“This movie is a thing of beauty, with the substance to match its style.”

Hollywood — and America’s — fascination with all things Asian continues in Edward Zwick’s “The Last Samurai,” a movie that successfully merges a Western with a samurai movie. Zwick triumphantly pulls off what sounds like the height of arrogance: a Yank directing a samurai movie and, worse, Tom Cruise playing the title role. Hewing close to historical accuracy, though, the film does a reasonable job of situating Cruise, playing an Indian fighter and Civil War veteran, in Japan during the 1876-77 Samurai Revolt to catch the final moments of samurai culture and its spirit of Bushido.

Salman’s just turned over a new leaf. And it’s high time after all the bad publicity he’s been getting. In fact, he’s not only mended his ways, he’s also going to be the epitome of goodness. However, this time it’s only on screen. Rumour has it that the Khans’ home production company G S Entertainment is going to produce a film on the Ramayan, with Salman playing Lord Ram and his brother Sohail Khan portraying Lakshman. The grapevine insists that G S Entertainment will rope in a Hollywood company as co-partner in the deal and even cast Hollywood actors in other roles in the film. There is no doubt that this film could change Salman’s entire image considering that films on such topics are a craze in India, not only for the rich Indian heritage that such films capture but also because of religious reasons. With Salman already having signed the Hollywood production ‘Marigold’, looks like the Khan is going to give serious competition to the likes of Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves!