“PURE PLEASURE… AND IT CULMINATES IN A MAGNIFICENT 45-MINUTE SHOWDOWN THAT HAS TO BE THE BEST FINAL BATTLE SEQUENCE IN CINEMA SINCE ‘KILL BILL’.” – SCREEN INTERNATIONAL.
Takashi Miike, the director responsible for such uncompromising and unforgettable movies as ‘Audition’ and ‘Ichi The Killer’ indelibly stamps his trademark style on the Samurai genre with the ultra-violent, all-action, blood-spattered epic, 13 Assassins.
One of the most prolific, wildly unpredictable and controversial directors in cinema, here Miike reinvents himself once more “in top, slash-tastic form” (Variety), throwing in several obvious nods to the works of Akira Kurosawa and enough grotesquery to satisfy his loyal legions of fans, with a movie that has been described as a “handsomely mounted samurai adventure” (Cinematical) that is “too damn magnificent to ignore” (Twitch).
Executive produced by Toshiaki Nakazawa (producer of ‘Departures’, the winner of the 2009 Oscar for Best Foreign Film) and Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor; Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence), Miike’s remake of Eichi Kudo’s classic 1963 samurai period action-drama ‘Jusan-nin No Shikaku’ boasts a heavyweight cast featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, including Koji Yakusho (Babel; Memoirs Of A Geisha), Takayuki Yamada (252: Sign Of Life), Yusuke Iseya (Sukiyaki Western Django; Memories Of Matsuko; Casshern), Mikijiro Hira (Goemon) and Hiroki Matsukata (Tajomaru: Avenging Blade; Ichi).
Nominated for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival, 13 Assassins has also been nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards including those for Picture of the Year, Director of the Year, Screenplay of the Year and Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Koji Yakusho).
Synopsis (spoilers!):
In mid-19th Century Japan the era of the samurai is beginning to fade as the feudal nation begins to enjoy a rare period of peace. But the fragile calm is soon threatened by the bloody rise of Lord Naritsugu, the Shogun’s sadistic, psychopathic younger brother, whose position places him above the law and free to rape, mutilate and murder on a whim. Concerned that Naritsugu’s actions will eventually destroy the Shogunate, top Shogun official Sir Doi covertly calls on esteemed and noble samurai warrior Shinzaemon Shimada to assassinate the evil Lord before it is too late. Shinzaemon willingly agrees and immediately gathers together an elite group of samurai to assist him in the task, knowing that what they are about to embark upon may well prove to be a suicide mission.
Following weeks of training and preparation, Shinzaemon and his men head off on a perilous journey through the mountains, hoping to ambush Lord Naritsugu and his entourage. However, on finally coming face to face with their target, the 13 samurai discover Naritsugu’s men hugely outnumber them. Disregarding the odds, the fearless assassins continue with their plan and initiate a bloody showdown that they cannot allow to end until Naritsugu lies dying.
