Ochiai has suddenly become a ghost town. The 13 fighters prepare themselves, preparing a trap for Lord Naritsugu and hundreds of his hosts that are the samurai master. A fight that is not balanced? Who massacred who? Bellows war ensued.
This is the latest film from director Takeshi Miike, who used to make a cult and horror films of ultra-violence. This time Miike visited the samurai genre and takes viewers back to the 19th century, when Japan was still covered with feudalism.
The story is simple. Was Lord Naritsugu (Goro Inagaki), younger brother of a shogun, who acted arbitrarily, raped and killed, with no one dared to act. And when he got a significant political office, the anxiety hit. So, senior Samurai Shinzaemon Shimada (Koji Yakusho) invites 11 other samurai to kill the tyranny, including his nephew, Shinrouko (Takayuki Yamada).
Other Samurai Kuranaga (vice Shinzaemon, veteran samurai), Hirayama (Shinzaemon student, a ronin who is similar to the character Kyūzō ('Seven Samurai') and Britt ('The Magnificent Seven'), Sahara (senior ronin), Horii and Hoguchi ( Kuranaga students who explosives expert), Mitsuhashi (Kuranaga student, was assigned to the advance team to Edo), Ogura ('ve never fought, but dedicated), and high rate capability samurai like Otake, Ishizuka, and Hioki.
After doing research and careful planning (which makes the audience must wait patiently), decided the city of Edo is a good time to intercept the dictator's entourage. The problem, Naritsugu has more than 200 guards, not 70 as expected, all powerful samurai. Thus, the 12 samurai, plus one they found in the wild woods, making the pitfalls kinds of ancient McGyver. And the fight ensued.
The first problem: to "enjoy" traditional combat this, viewers have to endure 45 minutes. But patience paid off because it will last 30 minutes, no scene which does not present the sword fights, or something.
Miike's not his name if there is no innovation or message. Although this film is a recycling of the same titled movie pada1963 Eiichi Kudo's work, and looks very inspired by the 'Seven Samurai' artificial Kurowasa Akira, but the "signature" was still visible.
The film is critical of the great institution called "Samurai" with all its principles. And critics are two non-Samurai, namely Naritsugu and "murderers of the 13", Koyata Kiga (Yusuke Iseya), which is a free man.
Here described that a samurai bound by certain laws, unlike the two outsiders in this film free living, namely Naritsugu (representing the people in power and control hundreds of Samurai) and Koyata Kiga the hunter of the forest (not subject to any except on his own, and even he was having an affair with her employer's wife.)
The first law, of course bound to be faithful to his master, until the death. In fact, if the master dies, he must avenge Samurai-term actually means "those who serve." Absolute loyalty is seen in Hanbei Kitou (Masachika Ichimura), which is a close friend at school Shinzaemon together. He, in the name of loyalty to defend his master, although aware that the employer was a crook.
And, the two met in the second law: strict code of honor soldiers. The employer is a person who is more independent and free to follow his instincts, the pleasure of suspense and courage. He is fearless, though 13 fighters were massacred his bodyguards. He even felt a profound joy, a euphoria for a gripping experience.
Other figures, an independent free sloppy, also do things according to his instincts. He was followed and assisting the 12 samurai because they who helped him escape from the trap in a deserted wilderness. However, with his trademark style, he is also capable of fighting, with a moment of origin-of-asalannya without a sword. And he often harass the Samurai who felt themselves filled with glory and honor.
During the 126 minutes we were treated to a spectacle of epic story of the 19th century a fascinating, especially in terms of cinematography and choreography of the battle. Of course the quality of this movie could not be separated also from the role of producer Toshiaki Nakazawa (producers 'Departures' who won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film 2009), and executive producer Jeremy Thomas (producer deliver a successful British Asian films like 'The Last Emperor' - Bernardo Bertolucci , 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence - Nagisa Oshima and' Brother '- Takeshi Kitano).
The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, was nominated for the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, and performed well at the Hawaii Film Festival Spring Showcase. May be present in Indonesia in the near future.
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