Zwick's best since Glory

Rating: 7/10 (27 March 2005)

Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr., Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn. Directed by Edward Zwick.
Zwick has given us one of my favorite movies in the 80's, in 1989 Zwick directed Glory (A civil war movie that follows the 54th black regiment) but in 2003 he did The Last Samuri. The story revolves around a civil war vet in the 1800's Nathan Algren (Cruise in one of his better performance's since Michael Mann's Collateral). Nathan is sent to Japan to help the Japs defend of the Samuri, whom are being a real pain in the ass. Cruise being beaten in battle is now captured by them and learns their way of life from their leader Katsumoto (Watanabe). Nathan's eyes are opened to see who truly is the worse of the two, he is turned against the Japaniese and fights in one of the biggest sword swing, horse riding battles of all time (Just my opinion). Cruise and Watanabe give an electrifying performance in Edward Zwick's masterpiece The Last Samuri. My final rating 8/10. Gives the crowd what it wants to see.