47 Ronin (2013)
Some stories of bravery and loyalty live on long after the heroes whose deeds gave rise to these legends have left this world. 47 Ronin (2013) is a fantasy action film inspired by the "Chūshingura", the true story of a group of masterless samurai (called ronin) led by Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), who embark on a mission to avenge the betrayal of their late lord, Asano (Min Tanaka), by the ruthlessly ambitious Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano). Among these warriors is a "half-breed" named Kai (Keanu Reeves), treated as a servant before the fall of the ronin, but now a warrior fated to guide them to victory.
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Although the plot of 47 Ronin comes the real history of 18th century Japan, the film is unquestionably a fantasy film, one where demons and monsters roam the lands. These supernatural beasts and mythological entities keep to the shadows and only manifest in rare circumstances. Kai comes from a village in the "Sea of Trees", ruled by bird-like demons called "Tengu", who taught him powerful abilities, but did not love him. Kai escaped them as a child and was discovered by a young Oishi and Asano, which led to his begrudging inclusion into the Asano Clan in the Akō Domain. Most of the proud samurai under Asano resent Kai's presence--like the haughty Yasuno (Masayoshi Haneda)--believing him to be anything from a peasant to an actual demon. Kai remains subservient and humble to his adopted family, knowing that despite their arrogance, they are good men, and there are far worse dangers in the world. Kai also stays because he is in love with Asano's daughter, Mika (Ko Shibasaki), who has also loved Kai since they grew up together; but because of his position in the clan, Kai cannot declare his love for her. Because Akō is a lush and fruitful land, it becomes the object of Kira's desire. He devises a cunning ploy to acquire it through deception and the magic with the aid of his kitsune ally--a shapeshifting demon that appears as a seductive concubine with heterochromia, credited simply as "Witch" (Rinko Kikuchi). Most of the special effects and manifestations of magic in 47 Ronin are a result of Witch's magic, like the spell she casts on Asano, making it look like he attempted to assassinate Kira, which in turn necessitates that he commit seppuku--ritual disembowelment--to preserve the honor of his household. But when the stern Shogun Tsunayoshi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) dictates that the houses of Asano and Kira must be bound by a marriage between Kira and Mika to prevent further conflict, Kira quickly eliminates his potential enemies and prepares for the marriage that will consolidate his power. It is here that the story of 47 Ronin draws more from history as Oishi, the loyal second to Asano, prepares to sacrifice all that he has to ensure justice is done in the memory of his master. He puts aside his pride and rescues Kai from the fighting pits of a slave ship,; together they build a guerrilla band of former vassals to strike at Kira.
47 Ronin is a vibrant fantasy action film--from the elaborate costumes to the larger-than-life background sets in this stylized interpretation of medieval Japan. The bright armor of the samurai is striking, as it gleams in the sunlight. Kira wears a shiny kimono of blue and grey, and the exaggerated shoulder pads add to his villainous countenance. Monstrous entities like the rampaging beast the samurai fell in the beginning of the film are colorful and vivid, and designed to inspire awe and excitement. Although 47 Ronin was an American action film--directed and produced by Americans--it has more in common with the big and bold blockbusters found in Eastern cinema, combining fantasy and history. 47 Ronin features many native Japanese actors who have found success bridging the gap between Japanese and American movies and television, and the characters speak exclusively in English. This interplay between Japanese and American cinematic aesthetics makes 47 Ronin feel like a bridge between the two worlds--like Kai. The story of the "47 Ronin" is a popular folk tale in Japan, with a moral about placing honor before one's own life when the cause is great. The most likely Western equivalent would be the story of "Robin Hood", with Oishi as the cunning and tenacious leader of his group of rebels, and Kira as the cowardly and cruel "Sheriff of Nottingham". There are other similarities between 47 Ronin and the various adaptations of "Robin Hood", like when Oishi poses as a performer in a theater troupe to assassinate Kira. Oishi doesn't start out as the kind of man who would make a blood oath to defend his late master's honor. He is one of the samurai who had no fondness for Kai, and even tried to kill him as a young man before Asano intervened. Oishi is forced to accept his humility when he is cast into a pit for nearly a year, after which he feels contrite for his humiliating treatment of Kai. He recognizes his own hubris in denying Kai's warnings about Witch, warnings that could have spared him and his entire clan this terrible fate. 47 Ronin hypothesizes that Oishi's wisdom comes from Kai, if incidentally. While Eastern films often maintain that an unbreakable will is a virtue, Western films usually prefer the approach that a wise man learns from his mistakes. This is the key moral in 47 Ronin which exemplifies this bridging of these two cultures, cherishing the values of both America and Japan.
Recommended for: Fans of a colorful and stylized fantasy depiction of a "Robin Hood"-like myth in Japanese folklore, rooted in history. 47 Ronin is a fun and exciting action movie; although there are some violent moments--including a few decapitations--the film is appropriate for most audiences that like samurai swordplay mixed with the supernatural.
47 Ronin is a vibrant fantasy action film--from the elaborate costumes to the larger-than-life background sets in this stylized interpretation of medieval Japan. The bright armor of the samurai is striking, as it gleams in the sunlight. Kira wears a shiny kimono of blue and grey, and the exaggerated shoulder pads add to his villainous countenance. Monstrous entities like the rampaging beast the samurai fell in the beginning of the film are colorful and vivid, and designed to inspire awe and excitement. Although 47 Ronin was an American action film--directed and produced by Americans--it has more in common with the big and bold blockbusters found in Eastern cinema, combining fantasy and history. 47 Ronin features many native Japanese actors who have found success bridging the gap between Japanese and American movies and television, and the characters speak exclusively in English. This interplay between Japanese and American cinematic aesthetics makes 47 Ronin feel like a bridge between the two worlds--like Kai. The story of the "47 Ronin" is a popular folk tale in Japan, with a moral about placing honor before one's own life when the cause is great. The most likely Western equivalent would be the story of "Robin Hood", with Oishi as the cunning and tenacious leader of his group of rebels, and Kira as the cowardly and cruel "Sheriff of Nottingham". There are other similarities between 47 Ronin and the various adaptations of "Robin Hood", like when Oishi poses as a performer in a theater troupe to assassinate Kira. Oishi doesn't start out as the kind of man who would make a blood oath to defend his late master's honor. He is one of the samurai who had no fondness for Kai, and even tried to kill him as a young man before Asano intervened. Oishi is forced to accept his humility when he is cast into a pit for nearly a year, after which he feels contrite for his humiliating treatment of Kai. He recognizes his own hubris in denying Kai's warnings about Witch, warnings that could have spared him and his entire clan this terrible fate. 47 Ronin hypothesizes that Oishi's wisdom comes from Kai, if incidentally. While Eastern films often maintain that an unbreakable will is a virtue, Western films usually prefer the approach that a wise man learns from his mistakes. This is the key moral in 47 Ronin which exemplifies this bridging of these two cultures, cherishing the values of both America and Japan.
Recommended for: Fans of a colorful and stylized fantasy depiction of a "Robin Hood"-like myth in Japanese folklore, rooted in history. 47 Ronin is a fun and exciting action movie; although there are some violent moments--including a few decapitations--the film is appropriate for most audiences that like samurai swordplay mixed with the supernatural.