47 Ronin (2013)

I didn't remember whether this was supposed to be good, but its 118-minute run made it seem a decent choice to keep me occupied while donating platelets. I later learned that it bombed at the box office but still managed to get a Netflix sequel last year. Go figure.

Circa 1700, half-English, half-Japanese Kai (Keanu Reeves) is rumored to have been raised by demons or perhaps be one, which doesn't stop Lord Asano (Min Tanaka) from giving him shelter since boyhood. But one day, power-hungry Lord Kira (Tadanobu, heh, Asano) uses demonic connections of his own to deceive Asano into an act bad enough to demand seppuku. The shogun (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) awards Asano's domain to Kira and orders Asano's daughter Mika (Ko Shibasaki), Kai's love, to marry Kira after a year of mourning. Asano counselor Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada) spends a year in jail, then frees Kai from slavery as a combatant. Regretting his earlier acquiescence to such injustice, Oishi now plans to lead Asano's former samurai to illegal revenge on Kira before the wedding. Since ronin are considered honorless, they become more amenable to accepting help from Kai, who really does know a thing or two about demons....

The revenge of the 47 ronin has had many fictionalized tellings over the centuries, but from what I gather, they generally avoid fantasy elements. I certainly hadn't expected any going in. This may be a key reason for the movie's lack of popularity in Japan. Making Asano not guilty via magic is cheap.

Another reason: Kai. Not only was he never in the legend, but adding a half-White lead hero played by an actor with no Japanese heritage seems bigoted. It would've flown better in the days of the Kung Fu TV series. Well, at least he doesn't fight Kira himself; that's left to Oishi.

OK, putting aside issues of tradition and authenticity, how is it? In brief, Hollywood-mediocre. The plot is simple, and concepts are spelled out for viewers who know next to nothing about Japan. The rating is PG-13, so we rarely see a trace of blood. The fighting? Let's just say that with or without magic, it doesn't hold up to Keanu's more cherished action outings.

I think the highlight, if there is one, is Academy Award winner Rinko Kikuchi as Mizuki, a kitsune in Kira's employ who nevertheless has her own wicked agenda. She has sworn not to harm Mika but encourages her to commit suicide. Of the two notable female characters, Mizuki is the more invigorating, not least for her fancy shapeshifts, albeit with graphics that were just par for the time.

Perhaps the best I can say is that the makers did not change the ending. It's just as tragic as ever. And if you're like me, you'll be ready for it, in more ways than one.