13 Assassins is a period movie set in the latter years of Feudal Japan. The era of the samurai is on the decline as peace reigns over the land. However, Lord Naritsugu has been abusing his power as the half brother of the shogun and has gone to pillage and rape women. Fearful of his power should he join the council, a senior government official Doi Toshitsura hires the samurai Shinzaemon to assassinate Naritsugu. This is after a woman who has suffered from Naritsugu's abuses was presented to him. The cruel lord cut her limbs and tongue and this caused her to live in misery and to request "Total Massacre".
Shinzaemon did not waste time to gather loyal and able samurai. Before departure, he had 11 under him. While in the forest, they rescued a man who claimed to be descended from a line of samurai. This man was to be the 13th member of the group.
To trap Naritsugu, Shinzaemon bribed the Owari clan to block the Kiso pass under its domain. This made Naritsugu to take another route which will lead to a small village where he and his men were trapped by the 13 assassins. Fighting ensued. One by one, the assassins fell until only Shinzaemon and his nephew were alive. Shinzaemon fought his erstwhile dojo sparring partner Hanbei who was loyal to Naritsugu while his nephew fought two other samurais. In the end, Shinzaemon killed Naritsugu and he himself was also killed by the latter's sword.
When the nephew went back to the destroyed village, he was surprised to find the 13th member still pretty much alive and can still jump up and down.
The movie ends saying that 23 years later, the shogunate fell thus the beginning of the Meiji Era.
This movie tells a lot about the relationship between leaders and their subjects. A leader is supposed to protect his subjects from harm and danger. If the leader instead abuses his power and rules with cruelty and oppression, he must be brought down. Another important thing in this movie is the unity and loyalty of a group and each person's cooperative effort for the achievement of a common goal.
Shinzaemon did not waste time to gather loyal and able samurai. Before departure, he had 11 under him. While in the forest, they rescued a man who claimed to be descended from a line of samurai. This man was to be the 13th member of the group.
To trap Naritsugu, Shinzaemon bribed the Owari clan to block the Kiso pass under its domain. This made Naritsugu to take another route which will lead to a small village where he and his men were trapped by the 13 assassins. Fighting ensued. One by one, the assassins fell until only Shinzaemon and his nephew were alive. Shinzaemon fought his erstwhile dojo sparring partner Hanbei who was loyal to Naritsugu while his nephew fought two other samurais. In the end, Shinzaemon killed Naritsugu and he himself was also killed by the latter's sword.
When the nephew went back to the destroyed village, he was surprised to find the 13th member still pretty much alive and can still jump up and down.
The movie ends saying that 23 years later, the shogunate fell thus the beginning of the Meiji Era.
This movie tells a lot about the relationship between leaders and their subjects. A leader is supposed to protect his subjects from harm and danger. If the leader instead abuses his power and rules with cruelty and oppression, he must be brought down. Another important thing in this movie is the unity and loyalty of a group and each person's cooperative effort for the achievement of a common goal.
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