little to explain why. Overall this movie entertaining and at least worth the price for the sword play and beautiful cinematography.It could easily be a 10 with less of a chopped up story and a few changes but I'm not sure hollywood can make a 10 anymore. Oh yeah Did i mention the sword play? (DIE NINJAS DIE)