MovieChat Forums > 47 Ronin (2013) Discussion > Between Keanu and Tom Cruise

Between Keanu and Tom Cruise


Although this movie was more fantastical and Keanu had far less dialogue than Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai,I prefer Keanu's Kai.
Tom Cruise brought his typical Tomcruiseness to his Nathan Algren and even when he went native I still feel like he was just an American playing dress up. It's not his fault Tom Cruise has a habit of doing that in every role he's played. Don't get me wrong,I love him but I didn't realise this until I saw 47 Ronin.
I know someone will say that these are two different films completely and it's incomparable but both films featured two major Hollywood actors in lead billing.

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Tom Cruise can act. Keanu can't. And the Last Samurai is far superior to this fluff of a film in every way.

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Reeves may be a wooden actor (and he is) but he can never be as bad as Cruise (who fools some people because he bought his way into tough parts and played them horribly I guess). Mostly because Reeves's lack of expression can't ever get as bad as Cruise's perma-smirk. If he was good enough not to look and speak like an arrogant douche in just one scene of any of his movies, he would have to be a great actor.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

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really? better than the last samurai? toms inflated ego? all i get from this is some people dont like tom cruise! the last samurai is a classic simple, this is good but not a classic, you actually feel for the samurai in that film character development was better, dont know what you guys watched but saying this is better is WAY off the mark, all you have to do is look at the score for it, ive watched 47 ronin twicew now thats enough for me but TLS i have watched many times because its EPIC! and its not just ur average revenge flick which despite all the beauty and fantasy that is all that 47 ronin is good movie yes but not a classic as is TLS.

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I agree that The Last Samurai is the better movie, but the essence of the story wasn't exactly new. 47 Ronin somehow seems cheaper made, or is it just me? - it lacks the epicness and some of the CGI are over the top. Tom Cruise is technically a better actor but I often prefer the silence and underplayed characters alá Keanu Reeves. Keanu is great in movies themed like Constantine and Matrix - dark worlds. Tom Cruise is often a bit over the top, theatrict, for my taste. I have similar issues with Leonardo DeCaprio.

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Keanu's character was fine and the movie did a good job of integrating him into the story. Keanu's performance was not that great though as he looked bored during the whole film. When he is reunited with his love at the films conclusion he doesn't show much emotion there either.

I cut Reeves a lot of slack as he can deliver a good performance when he is cast in the right role. I didn't think he was very good in this movie though. One great thing about the actor is his lack of ego as he was willing to let the other actors such as Sanada and Asano get some screentime. I am glad Sanada was given a big part and I think he carried the film well.

I thought Cruise was pretty good in Last Samurai and he is not a bad actor really. His ego does sometimes get in the way though.

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I find it fascinating that the only movie I have truly enjoyed Tom Cruise in (since the 80's, maybe) is Collateral (2004). In it, he plays a sociopath. And for some reason... it works.

Now, I draw my own conclusions from that. ;)

Keanu has a warm presence on the screen (even when he's being a badass in The Matrix). I haven't seen 47 Ronin yet, but I bet you dimes to dollars that I'll like Keanu better than I liked Cruise in The Last Samurai. It's Keanu's warm, subtle presence which wins me over--the one that doesn't hit you in the face like a brick the way Cruise always does.

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agree with both of you. I can't stand Tom Cruise, even though he is a great actor. I don't know if this is something that has increased lately, but his ego shines through when he's talking, you could replace his words with "look at me, I'm more important than you", and my reaction to him wouldn't be different.

Keanu, even though a worse actor, radiates a humbleness, and he also got this relaxed charisma that in my opinion outclasses Tom Cruise's.

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sorry. I was supposed to reply at this time, but... I didn't. :)#Every now and then I look at my old posts and laugh...
Not the case this time, but if could put in my 10 cents. Reeves is a really bad, bad actor, while Cruise is weird, he can act, while keanu can't...

People are just jealous, because voices are talking only to me...

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I also prefer Keanu's Kai over Tom's Nathan. He just fitted the movie perfectly. And while I like both actors equally, I must be fair, that 47 Ronin would be better if it was animated, like real anime story.



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This movie was a good movie, entertaining, moved along at a good pace. They didn't let the monster and witchcraft thing envelope the entire movie.. As far as Keanu, I like Keanu, even as an actor.. He may not be the greatest but I have met plenty of "real" people in life that seem about as aloof and or hollow or stiff that Keanu can come off like..so maybe he is actually a GREAT actor because he is so good at being mediorcre acting. Maybe it's intentional..lol.. But to say his role is better played than Tom Cruise in LS I think is a bit of a low blow.. Yes TC has his ego and his style but again in the same way Keanu plays to his strengths/lol/weaknesses, Tom Cruise is very good at playing a likeable extra ego kind of guy.. I never get the feeling from Tom that he is an arrogant arse like many so called great hollywood actors come accross.. I think he played the Samurai part in a way that I could see a "real" person in the postion he was in as having to be.. It didn't really feel that over the top to me.. I know some people just have it out for Tom Cruise.. because of whatever.. But to me at least he isn't a fake. He stands up for what he thinks, believes in, and from all accounts in real life dealing with him, he is a nice, likeable, respectful person.. I can't recall seeing anything out there about him going on rants. Maybe I haven't looked, but I don't remember any like easily comes to my mind about many other actors. Anyway.. I think Tom Cruise's role in Samurai was not as fluffed up as others in this thread think.. As one poster said, 2 times for 47 Ronin is probably enough. I have watched Samurai at least 5 times and plan on watching it again some day. It was a very well done, and moving film. And as someone else said if Samurai would have had Keanu as the lead,, I agree, the movie would not have been nearly as good.. my take for whatever its worth.. That being said. I look forward to watching 47 Ronin for my second viewing someday..

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