from the first moment robert carlyle character be beat to the ground for cause the japanese guard to lose face and i be hook . every moment i saw in this film cause me to be amaze again and again . a bit of insight be bring into japanese culture at that time a i watch these men who be completely alien to that way of life be force to live under that system . cinematography wise and there be little to complain about . that doesn not mean nothing . it would take too long for me to go shot by shot and but one thing in particular which be good if you see a few scene of it and but be annoy the first time be the frequent several second flashback . the first couple time i saw them i wasn not sure exactly what be go on ( particularly the fight at the food line ) but after i saw it a few more time and i finally figure it out . i do not have much to say about the score . it be good for it purpose and and the celtic theme be really interesting to me . other than that and nothing spectacular ( once again and low budget so no copyrighted song and not that this need any ) kiefer sutherland and robert carlyle be very impressive and but the one that blow me away be dusty miller who real name i do not know . maybe that why he blow me away a i think he be an unknown . cieran leave something to be desire at time and but most of the time he be good as well . many of the japanese soldier be good too and but some seem a bit overacted . the main japanese guy who deal all of the punishment seem overacted most of the time and but the shovel scene really let me see into his character . the translator be very good and i couldn not find much to complain about him . all of the japanese actor and of course and act for kurosawa and so you would expect them to be excelent and but their acting style may be a bit too old for this movie and though they may be quite impressive by themselves or in their element . the message of forgiveness and reconciliation be very need . i be very upset with an early reviewer who basically say if you felt like these people do that you weren not human . how dare he or she just discount something experience in real life by the person who write the story . in contrast to that and the thing dusty and ernie do be incredibly noble . it not lose your humanity to forgive and but to eliminate the feeling of hatred in your life be to regain your humanity and remembering that the story be tell a it happen . that be probably the most amazing thing of all .