Good but not great.

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2003)

I have to admit, I was very excited to see this movie. It had all the makings of a great epic if not an Oscar bound flik with love, intrigue, passion, and treachery all combined and woven into a turn of the century feudal Japan story. Could it go wrong? After viewing it, I can honestly say that it is not an OSCAR bound movie but an above average Sunday flik. The characters were very stale and the love between the main characters, Nathan and Taka seem contrived. Poor Nathan can never get killed (even though he wishes it) after being shot multiple times at the end of the movie and pummeled by a wooden stick in another scene. And some of the dialog seemed rather laughable and every time Katsumoto spoke, the English never matched his lips (was it dubbed?). Rather unbelievable at best. The savior of this movie is the cinematography, the well choreographed violence, and the magnificent shooting locations. Did someone mention New Zealand? Definitely worth seeing but I just could net get over the title (and Tom Cruise) being the Last Samurai