47 Ronin Starring...Keanu Reeves?

[RoninJedi]

As someone who was involved in Okinawan and Japanese martial arts for 13 years - and a bit of a history nerd - I'm more than a little familiar with the 47 Ronin, and I think it's an amazing testament to what honor and loyalty used to mean.  I won't go into detail, you can find the story anywhere, but for the purpose of my little rant just know it's about 47 samurai who's master was led to kill himself (their honorable capital punishment back then) unjustly and they waited 2 years before seeking revenge.  This was back in the early 1700's.

Now, there is a film planned to release later this year.  The film will star Keanu Reeves as a man who joins them on their quest.

Um...seriously??

Don't get me wrong, despite some historical falsehoods, I thought The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise was an excellent film.  I thought Tom Cruise really sold to me that he had become a part of these people mind, body, and soul.

But Keanu Reeves is no Tom Cruise.

So I'm just wondering.  Is there anyone else here familiar with the 47 Ronin?  What are your thoughts about the film's premise? 

Whether you know the story or not, is there anyone planning to see this?

I probably will because I think it will be my only chance to see their story told on the big screen.  I wasn't even a thought in my great-grandfather's mind when the original film was made in 1941.  Well, not the original, but the main one people familiar with the story know.  Anyways...anyone have any thoughts?

[fcadcock]

I've been involved in Martial Arts for 21 years- mostly Korean, but also some Japanese styles.  I have studied the history of warfare and those involved as well.  I think this would make a great movie, but sadly, Hollywood will surely ruin everything great about the tale.  The strategy and tactics used in the avenging of their master are still taught to this day in military schools around the world, something Hollywood will gloss over in an attempt to make the story sexy and fun. 

I will see the movie, but have VERY low expectations.

[RoninJedi]

I've been involved in Martial Arts for 21 years- mostly Korean, but also some Japanese styles.  I have studied the history of warfare and those involved as well.  I think this would make a great movie, but sadly, Hollywood will surely ruin everything great about the tale.  The strategy and tactics used in the avenging of their master are still taught to this day in military schools around the world, something Hollywood will gloss over in an attempt to make the story sexy and fun. 

I will see the movie, but have VERY low expectations.

You just summed up my fears perfectly.  My wife is a big fan of The Matrix (the first one) and Constantine.  She's a Star Wars hater, but willingly went with me opening weekend to see Revenge of the Sith.  Even she has said I'll be seeing this one alone because she just knows "they're going to mess it up and the movie will be stupid.  Go by yourself."

I sincerely hope we're wrong.  But I doubt it.

[Jhengsman]

One of the last Taiga Dramas that I saw many episodes of was Genroku Ryōran. They need Reeves to draw a western audience, okay but what is this about an outsider? The entire story was about the bound that clan held for each other in order for the  followers of their dead "lord" and who became Ronin upon his suicide.

I guess it would be even harder to do this story The Magnificent Seven style because of cultural differences and maybe in this age it would seem worse then putting a Eurasian actor into a fictional Eurasian character in a historical drama.

[FireSword]

Is this a remake of Ronin?

[Jaime]

I've been involved in Martial Arts for 21 years- mostly Korean, but also some Japanese styles.  I have studied the history of warfare and those involved as well.  I think this would make a great movie, but sadly, Hollywood will surely ruin everything great about the tale.  The strategy and tactics used in the avenging of their master are still taught to this day in military schools around the world, something Hollywood will gloss over in an attempt to make the story sexy and fun. 

I will see the movie, but have VERY low expectations.

My expectations are so low that there hasn't been a meter devised by man that can measure my apathy.

[Jhengsman]

Is this a remake of Ronin?

The Robert De Niro, Jean Reno movie? No they just took the title of Ronin, the warriors without a feudal lord thus were mercenaries and pasted that name/title onto ex western intelligence agents and special forces soldiers working as mercenaries.

The 47 Ronin is a famous incident in Japanese history after the warring era where a feudal lord made a mistake and made amends by committing ritual suicide. The 47 samurai were left without their leader and instead of actually going Ronin, being mercenaries or bandits stayed together to hatch a plan to revenge their lord. In the end while "successful" in murdering the man their lord committed suicide over the survivors 47 samurai were allowed to honorable commit suicide instead of being punished by the Japanese government. They became folk heroes and were part of the inspiration for the events seen in The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise

[FireSword]

Is this a remake of Ronin?

The Robert De Niro, Jean Reno movie? No they just took the title of Ronin, the warriors without a feudal lord thus were mercenaries and pasted that name/title onto ex western intelligence agents and special forces soldiers working as mercenaries.

The 47 Ronin is a famous incident in Japanese history after the warring era where a feudal lord made a mistake and made amends by committing ritual suicide. The 47 samurai were left without their leader and instead of actually going Ronin, being mercenaries or bandits stayed together to hatch a plan to revenge their lord. In the end while "successful" in murdering the man their lord committed suicide over the survivors 47 samurai were allowed to honorable commit suicide instead of being punished by the Japanese government. They became folk heroes and were part of the inspiration for the events seen in The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise

Reminds me of the king of Israel and his armour bearer in the old testament who fell on their sword.
I wonder if samurai were influenced by old testament greatness, maybe that's why they were so disciplined.

[Jhengsman]

I've been involved in Martial Arts for 21 years- mostly Korean, but also some Japanese styles.  I have studied the history of warfare and those involved as well.  I think this would make a great movie, but sadly, Hollywood will surely ruin everything great about the tale.  The strategy and tactics used in the avenging of their master are still taught to this day in military schools around the world, something Hollywood will gloss over in an attempt to make the story sexy and fun. 

I will see the movie, but have VERY low expectations.

While the Japanese have produced many movies on the subject I saw it as a Taiga Drama and having 40 hours to flesh out the original motivation and the grand deception plan To now see  the story in 120 minutes would leave me hanging, even if it was in English and I wasn't reading subtitles. Because of time constraints the story would just turn into any special forces raid with bows and swords instead of assault rifles.

[Jhengsman]

Well the trailer is in the theatres and by the looks of it the only thing this story will have in common with the true story of the 47 Ronin, is that at one point a character will say we are 47. It looks more like The Pirates of The Caribbean with samurai then even The Last Samurai