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A Reel Life film section

Issue: Spring 2013-4

47 Ronin (2013) movie review

Mesmerizing Beauty

When I first saw the trailer for 47 Ronin, I was mesmerized and imagining a film to match the epicness of Sergey Bodrov's stunning film Mongol.

For a story steeped deep in history and honor, the lack of emotion from Director Carl Rinsch makes this film feel robotic at best. Worst of all was the cheap shot attempt to add humour where it was honestly not needed. I feel the film should have been in Japanese with English subtitles and showing the film in 3D pretty much left it dead in the water.

However, there were some amazing parts in the film.

movie poster, 47 Ronin, Festivale film review; 220x349

Movie poster, 47 Ronin

Some of the fight scenes with Keanu were well shot and great to watch and first sight of the Giant Samurai is met with fascination and unease. The scenes which I can only describe as silk twirling through the air as the characters manoeuvred themselves was breathtakingly beautiful and will stay with me for some time to come. The witch smirking wickedly and her serpent like hair weaving through the air were also fantastic.

There was some great atmosphere in the woods, the town of the sword-smiths is beautifully dark and I enjoyed the journey into the Tengu demons to gain the magical swords. I will watch the film again, though not in 3D as I think it will come across much better on screen without it.

Ultimately there is a great concept here but it was lost in the delivery.

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by Dee Munday
Australian release 16 January 2014
For credits and official site details, see below
Search Festivale for more work by the film-makers below.
See also: The Matrix

Just the facts:

Title: 47 Ronin (2013)
Written by: Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini (screenplay)
Chris Morgan & Walter Hamada (screen story by)

Directed by: Carl Rinsch
Running time: 118 mins
Rating: M


The Players: Keanu Reeves, Ko Shibasaki,


Official website:
IMDb entry


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