47 Ronin

My girlfriend was lured to this movie by Japanese mythology. I also found it interesting in the trailer. But then the local critics and reviewers showed up and showed everybody that 47 Ronin isn’t worth shit. I said to myself that either the database got it wrong, or maybe I was wrong so I went to see the movie. I was naturally pretty skeptical. In the end, however, I found out that the local wannabe professionals were wrong because what I got was a more-or-less good historical fantasy laced with Japanese mythology. I actually believe that Keanu Reeves made sure that the many Japanese samurai ideas were sifted for truth, which means there isn’t as much nonsense in this respect as one could expect from a Hollywood movie. But at the same time, you have to expect the fact that it’s fantasy. But I think that in essence this is a well-made movie. It has everything that a good movie should have. It has action, suspense, good direction, good camera work but also good acting performances. It’s actually all so good that you wouldn’t expect it, judging by the reviews here. That’s why I can only say one thing and that is that you should definitely go see this movie in a cinema because it deserves it. I had been skeptical, but I hadn’t been this wrong in a long time. 47 Ronin is a very well-made and interesting movie. If it had been made by Japanese filmmakers for Japanese audiences, it would have ended up with mediocre ratings. Nobody would have understood it. Here, the fact that it’s a Hollywood movie is actually for the better for the general public. But the question is whether people can appreciate that. (01/04/2014)

I wasn’t so keen on this and it didn’t have anything to do with Japan apart from the visual side. Often I could see no sense in the behavior of the characters and scene continuity was quite rusty. Rinsch is good at generating nice pictures, the design was superb and Reeves does his best even though his character didn’t match with what I expect in the main protagonist. All in all, a disappointment. (04/21/2014)

Surprisingly, the trailer is significantly worse than the movie, it feels cluttered and uneven. The film is different. There are just enough fantasy elements, they are not too distracting and provide a solid counterbalance to the calm, quiet, intimate atmosphere of ancient Japan. Keanu Reeves fits surprisingly well, and his character is enveloped in a pleasant mystery effect. Visually, it is opulent, of course, with an emphasis on the Japanese aesthetic of costumes, scenery, and traditions. It is not entirely an eye candy spectacle for everyone, but it is a diligently crafted piece of work where nothing is half-assed, and as a whole, it makes sense with a very clear message. (05/29/2014)

I don't really know anything about the historical event that inspired this film, so I don't mind in the least that the filmmakers played with it with the subtlety of a blacksmith. Much worse is how boring the result of their work is. I couldn't find a shred of originality in it and even the hard-working Keanu Reeves, charismatic Hiroyuki Sanada or the rather unexpected ending didn't make the film more interesting. In terms of disappointment and lifelessness, 47 Ronin reminded me of the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans. That’s too bad. (06/20/2015)

This is a somewhat strange film. A film about Japan and Japanese culture, where English is spoken and everything takes place in the backdrop of Scottish nature or Budapest studios. This bothers me a lot in a film that focuses on samurais. On the other hand, what doesn't bother me are the fantasy elements, which unfortunately are sometimes the only thing that livens up an otherwise quite boring film. At times, it's terribly forced and cliché, sometimes even unpleasant. If you can get past that, it can be enjoyable. However, it must be acknowledged that the film understands the traditions of the Bushido code in a Japanese way, not in a Hollywood way. (04/21/2014)