First Trailer for 47 RONIN

It is hard for me to get excited over fantasy films that look to rely heavily on special effects and have a hard rock soundtrack. It is even tougher to get excited when those kinds of films star Keanu Reeves. Yet, that is what we have here as the trailer for 47 Ronin has finally made its way online after having its initial release date pushed back over a year from last November to this Christmas. I don't know if that is a good or bad sign, but it could certainly show Universal has some kind of faith in the project as it could have been extra time to perfect those countless CGI shots and decided to go with a prime Christmas Day slot instead of the early February release it was going to get when last November didn't work out. Of course, it could also be due to the fact the studio sunk an estimated $170 million into the project and hired first time feature director Carl Rinsch to helm the project that they are only placing it in the company of more prestigious projects with hopes of better recouping the films budget at the box office. I can't help but feel this is on a one way street to join the likes of Jack the Giant Slayer and The Lone Ranger as some of this years biggest bombs though. Their is nothing that stands out in this trailer and the always laughable delivery of Reeves makes the whole thing seem more a parody of what it is actually trying to be. On the bright side it does seem to have a rather epic scale and the story of the real-life group of samurai in 18th-century Japan who avenge the murder of their master could be intriguing with the added supernatural elements. I'll definitely reserve judgement and hope for the best, but after hearing of all the issues plaguing the project I was hoping for a little something more than what this generic trailer offers. The film also stars Tadanobu Asano, Hiroyuki Sanada, Kô Shibasaki, and Rinko Kikuchi. 47 Ronin opens in 3D on December 25th. Hit the jump to check out the trailer.