What's Lost In The Story Is Made Up By Just About Every Other Aspect

Rating: 9/10 (25 January 2004)

Having read other comments lambasting the "Hollywoodisation" of the subject area, and yes, I concur there were many thematic similarities from other films but hey ... name me one that is truly unique ... I must say I found this Cruiser very enjoyable and engrossing.
Initially, Tom was not as his best pretending to be the drunk, retrograde individual attempting to absolve himself of the multitudinous North American Indian slayings of his past (has Tom ever been drunk? He never presents an authentic one if you ask me!) or was I watching Top Gun all over again ... but his character stabilised and solidified to be easily overshadowed by the more imposing glacial Katsumoto and Samurai support cast.
Read other comments for the plot which I think, to be fair, was quite earnest. Ex. Civil War Captain takes a contract in Japan to teach the newly formed Japanese Imperial Army (if there is any historical merit in the story line it makes me shudder just thinking of the catalyst for the impending 20th century atrocities on the Chinese mainland and throughout SE Asia), they are under-prepared, he gets captured, an affinity is established which drives him to rescue his captor and take them into battle one last time...
Now the bits that jump out at me: costume - absolutely stunning - I recently went to the exhibition at the New South Wales Art Gallery where many Samurai relics were displayed including a full suit of 17th century Samurai armour... fantastic and authentic; cinematography - gorgeous - sure you could see some of the paint-ins but the vistas during the final battle were tremendous; the fight scenes - visceral, gristly, gory and realistic - especially the helmeted samurai appearing from the mists to take on the unprepared Japanese army - limbs flying all around; the characterisation (usually missing or at least superficial for most Cruisers) was great - especially Katsumoto and the relationship between Algren and Taka (god, she is gorgeous) and finally sound - I find most people overlook this as cinema is such an intense ocular experience - great surround and effect - the unsheathing of swords, their echo of intertwine - the subtle soundtrack - obviously western with so many Japanese overtones.
If you can tolerate a period piece, and a Cruiser at that, with a reasonable but obviously regurgitated story line then this is definitely worth a watch.