47 RONIN

(USA/Japan 2013)

Directed by Carl Rinsch Produced by Pamela Abdy, Eric McLeod Action by Peng Zhang, Kenji Sato, Stephen Oyoung, Nicola Berwick Starring: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki, Tadanobu Asano, Min Tanaka, Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, Masayoshi Haneda, Jin Akanishi Reviewing: Universal UK Blu-ray Release Genres: Action / Fantasy / Adventure

Rating: 4 / 5

Universal UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Keanu Reeves makes an explosive return to action-adventure in 47 Ronin. After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and restore honour to their people. Driven from their homes and dispersed across the land, this band of Ronin must seek the help of Kai (Reeves) – a half-breed they once rejected – as they fight their way across a savage world of mythic beasts, shape-shifting witchcraft and wondrous terrors. (128 Mins)

Views: It's crazy to think that 47 Ronin is a (feature film) directorial debut for Carl Rinsch. He had only made a handful of shorts before this, so it was quite the project to step into Hollywood with. It makes me wonder just who these first time directors are sleeping with to get such huge projects. I myself have made 7 feature films and I'm still waiting on an invite from the studio bosses in Tinseltown – but hey! This fantasy filled movie is a Hollywood adaptation (once again) of a classic Japanese tale which, in a sense, means that this fantasy filled movie is actually very loosely based on said story. With all that said, Rinsch makes things a little larger than life with his unique version offering up witches and giants with monsters and yokai among the action, which is actually pretty damn good. Simply put, the story follows a band of samurai who set out to avenge the death of their master after he is slain by a ruthless shogun!

Leading the way is Hollywood heavy Keanu Reeves – an actor who I've always had mixed feelings for, yet still get excited when I see him announcing another action movie. Although he had been acting for years prior and I enjoyed him in Steve Martin's Parenthood (1989), the Bill & Ted movies, and Speed (1994) among others, I really didn't consider Keanu as an action-actor until 1999's groundbreaking sci-fi epic, The Matrix, hit our screens. Of course, I totally felt he was miscast in the beginning, but I quickly grew to love him throughout it's sequels along with films such as Constantine (2005), A Scanner Darkly (2006) and Man Of Tai Chi (2013) before this. Establishing himself as a martial-arts star of sorts, gaining a love for Hong Kong cinema and it's fight style after working with Yuen Woo Ping and his team on the Matrix movies, Reeves then starred in this underrated action-fantasy before really cementing his place as John Wick (2014) in the popular film series. While I do believe he is a genuinely great man and one of the few nice human beings in the entertainment industry, I have to be honest and say that I do find his acting to be somewhat one dimensional and wooden for the most part, but when in action, have always been impressed with what he has delivered. And here in 47 Ronin as the half-breed known as Kai, he certainly delivers – both in his performance and in terms of action. Respectively, perhaps stepping away from the modern-day setting is beneficial to his acting style...

The film co-stars the great and legendary Hiroyuki Sanada, award-winning star of the television series Shogun (2024), but a star I have been watching since I was 12 years old in films such as Message From Space (1978), Samurai Reincarnation (1981), Roaring Fire (1981), Ninja In The Dragon's Den (1982), Ninja Wars (1982), Legend Of The Eight Samurai (1983) and Royal Warriors (aka) Police Assassins (1986) alongside Michelle Yeoh, who he would join once again in 2007 for Danny Boyle's Sunshine. Of course, over the years, I caught him in films such as The Ring (1998), The Twilight Samurai (2002), The Last Samurai (2003), The Promise (2005), Rush Hour 3 (2007), Speed Racer (2008), The Wolverine (2013), Mortal Kombat (2021), Bullet Train (2022) and so much more – including the aforementioned and fantastic Shogun (2024) series which won him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, and others as a producer of the show. Both are joined by the prolific Tadanobu Asano, star of over 130 productions including the critically acclaimed Ichi The Killer (2001), Zatoichi (2003), Tokyo Zombie (2005), Thor (2011) and it's sequels, Kate (2021), and had starred with Hiroyuki in the brilliant Mortal Kombat (2021) and aforementioned Shogun (2024) series. Min Tanaka, star of The Hidden Blade (2004), Rurouni Kenshin 2 & 3 (2014), Blade Of The Immortal (2017) and The Twilight Samurai (2002) with Sanada, appears as Lord Asano while Ko Shibasaki, Masayoshi Haneda, Hiroshi Sogabe, Togo Igawa, and gorgeous Jin Akanishi, who had previously just starred with Sanada in Speed Racer (2008), help flesh out the cast. It was also great to see the wonderful Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa appearing – star of over 140 productions including that of Shang Tsung himself in the original film adaptations of Mortal Kombat (1995).

Although a box office disappointment on release, 47 Ronin did pretty well on home sales and even today, is actually a very watchable movie that keeps things interesting. The locations and sets are highly impressive and quite stunning to look at, and it's worth noting just how the costumes are beautifully made with enough authenticity that makes every extra look in place. While it tries to maintain that typical Japanese Samurai movie tempo with its paced story telling and long running time, the Hollywood side of it injects the odd burst of action and energy so the Western audience doesn't get bored too quickly. But why would we with such rich visuals, pretty decent CGI, great action and exciting martial arts swordplay? I do believe that during shooting the dialogue was recorded in both Japanese and English. I for one would love to have seen this in its Japanese version, something I think would have aided the film greatly and made for a better experience overall. It would make sense that Kai (Reeves), who has been brought up from a young child by the Japanese, would end up speaking their language – but instead, this version would make you think he had taught the village (or the country) how to speak English. As probably one of the most visually impressive and action packed adaptations of the famed 47 Ronin story, its hard not to deny the movie its entertainment value – while just missing that little something special. Perhaps this may have been achieved by a more seasoned director, but I was pretty happy overall!

Overall: Neo Wick continues his journey as a Hollywood martial-arts star in a film that entertains on many levels, yet 47 Ronin will never go down as a classic!

Blu-ray Extras: Deleted scenes, Making of Documentaries