In the face of an enemy, in the Heart of One Man, Lies the Soul of a Warrior...

Starring: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr., Hiroyuki Sanada, Masato Harada, Timothy Spall

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"From the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue. I have never seen such discipline. I am surprised to learn that the word Samurai means 'to serve'..." - Algren

Why watch this? It takes the viewer on a historical journey through feudal Japan.

Plot Summary: Set in 1870s Japan, this epic tells the story of an American army captain who is conscripted to train peasants in order to wipe out the rebellious Samurai. During the first skirmish, Captain Algren is wounded and taken prisoner. As he heals, he finds peace from his own demons, and respect for the Samurai culture. He also befriends their leader, Katsumoto.

Dad's Preview: This massive undertaking is set in wonderful natural scenery and has some of the best battle scenes on film. However, its most commendable trait is a rock-solid script that spends valuable time developing its characters. Film critic Roger Ebert noted, "... it's an uncommonly thoughtful epic." If you like historical films, this is one to check out.

Radar Pictures, The Bedford Falls Co., Cruise/Wagner Prod.,
Samurai Pictures, LLC; Warner Bros.