Note: I will be adding commments when I get the chance.
Scott Mendelson has reviewed 47 Ronin for Forbes. Mendelson comments that while the film is visually splendid with period details, sets and action choreography, it spends a lot of time telling very little story. He laments that the majority of the budget went to the visual effects. He also suggest seeing it in 2D as 3D darkens the visuals.
I found it interesting that he said that he would have been kinder to the film if it had been cheaper to make. Considering this is Forbes, I guess we shouldn’t be surprise. I speak only for myself here, but I go to see a film to be entertained and I don’t judge the entertainment value on the film’s budget. It’s either good or it’s not but I don’t adjust my expectations for any film based on how much it cost to make.
He closes with:
Separated from financial concerns, 47 Ronin is a solid B-movie action drama, telling a classic story with just enough action and plenty of mood and visual beauty. I’m not enough of an expert on vintage Japanese cinema to know how accurate it is to the genre that it is trying to emulate, but to this relative novice, it seems to get the job done without insulting anyone. The film is well acted and handsomely staged, with a story that mostly makes sense and an ending that stays true to itself.
Hmm, “it tells a classic story with just enough action, plenty of mood and visual beauty, well acted and handsomely staged with a story that makes sense and a ending that stays true to itself”. Wonder what it takes to not be classified as a solid B-movie?
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James Marsh has posted his review for Twtich. He spends the majority of the review focused on the bastardization of the legend. I can understand why the Japanese people and Japanese critics would be upset with the liberties taken with the legend by RInsch, but it is not clear why the western critics have such a problem with this. Maybe it was just easier to focus their attention on the bastardization of the legend and what they thought the film should be than actually review what was up on the screen.
Marsh finished with:
Taken as pure preposterous fantasy, there is some B-grade fun to be had from 47 Ronin, and audiences unfamiliar or disinterested with the original story or its importance could conceivably have a good time. However, anyone with more than a passing knowledge of Japan, its history, or even just its epic back catalogue of samurai cinema will struggle to see the film as little more than a baffling fairground attraction devised by a boardroom of ignorant bean counters.
Well, I venture to say that I am not the only one who goes to the movies to be entertained. If I want an accurate account of the original Japanese legend, I will read a history book but I don’t think Hollywood and a movie screen is the appropriate source for a historical accounting of this Japanese legend or any other historical event for that matter.
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Contact Music has posted a review of reviews.
Update: The NY TImes has posted their review.
Update X2: Many thanks to Patricia K for sending in the following links!
The NY Post review is here (2/5 stars).
The NY Daily News review is here.
The Indiewire is here.
Update X3: Movie Fanatic has reviewed the film and has given it 3.5/5 stars.They actually reviewed what was on the screen – how about that!
The LA TImes has posted their review.
Bloomberg Business Week’s review is here. They lay the flop on Keanu Reeves’ inability to deliver the box office. They totally discount the fact that it was Rinsch’s charge to tell the story and they totally ignore Universal’s role in hiring Rinsch and their failure to provide any kind of oversight on him or the film. Sometimes the best of actors can’t save a film.
SFX gives the film2/5 stars.
Update X4: RTE ten has posted their review here (2/5 stars).
The Republic has posted their review here.
Democrat and Chronicle review is here.