A Wonderful Motion Picture!!

Rating: 10/10 (29 November 2003)

This is an excellent film! Edward Zwick is in complete
command of his talents with "The Last Samurai". This is a
powerful and moving story about friendship, love, honor, loyalty,
and loss. This is passionate filmmaking by a cast & crew
completely dedicated to their story and lead by a filmmaker with
exceptional gifts. "Glory" was another great film by Zwick. This film
is on the same level of excellence. The intensity of the battle
sequences are nerve-shattering, the warmth of the quiet moments
are comforting, and the beauty of the landscapes are awe-inspiring. The performances are exceptional. Tom Cruise
gives his best performance since "Magnolia". This is a great actor
who makes great films. His performance here is focused,
intense, and complete. Great work! Ken Watanabe absolutely
owns the screen! This is a powerful, epic performance by an
extremely talented actor. The rest of the cast does an equal job.
The entire cast brings dedication and passion to their work. The
highest praise I can give the crew is this: I was in 19th century
Japan for 2 & 1/2 hours. It's an amazing place! "The Last
Samurai" is an excellent film.