This is the story of how 47 Samurai become Ronin and how they back Honor to their former Master. The Lord of Aku is forced to preserve his honor by taking his life. His death was forced upon after an ill faithed spell was cast upon him by the minors of Lord Kira. This story tells a tale of honor, courage, and mysticism as director Carl Rinsch debuts his imaginative prowess and cinematography along side Keanu Reeves as ‘Kai’, Hiroyuki Sunada as ‘Lord Oishi’, Ko Shibasaki as ‘Lady Mika’, Rinko Kikuchi as the ‘Witch’ and Tadanobu Asano as ‘Lord Kira’.
The story starts off with young Kai escaping from the demons of Tengang Forest. He is brought into the care of Lord Asano who played by Min Tanaka. Although a guess, Kai is often mistreated and called a half breed. He grows up as a misfit boy with a strange aura aboout him, but Lady Mika, Lord Asano’s daughter, sees something in him and falls in love with Kai. We see Kai battle what appears to be the mystical beast, the Kirin, to save a fellow warrior. While he didn’t receive recognition for killing the Kirin, he is still ill treated but some know the truth.
With Lord Asano out of the picture, Lord Kira is charged with watching over Aku. By the order of the Shogun Lord Aku will marry Lady Mika to preserve the peace between the two Houses. The 47 Samurai are informed by the Shogun not to take revenge and that they are now Ronin, Masterless Samurai. The 47 Ronin do not take this in stride and silently vow one day they will revenge their Master’s Death to bring Honor back to the Clan.
The Clan is dismantled. Lord Oishi is captured and thrown into jail for a year. Kai disappears and the 47 Ronin fend for themselves in the forests as bandits and common thieves.
A year passes Lord Oishi released from the Pit. He quickly gathers the Ronin together and reluctantly asks the half-bred Kai to join them. We find Kai in a kind of underground fighting club and nearly kills Lord Oishi who asks him for his help. Kai agrees and they then escape the fighting club. Lord Oishi gets word that Lord Kira will be traveling and plans an ambush. However, Lord Kira is no where to be found and the Witch with her forces and spells, nearly defeats all the Ronin. Feeling defeated, Lord Oishi is counsoled by Kai that all is not lost. They have the element of surprise as Lord Kira thinks the Witch had killed them all. Renewed, Lord Oishi gathers his Ronin and anyone willing to fight to bring back dignity to the Clan. They set out to battle Kira and the Witch at his Castle.
The battle at Lord Kira’s castle takes place on the day Lady Mika is to wed Lord Kira. The Ronin attack and Kai battles the Witch who by this time has assumed her form as a Dragon. With his knowlegde of the killing ways and dark magic taught to him by the demons of Tengang Forrest, Kai defeats the Witch Dragon and the Ronin exact revenge and return honor to their former Master. In the tradition story telling fashion of Japan, the Ronin are broguht back to Samurai status by the Shogun, but are allowed to die a Samurai’s death for taking vengeance in direct disobedience of the Shogun’s orders.
Th 47 Ronin movie was a good adaptation of the Japanese classic. The movie was well scripted, excellent cinematograpgy, and the story and special effects were very balanced. Unlike other movies which seemed to bring the effects before the story, it was not so with this movie. I liked this movie though many would say it wasn’t worth it. I would recommend this to all you fantasy folks as this reminded me of a Japanese version of the Lord of the Rings.