The film is a work of genius. Cruise is astonishing
This film is a work of excellence. Nearly every scene could bring a tear to a glass eye. Tom Cruise puts in a career best performance as the haunted drunken soldier who finds an inner peace and spiritual contentment. I'm tired of hearing how everybody doesn't like Tom Cruise and considers him a limited actor. The truth is that he is a terrific actor, with a wealth of great roles under his belt. The anti-Cruise stuff is just immature noise, not worth listening to.
Only scumbags wouldn't feel the powerful feelings this themes in this film; courage, honor, sacrifice. Much could be learned from the Samurai. In a world today littered with shallowness and greed people would do well follow the examples of the Samurai. The film takes you on a sweeping journey it has great characters like Cruise's nemesis who in the end accepts him. Wantanabe is excellent as the wise Samurai leader, and his sister - whatever her name is - conjures up such a well of emotion without even having to open her mouth.
The battle scenes are expertly done, and Zimmer does the business as usual with another emotional score.