Under him were a number of regional lords, the daimyo, each of whom employed a contingent. Spectacular goofiness should be expected of 47 ronin, an american film loosely based on the true story of 47 reallife masterless samurai. Exiled, the warriors recruit kai keanu reevesa halfbreed they once rejectedto aid them in their quest as they fight their way across a savage world of mythic beasts, shape. Oishi is by far the more compelling character as well as the legends legitimate protagonist, and sanada gives the films most nuanced performance. Its based on historical events, but hollywood spiced it up a bit.
The revenge of the fortyseven ronin also known as the ako incident. In the same way that stories of the court of king arthur might resonate with anglos, this resonates with japanese. A couple of them will be fantastic monsters which usually clinches a show for me, ever since aliens came out. I first went to sengakuji temple the burial site of the 47 ronin about 20 years ago, just as a tourist thing and not knowing the background of the temple or the story of the 47 ronin. The story has been recreated by a number of artists. The story of the 47 ronin is one of the most celebrated in the history of the samurai. Keanu reeves new movie has 47 problems, but the ronin ain. In the process, it also created a new set of heroes in japan. Well this film stars keanu reeves who plays a halfbreed japanese man who leads the 47 ronin in their quest for vengeance. Parents need to know that 47 ronin is based on a famous japanese story about an event that took place in the 18th century and though the violence is largely bloodless, there are swordfights with mixed martial arts and two beheadings. This was perhaps all the more so because it occurred at a time when the samurai class was struggling to maintain a sense of itself warriors with no war, a social class without a function. Yet the samurais will cannot be broken by the most evil plots of supernatural foes and human greed, desire and madness.
I grab every film and book of its incarnation and eat it up with joy each time i take it in. The samurai spirit is a short animated film produced with universal pictures in conjunction with dsf as part of the marketing for the release of. The only differences are a few alternate shots and some insignificantly longer scenes just a few seconds here and there. This minidocumentary is edited and narrated by japanquickies. After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and reclaim their honor. Keanu reeves stars in 47 ronin, an old samurai tale the new. During the tokugawa era in japan, the country was ruled by the shogun, or highest military official, in the name of the emperor. Most recently, it was made into a 20 american movie titled 47 ronin. Ronin is a 20 american 3d fantasy action film directed by carl rinsch. Nobody was expecting the new 47 ronin movie to be good its long delays and problems have become legend but its bad in a particularly depressing way. Enter kai, a humble half breed with more to him than meets the eye, with catching favor with the fallen lords daughter, kai must join the 47 ronin to not only avenge his honor but save the woman he loves. The 47 ronin, or masterless samurai, avenged their lords death and became. For those unfamiliar with the story, the 47 ronin are one of the central stories from the time of the samurai in japanese culture. I bought every book there is about middle earth, from the the silmarillion to the 3 volumes of the complete history of middle earth.
A novelization based on the film starring keanu reeves from legendary author joan d. Under him were a number of regional lords, the daimyo, each of whom employed a contingent of samurai warriors. Well the story is largely legendary, its not known how much, if any, of it was true as it occurred during a period of strict censorship in japan and wasnt written down until decades after it was supposed to occur. I was inexplicably moved by the visit, and found a copy of john allyns book at an englishlanguage bookstore in tokyo. In the 47 ronin in debt, yoshihiro nakamuras samurai satire on the high cost of waging warfare, the noble history of feudal japan is retold through the. The story of their revenge spread through town quickly, and crowds. Turns out, this movie is mostly samurai with some magic thrown in at the end. A band of samurai who have lost there master set out to avenge his treacherous death at the hands of lord kira. The spartan attitude and spirit becomes the samurai code of honor, each shot and the overall look of the. The story is based on true events, but it has gained mythical. When lord asano min tanaka welcomes shogun tsunayoshi caryhiroyuki tagawa to his home, it should be a joyous occasion.
Asano was ordered to kill himself by ritual seppuku. In a shocking clash between the warriors and the merchant class of seventeenth century japan, there emerged the most unlikely set of heroesthe fortyseven ronin, or exsamurai, of ako. From ancient japans most enduring tale, the epic 3d fantasyadventure 47 ronin is born keanu reeves leads the cast as kai, an outcast who joins oishi hiroyuki sanada, the leader of the 47 ronin. Based on hirofumi yamamotos nonfiction book, it is the definition of an only for japan movie and not only because. Both the book and two movie versions of the story, 47 ronin and chushingura, are well worth tracking down. Produced for the japanese military government as a way to instill the public with the socalled bushido virtues. Keanu reeves stars in the 3d actionadventure epic, 47 ronin.
A lengthy propaganda epic loosely based on the 18th century tale of samurai whose loyalty to their master transcended his death. Social studies 47ronin questions 128 japanese history learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. The real tragedy here is that the original story, based upon actual historic events. It is not a huge budget movie, it doesnt have a perfect script or story overall, but the acting was. She like movies with fantasy and magic elements, i like samurai, seemed a great fit. But, amazingly, the story is the movie 47 ronin is coming out on christmas day. The story is based on true events, but it has gained mythical standing and has become a core tale of japanese culture. The story line in this particular version is quite simplified, as probably fits a graphic novel format. Based on the original 1941 movie from japan, and from ancient japans most enduring tale, the epic 3d fantasyadventure 47 ronin is born. Keanu reeves leads the cast as kai, an outcast who joins oishi hiroyuki sanada, the leader of the 47 outcast samurai. Even with intensely beautiful distractions, they are not effective enough to disguise the. The art work by stan sakai, of usagi yojimbo saga volume 1 fame is simply superb. The tale of the 47 ronin is one of the most famous in japanese history, and it is a true story. A story of 47 masterless samurai who carried out revenge on their lords tormentor.
Scripted by chris morgan and hossein amini from a story by morgan and walter. Yoshihiro nakamuras the 47 ronin in debt aims to humanize chushingura, japans bestknown. Spectacular goofiness should be expected of 47 ronin, an american film loosely based on the true story of 47 reallife masterless samurai who avenged their disgraced masters death. Things go horribly wrong when shifty lord kira tadanobu asano and. While it is based on the legend and true events, its a 300esque retelling done in samurai fashion.
Rent 47 ronin 20 starring keanu reeves and hiroyuki sanada on dvd and bluray. My father took me to see the movie chushingura the 47 ronin, by the japanese director hiroshi inagaki, when i was a kid. The true story of the vendetta of the 47 ronin from ako. The treasury of loyal retainers, which was written in 1748 for puppet theater based on the historical event. For those looking for the real story behind the fictionalized movie account of the 47 ronin story, this is the definitive, fascinating account of this unforgettable tale of a band of samurai who defied the emperor to avenge the disgrace and death. Keanu reeves leads the cast as kai, an outcast who joins oishi. This action movie runs with purpose from one fight scene to another but takes a pause to develop the characters and let the audience relate to their inner emotions. Keanu reeves stars in 47 ronin as a halfbreed warrior who is called upon to lead a group of 47 samurai whose master has been killed. Interesting movie, false advertising about the guy with the pistol, the fights were good, i do not know the full story about the 47 ronin but i think this modern adoption was a good version of it, but they probably could have been more accurate to the original story and it. This film is to the original story of the 47 ronin what 300 was to the spartans. The story of the 47 ronin is quite famous and combines politics, revenge, and honor in service of the code of bushido. How accurate was the movie 47 ronins adaptation of the. This set off a chain of events that led to one of the bloodiest episodes in japanese history. A fantastical take on an epic true story, 47 ronin follows 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and restore honor to their people after a warlord kills their master.
This band of ronin must seek help from kai reevesan enslaved halfbreed they once rejectedin their ultimate fight for redemption in a savage world of mythic and wondrous. The actual story of the 47 ronin is fairly simple, at least in its basic outlines. It is a historical piece set in ancient feudal japan where the hero. After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and restore honor to their people.
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