13 ASSASSINS; Carlisle's Final Word

"No mercy! There's no samurai code or fair play in battle! No sword? Use a stick. No stick? Use a rock. No rock? Use your fists and feet! Lose your life, but make the enemy pay!"

Shinzaemon Shimada

A little bit off the top?

Synopsis;

Director Takashi Miike, famed for such hyper-violent and bizarre cult films as 'Ichi The Killer' and 'Audition', here retells an epic saga from Japanese history about thirteen Samurai who take a fierce last-stand against a sadistic warlord who plans to use his influence to bring about chaos and bloodshed. 

While the construction owes much to the classic Seven Samurai (as well as the less-known 1960s film of which this is a remake), the film thematically concerns itself with the tangled ideology of the period; the conflict of honor and duty.

Script Logic; 2/2

While audiences not so familiar with the Japanese feudal setting may struggle with the politics and social structure which so greatly influences the plot, there is no denying that it holds-up and proves a strong framework for what is essentially a standard men-on-a-mission movie. 

Characters are given clear motivations for their actions (with the exception perhaps of the antagonist, who we except as simply being a vile and corrupt bastard).

Pace; 1/2

While the film never outstays it's welcome, it does at times tend to meander leisurely towards it's climactic showpiece- a berserk 45 minute battle scene. Still, at least these quieter moments are well used and bring depth to some of the film's more prominent characters.

Acting; 2/2

Nobody here drops the ball, but the film does have some very stand-out performances. Gorô Inagaki, who features as the sadistic warlord, is truly a terrifying character and should rank high in any poll for psychotic evil (more than a little reminiscent of King Joffrey in 'Game of Thrones'), while Kôji Yakusho, as the reclusive older samurai, tasked with bringing about the former's assassination, is the stand-out heart-and-soul of the film; it's his magnetism and charisma that holds the film together.

Some of the minor characters remain incidental to the point that their inclusion feels unnecessary, and during the final battle the distinct lack of diversity in costume and hairstyle may make it difficult to distinguish exactly who is doing what, and to who, but the main cast (those of the assassins given the majority of the screen-time and the more intricate backstops) always stand out. 

Aesthetic; 2/2

The film creates a fully authentic feudal Japanese landscape for it's bloody subject; a hybrid of almost mythical beauty and gritty realism- complete with weather worn streets, trickling streams and dirt spattered robes. Clearly the budget has been well used and establishes a strong sense of period.

As for the style, everything here is played for realism. Although the odds are staggering (13 against 200), the carnage isn't your usual bullet-time wire-martial-arts affair; nobody here is superhuman, everybody is very (painfully) vulnerable. It's very refreshing to see an action scene play-out without slow-motion, jarring camera work and jump-cut editing.... Although some of the traps that the assassins set to ensnare their victim may rely on a slight suspension of disbelief they are never entirely implausible.

Originality & Intention; 1/2

A far more constrained movie than might be expected of it's director, both in terms of gore and the surreal (it is worth noting that not all Miike's work is of this nature), although with some trademark stylistic flourishes- this surprisingly mainstream effort is sure to surprise many Takashi Miike enthusiasts with it's straight-storytelling approach, but is also likely to win over some newcomers as well.

Comparisons with countless other films, such as the aforementioned Seven Samurai, are inevitable, and while the theme of "honor vs duty" is hardly a new one, the film still managers to feel relevant and vibrant- thanks in part to its visuals and strong cast.

It is worth mentioning here that the only exception to the film's strong line in realism, and perhaps the film's most obvious leaning to Takashi Miike's unique brand of surreal ambiguity, is the allusion of (possible spoiler) the "goblin" character. Goblins, in this sense, are a race of mischievous immortals from Japanese folklore. This odd tonal-shift comes in the film's final moments, and it's inclusion is, well, inexplicable, and may well irritate some viewers.

Final Score; 8/10 

All in all, a very impressive period adventure which boasts both a strong cast and a spectacular final. Sure to appeal to anyone who; is fascinated by the feudal setting, enjoys Takashi Miike, or appreciates well made and well acted films- or any connoisseur of bloody heroics and swordplay!