47 Ronin (2013)
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In a world of witches and giants, a group of masterless samurai must navigate a mystical landscape to avenge their fallen leader.
The story
In late-medieval Japan, Kai, a teenage outcast of mixed heritage, is adopted by the benevolent Lord Asano. While Kai falls in love with Asano's daughter, Mika, the pair faces threats from the ambitious Lord Kira and his ally Mizuki, a shapeshifting kitsune. When a series of mystical events leads to the tragic death of Lord Asano, his loyal samurai are branded as rōnin and forbidden from seeking revenge. Kai is sold into slavery, and the remaining warriors must navigate a world of sorcery and hidden dangers to find a way to honor their fallen master's memory while facing the powerful forces that orchestrated his downfall.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In late-medieval Japan, Kai, a mixed-heritage outcast, is adopted by Lord Asano. When the treacherous Lord Kira, aided by the shapeshifting witch Mizuki, uses sorcery to frame Asano for a crime, Asano is forced to commit seppuku. The Shōgun grants Kira the domain and forbids the samurai, led by Oishi, from seeking revenge. Oishi is imprisoned, and Kai is sold into slavery. A year later, Oishi is released and reunites with his men and his son, Chikara. They rescue Kai and travel to the mystical Tengu Forest to obtain special blades. After a deadly ambush where many are killed, the survivors infiltrate Kira's castle. While Oishi faces Kira, Kai and Mika confront Mizuki, who transforms into a dragon. Kai uses the mystical powers of the Tengu to defeat her. Oishi beheads Kira, and the survivors are eventually pardoned by the Shōgun for following the principles of bushido. The Shōgun restores Mika's inheritance and allows the rōnin to be buried with honor alongside Asano.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Japanese
- Directors
- Carl Rinsch
- Writers
- Chris Morgan · screenplay; Hossein Amini · screenplay; Chris Morgan · story; Walter Hamada · story
- Cast and characters
- Keanu Reeves · Kai; Hiroyuki Sanada · Yoshio Oishi; Tadanobu Asano · Lord Yoshinaka Kira; Rinko Kikuchi · Mizuki the Witch; Ko Shibasaki · Mika Asano
- Genres
- historical fantasy; action
- Themes
- honor; loyalty; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- stylized; fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- samurai; sorcery; revenge
- Source material / true-story basis
- Chūshingura ("The Treasury of Loyal Retainers")
- Franchise connections
- Blade of the 47 Ronin
- Reception
- The film was panned by critics and was considered a box-office bomb, failing to resonate with Japanese audiences or reach its high production budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 16% · scale: percentage · review count: 88; Metacritic · score: 28 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Production trivia
- The film features 998 costumes and 400 suits of armor.; The production was considered a 'large-scale, downright risky' move by the studio.; The film was originally scheduled for a 2012 release but was delayed multiple times.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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