Takashi Miike’s samurai epic film Thirteen Assassins was released in two versions: the international cut (126min) and, the uncut version (aka the Japanese theatrical cut, 141min), which is an extended cut and includes additional footage. Overall, it adds a slight feminine/sexy touch to the story, with a little more character development for the weird 13th samurai plus some fun elements a la Miike.
But this doesn’t make the film bloodier at all, it’s not more gory. So, if you’re going to (re)watch the film, just go for the uncut version, at least you’ll see the film in its full version, why bother?
Warning! This article contains spoilers!
The running times for both versions;
• International Cut: 126min / 2h05min03sec
• Japanese Extended/Theatrical Cut: 141min / 2h21min43sec
Additional shots on lead samurai while he’s fishing [00:03:15 - 00:03:20]
The title screen appears after the fishing scene [00:03:38 - 00:03:21]
Additional dialogue, after samurai agreed to do the mission, the Minister tells him “Shinzaemon, with your gesture, you resolve my official position” [00:15:47 - 00:16:03]
Additional dialogue, after evil Lord killed a mother & her child [00:18:21 - 00:19:04]
Slightly longer shot on samurai, plus one line added [00:20:19 - 00:20:20]
Additional dialogue, scene starting earlier [00:20:21 - 00:20:25]
Additional dialogue, samurai introduces himself, “I am chief inspector Kuranaga. I’m close with Shinzaemon too. And like you, I’m under his spell.” [00:23:21 - 00:23:34]
Slightly longer shot, right before the young samurai salutes Kuranaga [00:23:34 - 00:23:36]
Slightly longer shots introducing the gambling joint scene [00:27:39 - 00:27:46]
Additional footage, one gambler leaves, and looks at the samurai [00:28:18 - 00:28:23]
Additional close-up, gambler still looking at the samurai [00:28:27 - 00:28:28]
Additional footage, samurai drinking with geishas at the brothel [00:28:44 - 00:28:49]
Additional footage, samurai still drinking with girls, while a man and the Madam are talking. She says “Shogun retainer Shimada’s third son“, the man answers “Business is booming for you despite the Mizuno government’s censorship“, and she concludes, “Don’t go starting a fight” [00:28:52 - 00:29:12]
Extra scene, samurai walking home, plus fight [00:32:21 - 00:34:01]
Additional dialogue, loyal samurai of evil Lord says “Whatever means we resort to, prepare for the unexpected” [00:40:40 - 00:41:00]
Additional scene, evil Lord eating like a beast [00:44:42 - 00:45:46]
Additional footage on map, plus additional line “Kiso is ruled by the Tenryo to the north and the Owari to the south” [00:47:50 - 00:48:00]
Additional dialogue, samurai still working on their plan, “The border lies on this river between Fukushima and Kiso.” [00:48:29 - 00:49:28]
Additional dialogue, samurai preparing their plan [00:51:16 - 00:51:23]
Additional dialogue, samurai are getting ready to move forward [00:51:29 - 00:51:53]
Additional footage, 2 samurai riding horses [00:52:35 - 00:52:40]
Additional dialogue, while attaching their horses, one samurai says he’s hungry, another says he wants to take a bath, the other wants a woman [00:53:17 - 00:53:35]
Additional footage [00:56:39 - 00:56:46]
Additional dialogue, samurai of evil Lord says to “Skip the Naegi clan visit and go to Okazaki” [01:06:57 - 01:07:01]
Additional dialogue, 13th samurai wants to be part of the group [01:10:18 - 01:12:01]
Additional dialogue, the mayor is running around, talking to the group of samurai [01:13:31 - 01:15:40]
Additional footage, 13th samurai is dreaming at night [01:16:32 - 01:16:42]
Extra scene, NSFW – 13th samurai having fun, ending up playing with the mayor [01:18:07 - 01:20:11]
Additional footage, enemy climbing a ladder to follow samurai, ends up killed [01:38:52 - 01:38:57]
Slightly longer shot, samurai fighting [01:39:22 - 01:39:23]
Slightly longer shot, samurai fighting [01:40:19 - 01:40:21]
Additional footage, evil Lord trying to find his path [01:40:41- 01:40:47]
Slightly longer shot, injured samurai trying to fight [01:46:43- 01:47:03]
Slightly longer shot, injured samurai trying to fight [01:54:21- 01:54:27]
Additional footage, samurai fighting outside, then inside [01:54:47- 01:55:15]
Additional footage, dying samurai’s POV begins with slight zoom in [01:56:12- 01:56:13]
Additional footage, dying samurai’s POV, enemy on the ground [01:56:25- 01:56:30]
Additional footage, samurai fighting until his death [01:57:47- 01:58:29]
Additional footage, last true samurai alive, walking around, kills one last enemy [02:16:42- 02:17:47]
Additional scene, the wife coming suddenly outside her house [02:19:10- 02:19:25]
To go further, check also this comparaison between Miike’s version & the original film, you might learn something about the idea of “remake”.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I would love to watch the Japanese cut but do you know of a way I can with english subtitles? I can’t find anything.
not sure if you i’m allowed to put links on here, so email me at steven@filmscope.net and I’ll tell you where you can find it. no bs
Right now, there’s no official english-subbed release available for the full japanese cut. At best, the US disc only features these “deleted scenes” as extra.
However, an english-subbed bootleg does exist.
if you by bootleg you mean a rip from the original blu ray with an english sub file, then yes, you are right.
Outstanding work!
Thank you for this huge work…. I just saw the director’s cut (at Montreal’s fantasia festival) and there is a lot to say about the international version, the editing choices and the representations of the audience that lead to this amputation.
I will definitely buy the director’s cut and I won’t bother to watch again the international version if by any chance it’s released in Canada (for now it’s only on VOD in USA).
dont act.