13 Assassins (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  Slick well done period flick. yes its subtitled, get over and enjoy an immensely good action movie.

• Albert K

  
  "13 Assassins" is an exhilarating, gritty, Samurai movie that soaks you into the culture and setting. I absolutely loved the cinematography. Also, I loved the first half of the movie; though it is hard to keep up with the names and characters because of the language barrier,… More
  "13 Assassins" is an exhilarating, gritty, Samurai movie that soaks you into the culture and setting. I absolutely loved the cinematography. Also, I loved the first half of the movie; though it is hard to keep up with the names and characters because of the language barrier, it runs you through the planning and process of what the 13 assassins must endure through to bring justice. The action scenes however, do not have the choreography nor the realism to bring an exciting action movie. What comes after the first half is an overly extended fight scene that lasts about 30-40 minutes long that is not captivating enough to bring excitement and drama. Plus, the story can't seem to manage to have a central key character that brings audiences to have the emotional attachment to relate with. Other than that, I would recommend this movie- it's a good time, but could've been better.

• Jonathan H

  
  Much like The Dark Knight deconstructs the idea of the superhero, Miike's masterful 13 Assassins does the same with the samurai as a guardian of values in an increasingly valueless feudal Japan. The film does a fantastic job weighing the myth of the samurai as not merely an… More
  Much like The Dark Knight deconstructs the idea of the superhero, Miike's masterful 13 Assassins does the same with the samurai as a guardian of values in an increasingly valueless feudal Japan. The film does a fantastic job weighing the myth of the samurai as not merely an anachronism, but as a belief system whose core reverberates, regardless of historical placement. Thematic concerns aside, it is shot beautifully, with a gritty artistry that belies many of the so called "epics" we see today. The action is tightly wound, and expertly choreographed with a small dose of Miike's morbidly hyper-realistic violent aesthetic. Doing so adds a tremendous amount of stature and weight. This may be the most complete film to date for the great director, and proves once for all that Miike is far more than a mere provocateur. I love samurai films, but 13 Assassins is the first I've seen that views this culture through a postmodern lens. Approaching it from this perspective gives "the samurai film" more teeth and a deeply philosophical current that hasn't been seen since Kurosawa's golden years.

• Saskia D

  
  Been a long time since I've seen a samurai movie! 13 assassins go on a mission to save the public from a tyrant. Some of them are young, others aged and experienced, but all of them determined. Seven Samurai definitely springs to mind, so if you haven't seen the old school… More
  Been a long time since I've seen a samurai movie! 13 assassins go on a mission to save the public from a tyrant. Some of them are young, others aged and experienced, but all of them determined. Seven Samurai definitely springs to mind, so if you haven't seen the old school stuff: you have some serious movie watching to do! I loved the decor of course, the camera angles, the lighting. And it has some yummy scenes that gave me the shivers.

• EightThirty .

  
  15/01/2012 (NetFlix PS3)

• danny d

  
  before watching this i had heard so much about how this film was a throwback to some of the great action samurai films of the 50's and 60's, and those assessments couldnt have been more true. the characters werent as compelling as i would have liked, mostly due to poor… More
  before watching this i had heard so much about how this film was a throwback to some of the great action samurai films of the 50's and 60's, and those assessments couldnt have been more true. the characters werent as compelling as i would have liked, mostly due to poor character development, but the plot was developed well, and the action sequences were on par with some of the best in the history of samurai films. one of the best films of the year.

• Alireza M

  
  Simple Japanese action by overrated director Takashi Miike.Didn't find it thrilling or stylish at all .everything in this film such as its good and bad characters are second handed.

• Kalel J

  
  Takashi Miike's bloody epic is a wholly different affair to the film's that make his fame. '13 Assassins' is a film of scale, encompassing history and politics as the driving force to upheaval and retaliation. It is a beast, huge in size and ferocity, yet sleek and… More
  Takashi Miike's bloody epic is a wholly different affair to the film's that make his fame. '13 Assassins' is a film of scale, encompassing history and politics as the driving force to upheaval and retaliation. It is a beast, huge in size and ferocity, yet sleek and intelligent. While it is an action film, it holds a beating heart of cultural significance and pride, always inclined to give a reason to the blood being shed on screen. There is much chance for excitement, but equal chance for a rounded and rousing cinematic experience. The set pieces are huge, it's action sometimes relentless, and the themes are powerful. But, while everything in the film is big, perhaps what is most impressive about '13 Assassins' is that it remains convincingly personal. It is both an observation to the parting of a political system, but also an ode to the lives lost in this conquest - on both sides of this feud.

• Cynthia S

  
  This was a quality action movie with good dialogue, and very graphic violence. A really long build up to a concluding battle scene, however, made me wonder whether it was ever going to happen. Well it did, and it was good...but by that time I really just wanted it over.

• Matthew S

  
  A fascinating look at a value system far removed from the west, centered around absolute servitude. Ill twists of fate can find a Samurai defending, not stopping, evil. This villain, so apethetic and empty, still makes me queasy.

• Lewis C

  
  "Thirteen. The time has come to lay down your lives for the greater cause. Are you ready?" 13 Assassins is all about the payoff. And the payoff comes in the form of 50 minutes of absolute carnage at the end of the movie. The story is about 13 warriors, some of the last… More
  "Thirteen. The time has come to lay down your lives for the greater cause. Are you ready?" 13 Assassins is all about the payoff. And the payoff comes in the form of 50 minutes of absolute carnage at the end of the movie. The story is about 13 warriors, some of the last truly capable samurai at a time when the era of those legendary soldiers was coming to an end, who band together to kill a despicable, deranged and utterly evil lord who is step-brother and future heir to the ruling shogun. Greatly outnumbered, the men devise a plan to force Lord Naritsugu and his guards to a village that they've prepared as what can only be called as a deathtrap. If you liked the "Crazy 88's" fight from Kill Bill Volume 1 or the massive battle at the end of Azumi, then the epic showdown at the end of 13 Assassins automatically makes this a must see. But what about the preceding half of the movie? Most of that time is spent introducing us to the 13 assassins, Sir Hanbei - the noble but loyal to a fault man who is in charge of Lord Naritsugu's safety, and making us hate (and I mean REALLY hate) the lord himself. This portion of the movie was necessary to setup finale, but it was understandably not as exciting or captivating as the lengthy battle it precedes. Rest assured though, the storytelling doesn't stop when the action begins. Some action scenes in movies can be so endless that they become monotonous (and boring, as a result), but 13 Assassins neatly avoids that trap by including character development until the very end. This is a brutal, visceral movie, from the sadism of Lord Naritsugu to the blood-soaked, frenetic finale. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, I heartily recommend that you give it a shot.

• Tim S

  
  Takashi Miike digs in and gets his hands dirty with the feudal Japan samurai epic 13 Assassins, and the results are spectacular. Comparisons can easily be made to The Seven Samurai, at least in the plotting, but this film packs an action wallop like few films of today can actually… More
  Takashi Miike digs in and gets his hands dirty with the feudal Japan samurai epic 13 Assassins, and the results are spectacular. Comparisons can easily be made to The Seven Samurai, at least in the plotting, but this film packs an action wallop like few films of today can actually deliver. It dares to mix mostly old school effects techniques with some impressive modern ones that blend wonderfully to help create one of the greatest action set pieces of any film - possibly ever. Nearly 1/3 of the film is dominated by one enormous battle between 13 samurais and 200 warriors in a very small area and as the bloodbath ensues, wow, is it ever breathtaking. I was glued to my seat during the whole of the film. This is modern filmmaking at its best and 13 Assassins doesn't disappoint. Highly recommended to anyone itching for a compelling action piece.

• Stella D

  
  it's really just a rehash of seven samurai with less character development? i guess cuz there are 13 lol. also surprisingly gore-free for a miike film. i expected something more along the lines of 'lone wolf and cub'. still a fun watch tho

• Anatoliy D

  
  Great action movie

• Lanning :

  
  One of the best samurai final battle scenes ever made. And it's not short, but this is not for lack of action. Mahalo, Walter, for the suggestion. This is one of the best samurai films ever made, and if you like truly villainous villains, this baby is for you.

• Keiko A

  
  MIIIKE IS AMAZING POWERFUL!!! He can shift genre so EASY!!! So i suggest to any samurai fan to SEE IT. It might just be better than the old version. Amazing acting and story telling but somewhat slow plot. Sometimes but you can still see the power in its vision.

• Conner R

  
  Basically a "best of" Kurosawa movie. It combines all the cool moments from Seven Samurai, Kagemusha, Ran and The Hidden Fortress and combines it into one really admirable return to the Samurai Epic. Now I would never say that Takashi Miike is borrowing from these movies,… More
  Basically a "best of" Kurosawa movie. It combines all the cool moments from Seven Samurai, Kagemusha, Ran and The Hidden Fortress and combines it into one really admirable return to the Samurai Epic. Now I would never say that Takashi Miike is borrowing from these movies, because he's not. It's just a way of familiarizing the audience with the genre that's long since died and gone to heaven. There's plenty of originality in here; all leading to a cataclysmic finale that dares to rival any fight scene ever made. In fact, I believe that the entire movie was made in order to have such a bloodbath scenario with over 200 onscreen deaths. It's all the more realistic when it's all practical blood and no CGI enhanced effects. This has all the good ingredients for the genre; simple yet highly effective plot, a villain more evil than the devil, beautiful cinematography and great pacing.

• Randy T

  
  I'm not sure if Miike is more heavily influenced by Kurosawa or Tarantino. Regardless, his <i>13 Assassins</i> is an artful melding of old school style and violent camp.

• Reid V

  
  This film is one of the most enrapturing pieces of cinema I have seen in a very long time. It is an epic period piece that grabs you from the first minute and doesn't let you go until the credits roll. Known predominantly for his more controversial films such as Audition &… More
  This film is one of the most enrapturing pieces of cinema I have seen in a very long time. It is an epic period piece that grabs you from the first minute and doesn't let you go until the credits roll. Known predominantly for his more controversial films such as Audition & Visitor Q, director Takashi Miike crafts an illustrious action film with all the explosions and sparring to satiate the needs of action fan, but steeps it all in pathos. At it's core it is a study of right and wrong, duty and honor, and what it means to be human. It is a very fine line that he walks and does it exceptionally well. On top of this, it is filmed expertly and Miike clearly displays his prowess for visual storytelling. It is one of the finer films that I have seen this year and encourage you to watch it if you are looking for an exhilarating & touching experience.

• Greg S

  
  The Shogun's brother, Naritsugu, may inherit rulership of Japan, but he's sadistically unhinged (think a Japanese Caligula). Outnumbered ten-to-one, a band of samurai try to ambush and kill him in a town in a mountain pass. This is a true epic; you may be confused trying to… More
  The Shogun's brother, Naritsugu, may inherit rulership of Japan, but he's sadistically unhinged (think a Japanese Caligula). Outnumbered ten-to-one, a band of samurai try to ambush and kill him in a town in a mountain pass. This is a true epic; you may be confused trying to follow the dozens of characters and their complicated relationships. Once the swords are unsheathed and the combat begins, confusion will turn to wonder. The final battle is mythological in scope; it's one of the longest most elaborate martial sequences ever filmed. A must see for samurai buffs.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings