Another little something which everyfilmin2011 has confirmed is that I am an absolute sucker for Japanese movies.
And 13 Assassins is right up there with the best I've seen. In fact, only an overlong battle scene prevents in from being one of the top films of the year so far.
The Japanese, a bit like Indian people, lay a rich line of culture through their movies.
So, it is absolutely guaranteed there will be a nod towards honour or respect somewhere.
Of course, 13 Assassins, being about samurai warriors, is all about the Japanese code, which as Mrs W rightly pointed out, does seem a little bit at odds with the fact that they seem all for bloodthirsty killings.
Anyway, I have rather leapt ahead of myself.
Takashi Miike's movie is about a real life Mr Nasty and the plot to do him in.
It is the 1840s at the feudal times are nearing the end but the Shogun is still in power and the samurai are sworn to be loyal.
The problem is that he has a half brother Lord Naritsugu who rapes and kills at will and is destined for a high place in government.
The country's elders fear that he may be the undoing of years of peace.
Thus, despite much Samurai soul-searching, the plot is hatched.
Goro Inagaki is wonderfully hateful as the evil Naritsugu, who thinks nothing of chopping off the limbs of women he has bored of.
Koji Yakusho is totally convincing as the head of the plotters while Masachika Ichimura is the lord's defender and won't be persuaded to join the rebels.
Yakusho and his mates plan an ambush with 13 of them up against 200 soldiers.
The machinations which lead to the battle scene are fascinating with each individual introduced in similar style to the Magnificent Seven.
The ambush is staggering in its complexity but sheer genius and the fight scenes are amazing but do go on to long and the finale is inevitable but can't be avoided because it is allegedly a true story.
But this is a big movie in more ways than one and proves that the Japanese have a real eye for the epic.
The more I think about it the more I liked it. I'm pushing the boat out and saying 8.5/10
But you will only get the full effect if you watch it on the big screen.
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