A testament to the richness of culture

Rating: 7/10 (15 December 2003)

If you are looking for Kill Bill-like action, then forget this film. Otherwise, it is a great story about the culture that keeps a society together. I'll be frank...The Tom Cruise character could have had a better impact if it was performed by a more adept actor (Russell Crowe really came to mind). The real star of the film is the Samurai played by Ken Watanabe. His character exemplifies what makes his culture so precious to the Japanese people. And through the movie, it shows us how the culture of a people make them who they are and can never really be taken from them if they are strong with it.
As for the film itself, old TC, though a decent actor himself, never convinced me that he was the character...the film needed a much stronger character for that role. On the other hand, Ken Watanabe does a beautiful job as the Samurai. His performance in itself makes this film worth watching. The supporting characters are also all well chosen. A definite watch, but a far cry from an "Oscar" movie.
7/10