47 Ronin *** (2013, Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki) – Movie Review

Keanu Reeves stars as the noble mixed-race ronin Kai, who along with the Japanese hero Oishi, gathers together a band of samurai to avenge the death and dishonour of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun.

This troubled $200million samurai epic may have been critically bashed and be shaping up as a box office flop but it’s decent entertainment anyway. A comic-book version of a fabled real story, taken as a fantasy action adventure movie re-creation of a famous Japanese historical event, there’s nothing much really wrong with it.

Let’s start with what’s wrong then. Among the movies problems are that, with Keanu the only American in the cast, the Japanese actors are speaking American, when subtitles would have been loads better. Some of the actors are understandably having difficulty with the language and it’s hard to follow all the dialogue. Filming was first done in Japanese for the sake of the supporting cast, and then filming was done in English. The Japanese actors are all excellent, though, and there’s no doubt they make the movie much more authentic. Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi, Kou Shibasaki and Jin Akanishi are the five main stars.

Another problem is that the film is now very obviously re-edited down from a two-hour running time to around 100 minutes, giving it a thin, flimsy feel as well as no doubt pacing it up. It needs to be epic, and feel epic, and it isn’t, but it is still exciting and entertaining and of considerable appeal.

And so now the Keanu bashers are out in force again, and that’s a shame. Admittedly, he’s a bit minimalistic as a performer here, but that’s fine too. He’s quiet, centred and noble in persona and convincing in the action. Hiroyuki Sanada is first rate as the Japanese hero Oishi, Kô Shibasaki is appealing as the heroine Mika and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is a powerful presence as the shogun.

This is the seventh movie adaptation of the Japanese folktale of the 47 ronin, but the first ever Hollywood version. The story is certainly a notable one, fit for retelling every few years, and the action, cinematography, visual trickery (Moving Picture Company) and performances are attractive, accomplished and exciting. It’s not the best or most thrilling movie ever, but it is worth some respect and a visit to check it out. There is a better movie to be made here, but this will do for the time being.

This is Carl Rinsch’s directorial debut, filming at the Raleigh Studios Budapest, Hungary, with some work in London and on the Isle of Skye. Maybe Rinsch’s lack of experience shows in 47 Ronin in a film that lacks stature and accomplishment but still entertains.

Keanu (‘Cool breeze over the mountains’) Reeves, 50 in 2014 on September 2, is still looking for a hit again. But in 2014 he found it, with John Wick.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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