The Last Samurai (2003)

Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, Masato Harada, Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Spall

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I was expecting something not so great and got something that was better than expected. Go, low expectations! It's certainly a pleasure to watch Cruise and Watanabe when they are together in a scene. It's simply awe-inspiring when they fight together. As usual, Cruise overacts some parts, but it's certainly allowable considering the film is epic in scale. As the critics said: Watanabe is incredible, simultaneously graceful, powerful, delicate and humorous. It certainly doesn't hurt that the film is shot by John Toll of Braveheart fame. Not too bad, Mr. Cruise. Not too bad.

July 5
computer, late afternoon

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