A bright spectacle but the alarm bells are ringing - Spoilers

Rating: 7/10 (17 January 2004)

I was not sure whether to see this film or not because I was tiring of the Tom Cruise performance style. However I am glad I did as I found it valuable entertainment with some great quotes and inspirational satire.
Its true, Tom Cruise can act after all! It is quite a performance, with fantastic Japanese backdrops and culture, excellent supporting roles by Ken Wantanabe and Billy Connolly and great action sequences.
So whats the catch? No catch really but more a warning as Tom Cruise balances on the edge of self-adulation that has a familiar danger about which Kevin Costner became an expert. The last sequence of the film records his apparent immortality when everyone about him is killed. This for me did not provide a happy end to the movie but made it rather unbelievable and made an unfortunate diversion from reality. This rings alarm bells that ask is Tom going to do a Kevin; blinded by success and available finance, will he be create films to further his immortality rather than the filmmakers art. I hope not.