One of many joys of Netflix is that movies that beforehand failed to search out an viewers in theaters will typically get a second likelihood to seize the viewers that eluded them the primary time. Such is the case with 47 Ronin, the 2013 motion movie starring Keanu Reeves. On the time of this put up, 47 Ronin has risen to No. 4 on Netflix’s prime 10 hottest films of the week record. And should you haven’t seen it but, we’re right here to inform you why 47 Ronin is price watching on Netflix.
The movie 47 Ronin is loosely impressed by a real story from Seventeenth-century Japan wherein a lord was pressured to commit suicide by one in all his political enemies. In response, 47 of the lord’s disgraced samurai hatched a long-term plan to avenge their fallen grasp, regardless that they knew the try was unlawful and that they’d be put to loss of life in the event that they succeeded. The movie provides fantasy parts to the story, however an important addition was Reeves himself.
47 Ronin has one in all Keanu Reeves’ finest performances
Reeves hasn’t been onerous up for work in Hollywood since he first broke in through the ’80s. Nonetheless, his profession has had some down durations, notably after he completed the primary three movies in The Matrix collection. And 47 Ronin had the dangerous timing to reach in late 2013, a mere 10 months earlier than John Wick as soon as once more made Reeves into an motion icon. Would this movie have had a greater box-office efficiency if John Wick had come first? It’s definitely potential.
Apparently, 47 Ronin is likely one of the few movies that performs into Reeves’ biracial identification (though it needs to be famous that Reeves isn’t really half-Japanese). Within the film, Reeves’ character is Kai, a half-English and half-Japanese orphan who’s introduced into the family of Lord Naganori Asano (Min Tanaka). And earlier than you ask, sure, Kai was created for the movie and he isn’t part of the unique historic account.
Historic accuracy doesn’t matter, as a result of he’s Keanu. And it is a very reserved efficiency by Reeves, whose character doesn’t communicate except he has to. There may be additionally a love subplot about Kai’s love for Lord Asano’s daughter, Mika Asano (Ko Shibasaki). However that is an motion flick, and Reeves doesn’t disappoint as a samurai warrior.
The film has one of the memorable villains ever
Contemplating that Rinko Kikuchi was nominated for an Oscar for her efficiency in Babel, she isn’t as well-known in America as she deserves to be. A number of months previous to 47 Ronin‘s launch, Kikuchi had a fan-favorite flip as Mako Mori in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim. However on this movie, Kikuchi will get to be completely unhinged as Mizuki, a witch who helps Lord Yoshinaka Kira (Tadanobu Asano) take down Lord Asano along with her darkish magic.
Naturally, there have been no witches within the authentic account of the 47 Ronin, however Kikuchi’s efficiency is a lot enjoyable that few might argue in opposition to her inclusion right here. She’s the one who will get to be over-the-top evil and mysterious. And that’s why she’s so pleasant to look at.
It has nice motion and visible splendor
Sadly, 47 Ronin was thought of a box-office failure as a result of it couldn’t come near recouping its $175 million greenback finances. Satirically, the excessive finances for the movie’s motion and visible results is likely one of the explanation why followers are rediscovering it now. This film stands out from the pack on Netflix as a result of it’s actually lovely to have a look at, and the motion is nice. And if samurai showdowns aren’t sufficient for you, there’s additionally a contact of magic and fantasy between the witch and a few giant-like beings.
This film wasn’t designed to be the beginning of a franchise, particularly given the best way that it ends. And but there may be really a Netflix authentic movie that serves as a sequel: Blade of the 47 Ronin. That film takes place 300 years sooner or later. However for our cash, we nonetheless choose the unique.
47 Ronin is now streaming on Netflix.
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