47 Ronin

Sleeve: Love image choice. The holographic affect of the sleeve is really cool. Weapons appear to pop out & move independently to the characters. Colors are vibrant.CD case: transparent blue plastic, slim case, well constructed. Amazing how they got all 3 discs to fit so well in such a slender case. The bluray 3D & Bluray discs on one flap, and the DVD on the back of that. All easy to remove but very secure (don't fall out).Discs Printed image: both the 3D bluray & the bluray discs are sliver with light blue print on it. The DVD disc is printed solid black with the text showing the silver color of the disc through it. No photo images on any of the disc, though. Just text of 47 Ronin and what type of disc it is.Insert: There is a sheet of shiny paper with the instructions of how to download/use the Digital HD version of the move in "3 Easy Steps" You are instructed to go to the website link and enter the CODE printed in step 2.On Technical & Visuals of this film: I saw this movie in theaters in 3D and in 2D. This movie was stunning to watch, & the soundtrack stood out and is hard to get out of your heart/mind. I think I will have to get the soundtrack cd too. I loved the beauty of where it was filmed, the sets, the digital recreations of the countryside, the costumes, makeup. It is very apparent to me that the people that were in this film, put a lot of effort into it, and really tried to respect the culture, but also wanted to make it open to be shared with the world, in this fantastical version of the story of the 47 Ronin. I just want to not that if you are looking for an exact recreation of the true accounts of the 47 Ronin, then this is not what you will see, because it was not intended to do this. The Director and the wonderful Japanese cast wanted to bring this version so they could bring some of the beauty of the culture to the world, and respect the original story by not claiming to imply that this was exactly the way it happened.FIRST OFF I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT BIG PROPS TO THE JAPANESE CAST TO HAVE TO SAY THEIR LINES IN ENGLISH a language that they are not fluent in. Although I think they did a great job, under the circumstances.....I think they should have done it in Japanese with English subtitles. NOTE They did film it both in Japanese and English, but this disc set does not have it in spoken Japanese. So I have to be honest that I also bought the Japanese Bluray to watch it in spoken Japanese, too. But that is just my preference. I still enjoy it in English, too.On the Stars of the movie - In the order of who plays in it and their importance in the film:Hiroyuki Sanada is the main focus on the film and does an excellent job at playing Oishi. He really has a way to show emotion in his facial expressions, and his voice too, is very expressive. He shows both his soft side, anger, toughness. His fighting skills are exceptional. His years of training from when he was a young man have paid off, and was a valued resource in the making of the film, including spending time with Keanu Reeves to perfect his sword (Kantana) moves. They have since gained a friendship and respect for what Keanu has done in working so hard on it.Keanu Reeves - plays Kai - I have to start with, Keanu was very impressive with this sword skills and fighting scenes. If you don't appreciate it, you have never taken classes on how difficult it is to use a katana. I have and it hurts like heck to get good at it.Keanu Reeves plays a very humble, reserved, who was taken in by Lord Asano to live in his land, after he fled from Demon monks who raised him from infancy, and taught him some ways to use special powers /fighting skills, after he was abandoned by his English sailor father & left there by Japanese mother (or so he was told by the Demon monk leader). Although many critic say Keanu showed no emotion, I feel that it fit his roll. Keanu played Kai like he did to show his respect for Asano and his samurai, as well as for his forbidden love, princess Mika (played by the gorgeous singer/actress Ko Shibasaki) . I would have loved to see more of Kai & Princess Mika being more romantic with each other but I know that that would not make sense with respecting the fact that they could not ever be together, because if status issues. It is just the romantic in me that would love that. Part of me would have loved if the "deleted scenes" were not cut. I think they would have been better if they weren't cut.Tatanobu Asano - Lord Kira - Pure power hungry evil evil man...OMG! He also did a great job in making you hate him. Great actor, makes you believe him. Awesome! He is also really great in fighting scenes as well as the scenes he is in. Interactions with the witch, the way he torments the princess & confrontation with Oishi were really good.Rinko Kikuchi - She looked so awesome as the evil, heartless sexy witch. Excellent job IMO. Made it easy to be creepy, & hate her as well. She is crucial to this movie. I loved her in past films she has been in and a great addition to this wonder Japanese cast members.Jin Akanishi -played Chikara (son of Oishi) - He is a popular singer in Japan, but I really loved his acting skills. He is very attractive young man with many fans in his music and acting career. I think I would love to see more of his films, now. Jin was great in his scenes and did well in both action and emotional ones.Ko Shibasaki - the beautiful Princess Mika that is in love with Kai but knows they are never to be together in this lifetime- I enjoyed her portrayal of her. I wish they did not cut he deleted scenes, either. They could have at least kept the one with Lord Kira an the child playing shamise (Japanese guitar). Some criticized her for not being more powerful but I saw the character as being strong. She kept strong to all the terrible things done against those she cared for, and fought back when she could.Min Tanaka - Lord Asano (leader of Ako) I thought he played this part very well.I could go on about more of the cast but these stuck out in my mind as affecting me.

Keanu is awesome.The movie looks great in 4k., Sounds amazing. The story is great, action, forbidden love, renewal, the good guys eventually win anyway. Even your wife will like it! Be sure to watch the special features.

I cannot imagine a better movie to acquaint westerners with this Japanese story that is so key to their culture. I have seen an earlier Japanese version and I failed to connect with its outdated cinematic techniques. With 47 Ronin I really got the feel of bushido and the way of the warrior samurai. These intentions are universal but the 1700'sare not within popular western cultural interests, usually, so bringing in a well known actor (Keanu Reeves) brought focus and believability to the scenes of battle and impossible love. No one pulls off demon fighting and magical elements like Reeves. And no one is better at being repressed, abused, and stigmatized and still coming round to everyone's aid like Reeves does.He is a hero within an ensemble group of heroes. I enjoyed getting more familiar with the Japanese actors. The female characters were not weaklings. Universal themes of cowardice and deception for personal gain were clear. I felt the movie was very well done from start to finish. I believe they accomplished what they set out to do. Exciting battle scenes and quiet dramatic scenes were well balanced throughout the movie. Exquisite cinematography throughout. Costumes looked authentic to me. Hair and makeup not overdone to make it all the more believable. I loved the minimalist dialogue and some of it has a familiar ring to it. The fantasy elements were second to none. The 3D was an added dimension but I feel this movie will be equally as good in 2D. You cannot see a more culturally enlightening story with more fantasy elements woven within it. I can fully recommend this movie.

I've never heard the 47 Ronin story, and I've never seen any other versions of the movie. Whatever I know about the story comes from watching this movie. Contrary to what critics had to say, I thought the movie was pretty good. It was nice to watch, visually. The story moved along crisply. The action scenes were good. Critics thought the dialogue was stilted, the CGI was intrusive, Keanu Reeves was flat, and the story was a downer. I would say this, the story is not a downer, but it's not an American superhero movie in which Superman saves Lois Lane at the end. It's concerned with concepts of fidelity and honor, and the ending does a good job of celebrating these virtues, albeit not in a manner realistically fitting to modern life. Its dialogue and story line are much better than what you'll get from Thor, Iron Man, etc. The CGI contributes to an ethereal milieu that provides a suitable context for this type of story (and, frankly, I don't understand why anyone would select this movie as the place to begin voicing CGI criticisms). I would expect that people will enjoy it more than they would most of the Superhero/Legend/Fairy tale movies that are being cranked out these days. It has more substance and a lot fewer empty calories. Keanu Reeves is Keanu Reeves. Not that he lacks range, because he's at least as dynamic as most robots not named C3PO or R2D2. But I had no problem with him in this movie. I understand the criticism, but I think it's a hangover from the last two Matrix movies, and the House on the Lake, and, come to think of it, pretty much every other movie he has made. In this movie, and in this role, it actually works to his benefit. If you're looking for an entertaining legend/epic/action movie with fewer empty calories, you won't regret renting or buying this one. I liked the Last Spiderman movie. Didn't like the last Thor movie. Was 50/50 on the last Superman movie. Fell asleep during the last Hunger Games movie. I liked this movie. Your mileage may vary, but this at least might give you a frame of reference.

I watched it once so I might watch it again