THERE'S a type of actor who seems to have made a very successful career despite not necessarily being considered the most gifted of performers. Keanu Reeves is one such actor.

Perhaps his greatest performance came early on in his career as one half of Bill & Ted. He is at his best when not saying very much, which perhaps why his role in the Matrix trilogy has proven to be the one he may well be remembered for the most.

In this film he is one of the aforementioned Ronin, in a film adaptation of the Japanese legend of the same name.

Kai (Reeves) is a mysterious young man who may or may not have been raised by magical beings. His mother was Japanese and his father English, which makes his status as a “half-breed” one of an outsider in the culture in which he lives.

This doesn’t stop the daughter of the local lord Asano (Min Tanaka) from being in love with him, and he her.

When a rival lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano) plots with a sorcerer to take over, Kai and Asano’s samurai are made outcast - known as Ronin.

They plot to return to kill Kira in revenge for the death of Asano. Before that Kai has to earn the trust of his fellow Ronin and help them seek weapons from the place of his upbringing.

47 Ronin is a visually good looking and perfectly engaging action adventure. The plot is a little thin and the story isn’t particularly complicated. It does however rattle along at a good pace.

Reeves plays the almost silent outsider really well, and despite being the “star” of the film is more of a supporting actor in an engaging ensemble.

There is a sense that Reeves part had moments added to it, that weren’t in the original script. It’s perfectly watchable and a good one for the final part of the Christmas holidays.

6.5/10