Akira Kurosawa, eat your heart out!!

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2003)

Ken Watanabe is amazing in this wonderful movie about the Samurai. As a student of the Samurai ways, I can appreciate the character of Katsumoto. No other character in the history of film conveys the samurai ways more than Katsumoto. No, I do not fight with swords etc. But I do live my life in the same thread as Katsumoto!! I am an actual, real-life samurai who follows the code of the BUSHIDO!!! (Jake doesn't know this that I ama in a way, Samurai). Samurai affiliation is not limited to race, so Tom Cruise being one does not fall into the realm of impossibility. I am a white man and am a samurai. Of course, this amazing movie was shot in Japan, specifically Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan!! Many of the scenes were shot in California as well. Anyway, the movie was good. Sure, it was kind of like Dances with Wolves in a way. Tom Cruise, as always, DELIVERS THE GOODS. This is right up there with the best of Cruise. He looked kick ass in his samurai outfit. Sure, I know all about Akira Kurosawa and how great he is. I am the first to admit that I am a student of his methods and have watched the Seven Samurai in great detail. I have seen the commentary as well. But let's get something strait, Akira Kurosawa is Akira Kurosawa. Akira Kurosawa is not Ken Wantanbe or Edward Zwick. The goods were delivered in this movie. The performance of Ken Watanabe is pure Samurai. I mean, he looked like one. This movie delivered on all counts in terms of how the Samurai are. The movie was very accurate. Samurai do not die in shame. Samurai are proud. Samurai devote every waking moment to perfecting their chosen craft. The Samurai are a very noble people. It's too bad that the Samurai's values are not more prevalent in today's world. As for the role of Omura, effortlessly played by Masato Harada, it was nothing short of miraculous. I was impressed to see how scared he was to get killed by Katsumoto at the end. In fact, when Katsumoto took his own life at the end, Omura was kind of mad, because in a way, Katsumoto won. I thought that Tom Cruise was going to kill himself at that moment also. Yes, this movie FOCUSED more on the character of Katsumoto than anything. Katsumoto has the oscar nod this year, not Tom Cruise. Sure, Cruise was great, but Katsumoto was amazing. I also liked when Tom Cruise screamed for Sake. And that fight scene with the wooden swords was great. Tom Cruise would not give up fighting the amazing Seizo Fukumoto who played the silent Samurai. That was great. It was cool how they eventually became friendsand Fukumoto even made sure Tom's armour was on correctly. If you ever get the chance to VISIT JAPAN, I suggest you DO IT. Also, look for a cameo of Jackie Chan in the Japanese Army.