Amazing how Zimmer manages to mix his well known dramatic style with Japanese music, how easily he shifts from quiet and slow full of expectation to dramatic, brutal batlle music. More than one track can easily be classified as a masterpiece (Spectres in the Fog, Ronin, Taken, A small measure of Peace,...). The fact that it can easily be enjoyed without having seen the movie says it all: where most soundtracks quickly become repetitive (or even boring), Zimmer knows how to come back with the same themes and blend it in, in such a way that it stays original. Big bravo. Among his very finest work!