After a lot of hesitation, I finally watched this movie on the weekend. (I'm quite anti Tom Cruise. He just rubs me the wrong way!)
I was surprised at how much better this movie was to what I had anticipated!
It's about a bitter soldier (Cruise) who gets called on to lead and train an inexperienced Japanese army into the all American military army. After just a little training, the fat cats warrant an attack against a Japanese 'rebellion'. Cruise knows that the army is not ready, yet they are forced into battle anyway.
Despite numbers, the inexperienced Japanese army get annihilated, as Cruise had anticipated. Cruise then gets cornered by the 'rebels', where he is alone fighting off about 6 men, when the 'rebel' leader decides to spare his life.
The rebels then take him in to study their enemy. We find out that the rebels are not rebels at all, that they are spiritual samurais, who lead a humble and disciplined life. The leader of the samurai's takes an interest in Cruise's character, as after a hesitating start, they form a special bond, as does Cruise with the family he is staying with.
After a lot of time there with the Samurais, Cruises' character gains inner peace. At the end of the film Cruise is now on the side of the Samurai's, as they again go into battle with the, now, experienced Japanese army. Their war was based on a progressive Japan, trying to eliminate these Samurais and their ancient ways. At the end, all the Samurais are killed in battle (reminiscent of the battle of Thermopylae where all the Spartans are all eventually killed by the Persians, but put up a decent and hard fight. This battle was referenced in the film - cool!)
There is many emotional and beautiful scenes in this movie. The main lady, a Japanese house widow of 2 kids, does everything so gracefully. The Samurai soldiers are always training, and each person in this village is strong, humble and spiritual. It's a nice sentiment...
I was surprised at how much better this movie was to what I had anticipated!
It's about a bitter soldier (Cruise) who gets called on to lead and train an inexperienced Japanese army into the all American military army. After just a little training, the fat cats warrant an attack against a Japanese 'rebellion'. Cruise knows that the army is not ready, yet they are forced into battle anyway.
Despite numbers, the inexperienced Japanese army get annihilated, as Cruise had anticipated. Cruise then gets cornered by the 'rebels', where he is alone fighting off about 6 men, when the 'rebel' leader decides to spare his life.
The rebels then take him in to study their enemy. We find out that the rebels are not rebels at all, that they are spiritual samurais, who lead a humble and disciplined life. The leader of the samurai's takes an interest in Cruise's character, as after a hesitating start, they form a special bond, as does Cruise with the family he is staying with.
After a lot of time there with the Samurais, Cruises' character gains inner peace. At the end of the film Cruise is now on the side of the Samurai's, as they again go into battle with the, now, experienced Japanese army. Their war was based on a progressive Japan, trying to eliminate these Samurais and their ancient ways. At the end, all the Samurais are killed in battle (reminiscent of the battle of Thermopylae where all the Spartans are all eventually killed by the Persians, but put up a decent and hard fight. This battle was referenced in the film - cool!)
There is many emotional and beautiful scenes in this movie. The main lady, a Japanese house widow of 2 kids, does everything so gracefully. The Samurai soldiers are always training, and each person in this village is strong, humble and spiritual. It's a nice sentiment...
A very nice film. Even though Tom Cruise is in it!
7/10
7/10
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