13 assassins – 2010 – Takashi Miike

13 Assassins creates a political landscape in Japan in 1844. It sees the shogun’s half-brother rising ever closer to power. This greatly unsettles his opponents, as this half-brother is infamous for his sadistic tendencies. For instance, purely for his own amusement, he has severed a woman’s arms and legs, cut out her tongue, and kept her as a prisoner. He is, in short, a cruel ruler who believes in enforcing strict discipline among his subjects. But now he must be stopped! Twelve brave men set out to kill him, even if it costs them their lives. In the mountains, they encounter a lone hunter who ultimately becomes the thirteenth member of the group. Justice must be served, and the odds, no matter how grim, don’t matter. It’s thirteen against an army of a few hundred men, all armed with samurai swords. The battle is about to begin!

The story

The story’s introduction at the start of 13 Assassins is exceptionally intriguing and so sadistic that it leaves a lump in your stomach. It’s not often that a film affects me this way, so I continued watching with great interest. I this point I am thinking This can only end one way: as an exceptional film that sets the standard for others!

And in a way, that’s true! It is undeniably a very well-made film in every sense of the word. It’s political, violent, bloody, and grotesque. What I personally find a bit difficult is when a film introduces too many characters and assumes you’ll remember all of them by the time the finale arrives. I simply don’t remember the backgrounds or quirks of too many characters, and that’s just how it is. Naturally, it doesn’t help that their names are virtually unpronounceable for us Westerners. If they were named Bo, Kjell, or Stig, perhaps I’d have an easier time distinguishing them!

Japanese Power Stucture

That said, it’s a film about the Japanese power structure, and as such, I like it. Over time, though, it becomes a bit too heavy on sword fights. I would have preferred it if the political aspect had been more prominent throughout the film or at least presented more clearly. It’s essential to have some understanding of Japanese customs like Harikari and Seppuku, honor, and loyalty to fully appreciate it. It’s simply a completely different world from what we’re used to, and for someone unaccustomed to films about Japan and samurai, it could be quite confusing.

The film’s cover proclaims, at least one of them, that 13 Assassins is one of the best samurai films ever made, and I think I might agree. There doesn’t seem to be much competition at the absolute top tier, with classics like Shogun Assassin and Seven Samurai being in a league of their own. But it’s undeniably a well-thought-out film. While I find the fight scenes a bit too drawn-out and dominant, they are undeniably well-executed. The acting in these scenes, as well as throughout the rest of the film, is excellent.

At times, it feels as though they’ve deliberately avoided treating the samurai as stereotypes. For instance, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a samurai laugh before this film. This makes it feel more authentic than if everything had been presented in the usual way. I can’t imagine that all samurai were as bitter and humorless as they’re often portrayed in works like Shogun. This feels more alive in that sense.

Comic Relief

The comic relief is also well-executed. The thirteenth member of the group ensures a comedic sidekick element, but in a way that doesn’t fall into stereotypes. Once again, they’ve managed to avoid conventions, making the result feel more vibrant.

Reading back on what I’ve written, I think I might have been too stingy with my rating. But the fact is, the battle scenes weigh the film down so much for me that the moments—of which there are quite a few—that are truly excellent, lose out to the monotony brought on by the endless fighting. It’s fantastic, but at times it’s just too tedious during large portions of the film.