I was a little disappointed but I still enjoyed it

Rating: 8/10 (19 January 2004)

Minor Spoilers
My Rating: *** out of ****.
The first trailer I saw of the Last Samurai was easily one of the best trailers I saw last year. By the look of that trailer I had high hopes for the Last Samurai. When I saw the Last Samurai I was a little disappointed but I still enjoyed it.
Let me mention the most obvious strength of the film: This is an absolutely stunning looking film. The sets and costumes are completely believable. The cinematography is amazing with many beautiful shots. The battle scene that takes place near the end of the film is spectacularly filmed.

Some people are saying that Tom Cruise's portrayal of Nathan Algren deserves an Oscar Nomination for his work here. I do not agree. Cruise is solid in the role but I do not think it is Oscar Material. However, Ken Watanabe's portrayal of Katsumoto is certainly worthy of an Oscar Nomination. This is a commanding and powerful performance that overshadows Cruise's performance. The rest of the supporting cast is solid.
The problem with the Last Samurai is that its a little too long. There was one useless scene that did not go on that long but was really out of place ("Are you a Ladies Man, Bob"). The conversation with the emperor at the end of the film felt like it went on forever.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy the Last Samurai. However, it was not a masterpiece and not Oscar Material, except for Watanabe's performance and some technical nods. I do recommend the film though.