A martial arts and katana expert analyzes a fight scene from47 Ronin, Keanu Reeves' critically-panned 2013 action film. Directed by Carl Rinsch,47 Roninis loosely based on a true story, following a group of samurai who set out for revenge after the murder of their master. The film, which was written by Chris Morgan, Hossein Amini, and Walter Hamada, features Reeves starring as Kai, with a supporting cast that includes Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Kô Shibasaki, and Jin Akanishi.47 Roninwas a notable disappointment critically and commercially.
In a recent video forInsider, Seki Nobuhide Sensei, a martial arts and katana instructor, grades one of Reeves'47 Roninfight scene for its realism.He ultimately awards the film a middling six out of 10, taking issue with how Reeves in the scene fails to attack his larger opponent logically. Seki also shares interesting details regarding Japanese samurai armor, highlighting its impressive mobility. Check out his comments or watch the video (relevant section begins at 16:15) below:
“As to what is a good strategy when fighting a tall opponent, a tall person is vulnerable to the lower part of the body. So I think the conventional attack would be to aim downwards while being cautious of upwards.
“This is a difficult question as to how much protection the Japanese armor provides. To contrast this with Western armor, Japanese armor is more about functionality than defense. Therefor, compared to Western armor, Japanese armor is open to attack. However, it is easy to move around in. In fact, in addition to the protective gear visible on the surface, there was also protective gear that looks like woven chains with cloth attached, which was worn under the neck or under the armpits. It helps the body to move easily, making it easy to fight.
“I give it a score of six [out of 10] for its level of realism. The reason for this score is that the attacks were all from the upper body, which is not effective against a tall person.”
What 47 Ronin’s Realism Score Means For The Film’s Reputation
How The Film Fared Critically & Commercially
47 Ronincurrently sports an abysmal 16% score onRotten Tomatoesfrom critics, with the audience score also disappointing at only 48%.The film was widely criticized for its uninteresting characters and lack of imagination, with even Reeves, Sanada, and other talented supporting actors unable to make the action on-screen compelling. Made on an estimated budget of $175 million,47 Roningrossed only $151.8 million worldwide, making it a significant box office flop.
10 Best Movies To Watch After 47 Ronin
While 47 Ronin provides a great dose of samurai action, there are plenty of other movies in the genre that offer the same type of revenge story.
A realism score of six out of 10, relative to the critical and commercial performance, actually isn’t that bad. Though the film fails on a storytelling and entertainment level, it does feature flourishes of historical accuracy, including in its depiction of Japanese armor. It’s worth noting, however, that47 Roninis a fantasy film in addition to a historical epic, meaning there are many elements not intended to be realistic, especially outside the particular fight scene analyzed in the video above.
Our Take On 47 Ronin’s Realism
Where The Film Falls In Keanu Reeves Career
Prior to the firstJohn Wick(2014),Reeves was arguably in a bit of a slump in terms of his career.47 Roninwas a massive blockbuster undertaking in terms of its scope, scale, and budget, but it was an even bigger failure. Reeves' most notable film before47 RoninwasThe Day the Earth Stood Still(2008), which was a box office success but was also critically-panned. Interspersed in the intervening years were smaller movies likeHenry’s Crime(2010),Generation Um(2012), andMan of Tai Chi(2013).
Reeves and Sanada would work together again in 2023, with Sanada joining thecast ofJohn Wick: Chapter 4.
The fact that47 Roninfeatures some degree of realism, then, is a mild win in what is otherwise a fairly underwhelming few years inReeves' movie career. The release ofJohn Wickwould then catapult the actor back into the spotlight once more.47 Roninis far from Reeves' most memorable film, but it does seem that at least some attention was paid to getting historical details right, which is commendable.
47 Ronin
Cast
Based on a true story set in 18th-century Japan, 47 Ronin is a fantasy-action film that takes an extreme fantasy approach to the tale. A half-Japanese, half-English man named Kai is saved by a kindly ruler, only to be soon betrayed by those in his own hold. Kai and several other samurai are branded traitors for their loyalty to him. Seeking revenge, the 47 ronin band together, facing men and monsters alike.
