I've always been fascinated with Japanese culture, my interest and love for anime has convinced my mom that I was Japanese in another life.
So it was no surprise that my interest was caught by the movie "47 Ronin". I first saw a poster of the movie in SM Cinemas but what really got me excited was when I saw the trailer of the movie. The shape shifting dragon, the beautiful cinematography and of course - all that action!
After seeing the trailer, I was hooked. I was so hooked that I even got myself a copy of the novelization of the movie from Fully Booked.
Before you get confused though,there is no actual book or novel about the '47 Ronin' what I read is actually a novelization of the movie. The 'novel' so to speak is actually based on the screenplay that was used in the movie.
Behind the Legend
But truth is stranger than fiction because it is a true story which took place in Japan at the beginning of the 18th century. A noted Japanese scholar has said that their tale is the most famous and noted example of "Bushido" the Samurai code of honor.
The story is about a group of samurai who become leaderless or what is known as 'Ronin' after their 'Daimyo' (Feudal Lord) Asano Naganori is forced to commit 'sepukku' (ritual suicide) because he assaulted Kira Yoshinaka, a court official.
After almost two years, the Ronin avenged their master by killing Kira. Because of this, the group of Ronin were then obliged to commit seppuku as well.
This true story has been adapted into many forms and mediums over the past years, adaptations of their story is known as Chushingura in Japan. There is even a graphic novel written by Sean Micheal Wilson and illustrated by Akiko Shimojima.
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| The 47 Ronin Graphic Novel |
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| My copy of the Novelization of 47 Ronin (from Fully Booked) with a plate of sushi. Dinner at Tokyo Bubble Tea :) |
The story was also told through the different character's perspectives and Joan D. Vinge seamlessly goes through one character perspective to the next that you get to know their deepest fears and most intimate thoughts, something that is not so easily translated in the movie.
Watching the movie armed with having read the novelization I would definitely have some inputs that most people who saw the movie would not.
All in all it was a great movie with a beautiful story elevated with the beautiful cinematography and amazing graphics that was used in the movie.
Universal Studios produced the 2013 action film portraying the fictional account of the Ronin's story. Director Carl Erik Rinsch took the tale to a whole different level by incorporating Japanese mythology in the story.
The setting of the movie reminded me a lot of Rumiko Takahashi's anime series 'Inu Yasha' because of all yokai, kitsune and kirin around along with the Imperial/Feaudal Japanese setting.
I just had a problem with a couple of scenes in the movie (WARNING! SPOILER ALERT!): Oishi is thrown in a pit (jail) for one year. In the book, you will get a glimpse of his misery and suffering. Having no companion but the dark, dirt, grime and rats. But in the movie he is thrown in the pit, the screen goes dark and the words "One Year Later" appear then the next scene is Oishi being hauled out of the jail. Some people in the audience laughed since the transition of the scene implied Oish was thrown in jail and was unceremoniously released a year later without even feeding him. I know it's implied that he was of course fed and nourished during that time but audience (especially Filipino audiences can be pretty silly at times).
Another scene I had a problem with is also a time lapse scene in a sense and this was during the travel from Nagato to Ako which the movie showed as only having been one day when this would have been a number of day's travel, in the novelization by the time Lady Mika arrived in Ako she was already sunburnt and dirty from the day's travel and was already wearing men's clothes but in the movie, Lady Mika was still in her wedding robes and her hair was a dissaray when the party faced the Shogun which made the scene a bit comical.
I also have a bit of a qualm with the young Kai's supposed scars on his head which just looked like a cat scratched his head. I imagined the scars as having been more gruesome if not elaborate, a Tengu wouldn't scratch like a cat after all right ?
While Keanu Reeves' Kai gave a "so-so" performance and was not really a strong presence on the screen. I can't say the same for Rinko Kikuchi's shape shifting witch, Mitsuke. Seeing her act all bitchy and crazy had me applauding and remembering that she did get a nomination nod for her portrayal of a deaf girl in Babel. Her presence on screen was very captivating. Kudos on her take on a crazy in love witch.
Kudos to the CGI team who gave the Japanese mythology a realistic twist. I remember my thoughts on seeing Mitsuke's serpent form slither away, looking at it from your seat in the cinema you would think that it was an actual serpent slithering away.
I give a movie a thumbs up and recommend that you watch this Japanese classic with a modern twist with your loved ones and friends. And if you're hooked enough I also suggest that you pick up the novelization of the movie. You would definitely appreciate the scenes which were not included in the movie.
There are many great scenes to watch out for and all of it better suited if you watch in the cinema. From the breath taking cinematography to the mythical creatures and all the fight and scenes!
But aside from the beautiful scenes and the amazing action sequences '47 Ronin' is about the story of loyalty, honor and love, virtues and values we tend to forget and take for granted these days.
One wrong move I made when I watched the movie was wearing eye liner and mascara since I was tearing up from so many heart warming scenes.
Aside from just watching a great movie you can also get a chance to win a trip for two to Tokyo Japan for the ultimate Samurai experience and also visit the graves of the real 47 Ronin.
Check out the photo below for details! :)
The premiere night of 47 Ronin with SM Cinema was superb with the cocktails (Japanese food of course), cosplayers who came dressed up as characters from the movie and 47 Ronin shirts and USB prizes given away in a raffle (we weren't lucky enough to win those though :P) we took photos of the event but those would have to follow since I'm already behind with this post and Paul still wants to edit the photos :P
Make sure to catch '47 Ronin in cinemas starting January 8!
Check out the trailer of 47 Ronin below!
I just had a problem with a couple of scenes in the movie (WARNING! SPOILER ALERT!): Oishi is thrown in a pit (jail) for one year. In the book, you will get a glimpse of his misery and suffering. Having no companion but the dark, dirt, grime and rats. But in the movie he is thrown in the pit, the screen goes dark and the words "One Year Later" appear then the next scene is Oishi being hauled out of the jail. Some people in the audience laughed since the transition of the scene implied Oish was thrown in jail and was unceremoniously released a year later without even feeding him. I know it's implied that he was of course fed and nourished during that time but audience (especially Filipino audiences can be pretty silly at times).
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| One of my favorite things about 47 Ronin were the elaborate sets that depicted the beautiful colors of spring and the costumes that the different characters wore. |
Another scene I had a problem with is also a time lapse scene in a sense and this was during the travel from Nagato to Ako which the movie showed as only having been one day when this would have been a number of day's travel, in the novelization by the time Lady Mika arrived in Ako she was already sunburnt and dirty from the day's travel and was already wearing men's clothes but in the movie, Lady Mika was still in her wedding robes and her hair was a dissaray when the party faced the Shogun which made the scene a bit comical.
I also have a bit of a qualm with the young Kai's supposed scars on his head which just looked like a cat scratched his head. I imagined the scars as having been more gruesome if not elaborate, a Tengu wouldn't scratch like a cat after all right ?
While Keanu Reeves' Kai gave a "so-so" performance and was not really a strong presence on the screen. I can't say the same for Rinko Kikuchi's shape shifting witch, Mitsuke. Seeing her act all bitchy and crazy had me applauding and remembering that she did get a nomination nod for her portrayal of a deaf girl in Babel. Her presence on screen was very captivating. Kudos on her take on a crazy in love witch.
 |
| Hell hath no fury like a Yokai scorned. You wouldn't want to mess with this witch. Rinko Kikuchi as the shape shifting, Mitsuke- hands down amazing portrayal and performance. |
I give a movie a thumbs up and recommend that you watch this Japanese classic with a modern twist with your loved ones and friends. And if you're hooked enough I also suggest that you pick up the novelization of the movie. You would definitely appreciate the scenes which were not included in the movie.
There are many great scenes to watch out for and all of it better suited if you watch in the cinema. From the breath taking cinematography to the mythical creatures and all the fight and scenes!
But aside from the beautiful scenes and the amazing action sequences '47 Ronin' is about the story of loyalty, honor and love, virtues and values we tend to forget and take for granted these days.
One wrong move I made when I watched the movie was wearing eye liner and mascara since I was tearing up from so many heart warming scenes.
Aside from just watching a great movie you can also get a chance to win a trip for two to Tokyo Japan for the ultimate Samurai experience and also visit the graves of the real 47 Ronin.
Check out the photo below for details! :)
The premiere night of 47 Ronin with SM Cinema was superb with the cocktails (Japanese food of course), cosplayers who came dressed up as characters from the movie and 47 Ronin shirts and USB prizes given away in a raffle (we weren't lucky enough to win those though :P) we took photos of the event but those would have to follow since I'm already behind with this post and Paul still wants to edit the photos :P
Make sure to catch '47 Ronin in cinemas starting January 8!
Check out the trailer of 47 Ronin below!
The sacrifice of these 47 samurai could have been told with little more emotions during the movie. Its only before climax Director want to show everything about the sacrifice.
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