A beautiful movie experience

Rating: 10/10 (4 December 2005)

I don't have the patience to sit through many movies without feeling that I've seen this before, or it just does not meet my standards for a good, much less great movie. I have watched The Last Samurai in it's entirety 5 times and have yet to tire of it. The photography is stunning, the New Zealand countryside as 19th century Japan is breathtaking, and the story and acting are both captivating and real. Tom Cruise is a lightening rod for many folks due to his religious beliefs and outspoken manner. However a quick look at his representation on the top 100 box office films indicates that he is among the masters of his craft. In my opinion, The Last Samurai is his finest work to date.