47 Ronin movie review

"In the midst of a nest of venerable trees in Takanawa, a suburb of Yedo, is hidden Sengakuji, or the Spring-hill Temple, renowned throughout the length and breadth of the land for its cemetery, which contains the graves of the Forty-seven Rônin, famous in Japanese history, heroes of Japanese drama, the tale of whose deed I am about to transcribe."

— Mitford, A. B.  (1871). Tales of Old Japan, pp. 5–6.

 The story of the 47 ronin is not unusual in the Japanese pop culture and art. Besides the manga, anime and samurai films, the stories are evident in their artwork, kabuki and bunraku. There is no Japanese who is not familiar with the story. According to the movie, you will not know Japanese history unless you know the story of the 47 Ronin.

Photo courtesy of United International Pictures

Ronin is a japanese word for a masterless samurai(warrior). To the Japanese living the code of Bushido, ronin is a degrading status for any samurai. For the samurai, who lives and dies by the sword, considers it an honor to serve his master. Equivalent to the chivalry of knighthood.

In ancient and medieval Japan, feuds among clans are not surprising. The feuds of clan lords are similar to the Wild West.

There are many interpretations of the stories. Although it is a historical event, the movie is also an interpretation. The movie infused the Japanese folklore in the story. One of the creatures that was mentioned was the tengu. Tengu are spirits/demons that usually appears enormous with red face and long nose. No otaku(fan) of anime/manga is not familiar with the tengu.

Although it was not mentioned, kitsune or the fox is also a known spiritual being in the Japanese folklore. To the Japanese, the fox is also a shape shifter and are known tricksters. The fox is also associated with the nine-tailed fox like in the popular culture. In the movie, the kitsune here is a mashed up of legendary creatures such as a dragon and jorogumo(a spirit woman with spider-like abilities).

For the movie in focus, one of the ronin was Kai, a half breed. At first, I thought he is a gaijin(foreigner, alien). I am not surprised to see Westerner to be part of the story because it is an American movie. After all, it is an interpretation. However, some who are not familiar were mislead that this movie was connected to The Last Samurai since the Keanu Reaves character resembles Nathan Algren, which was played by Tom Cruise. It should be noted that this story happened in the early 18th Century and The Last Samurai is fictional.

The supporting characters were chosen well for the movie. It is good to see Hiroyuki Sanada as a samurai once again and with more character exposure. I first saw him as a samurai who opposes Nathan Algren in Last Samurai. Lord Kira was played by Tadanobu Asano, who receives a lot of movie projects in Hollywood. He was Hogun of The Warriors Three in Thor movies and Captain Yugi Nagata in Battleship.

After the success of Pacific Rim, Rinko Kikuchi plays an antagonist as the witch Mizuki who aids Lord Kira. I like her role as Mizuki better than in Pacific Rim because she is able to give more screen exposure because of her acting in this movie and she looks different. She was sexy in a dark way.

It is good that Japanese actors are given a break in this movie. I first saw Kou Shibasaki in Battle Royale, then Maiko Haaaan!!! and now plays Mika, the daughter of Lord Asano. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is also a good choice as the shogun because he has the presence of authority. He is no stranger to the action Asian action genre. He was Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat.

The 3D imagery and computer graphics are essential for the Japanese folklore to become alive in this movie. As for the action, it was not bad. But I still love the action scenes of 13 Assassins which is a basis for my judgement in samurai stories.

Here's a trivia. Each year, people visits the graves of the 47 ronin in Sengakuji and pay tribute. It is a public place and I think after watching the movie, a lot of international audience might want to see the place itself. 47 Ronin is released by United International Pictures and distributed locally by Solar Entertainment Corp. I watched it in 3D at SM Megamall.