Here is a star-studded samurai film: Miike Takashi’s remake of Kudo Eiichi’s 1963 classic of the same name. Set during the era of the Shoguns, thirteen assassins gather around Shinzaemon upon the request of Doi, the Shogun’s close confidant, to assassinate the Shogun’s brother, Naritsugu, a ruthless lord. The covert assassin team carefully lays an ambush for him on his way back from Edo. Having detected it however, Hanbei, who is in charge of Naritsugu’s security, takes all reasonable precautions. The film shows how Doi and Shinzaemon assemble the squad, how they plan the ambush, and how Hanbei executes his countermeasures. Meanwhile, the thirteen assassins’ personalities are revealed, and the rivalry between Shinzaemon and Hanbei intensifies. Their battle of wits regarding when and where the attack is to be staged builds the tension, and leads to a battle full of the tragic beauty that unfolds during the film’s last 50 minutes. (KIM Ji-seok)