13 Assassins - Cult Laboratories

“STUNNING” ★★★★ Loaded “SPECTACULAR” Total Film “BREATHTAKING” ★★★★ News Of The World

"13 Assassins is satisfying film-making at its best"

11th Sept. 2011

13 ASSASSINS: GET ASSASSINATED ON DVD AND BLU-RAY NOW!

Some films are one shot deals, brilliantly entertaining in the cinema, less than satisfying when you load up a DVD second time around. Still others are designed for single use. Sixth Sense is a work of genius on first viewing (providing you avoided all spoilers), the second time is an exercise in hole picking and it doesn't stand up after that.

The brilliantly named HOT DOGS IN THE DARK blog thinks 13 ASSASSINS is firmly in the other camp and that this is a film fans will return to again and again…

"Yes, there are many movies that come out that I fall in love with, but there are fewer that I become captivated with as much as I did with 13 Assassins. It’s the sort of movie that when the end credits were finished I was ready to watch the film again. 13 Assassins is satisfying film-making at its best. It has great characters, a rich story and the best action the big screen has seen in years." - HOT DOGS IN THE DARK

Copious amounts of blood? You got it.

10th Sept. 2011

THAT CHRIS BURROWS spells it out…

"Okay, imagine the film 300, but the Spartans are Samurai’s. And instead of 300 of them, there’s only 13. Then unleash those 13 Samurai onto 200 Shogun warriors.

Action? Check. Amazing choreography? Check? Copious amounts of blood? You got it." - THAT CHRIS BURROWS!

But would win in a fight between the 13 Assassins and the 300 Spartans… There's only one way to find out!

"Sheer Martial Artistry"

8th Sept. 2011

More of this week's newest 13 ASSASSINS reviews:

“It is a triumph of emotion and action blending harmoniously together. Mixed with litres of shed blood and a compelling story-line, 13 Assassins has quickly become one of the best world cinema releases in the past few years.” - MOVIE MUSER

“Gorgeously inventive sets” - DOG AT MY WOOKIE

“Sheer martial artistry in all its mud-and blood-splattered glory” - RADIO TIMES

“A spectacular portrayal of martyrdom which is full of unrelenting adrenalin and excitement.” - RABBIT HOLE URBAN MUSIC

“If you’re watching in hope of the savagery and brutality that accompanies the more controversial of Miike’s films, then don’t worry, there’s still plenty to be found here. Heads will roll.” - EYE FOR FILM

Torrent Of Blood

7th Sept. 2011

Australian movie reviews site THE REEL BITS loves 13 Assassins:

“Miike has delivered his masterpiece by returning to the very roots of Japanese chanbara storytelling, sticking his own trademark blade straight through the middle and signing his name with the torrent of blood that follows.”

READ THE FULL REVIEW AT THE REEL BITS

Older Posts >>

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:

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.