One of many joys of Netflix is that movies that beforehand failed to seek out an viewers in theaters will generally 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 submit, 47 Ronin has risen to No. four on Netflix’s prime 10 hottest motion pictures of the week listing. And for those who haven’t seen it but, we’re right here to let you know why 47 Ronin is price watching on Netflix.
The movie 47 Ronin is loosely impressed by a real story from 17th-century Japan by which a lord was pressured to commit suicide by considered one of his political enemies. In response, 47 of the lord’s disgraced samurai hatched a long-term plan to avenge their fallen grasp, though they knew the try was unlawful and that they’d be put to dying in the event that they succeeded. The movie provides fantasy parts to the story, however a very powerful addition was Reeves himself.
47 Ronin has considered one of Keanu Reeves’ greatest performances
Reeves hasn’t been laborious up for work in Hollywood since he first broke in through the ’80s. Nevertheless, his profession has had some down durations, notably after he completed the primary three movies in The Matrix sequence. And 47 Ronin had the unhealthy 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 doable.
Apparently, 47 Ronin is without doubt one of the few movies that performs into Reeves’ biracial identification (though it ought to be famous that Reeves is just not 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’s not part of the unique historic account.
Historic accuracy doesn’t matter, as a result of he’s Keanu. And this can be a very reserved efficiency by Reeves, whose character doesn’t converse 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 crucial 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 together with her darkish magic.
Naturally, there have been no witches within the unique 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. Paradoxically, the excessive finances for the movie’s motion and visible results is without doubt one of the the reason why followers are rediscovering it now. This film stands out from the pack on Netflix as a result of it’s actually lovely to take 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 way in which that it ends. And but there may be really a Netflix unique 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 want the unique.
47 Ronin is now streaming on Netflix.
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