Gladiator Wannabe

Rating: Null/10 (13 January 2004)

The director and screenwriter John Logan seized an intriguing idea and succeeded in converting it to film in an entertaining movie product. Tom Cruise plays a veteran American Civil War military hero who is hired by Japanese businessmen/political schemers to modernize the Japanese military from its samurai tradition to a military fully equipped with the latest in weaponry technology. Cruise's efforts are cut short with his capture by samurai soldiers who decide to spare his life in exchange for the opportunity to learn from this foreign specialist. It is with this relationship dynamic where this film succeeds the most. A western military professional thrust into a community of samurai traditionalists poses a bountiful stage for cultural clashes. The eventual polishing of Cruise's western style "edges" into fine tuned samurai values is a story that the film chronicles effectively and with conviction.
While this somewhat overly-long film scores well on several levels in its story telling, it falls short of classic status for many reasons. While for the most part the Japanese cast, lead by John Watanabe, is first rate, Tom Cruise's character is wooden and predictable leading a cynic to conclude that Tom's range of acting may be constrained by his well known mannerisms and countenance. As a counterpoint, John Watanabe is mesmerizing in his role as the last samurai.
The cinematography is first rate and the music and mood is consistent with the film's objectives. However, am I the only film spectator who is bored and annoyed with the obligatory battle scenes that are central to films of this genre? As with many films of its type, Gladiator included, one can use the battle scene sequence effectively as a rest room or popcorn break, and not miss a beat with the essence of the film. I sometimes relate ground level battle sequences with the nonsensical car racing or car crash sequences of modern police adventure flicks. The scenes are overly long, difficult to really understand and appreciate, and grotesquely predictable. Where was the editor with these scenes?
All in all a worthwhile film with laudable acting and pleasing vistas. With its interesting theme, a movie well worth the admission price. But while this film is clearly not only not a classic, it is truly not a great movie by any stretch.