47 Ronin (films, scenes, drama, watch)

[blktoptrvl]

Although I know the general outline of this classic Japanese samurai story, I have never seen any part of any version.

I have also heard that the latest Keanu Reeves version was really bad.

So, for anyone who has seen more than one version, which would you recommend? [If Japanese, it must be dubbed or subtitled.]

Thanks.

[Suburban_Guy]

Keanu Reeves version was horrible.

It was showing on an international flight I was on last year, and I couldn't get past the first 15, 20 minutes. Total CGI nonsense.

[mattywo85]

I honestly had really high hopes for this movie(Keanu version) but after it's release the reviews were horrible and I didn't end up seeing it and really don't want to.

[NVplumber]

This movie was , quite, bad. The weapons were done well, beautiful blades, but...beyond that? Not so great. Keanu Reeves has the projection of a ball of lint, anyway. This role was totally unsuited, to him.

[Taiko]

A local Television station used to broadcast the year long Japanese NHK network "Taiga drama". It is about 50 hours of historical drama. Their 1964 version of the story is considered amobg the best they ever did. I saw much of a 1999 version, Genroku Ryokusa about Oishi Koshiro the samurai leader of the mission to avenge his lord.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Taiko

A local Television station used to broadcast the year long Japanese NHK network "Taiga drama". It is about 50 hours of historical drama. Their 1964 version of the story is considered amobg the best they ever did. I saw much of a 1999 version, Genroku Ryokusa about Oishi Koshiro the samurai leader of the mission to avenge his lord.

Thanks, I'll look for them.

[Taiko]

That reminds me of Saturday nights when I was alone. At the start a voice, not really fluent in English would announce something like the show had been subtitled so we could learn about Japanese culture. At first the taiga dramas where on KDOC out of Orange County but after the station grew more and more episodes where being preempted for local college sports. Finally the multi language, but mostly Korean KSCI in LA picked a series but by then my viewing habit was broken.

But keep in mind the show is fifty hours the first ten or so hour you will be looking at a child's life and how his father was either a local feudal lord or in a couple of cases a commoner. Then a few more in his rise in rank. In Oishi's case you see him rise to the chief samurai under his lord who responds to hazing in the palace by pulling his sword so he is ordered to kill himself and the Aiko clan is broken up. So half a year may have been gone before he started his deception plan and gathering intelligence for the eventual attack.

Good luck in finding it. I wouldn't mind a rewatch of Hideyoshi if it was possible

[Cida]

Well, I think we may take it for granted that any mid-century Japanese version will be better than a 21st century Keanu Reeves version.

I saw the Mizoguchi version. I believe it's very respected, but I have problems with Mizoguchi. If it's a serious question with you, there is a reference book, and one or two websites, that specifically focus on Japanese films, and maybe they'll have ratings you can compare between the Mizoguchi and the Inagaki.

[DippIT]

i saw it last year, and i still can remember some scenes. Sorry to break your hope, but, Reeves's version is, horrible. nough said.

[Taiko]

I remember enjoying the Tom Cruise version of The Last Samurai more than the historical TV drama of the subject matter so when Keanu Reeves was announced as the star I was more worried about how would a two hour movie be able to handle the time frame and Oishi's long game plan then any "white washing" or sticking Americans into the play.

Then I saw the first trailer for the movie They made Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter