Movie review: 47 Ronin - a dying tale

Keanu Reeves makes a comeback, not with a bang but a whimper.

47 Ronin is set in 18th century Japan and stars Keanu Reeves (Kai) as a former half-Japanese and half-British slave striving to balance his humanity with the demonic skills he was taught as a child. Fortunately for Kai, he is never brought down by his inner demons, using his innate skills to move like a deadly wraith, slicing and dicing his enemies into oblivion.

The film is not just about fighting inner demons but also depicts a fictional account of the forty-seven Ronin — a real-life group of samurai in 18th century Japan who were left leaderless after their feudal lord, Asano Naganori, was sentenced to commit suicide in order to maintain his honour. His rival, Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano), employs the magic of his shape-shifting witch, Mizuki (Rinko Kikuchi), to trick the lord in an attempt to take over his lands and marry his daughter Mika (Kou Shibasaki). Kai, who is in love with Mika, is sent into exile following a defeat by one of Kira’s best men.

After Asano kills himself, his former samurai are banished, and their leader, Oishi, plots revenge. Two years later, Oishi finds the exiled Kai fighting valiantly at exhibition matches, making him the perfect candidate for seeking vengeance. Kai is initially reluctant, but eventually joins the men who are openly mistrustful of his magic, for the love of a master who took him in as an orphan.

Now for the things to look out for: powerful CGI effects, beautiful cinematography, a gorgeous art direction and some stunning visuals that lend an endearing fantasy element to the lush green Japanese feudal settings. Some of the animated Japanese folklore creatures in the film are amazing to look at and are somewhat reminiscent of a Manga novel or a Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke) animated film.

But unfortunately, the acting in 47 Ronin is as shallow as the CGI monsters in the film. Aside from Hiroyuki Sanada (Oishi), the majority of the film’s Japanese cast give uneven performances which often feel wooden. In fact, most of the acting in 47 Ronin is so average that Keanu Reeves, who is usually an effective actor, comes across as a shell-shocked kung-fu fighting Orson Welles.

To make matters worse, the film rests on a shaky script. Although it tells an absorbing story, the narrative is regularly held back by laughable dialogue that descends into cliché. This is especially unfortunate because 47 Ronin retells the most famous national legend of Japan, which in the hands of a more competent filmmaker would be a compelling story

If nothing else, 47 Ronin is a feast for martial arts film fans, showcasing skillfully choreographed action scenes that feature a delightful concoction of destructive magic, violent fistfight, and clashing samurai weapons. It is a pity that the rest of the film isn’t as sharp as the katana blades its heroes wield.

The film proves that even with the dazzle of an A-list actor and stunning visual effects, a weak execution can plunge a movie into darkness. 

Rating:

Noman Ansari is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to several publications.
He tweets @Pugnate 

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, February 23^rd, 2014.