It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The sad truth is very few Japanese under 35 have seen a Kurosawa movie. They just aren't interested in something so old-fashioned. With this in mind, it's actually a good thing that they remade this movie. Sure, it pales in comparison to the original. But it is very entertaining – especially if you haven't seen the original. Yuji Oda, one of the top stars in Japan, has a lot of fun playing the scruffy master-less samurai who calls himself Tsubaki Sanjuro (the thirty-year- old Camelia). He's rude and cynical and domineering, but still willing to help the innocent-but- hopeless young samurai rescue their chamberlain from a group of corrupt officials. There's a lot of bloodless sword action, though the sound effects are pretty descriptive. Director Yoshimitsu Morita gives the film a light touch, and it flows by quickly, which is perfect for this generation. And if it makes them want to see Kurosawa's originals, so much the better.