Hollywood's image of the "noble savage" is applied to the 19th-century Japanese samurai in this sweeping action drama from director Edward Zwick. Reminiscent of Zwick's Glory and Legends of the Fall, it charts a poignant personal odyssey prompted by the clash of old and new cultures. Tom Cruise plays a disillusioned US captain hired by the young Japanese emperor to train the country's first modern conscript army. After leading an inadequate campaign against the samurai warriors, the military man is captured by these alleged national enemies who teach him to reassess his beliefs and values. An epic movie in every way, the beautifully shot tale pours with emotion, from its strong storyline and robust performances to its spine-tingling and bloody battle sequences. Though the film suffers from being overly idealistic and occasionally stereotypical, its heart is in the right place, while the attention to detail and extensive use of subtitled language adds extra authenticity. Cruise handles his role well, but it's Ken Watanabe's dignified turn as samurai leader Katsumoto that captivates.

Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.