Sitges 2010: 13 ASSASSINS Review
[Our thanks to Guillem Rosset for the following review.]
Over the years it's become easier to keep track of Takashi Miike work. His production has been downed to 'only' about 2 films per year, and now you can easily find his movies on different festivals worldwide or through internationally released DVDs. But still you never know what to expect from him, and sometimes it can be a matter of hit or miss.
This time Miike returns to Sitges with 13 Assassins, probably one of the most "classic" films of his career, both in form and content. The movie is a remake of the film by the same name directed by Eichi Kudo in 1963. As the era of samurais comes closer to its end, the years of peace in feudal Japan are threatened by Lord Naritsugu, half brother of the Shogun. He's a cruel and ruthless man, and some officials of the shogunate are worried of what would happen if he's ever to occupy Shogun's throne. Incapable of opposing him openly, they decide to ask the samurai Shinzaemon to put together a group of men to assassinate him secretly. Shinzaemon is a man aware that the samurai era's coming to its end, as there's no place for them in times of peace. He's also conscious that Lord Naritsugu must be taken down or otherwise the common people would suffer the consequences, so he's determined to accomplish his mission.
The structure of the movie's clearly separated into two parts. On the first part we're introduced to the different characters and time setting. Shinzaemon knows about the heinous acts commited by Lord Naritsugu by his victims. And of course, we follow Shinzaemon on his quest for recruiting the remaining 12 assassins. The task is not easy, as on these peace days there are very few samurai worthy of the name with any real fight experience. So this first half it's mostly about people chatting, as the assassination plot starts to unravel and each piece moves to occupy its place.
And then comes the second part of the film. Everything's been prepared and set for this, and believe me, you won't be disappointed. Given the number of principal characters, it's very difficult to have enough screentime for everyone to fully develop his personality, but Miike (and the writers) have done a good job in making every character compelling enough for the audience to relate with. When the action starts (and believe me, it starts in a big way) you care for every one of them, and even if you can't remember all their names you get to recognize them even by the way they fight. More than an hour of full blown epic awaits you, as the 13 men fight their way against the hundreds of troops that protect Lord Naritsugu. The village setting becomes a very important part of the fight itself, as thanks to the careful planning of Shinzaemon, it has become a deadly stronghold full of traps.
It's in this second part where you'll find Miike at his best. But this time he's managed to keep a wonderful balance between the violent harshness of the fight and the classic tone of the film. Yes, there's blood and some gore, but it's mainly for the sake of realism and not gratuitous at all. And even as the fight progresses so does the characters, paving the way for the inevitable final face off. Miike manages to turn the last duel into something tense and intimate, a struggle between two different visions of the samurai world. Shinzaemon knows that soon there'll be no place for the likes of him, but he's still eager to sacrifice his life for the cause of the greater good, while the other one keeps his loyalty to his master to the very end, no matter what.
So maybe the people who were expecting something in the line of Miike's most bizarre works could feel a little disappointed, but dismiss the feeling and give it a chance. I honestly think that 13 Assassins is one of the most interesting and best films of Miike in a lot of time, and it's certainly amongst my personal favorites. Pure jideaigeki as its best.
Review by Guillem Rosset
Over the years it's become easier to keep track of Takashi Miike work. His production has been downed to 'only' about 2 films per year, and now you can easily find his movies on different festivals worldwide or through internationally released DVDs. But still you never know what to expect from him, and sometimes it can be a matter of hit or miss.
This time Miike returns to Sitges with 13 Assassins, probably one of the most "classic" films of his career, both in form and content. The movie is a remake of the film by the same name directed by Eichi Kudo in 1963. As the era of samurais comes closer to its end, the years of peace in feudal Japan are threatened by Lord Naritsugu, half brother of the Shogun. He's a cruel and ruthless man, and some officials of the shogunate are worried of what would happen if he's ever to occupy Shogun's throne. Incapable of opposing him openly, they decide to ask the samurai Shinzaemon to put together a group of men to assassinate him secretly. Shinzaemon is a man aware that the samurai era's coming to its end, as there's no place for them in times of peace. He's also conscious that Lord Naritsugu must be taken down or otherwise the common people would suffer the consequences, so he's determined to accomplish his mission.
The structure of the movie's clearly separated into two parts. On the first part we're introduced to the different characters and time setting. Shinzaemon knows about the heinous acts commited by Lord Naritsugu by his victims. And of course, we follow Shinzaemon on his quest for recruiting the remaining 12 assassins. The task is not easy, as on these peace days there are very few samurai worthy of the name with any real fight experience. So this first half it's mostly about people chatting, as the assassination plot starts to unravel and each piece moves to occupy its place.
And then comes the second part of the film. Everything's been prepared and set for this, and believe me, you won't be disappointed. Given the number of principal characters, it's very difficult to have enough screentime for everyone to fully develop his personality, but Miike (and the writers) have done a good job in making every character compelling enough for the audience to relate with. When the action starts (and believe me, it starts in a big way) you care for every one of them, and even if you can't remember all their names you get to recognize them even by the way they fight. More than an hour of full blown epic awaits you, as the 13 men fight their way against the hundreds of troops that protect Lord Naritsugu. The village setting becomes a very important part of the fight itself, as thanks to the careful planning of Shinzaemon, it has become a deadly stronghold full of traps.
It's in this second part where you'll find Miike at his best. But this time he's managed to keep a wonderful balance between the violent harshness of the fight and the classic tone of the film. Yes, there's blood and some gore, but it's mainly for the sake of realism and not gratuitous at all. And even as the fight progresses so does the characters, paving the way for the inevitable final face off. Miike manages to turn the last duel into something tense and intimate, a struggle between two different visions of the samurai world. Shinzaemon knows that soon there'll be no place for the likes of him, but he's still eager to sacrifice his life for the cause of the greater good, while the other one keeps his loyalty to his master to the very end, no matter what.
So maybe the people who were expecting something in the line of Miike's most bizarre works could feel a little disappointed, but dismiss the feeling and give it a chance. I honestly think that 13 Assassins is one of the most interesting and best films of Miike in a lot of time, and it's certainly amongst my personal favorites. Pure jideaigeki as its best.
Review by Guillem Rosset
Do you feel this content is inappropriate or infringes upon your rights? Click here to report it, or see our DMCA policy.
