Thursday, July 25, 2013

47 Ronin ~ The Story and the Trailer

47 Ronin - Poster | A Constantly Racing Mind
Hollywood is taking on adapting a popular cultural story from Japanese history. The story of the 47 ronin was handed down in various forms throughout history. Retold in many forms, the story has been adapted by the Japanese cinema about 7 times now. Universal Pictures has added a fantasy element to the story and cast an American actor as the lead. 

47 Ronin tells the story of the men left without a leader when their daimyo is killed by Lord Kira.  Without a leader, the ronin seek revenge of their lord and spend the next two years planning and carrying out mission, as they felt honor bound to do. 

The film stars Keanu Reeves ("The Matrix" trilogy, "The Day The Earth Stood Still") as Kai. as a half British, half Japanese outcast. Hiroyuki Sanada ("Sunshine," "Ringu," "The Last Samurai") leads the group of 47 the loyal and dutiful samurai n their quest for vengeance and honor. Lord Kira, the reason for vengeance is played by Tadanobu Asano ("Battleship").Adding additional layers to this traditionally male story are Rinko Kikuchi from Guillermo del Toro's "Pacific Rim," and Kō Shibasaki from 2000's "Battle Royale" making her Hollywood film debut as Kai's (Reeves) love interest

This is an English, Japanese film and is the seventh film adaptation of the 47 Ronin story, however, this is the first English version.


In the trailer (above) Ōishi (Hiroyuki Sanada) is searching for the half-breed, outcast Kai (Reeves) to join him and the others in the quest for revenge. Witches and magic and the fantastic abound in director Carl Rinsch's motion picture debut.

The story and screen writers have an impressive set of credentials. First there is Chris Morgan, who is responsible for writing  the "Fast & Furious" franchise films, and the Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy action-thriller, "Wanted."  Second is Hossein Amini who wrote "Snow White and the Huntsman," "Drive," and "Killshot." Finaly, Walter Hamada who has served as producer or executive producer on films such as 2010's "A Nightmare on Elm Street,"  and "Friday the 13th." Hamada is also an executive producer for "47 Ronin."


47 Ronin - Keanu Reeves | A Constantly Racing Mind


Carl Rinsch has directed several video shorts, and it was Universal who sought his services and gave him an initial budget of $170 million. After budget overruns and retakes the film is set to release against Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," which opens on December 13th, 2013.

Universal plans on releasing "47 Ronin" in U.S. theaters on Christmas day, 2013. The U.K. premiere is on December 26th, 2013.


Related

Movie Data

Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
Year:  2013
Staring: Keanu Reeves, Rinko Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Tadanobu Asano, Kō Shibasaki
Director: Carl Rinsch
Producer(s):  Pamela Abdy,Eric McLeod, Scott Stuber
Writer: Chris Morgan, Hossein Amini, Walter Hamada
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: Unknown
Release Date:  12/25/2013
Historical Sources: 
"47 Ronin (2013 film)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 July 2013. 25 July 2013.
"Forty-seven Ronin" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 July 2013. 25 July 2013.
"Chūshingura"  Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 July 2013. 25 July 2013.
"Ōishi Yoshio" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 31 March 2013. 25 July 2013.

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