samurai get owned by guns, fact

       No, I don't think Western Samurais are awesome. Yes, maybe I do like the Japanese theme and atmosphere, just because it's japanese. But is that so wrong? They had guns, too! And swords! AND NINJAS!

       Ninjas, indeed. This movie puts Tom Cruise as Captain Woodrow Algren, alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman. He arrives to Japan to train the new troops of the Japanese emperor on the use of firearms. Apparently, Japan's early modernization has caused it to break away thelong-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor now seeks to erradicate the last of the samurai. Weeks pass without much results from the army, but Algren is then forced to take an unready regiment to combat an attacking samurai army. The battle obviously turns sour, and Algren is forced to combat the samurai by himself. He managed to kill one of the more powerful ones, but was eventually captured.

       Captive within the far reaches of a rural village, Algren is under the strict (yet generous) hospitality of the samurai leader, Katsumoto. Algren also is made to stay in the house of that powerful samurai that he killed, with the wife ordered to tend to Algren's needs or something. As the western man spent his captivity there, he learns from Katsumoto and the villagers about honor, and the samurai. This now causes Algren to truly think about what side he should really be in this conflict. The movie then goes on and on, with lots of swordplay and guns in-between. Seriously, if you haven't seen this film, take the time to. The ending might give you a tear.