Thoroughly Enjoyable--Tom Cruise's Best

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2004)

I absolutely LOVED this movie. I've seen it three times, and I love it more with each viewing. Tom was robbed not to get the Best Actor nomination. In my book, this is the best picture of 2003, and 2002, and 2001.... You get the idea.
It's rich, it's full, it's got so much going on and all of it is good: a fascinating love story, war story, friendship story, clash of culture story, fleshed out characters, stunning visuals, exciting action sequences, the sets, the costumes, the music.... We're talking perfection of detail. In a word: WOW!!!!!
Tom has never been better and more appealing onscreen. When I'm watching a movie and I FORGET that it's "Tom Cruise," that's good acting. I wasn't watching Tom Cruise. I was watching Nathan Algren. And I sure liked the guy. Every emotion the character was experiencing was real, tangible and convincing. Tom was really, really just GREAT in this role. Ken Watanabe was super, as well.
This movie is definitely one to add to my collection. I say hurry to the theater to catch this one, if you haven't already seen it. I give it 9 out of 10 stars.