Sunday 5 January 2014

Film Review - 47 Ronin


The Last Samurais

Film: 47 Ronin
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada
Directed by: Carl Rinsch
Duration: 1 hr 58 mins
Rating: * * 1 / 2

The legend of the 47 Ronin is quite popular in Japan and the tale is somewhat similar to 300 by Frank Miller. The difference of course is that the latter is a fictional account while the former is an 18th century event that took place in Japan.

There have been a few films on this story, the most notable one being Kenji Mizoguchi’s two part epic made in 1941. Subsequently, other Japanese directors have also made an effort but in vain and this is the first big budget Hollywood version that attempts to recreate the tale.

Even though considerable money has been spent (close to $175 million) this film doesn’t really click, thanks to a debutant director and very average writing.

Keanu Reeves plays Kai, an orphan who is an outcast because his father was a British sailor and the mother was Japanese. Incidentally, this character is fictional and not a part of the original story. A group of Samurai led by Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada) are left to fend for themselves after their leader is forced to commit sepuuku which is a similar ritual to hara-kiri.

The bunch of Ronin regroup to take on the villain of the piece Kira who is protected by a witch Mizuki (Rinko Kikuchi of Pacific Rim and Babel fame). Having shunned Kai, Oishi has a change of heart and mind and realizes that he would have to take the lead in salvaging the situation. Kai meanwhile has more that one reason to join the cause - he is in love with the slain leader’s daughter.

While the visuals and production design catches the eye, it’s the screenplay which hits a few bumps. You never really empathize with the characters because the focus is more on Kai rather than the 47 Ronins and within them, it’s mostly about Oishi. There are a few dull moments in the second half, when you want the director to really get on with it.  

Making the film in 3D was totally unnecessary and hopefully it will serve as a deterrent for the big studios to avoid this format. Apparently Universal Studios are likely to incur huge losses on the film and it is not too hard to see why.


Published in The Navhind Times on 5th Jan 2014
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