Until the first day of class I was not aware of the film ["47 Ronin"] we were going to see, nor was I aware of the traditional story it is based off of. My only understanding of the movie has been through the brief synopsis of the traditional story, that Keanu Reeves is in it, and (as a direct quote from my roommate:) “It’s like a thrilling action movie. You’re going to see that?”

Immediately, there were elements I suspected to be altered. The first and most obvious was the setting in which this story was meant to be told and the use of a white actor as the lead focus (and hero) of the plot. In the opening of the film, a deep, narrating voice lays out the context of the plot and setting, stating that this was a time in Japan when no foreigners were allowed to enter. Later in the film, Keanu Reeves’ character is told of how he came to be human and “demon” (his father was a Dutch trader and his mother Japanese) but this still is an unnecessary addition to a story that already has a rich back-story, history, and plot! This element (of white-washing in casting) was disappointing. To me, it is not a question or judgement of Keanu Reeves’ acting, but instead another example of appropriation and the misrepresentation of People of Color. By casting a white actor for a role that created just to hire a white actor is majorly problematic, yet such a common occurrence it’s also become majorly over-looked.

I would like to learn and read more about the original, traditional story to further analyze the film we watched today. Perhaps it will give me a better insight as to why those who remade the film chose to do it in such a way. I am curious to find out if the witch portrayed in the film was also apart of the original (or if those who created the film actually stereotyped this character not only as a “dragon lady” but as an actual evil, seductress who turns into a dragon…) and where the mythical/magical creatures came into play. How true to the original story was the film? Or, is this another unfortunate example of profiting off of another culture, only maintaining certain Asian elements just to “sell it” as Asian?