After the disappointment that was Ironclad there is the glorious blade feast 13 Assassins. Miike Takashi's chambera remake. This instantly became my film of the year. Remarkably, for a Miike film there is little all out grue and gore but swords are swung in abundance. The antagonist is a swine of the highest order and the 13 protagonists (though not as sympathetic as say, the seven samurai), are an interesting and highly dangerous outfit.
The final battle will make your eyes water. Miike should really consider making more chambera, he has the nous of Misumi Kenji the legendary director of the best installments of the Zatoichi and Lone Wolf and Cub series.
I'm going to watch it again...now.
