I’m less versed in Japanese cinema than I am Hong Kong, though I’ve seen Akira Kurosawa’s samurai movies and Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins. I mainly gave 11 Rebels a chance because it’s available in 4K and I’m glad I did.
There is a brief setup about the Shibata vs. Nagato armies. The generals show the territories in question on the map but once the 11 rebels are defending their fort from a siege, you’re following them.
11 Rebels is full of bloody samurai violence, lopping off limbs. One of the rebels is a pyrotechnic specialist so bodies explode too. That’s one thing Kurosawa could never do.
The film is fast paced and full of battles. Moments of pause show the grueling nature of 19th-century battles. Prisoners are subject to brutal torture, and the construction of a bridge harkens back to the American classic Bridge on the River Kwai.
4K highlights the location shooting. It’s a real place dressed with 19th century period detail so it automatically stands above Hollywood movies shot on screens. Some of the bigger set pieces involve CGI but that’s fair.
The sound is equally immersive. Horse hooves trot around the room. Rain and wind provide ambience. Dialogue even alternates speakers which is a cool effect when reading subtitles. By the time cannons explode, it already sounds like you’re in the middle of the 11 rebels’ battle.