On Monday, we took you on the set of "47 Ronin," Universal's great tentpole hope for the Christmas season. Long-delayed (it was originally set for release last November) and with a troubled production history, the film tells the famous Japanese story of the 47 Ronin, former samurai who spent a year planning their revenge on the man who wronged their master, with two major twists: one is that one of their number is Kai, a "half-breed" played by Keanu Reeves, the other is that the vision of first-time director Carl Erik Rinsch was to set the film in "a dream of Japan," with fantastical creatures and heightened action. You can get the skinny on the film from our earlier extensive report, but in our day on set at Shepperton Studios back in June 2011, we had the opportunity to talk not just to Rinsch and Reeves, but also co-stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano and Kou Shibasaki,...
- 11/6/2013
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Russell Crowe's turn as the tunic-wearing tyke was considered by some a bore. But was it accurate? Alex von Tunzelmann investigates the old tale of great production let down by the script
The yew of the longbow creaks as I draw the string back. Side on, I gaze along the line of the arrow. The yellow bullseye comes into focus. All around the archery range, set up at the Tower of London, a hush falls among spectators leaning over the railings. I take a deep breath, and release the fingers on my right hand. The arrow sproings off sideways, wobbles about ten feet, and plummets pathetically into the mud.
This archery business is trickier than actors make it look. Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett appear to be experts in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, released on DVD this week. It's not a great movie. Following in the footsteps of...
The yew of the longbow creaks as I draw the string back. Side on, I gaze along the line of the arrow. The yellow bullseye comes into focus. All around the archery range, set up at the Tower of London, a hush falls among spectators leaning over the railings. I take a deep breath, and release the fingers on my right hand. The arrow sproings off sideways, wobbles about ten feet, and plummets pathetically into the mud.
This archery business is trickier than actors make it look. Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett appear to be experts in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, released on DVD this week. It's not a great movie. Following in the footsteps of...
- 9/23/2010
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
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