Eastern Braveheart - possible spoilers

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2003)

Like many others have already said, this film is akin to Braveheart in its sweeping vistas, rousing fight scenes, and emotional impact. I attended a sneak preview of Last Samurai with a large group of people and the reaction of probably 90% of us was what an incredible movie this was. I'll be shocked if this doesn't get nominated for Best Picture, because it definitely should. Rather than sing this great movie's praises like dozens of others have, though, I'd like to address some of the criticisms I've seen.
First, yeah, Tom Cruise does tend to stick with roles that are very similar. He obviously likes playing the hero type. But ya know what, he does it well, so as far as I'm concerned he can keep doing it. Where do people get off saying he only plays one kind of role anyway? I saw Vanilla Sky and I wouldn't equate that character to Algren. Okay, so it's not De Niro in Untouchables versus De Niro in Men of Honor. But Cruise kept me enthralled in Samurai, so who cares?
And what's with people saying Samurai is humorless? What about Bob? Or the scene where he's mimicking the samurai and the kid walks in? My friends and I were loving it! Okay, so they chose subtle humor over Jim Carrey--big deal. I'm sorry the humor went over their heads, but geez...!
And as to those people who felt that gratuitous sex/romance was lacking, go back to the eighties. I'm just happy that Hollywood has finally grown up and realized that sex isn't necessary to the success of a movie. Frankly, overt sex/romance would've been terribly out of place in a movie about a culture that prides itself on its restraint.
What it all boils down to for me is that I sat in that theater for 2 and a half hours and was disappointed when the credits rolled because I didn't want it to end. I laughed, I cried, I marveled at the beautiful landscape and the very cool fight scenes, and I will be paying full price at the theater to see it again, as well as buying it on DVD in six months.