Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lifeless take on classic tale with bloodless martial arts.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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47 Ronin
What's the Story?
In ancient feudal Japan, an evil Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano) and a witch (Rinko Kikuchi) plot to take over a rival province by disgracing its leader, Lord Asano, and turning its samurai warriors into ronin (i.e. masterless samurai). After surviving a year in captivity, Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada) bands together the ronin for revenge, and enlists the aid of a mysterious half-breed, Kai (Keanu Reeves), who seems to have special abilities. Together they must stop Lord Kira before he marries Lord Asano's beautiful daughter Mika (Kou Shibasaki). Kai has another reason to go into battle: he secretly loves Mika, and she loves him. But can the ronin survive the impossible odds -- and witchcraft -- that lay ahead?
Is It Any Good?
Following several classic versions of this story -- including Kenji Mizoguchi's 1941 film and the 1962 version with Toshiro Mifune -- this new English-language version seems entirely pointless. Not to mention that it's vaguely insulting, relying on a Western director, Carl Rinsch, and a Western star, Keanu Reeves, to make it appealing to Western audiences. At the helm, Rinsch turns in a movie that's deadly serious yet entirely lifeless. The action scenes are totally confusing, and several little plot threads are lazily abandoned or sidestepped. (What happened to the samurai who was poisoned by the witch?) The pace is monotonous and numbing. Its only attempt at humor is at the expense of a "jolly fat man," which just goes to underline just how culturally backward the entire project really is. Ultimately, this is an expensive flop that has wasted the talents of its cast.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's violence. Is it exciting or gruesome? How does it leave you feeling? Does visible blood make the violence feel more realistic? How much blood would really be shed during violence like we see on the screen?
How do you feel about the idea of a white main character and a white director telling this story? Are non-Japanese allowed to tell a Japanese story? How can different cultures positively represent one another in movies?
Is the "jolly fat man" character a stereotype? What is his purpose in the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 25, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : April 1, 2014
- Cast : Hiroyuki Sanada , Keanu Reeves , Rinko Kikuchi
- Director : Carl Rinsch
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Polynesian/Pacific Islander Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic elements
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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