if they'd have chosen some other lead than Tom (yeah I call's it acting) Cruise in the lead. Sigh... why do they have to ruin what anyone would consider an absolutely compelling story by playing down to American audiences. I'm sure the producers meeting went something like this.

"Great story JB but nobody will pay to see a story about Japanese guys in pajama's gettin machine gunned".

"You're right kid. Story needs punchin up."

"I got it boss, let's add some American guy to the story to tie it too our primary audience and have him fall in love with some geisha girl or sumpthin."

"Now you're thinkin' kid, who do you think they'll buy".

"Oh gotta be a heartthrob to attract the soccer mom's, I got it, how bout Tom (the jaw twitcher) Cruise????"

"Brilliant kid, brilliant, get me his agent on the phone."

Sigh.... The guy just can't friggin act as far as I'm concerned. He lacks the ability to immerse himself in a character ala Paul Muni, Johnny Depp or others. He's the same friggin guy over and over again... man, I hate this guy but I still liked the movie.

Da Worfster