13 Assassins

[Ip Man]

Samurai films have a rich history, and Miike evokes it elegantly with traditional costumes, idealistic dialogue, sharp characterizations, and a gloriously choreographed fight sequence that must extend in one form or another for 40 minutes. I often find fight scenes in movies boring, because they substitute movement for drama. But in "13 Assassins," characters are involved who we know and understand, and the general melee is broken down into structured vignettes. Hollywood action directors could study this film, especially in the way it focuses on story in the midst of violence..

Beautiful movie. Go watch it now.

 

[Faris]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this.

 

[Ophan]

I watched it. I'll say this...It's not entirely action if that's what people hope for. This is definitely more story driven, and you don't see a lot of bloodshed until near the end. Not that that's important in a movie like this at all, but if that's what anyone is looking for out of this movie, you chose the wrong flick, lol.

Ip Man did you entirely understand the ending? I'm guessing we might have to use spoilers if it's to big a deal to post :/

 

[Ip Man]

I watched it. I'll say this...It's not entirely action if that's what people hope for. This is definitely more story driven, and you don't see a lot of bloodshed until near the end. Not that that's important in a movie like this at all, but if that's what anyone is looking for out of this movie, you chose the wrong flick, lol.

Ip Man did you entirely understand the ending? I'm guessing we might have to use spoilers if it's to big a deal to post :/

Considering the entire third act is one huge fight scene, I think people would be satisfied in the action aspect regardless of its absence in the first two acts.

And Im not sure what you mean by "entirely understand". Seemed like a pretty straight forward resolution to me, unless I missed some hidden message, in which case enlighten me.

 

[Ophan]

Koyata Kiga the hunter, the guy the meet in the forest

Spoiler Show

Near the end he got stabbed through the neck, but at the literal end of the movie, he appears unharmed without a scar. Some theories are stating him to be like a forest spirit or something rather. I thought it was kind of weird to place in the movie. At first it seemed a little indirect from everything that happened. Other suggestions state that he was basically a figurative character that didn't follow rules and was regarded as a free acting spirit. He was, as we figured out through the whole movie, but as far as figuratively...again...seems a little indirect, lol

 

[Ip Man]

Koyata Kiga the hunter, the guy the meet in the forest

Spoiler Show

Near the end he got stabbed through the neck, but at the literal end of the movie, he appears unharmed without a scar. Some theories are stating him to be like a forest spirit or something rather. I thought it was kind of weird to place in the movie. At first it seemed a little indirect from everything that happened. Other suggestions state that he was basically a figurative character that didn't follow rules and was regarded as a free acting spirit. He was, as we figured out through the whole movie, but as far as figuratively...again...seems a little indirect, lol

Spoiler Show

Forest spirit? Maybe. He is definitely not human, since he was able to take care of several trained swordsmen with just rocks and wooden sticks lol

But seriously, after a second viewing of the film, I actually saw him as a manifestation of Shinrouko's doubts and/or his wish to be a man free of responsibility. That responsibility of a samurai. When he's introduced he talks about how being a samurai doesn't suit him, and although he joins his uncle for the cause, he does it with a sense of regret. I think Koyata is there to remind him that he needs to cast doubts aside and commit to his samurai way if he wants to succeed. In one scene where they talk in the middle of the night, Shinrouko tells him "You're not a samurai, get out of here" as if he were telling himself "Im not a samurai like my uncle and the rest, so what the hell am I doing here?"

Notice that Koyata interacts with Shinrouko the most. Shinrouko is the one who cuts him down from the net, he's the one who complains about Koyata hunting rabbits, etc.

And of course, in the scene I mentioned earlier, when Koyata is thinking about his lover, "Upashi", that's actually Shinrouko's wife, Tsuya. Sure enough, I looked it up and the actress is credited as playing both Tsuya and "Upashi", making me think it's the same woman since Koyata and Shinrouko is the same person.

And finally, in the final scene Koyata asks him "what are you going to do now?", as if it were Shirouko's conscience asking him "well, what do I do with my life now?" WHen he gives him his answer, Koyata replies "Now you're talking!", happy that Shinkouro is finally a free man. And finally, Shinrouko says "Say hi to Upashi for me," and Koyata just looks at him as if saying "So you know who I really am..." and runs away.

Basically, the conclusion I came to was that since Shinkouro survived the ordeal, so did Koyata 'cause they were one and the same. That would mean Shinkouro was the only sole survivor of the warriors after all.