Ken Watanabe forever !

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2003)

I wasn't expecting much from this film but I was offered tickets for a preview so I thought I'd go.
This has all pretty much been seen before (Braveheart meets Dances with wolves, with a dead poet society moment), but I loved it.
It is a story of redemption. My favourite subject. Cruise's caracter starts the film as a man in ruins and comes back to life as he spends time with the samurais, learns their ways and fights off his old nightmares.
It is a very beautiful film (scenery, choreography, story), the japanese cast is excellent and the insight into this unknown (to most westerners) civilization is fascinating. LS definitely made me want to learn more about it. Made me feel I've got my life all wrong...
Too loud and violent for my taste at times, but as the film goes you understand that's the way it's supposed to be.
Deserves an 8/10 although there were some laughs when Cruise came out wearing the samurai costume.