One of our readers, darkcity, has seen 47 Ronin in Malaysia and has posted a review in the forum She has given permission to post it here on the front page. She also reports that the film is being positively received in that market and the theaters continue to be full.
It’s more a drama than an action flick. Pacing is quite uneven, but it picks up in the second half of the film. Production values are gorgeous, best cinematography I have ever seen. But the story is uneven. This is a movie that could have been soooooo good because the sets were there, the budgets were there, and the actors were all good.
This is clearly the director’s lack of experience.
What I would have done:
1) Cut down the dramatic scenes
2) Prolong the action scenes, which are really good.
3) Focus more on one character’s journey than being all over the place. As a result, we don’t really feel for any of the characters, although we are on the verge of doing so.I thought the Tengu monks set piece was the best of all. It should have lasted longer.
This is my dissection of it and what I would have done different. (Warning: spoilers)
1. We need to root for one character. Kai is clearly an underdog and we can root for him, so I would prolong his childhood scenes. I would also explain why no one likes him.
2. I would cut down the talky Shogun visit bits and prolong Kai’s encounter with the silver samurai. There needs to be a better showdown, like in the script.
3. The Dutch harbor scene is really good. I would have prolonged that as well.
4. So are the Tengu monks. I would have stretched it out. Made it harder for them to get the weapons.
5. I would also have prolonged the final showdown.In short, the action scenes are so good that I would have milked them for all they are worth and cut down on the talky bits. Keanu has real charisma, even when he’s not saying anything, and I understand now why test audiences wanted more of him in the movie.
The final seppuku scene is what makes the story loop great, and I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.
In short, uneven film which could have been so much better. What a waste! But deserves 7/10.
Note: I have the utmost respect for darkcity. She knows a lot about the industry and her reviews have always been spot on.