This seems to be the year for collaboration between the Japanese and Hollywood movie worlds. Following Tarantino’s Kill Bill, a homage to chambara movies, we have The Last Samurai, an epic tale of chivalry and honour. Tom Cruise has top billing, but Japanese stars Sanada Hiroyuki and Watanabe Ken are sure to get a lot of studio attention after this. Both were in Los Angeles for Monday’s premiere, which received a standing ovation. It opens on the same day in the US and Japan (tomorrow Japan time) and is sure to be one of the big Christmas hits.