Review: I really enjoyed this movie. It had a very traditional Japanese movie feel and great action throughout. The storyline was well put together by the director and you can really see were there big budget went, with all of the glamorous costumes and amazing scenery. The love story was a bit cheesy, but it spoil the whole flow of the movie. I'm in two minds about Keanu Reeves though. He just seemed misplaced throughout the film and he looked like he didn't know what to do with himself. All the way through the movie, he's treated like an outcast, even though he keeps on saving there ass, and he never gets the recognition that he truly deserves. Being called a half breed through your whole life would make anyone turn against the people that you live and work for, but he is a loyal servant he shows that his skills are very much needed. Anyway, it's definitely worth a watch and you can't help feeling touched by the amazing courage of the 47 Ronin. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: I honestly think that this film might have got a bigger audience if Keanu Reeves wasn't in it, for some unknown reason. The funny thing is that he isn't really the main character, as advertised, and it more about the legacy than an individual. As for his performance, he doesn't really say that much through the movie, but his fighting skills were impressive. Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays the leader of the Ronin, played his part extremely well and he brought all of the in depth emotion to the film. I was also impressed with his performance in The Railway Man which also was an emotional movie. I would like to hear why this movie didn't make it's money back because I have seen much worst this year.

Budget: $175million (WOW!) Worldwide Gross: $151million

I recommend this movie to people who are into there epic oriental movies about 47 men revenging the death of there master. 7/10

Why remake a CLASSIC Japanese story and have so little respect for the source material?!

If I had been told that this film was NOT a version of the classic story, "The 47 Ronin", and it had some other title, I probably would have enjoyed it very much. But considering that the original story is based on real events and has been the subject of many plays and movies, I have no idea why the filmmakers had such disregard for the source material. Watching the 2013 version is akin to watching a film about the Revolutionary War...and some of the soldiers are aliens! And, I am pretty sure this sort of bizarre storytelling must have offended many of the Japanese who saw it because they expected the traditional story and not this bizarre fantasy film. This story is a nationally treasured one--and such a ridiculous fantasy version simply makes no sense. It's obvious that although MOST of the cast is Japanese, the filmmakers knew little or cared to know little about their culture and history.

There are many ridiculous story points. The obvious one, if you know Japanese history, is having Keanu Reeves in the film at all. Starting in the 17th century, foreigners were banned from Japan. Other than a tiny trading island, Dejima, a foreigner would face the death penalty for going to Japan until the time of the American visits to Japan in the mid-19th century. So, the idea of a non-Japanese samurai is just ridiculous. But even more ridiculous are witches who can turn themselves into foxes and dragons, a MASSIVE warrior who is referred to as a 'Lovecraftian' samurai on IMDb (it's just so silly--you'd have to see it to believe this almost 8 foot tall 'thing'),ENORMOUS mythical creatures and more. Had the film been a fantasy film based on some Japanese mythology (such as the Kitsune which could change shape from fox to whatever) then it would have been fun and pure escapism. But, as a retired history teacher and lover of Japanese films, I find this entire production to be an abomination. It looks nice but has zero regard for the actual inspirational story of the 47 Ronin who gave up their lives for the sake of honor. It's really sad to see Hollywood handling Japanese culture and history so casually.

Being very fond of the fantasy genre, this reviewer was expecting '47 Ronin', also based on a great real story, to be much better than it was.

'47 Ronin' is not entirely dishonourable. It does feature some stunning visuals, the film is beautifully photographed, incredibly handsomely mounted and the set and costume designs are spellbinding. The music score is ethereal and rousing, and although the acting was bad on the whole there was one good performance and that was the tremendously dignified one of Hiroyuki Sanada.

Not all the visual aspects come off well. The editing is all over the place, sometimes chaotic and too busy, providing a choppy effect to the storytelling and some incompleteness in the continuity. The special effects also look like the makers ran out of budget. Even for a fledgling director, Carl Rinsch's lack of experience comes through loud and clear with some lack of visual finesse and an inability to allow the film to come to life.

Of the acting, only Sanada is good. Keanu Reeves is very wooden and completely out of place with a character and back-story that feel as though they were incorporated as an afterthought. Ko Shibasaki looks uncomfortable, and while Rinko Kikuchi can be a bright spot she isn't here, here she overacts dreadfully in a role more at home in an over-the-top pantomime production. It was a laudable idea using real Japanese actors, and some are very talented, but they don't look comfortable and line delivery is stilted.

To be fair though, the writing badly works against them and leaves them severely stranded, everything sounding awkward, clunky and preposterously pithy. How anybody involved was able to take anything coming out the actors' mouths seriously is anybody's guess. The characters are basically every genre stereotype and cliché in existence, which may not have been a problem if they were interesting but they are cardboard and mannequin-like instead.

Regarding the story, it starts off in a very pedestrian fashion and sadly never comes to life or gains momentum. It never excites, entertains or moves, instead feeling tedious and long-winded with some very stupid elements that makes the film impossible to take at face value or take it for what it is. Action is too little, and when it does feature it's overblown and like a cartoon.

In conclusion, has a few components that saves it from being a complete disaster but very poor. 2/10 Bethany Cox