DO NOT BUY THIS EDITION OF RONIN. Just wait a few more weeks for February 24, 2009, the official U.S. blu-ray version of this movie is going to be release. I do not know why Amazon has not updated their website to pre-order this movie considering that you can do so online with Best Buy, Circuit City, and Frys. So just wait, do not buy this one, plus the new and official U.S. version is about half the price of what Amazon is currently selling this edition at. Again, just wait for February 24, 2009.

Written by David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross) (credited in the film as "Richard Weisz") and directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate), Ronin stars Robert De Niro and Jean Reno as two of five mercenaries hired an IRA liason named Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) to intercept a mysterious, heavily-guarded briefcase before it falls into the hands of Russian mobsters. The film's title is derived from the Japanese word, "rônin" ("drifting person"), a samurai without a master, who is motivated primarily by money and survival instead of honor and duty. Many of the characters in the film are former special forces soldiers or intelligence operatives now adrift in society. The film references the classic Japanese story, "The revenge of the Forty-seven Ronin.". The 1998 action-thriller features numerous, high-speed chase scenes through the streets and tunnels of Paris and the narrow, winding streets of Nice, and an unpredictable espionage plot. In one scene, Deniro performs surgery on himself for a bullet wound, before passing out. There are at least six good reasons to experience Ronin:

1. Robert De Niro's quintessential performance as ex-CIA agent, Sam.
2. Jean Reno's performance as tres cool former special forces soldier, Vincent.
3. David Mamet's edgy, street-smart screenplay and dialogue.
4. John Frankenheimer's trademark techniques that bring the viewer to the edge of his seat.
5. The sensational, elaborate, live-action car chases.
6. The spectacular settings of Paris, Nice, and the French Riviera.

G. Merritt

this is here because of amazon japan do not buy just wait it out. if you are into hong kong movies then wait for a brittish relese of mad detective, as most hong kong blurays are watermarked. most of the time blurays of american films not relesed here but someweres els are of low quality nuliffing the gold brick price because in the end its just a pice of plastic with code on it. all good things come to those who wait for r1

Judging from the specs (Japanese/English subs and language) and the cover art (English text but no BBFC rating stamp the way a UK release would have), it looks like this might be the Japanese BD release of 'Ronin,' which has been out for a little while now. I bought it myself for about the same price as this, and I've got to tell you that you may not find it worth it. It's one of Fox's earlier MPEG-2 transfers and looks like most Fox movies of that vintage--slightly gray, slightly fuzzy. It's still a leap above both DVD editions and it certainly doesn't look outright bad by any means...but unless the $45 pricetag means nothing to you, you might want to just wait to see if the eventual U.S. release gets a better treatment.

Edit: Oh, and--again, if this is indeed the Japanese release--no features except for the theatrical trailer (and a few trailers for other Fox releases).

The price on this is high because it is, in fact, an imported release from the UK.

For those who are interested, it is region free and WILL play on US Blu-ray players.

MGM has yet to give a date on when this will be released in the US, but apparently that date is pending.