13 Assassins

Epic. Unforgettable. Relentless. Magnificently entertaining. Japanese cult legend Takashi Miike sets aside his penchant for twisted modern horror to craft a classic period adventure, a “Seven Samurai” for the 21st century. In feudal times, a band of warriors undertake a suicide mission to slay a tyrant. This men-on-a-mission film is superbly cast, impeccably shot, riveting even in static dialog scenes, and overwhelming once the blades are unsheathed. The finale, a slashing 45-minute battle royal, is action moviemaking at its most agile, extravagant and incredible. J-pop youth idol Goro Inagaki is seriously creepy as the childish, sadistic nobleman. (Japan, 141 min.) 4 out of 4 stars