After many years of hovering under the radar, Keanu Reeves makes an explosive return to our screens in 47 Ronin.
In the latest clip of this blade wielding adventure, Keanu is certainly back in action and ready to take on a ghastly looking CGI giant. Set to hit the screens of America on Christmas Day this year, the film follows a group of 47 samurai who vow to hunt down the man who dishonoured them murdering their former leader. In a dark world of fairy tale, Tolkien-esque mythical creatures, their only hope is tracking down the half-British, half-Japanese Kai, in order to defeat the merciless Lord Kira.
Variety journalist Michael Flemming described the film’s direction as, “a stylized version of the story, mixing fantasy elements of the sort seen in The Lord of the Rings pics, with gritty battle scenes akin to those in films such as Gladiator.” Keeping that outlook in mind, 47 Ronin has potential. If he had stated the film would be Jack the Giant Slayer meets The Man with the Iron Fists, it wouldn’t have been that convincing!
This is in fact based on the true events of the forty-seven ronin story which isn’t new to cinema. Still remaining in the Meji period of 18th Century Japan, this is the first to be set with magic and all things fantastical in the hope of giving the story a new, fresh and exciting image. Additionally, unlike many Hollywood blockbusters that use big stars in place of a different ethnicity, virtually everyone except Keanu is Japanese. Albeit, this film was made with a western audience in mind, so not having that one actor that viewers can relate to would be risky business. Not only will the film be released in English, but also in Japanese! I for one am looking forward to seeing the former Neo back on the screen and acting in a completely different tongue no less.
47 Ronin will be released in 3D and 2D throughout theatres in the UK on Boxing Day 2013.
