Many thanks to Joke for sending in the link!
Italian site ScreenWeek has posted a review of 47 Ronin from Japan. The article is in Italian but translates well with the google translator. The piece start with a brief synopsis of the story and then goes on to the review. Here is a brief summary of the main points:
- While Kai appears to be the central figure from posters, Hiroyuki Sanada and Rinko Kikuchi figure prominently and give good performances. Lord Asano is played by one of the greatest living Butoh dancers.
- The beginning of the film is somewhat patchy, perhaps from trying to tell to many things in a short time. Also the photography is a little flat but improves in the second half of the film.
- While much research went into the costumes and armor, they appear to be an imaginative mix of Korean, Chinese and ancient Japanese elements.
- The story between Kira and Mika was lacking in development which was a shame because Tadanobu Asano is a gifted actor that could have brought more in richness and depth to the wicked turn of events.
- The score, while nothing special, goes well with the film scenes.
- The film, which is 2 hr long, goes by quickly. (In other words, it is not a chore to watch and the story moves along at a fast clip.)
Here are additional points that are made about the film:
- The film is a fantasy and not a historical account. If you keep that in mind, then you will enjoy 47 Ronin as an enterainment product.
- The fantasy setting of feudal Japan, which was created at Shepperton Studios in London, Budapest and Skye Island in Scotland, made it possible to interweave the mythical creatures into the story. The mythical creatures were based in Japanese mythology.
- This epic fantasy is in the style of cult director Ishii Gakuryu.
They finished by saying that the film is an honest entertainment product, but similar to what was observed for Pacific Rim, it failed to draw the interest of Japanese viewers in it’s weekend debut.