Jeanskynebu
the audience applauded
Brenda
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Dana
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
rickrudge
The 47 Ronin (aka) The Loyal 47 Ronin of the Genroku Era (1941)If you're at all familiar with the Samurai genre, you have no doubt heard of the legend of the 47 ronin. This was an actual Japanese historic event that everyone in Japan knows about. This was reenacted in 1962 (47 Samurai) 1994 (47 Ronin) and just recently in 2013 with Keanu Reeves.If you haven't heard the story, Lord Naganori Asano (Yoshizaburo Arashi) is scolded by Lord Yoshinaka Kira, the Shogun's Chief of Protocol, and in a fit of anger, draws his sword and attacks Lord Kira in a wing of the Shogun's palace. Lord Asano is immediately ordered to commit harakiri and all of his property and possessions are confiscated. The injured Lord Kira (who is related to the Shogun) is not punished at all. Lord Asano's Senior Counselor, Kuranosuke Oishi (Chojuro Kawarasaki) is helping with the tally of the possessions of Ako castle. The now masterless Samurai are biting at the bit to take immediate vengeance on Lord Kira, but Oishi asks them to be patient and has been petitioning the Shogun to offer equal justice. Vengeance would be coming later when the safety of Lord Asano's wife would be guaranteed and finally an honorable death. This particular film was made in 1941, so you know this was meant to encourage patriotic fervor, very similar to the propaganda war movies here in the United States. In fact, at the beginning each of the two part movies, there is the sentence, "Defend the homes of those who fight for a greater Asia." You would almost expect the film to have been destroyed by the American occupation censors. Perhaps they couldn't get past the four and a quarter butt-numbing hours of the film's length.One thing that is missing from this film that we would normally expect from a samurai film is that there is no blood or any show of swordsmanship skills at all. It's strictly a historic costume drama.
Hitchcoc
One needs to see a fair amount of Japanese film to realize that so much of it is cerebral. The talkiness of this film, and most of the Kurosawa films, is to be savored. What this one misses is a modicum of action. I am as patient as anyone, but after three-and-a-half hours of discussion, as a Westerner, I expect something visual. While the close-ups and the tight scene making are fine, we are made to wait so long for an event that we know is coming from the outset. It will be interesting to see what the new film with Keanu Reeves, set to come out in December of 2013, does with the same event. This film is about honor and an ancient code. It is the sunset of the Samurai and they are dealing with the only way to do what they must do and suffer the consequence. Apparently this was a commissioned work, produced during World War II. It is spars and simple. There are some shots outside, and these become so welcome, but we are quickly brought back into the discussion to the interior. Most critical events take place off-screen. I'm sure to a Japanese viewer, the breadth of the ultimate sacrifice is part of legend and they are a willing part of the experience.
wanderingstar
I saw this film on the big screen when it was screened at a local theatre last summer. Needless to say, I went alone for this 3h40min marathon - I could not coax my wife to come! The "47 Ronin" is an epic film about this legendary Japanese story about how 47 masterless samurai plot to avenge their Lord's death. I won't expand on the plot here, but if you Google the topic or go to Wikipedia, it's a really fascinating story.That this film is not for everyone is an understatement. It is slow moving, monumentally long and requires a lot of patience. But, the viewer is rewarded with incredibly genuine acting, beautiful and poetically shot scenes, and in the context of when the film was made, a window into WWII-era Japan. Telling to the wartime era this film was made in, the credits at the beginning of each Part give credit to the "Propaganda Department" (English translation).Also poignant and disturbing, is the very serious and thoughtful portrayal of the Japanese practice of seppuku, or ritual suicide by slicing the stomach until the bowels spill out, then decapitation by a skilled swordsman.Overall, I'm very glad I saw it - and would recommend it to others interested in this story. It's one of those movies that you only need to see once though.
lukas-5
Though stately, impressive, and vaguely powerful at times, it nonetheless demands more patience than this viewer had. It's well filmed, but rather static and aloof. None of this is aided by its nearly 4 hour length.
