* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Blade of the 47 Ronin
47RONIN -ザ・ブレイド-
A 2022 Netflix film and sequel to the 2013 Hollywood film 47 Ronin (Japanese title: 47RONIN). Set in the modern day, 300 years later, descendants of the Ako Ronin, who carry the blood of the 47 Ronin, fight the vengeance-driven sorcerer Yurei over the legendary Tengu Sword.
Description
Overview
"Blade of the 47 Ronin" (original title: Blade of the 47 Ronin) is a live-action film and a sequel to the 2013 Hollywood film "47RONIN" (starring Keanu Reeves). It began streaming on Netflix as a Netflix original on October 25, 2022. It was directed by Ron Yuan, with a screenplay by John Swetnam, Aimee Garcia and others, and was produced by Universal 1440 Entertainment and Scrappy Heart Productions.
Plot
The story takes place 300 years after the previous film, in present-day Budapest. Yurei, a sorcerer whose ancestor was killed by the Ako Ronin, kills the descendants of the 47 Ronin one after another while seeking the Tengu Sword. Luna, a woman who makes her living as a thief, learns that she herself descends from a witch, while Onami, a swordswoman, learns that she is the rightful heir of the 47 loyal retainers. The two must fight over the legendary "Tengu Sword" against Yurei, who leads an army of ninja.
The Tengu Sword
The Tengu Sword, the central motif of this work, is a fictional legendary sword that originates from the magical blade a tengu bestowed on the protagonist, played by Keanu Reeves, in the previous film, "47RONIN". The premise that it reveals its true power only to the rightful descendants of the Ako Ronin forms the axis running through the story. Rather than retelling the historical raid of the Ako Ronin (the Genroku Ako Incident) itself, the film's distinctive feature is that it boldly adapts its aftermath as a contemporary magical action film, transposing the bushido spirit of devoting one's sword out of loyalty into the framework of an absurd magic battle.
Reception and Legacy
The cast includes Japanese and Asian actors such as Anna Akana and Mark Dacascos, and the film was produced as a genre film blending martial arts, fantasy, horror and cyberpunk. Following the reaction after streaming, plans for a sequel (the third installment) have also been reported, and the series continues as a fictional series based on the Ako Ronin legend.
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This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.