Review of The Last Samurai (2003) by Caesar M — 19 Mar 2013

Decent "epics" are hard to come across in this day and age, and when one comes along that is worth it's salt, such as "The Last Samurai", it's easy to forgive the film it's flaws.

The pace plods along at it's own speed, with many parts of the film seeming to achieve little at all. Like "Braveheart" and "Gladiator", the film is riddled with historical inaccuracies. And Tom Cruise, while servicable, isn't exactly on top of his game in the lead role.

Supporting players, such as Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly and Timothy Spall, do a much stronger job on the acting end, and this helps move the film along.

But the gripping battle scenes, and the strong climax, make this film mostly worth the wait. A highly recommended film.