More to samurais than swordsmanship

NEVER judge a book by its cover, nor a movie by its trailer. Because if you do, you might mistake 47 Ronin for just another post-summer CGI-fuelled blockbuster released to cash in on the lucrative festive movie-going season.

While that's what the film is, to some extent, beneath its formulaic Hollywood treatment, 47 Ronin also reveals a surprisingly engaging and heartfelt plot that shows that there's a lot more to samurais than their ability to brandish a sword.

Action aficionados need not worry, though, there's still plenty of chop-socky hijinks to satisfy any action junkie. Barely 10 minutes into the film, there's already a breathtaking set piece where an army of samurais are hot on the heels of a large supernatural bull-like creature charging across an open field.