47 Ronin - Movie Review
47 Ronin - Movie Review
Director: Carl Rinsch
Writers: Chris Morgan (screenplay & story), Hossein Amini, Walter Hamada (story)
Stars: Hiroyuki Sanada, Keanu Reeves, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kukuchi, Kô Shibasaki, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Fantasy Action Movie
An old and venerated legend of honor, loyalty, sacrifice, and revenge is the basis for 47 Ronin. It’s a yarn spun of politics and intrigue and samurai, of insults and etiquette. A serious tale of bushido, the code of the samurai, where honor is more important than anything, even life.
Shoehorned into this classic story are shapeshifters, demons, psychic powers, cage fighting and starcrossed lovers. All of the supernatural elements are completely accepted and believed by the characters as part of everyday life–except when it would be critically important to the plot. Then, warnings of paranormal danger are ignored, and people are punished for things beyond their control . . .
First, the good part. Did you see Pacific Rim? Do you remember feeling that the talented Rinko Kikuchi was totally underutilized in an otherwise fun film? Did you want more, more, more?
Well, she’s back. Rinko plays a witch, unencumbered by pesky morals. And she chews through every scene she’s in. With gusto. In the words of Michael Longcor, her character is “deliciously self-agended.” Kukuchi’s scenes are the absolute highlights of the film.
Now, the less-good part. That would be the entire rest of the movie. The plot is confused, alternating between a character-driven historical drama and a fantasy adventure. It can’t decide whether to center on the samurai-turned-ronin Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanado), who is motivating the large revenge part of the plot, or on Kai (Keanu Reeves), the doesn’t really belong outcast/tagalong half-breed (who nonetheless fights well) because he’s being played by the bankable star. So it kind of see-saws back and forth, manufacturing “important and necessary” things for Kai to do so he can get more screen time.
For comic relief, there’s the he-must-be-in-every-film-where-there’s-an-Asian Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, playing the Shogun Tsunayoshi, master of all Japan, looking oh, so stern in an incredibly silly-looking hat.
Far too much of 47 Ronin suffered from standard soap opera problems for me to really enjoy it–characters suffered and died because no one thought to talk to one another, and no one was expected to act reasonably if they did.
Overall, the fight scenes are entertaining, but a bit confusing to watch. The costumes are beautiful. The movie does manage to get across the dignity and serenity of bushido, and the beauty of Japan, despite its terribly contrived and twisted plot.
Recommended only for die-hard Keanu Reeves fans and those who adore all things Japanese, even when they’re mangled a bit for the sake of a movie.
In real life, the 47 Ronin live on, as a festival is held every year on December 14th at Sengaku-ji Temple, to commemorate the events the film is based on.
Reviewed by Elektra Hammond
Elektra Hammond
Elektra lives in Delaware with her husband, Mike, and the cat herd of BlueBlaze/Benegesserit catteries. When not freelancing or appearing at science fiction conventions she travels world-wide judging cat shows.
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