47 Ronin, The

aka: Genroku chushingura
Japan 1962, 199 minutes
Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
In Japanese with English subtitles
Rating: [M]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Action/Adventure / Martial Arts, Epic

Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Yuzo Kayama, Setsuko Hara

Aroview: A grand and spectacular take on a famous Japanese legend, with 47 ronin (masterless samurai) in feudal Japan seeking revenge on those responsible for duping their warrior leader into ritual suicide (seppuku).

Dir. Inagaki (THE SAMURAI TRILOGY) trades in the austere, understated elegance of Kenji Mizoguchi's sombre 1941 version in favour of a louder, more heightened immortalization of vengeful samurai. Genre mainstays Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura lead the charge, with the pay-off of a classic showdown that won't disappoint.