47 Ronin (2013)

Alright, I confess: I have a soft spot for anything that is related to Japan. That counts double when it comes to myths, legends and fairytales. Not that I have an overt fetish like some people, but for some reason, there is something infinitely appealing to stories from the land of the Rising Sun, be they classic or futuristic.

And then they throw in Keanu Reeves. So you see, I have no choice but to really, really like this film.

Nowadays, Reeves has returned in grand form thanks to - mostly - 'John Wick', but there was a time when the man had a bit of a lag in his career. He went from an all time high during 'The Matrix' to a real slump that probably culminated with the atrocious remake of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (where he was the best thing in it by far, by the way). So he needed something to get his teeth into and this story did just that. This one got his steam up again and rightfully so.

'47 Ronin' is based on a Japanese fairytale/legend where the samurai from Ako vow to avenge the death and betrayal of their master, knowing full well that they will perish in the process. But at least then they will have died with honour and if you know anything about Japan, you know that honour is a big thing over there. Reeves is a half-breed son of an English sailor and a Japanese girl and because of that also an outcast who was raised in a mysterious forest by an equally mysterious cult. He is found by the lord of Ako and even though he is always on the outside, he is more or less accepted. Or at least tolerated within the confines of the province, let's put it like that.

Like any good fairytale, this one also has mythical beasts, mysterious forests, cults, a witch, and heroics. It is always brought to live in moderation, there is nothing truly over the top and even the fantastical elements seem to make some semblance of sense and they serve the story well. Even though you know how it is all going to play out, you will not lose interest, because the story flows nicely and there is not really a dull moment to be spotted.

Bizarrely for an American film, they actually took the trouble of finding an all-Japanese cast, which is nice. It adds a lot to the authentic feel, even though they speak English. Sure, Reeves is not really Japanese, but considering he is supposed to be half-Japanese, this works. And the beard he later would also keep for 'John Wick' is rather fetching as well.

What also makes this film a lot more striking, is the great use of colours. You might not notice this during a first viewing, but every shot is eyecandy. There are vibrant and vivid colourschemes and they make sides and scenes so gloriously beautiful, you could feel the need to pause and take it in. The samurai from Ako are vivid red, the Shogun and his dignitaries are resplendent in golden hues and evil lord Kira has great purple and blue instead of the all black. The slightly exaggerated colours give the whole that unearthly fairytale feel and it is just a joy to look at.

The design of some of the more outlandish things also works rather well, with a big bonus to the cult that resides in the Tengu forest. The uncanny mix between human and bird of prey gets more intriguing with every watch and their movements are also birdlike, so you can tell that a lot of thought went into most details of the film itself.

As stated before: you know how it all will play out in the end, but I dare you to keep your eyes dry when it all comes to a close.

I double dare you.