Movie Review 63: 47 Ronin

Hey Everyone!

Welcome Back!

It's my birthday! now I know you're all eagerly anticipating hearing about my amazing party and festivities. well your' excited for nothing. My Birthday is right after Christmas (you know, the birthday of that one guy, which has since been bastardized by capitalism) yeah, so no-one ever remembers my Birthday, and I'm always out of town for it, let's face it, I'm up in traverse City. it's rather boring up here.

My day started at about 10:00, woke up, showered (fascinating I know) then sat here, on this very chair for almost an hour and a half. here I was led to believe we were going to head into town to do something. but no, sat here, bored, waiting. eventually about noon (11:50 to be precise. got a happy birthday text from someone I never expected to talk to again, that's a long story in itself) anyway got into town about 12:20 or so and went to Brew, a local Coffee shop.

We ended up sitting in Brew for two more hours. yeah, lots of sitting, and waiting today. at about 2:10 we finally headed over to my grandma's nursing home. dropped dad off and was able to finally go and explore a bit. I went, by myself, to the mall. ended up buying a CD..yep. that's it. Dead Rising 3's Soundtrack, Yeah. got some taco bell to kill more time.

Then picked up dad about 6 or so and went to get hot dogs, then saw 47 Ronin. That's basically all I did on my birthday, yay for lackluster birthdays, I'm getting used to them by now.

anyway I owe you a 47 Ronin review. I'll move it onto the Movie list after I complete days 9 and 10.

MOVIE REVIEW: 47 Ronin

Pros:
I really like the story (I might write a cyber punk version) it's an intriguing story and I liked the mysticism and ideas. Overall I would have loved to see a much longer version

The actors were good, I liked many of the actors (notice I don't say actING) Keanu was fine, nothing too difficult for him.

The visuals were fun and cool, at times, some interesting characters assorted throughout.

Cons:
Well, It felt like a truncated movie. It felt like it could have been a 3 hour epic. There were so many times where someone says 'we must go to the city of blades, it will be arduous' then they're there in the next scene. I wanted it to get the Lord of the Ring's treatment, a big epic scale movie, with elaborate sets and a grand scope. Instead it felt cheap and abridged.

My second biggest complaint is Why the Hell is it in English? I know there have been multiple Japanese Ronin movies, but every Japanese actor had to stumble over their lines. Let Keanu Learn Japanese instead.

Now let's talk about the acting. either the script or the acting was bad. every line felt jilted and flat. no characters were given any time to gain motivation, and some of the coolest characters were wasted. The Cool Skeletal Slave owner characters were a one line waste. I wanted to see more in that town, or more of the Witch (played by Rinko Kikuchi, one of my faves) yet she was just bland except for the Heterochromia and sexy whisper voice.

Keanu Reeves felt out of place. I know that was the point but I just couldn't help looking at him and seeing Keanu Reeves. At least he was better than Michael Angarano in Forbidden Kingdom.

The Wardrobe felt cheap. way to go Hollywood.

Next up, the visuals. I went in expecting amazing visuals, and left thinking they looked muddled and dark, kinda like when I saw Pirates 4. It was hurt by Horizons screen being cropped so that there was a black bar on the left and bottom. plus the flat and muffled speakers. Damn, Maybe it'll be better on Blu Ray.

Overall I liked the Idea but it felt like a cheap as hell ripoff of a much better Japanese movie.

FINAL VERDICT: 37
Interesting stories and a few good visuals, but way too short and bland.


Alright, so that's done, now to finish day 9 of the Movie List, 20-11!

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