Every now and then I'll write a review for a Movie, good or bad I only
Pick movies that leave much room for discussion. After all if it
doesn't make you react one way or another, why write about indifference? so having said that I would like to offer my 2 cents in regards to my latest 9 dollars spent(even though I was taken out by a good friend). The Rast Samurai (sorry my Japanese friends crack me up when they can't say the letter L).

Wow, what a good Samurai Movie. Is it a good movie in general
though? I can answer that with a yes. Partly because I went to see it
very late yet my attention was held from beginning to end. And I felt
what I was suppose to feel about each and every character. I hated the bad guys and cheered for the good guys. Felt them in jeopardy when they were, and smiled with them in triumph. Every emotion that the director was trying to convey seem to reach me with much ease. The acting was a big part of this message reaching me as well. Tom Cruise, for his Glamorous good looks pulled off the "broken down, beaten by the horror of war" man with great ease. Though I know hes had experience playing this role, so once I saw what his character was suppose to be, it put me at ease (I was a bit concerned about the casting of Mr. Cruise in this role, He's too pretty to be a Samurai).

With most Films the art must be a point of discussion. The sets, and costume designs were brilliant. A few digital scenes were a bit poor, but they were not an integral part of the movie so I'm sure most viewers will let it slide. But I can't say enough about the Samurai costumes. The character and attention to details of the armour, head dress and weapons were very impressive. It made me want to run out and buy Samurai stuff the minute the movie was over. Kudos to the art director, and his team for such craftsmanship. It added a lot my movie watching experience.

One of the weakest points of the movie for me, relationship
between Katsumoto(the Samurai Lord, played by Ken Watanabe) and Nathan Algren( Tome Cruise). It seemed as though there were so many strong relationships that Nathan was developing with every one in the Japanese village that the writer didn't have enough time to elaborate on them. Yet I was hoping between the two main characters more would have been done to suggest that the bond was strong. It was implied that they spent many moments speaking and bonding, but I would have liked to have witnessed more exchanges between the two characters. Nathan seemed to have touched many peoples lives in the village, and in return they him, but the most important relationship was left at the same level as the others, and that disappointed me a bit.

If you are a huge fan of Samurai movies, don't miss this one. The honor and glory of a Samurai's life is never forgotten in any scene. It over takes you and wraps around you like amour, and makes you wish you had the chance to be a Samurai. In my opinion The Seven Samurai is one of the best Samurai movies made, while the last Samurai is not on that level it holds up on its owe merits, and is definitely not a movie to be missed this holiday season. When you go, keep in mind the costumes, and how successful the actors and the director communicates the story from scene to scene. My friend's 9 dollars was very well spent.

Thai Tran Senior Artist SCEA