Saw this flick a couple days ago TWICE. It's down right my favorite film of 2003 (though I'm sure it'll be considered 2004) since Tears of the Sun back in March... and just recently The Gospel of John, which could be argued about being a "film" since it is Scripture come to life in the form of a movie rather than being a movie.
Anyhow. I won't say the film wasn't without it's flaws, because there were more than a few. But for the few it did have, most was spot on accurate. *Actually it's the first film Cruise has done in years that I actually took him seriously in, though I was skeptical about at first. **As for him being a Samurai master in just one year... that's not I saw it. I saw it as a man who became as good as he could get, and when the shit hit the fan he just did his thing and was lucky enough to live. The movie doesn't play him up to have the swordsmanship of Katsumoto or even the dude that hated him so in the earlier parts of the film (his sparring partner).
***The reason everyone accepted Alderich is simple. #1 The Progressive Japanese Imperialists needed his guidence and it was about "greed" both times around (before and after his capture). Katsumoto learned to respect him, as did the others as a Gaijin no doubt, but one who's path was the same as them, and had proved he understood better than he had before the situation. ****I always took the sword fight with the five guys before saving Kastsumoto, as him having the gun in his shoulder holster... but realising that #1 ---It would attract to much attention for what he had planned. and #2---He was changed in his mindset and didn't want to have the upper hand, he was either going to let destiny and his somewhat good skills with a Katana prove him winnar... or he'd die. If anyone can prove that he didn't have the gun on him, or that he indeed left the gun in the room... I didn't catch that part.
The ending was not contrived at all. It kind of reminded me of the movie EL CID where all Rodrigo wanted for his King was to be a King, act as a King... rule as a King and not be a punk bitch. It took Katsumoto and the systematic slaughter on behalf of a punk Emperor and the Progressive Impeialists under him, to realize that he needed to assert his will over that mustachioed Japanese dude who I'd have gladly ran through with a Katana, and castrated with a Tanto knife. Thus the Emperor became a man upon seeing Aldrerich with Katsumoto's sword... his fallen retainer who died as he lived for the oath he'd taken. What is so dumb about that ending?
Great flick... but it's just my opinion, but like ASSHOLES everybody's got one!
STORM RIDER
