Real events regurgitated as fantasy freak show.

OP, I wonder what you thought of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer...

Take a man who is arguably the United States' most recognizable hero and, despite his status as a likeable hero going untarnished by the film's end, he kills vampires throughout its running time, and all of his lines were not direct quotes. And finally, and most frustratingly, the actor portraying Lincoln wasn't even really Abraham Lincoln. What a sham.


The bottom line is that that film, just like 47 Ronin, was produced to make money. Most of the big heads who rake in said money probably could care less about tradition and the truthful story behind 47 Ronin. If that was their concern, they wouldn't have hired a rookie director, they wouldn't have Keanu Reeves portraying a "half-breed." As such, maybe not everything you watch on screen is what the man behind the camera, or the screenplay, or the many other individuals involved with the production of this film as an art form rather than a money-making scheme, truly wanted to be there.

I remember the early marketing tried to make the film out to be a Japanese blend of LOTR and 300...

Do you understand why that might have been a good idea for the studio to try and jump on? First planned to be released two weeks ahead of The Hobbit...then postponed to two weeks ahead of the release of The Desolation of Smaug.

I love the cinematic version of this movie. I think it's especially visually impressive. I also think, amid all the raw footage that this young director shot, along with the rumored first cut of the film, there may be a far greater film that got pushed aside by budget concerns. You seem to suggest that the story of the 47 Ronin was Americanized/bastardized/ruined/blahblahblah. I still see its spirit intact.

I'm not Japanese but I have seen way tooooo much Japanese films and TV to realise that there are many, several, examples of re-telling of Japanese history/ inspired by Japanese history. It's not only on the big and small screens; its even in their manga.

47 Ronin is just one of those re-tellings. I'd be offended for them if it wasn't done tastefully.

I love the culture of Japan, but I know that it is deep and based on values that while not unknown to the west, may seem strange to be the basis for a culture. To the casual observer, as many of my friends are to the Far East, this can be daunting and confusing.
Making a direct Kurosawa-esque retelling of the actual events of the 47 Ronin, would likely not be successful in the West and only be appreciated by the few. Giving it more of a fantasy spin has made it far more palatable to those uninitiated to Japanese ways. Many people that I have spoken to that have seen it, have admitted that it was an interesting introduction to the culture and left them wanting to know the true story, that having seen this adaptation, has been much easier for them to understand on the cultural level.

I can see what you are saying about western movies, but this movie is grounded more in culture and honour, than a tale of death and revenge.

I would only have been annoyed had they totally cast it with western actors. Keanu Reeves is a fan of Japanese culture and apparently an 'Otaku' himself. He understands the values at the centre of the story, and also gives it the western connection. Had it been a purely Japanese cast, it would not have been picked up by Hollywood distributors, and so pass many western movie goers by and miss the opportunity at giving a fantasy-veiled peek into a culture that is based in moral values.

No long comments just a total agreement that this film is, so far as "47 Ronin" is concerned a joke. It even makes "Somersby" (another true story ruined by Hollywood btw) look tolerable

Just seen this movie and apart from the only fact that antasyis mixed into a supposed true story., it's a worthwhile film. Keanu Reeves is not as bad as people make put to be. This a pretty decent fun Samurai film made for western audiences. Yes there is a mystical woman and a half breed but who cares. If this film was labled lLegend of the Samurai and no connection to the 47 Ronnin you would all think this was a pretty decent action blockbuster. Its the pure fact you cant distants yourself from the fact its not historicaly acurate. i do not think this was trying to be a typical japaneese samurai film. If you want that go watch Ran or Or 13 Samurai or any Jett Lee japan film. That being you want acurate historical movies about japan. This film is made for western audiences and there is nothing wrong with the film. It looks good, the effects are good, has decent battle scene, so what is everyones beef with it. Surley there is a 100 more worst things about a Twilight film than there is about the fact this film is somehow pissing on history.

Easily the worst film version of the story ever made, and that includes the wartime Japanese propaganda versions which strongly extoll the virtues of self sacrifice (ie how wonderful it will be to die for the Emperor).

This film is actually a mockery of the story of the 47 Ronin of Ako and functions as little more than an insult to them and Japanese history as well. This film is so incredibly bad, it makes that Tom Cruise "Last Samurai" nonsense look like an epic historical film.

Even if this film wasn't a complete and blatant disgrace to the actual 47 Ronin and their story, on it's own it's still one of the worst films ever made combining a complete misunderstanding of ancient Japanese mythology with horribly bad CGI. Add to that absurdities like the chicken / manbearpig they had in the beginning and this is a horribly bad film even by Keanu Reeves standards.

If the producers of this film and Keanu had even an ounce of the honor possessed by the actual 47 Ronin, they would have all killed themselves for the obscenity they released.

There is a whole genre of story telling devoted to fictional tellings of the 47 Ronin you smart guy. As for fantastical tellings of real love people and events....are you serious? Do you realize that has been going on for centuries? There are so many fantasy versions of people and events that have existed or happened they are too numerous to name. Some are well known points in history, others are stories that deal with elements and people in history. Ever heard of Robin Hood? The 300 Spartans? Battle of Troy? Billy the Kid? Davy Crockett? King Richard? Not to mention the famous leaders and martial artists mythologized in Asian culture. Get off your horse man. By the way the term for fictional telling of the 47 Ronin is known as Chūshingura.

Fortunately we'll probably never know what the Japanese thought of this movie, because almost no one in Japan bothered to watch it.

I would have loved to have seen a legitimate adaptation of the original story that focused on Hiroyuki Sanada's character, and dropped all the Hollywood *beep* Go watch The Twilight Samurai, which stars Sanada, and is an amazing and realistic samurai film.

If anyone thinks that an American production can't pull off a truly Japanese story, in the Japanese language, with a Japanese cast, go watch Letters From Iwo Jima. That movie was authentic and respectful, and more than tripled its budget.

Until Hollywood learns how to properly adapt Eastern stories, I will happily look forward to Takashi Miike's adaption of The Alamo, where David Bowie leads the charge against the invading army of chupacabra.

Die like a dog. Then laugh it off. I'll be waiting for you with a grin as wide as the truth.