Director Yoshihiro Nakamura
Staring Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yûko Takeuchi, Ryûhei Matsuda
Recommended for ages 12+
Score 5/6

Times are tough in samurai Japan: the feudal lord’s harsh taxes are dragging an outpost town into poverty. Local merchant Juzaburo fears for the town’s future, and hatches a secret plan to end their misery. The outrageous mission: collect 1000ryo (300 million yen), loan it to the bureaucrats, reap interest off the loan, and save the town! However, all must be carried out in secret unless they want to be exiled, or worse—executed! Would a sum of money that big really go under the radar?!

I would just like to take this opportunity say that this is the second year that I have been reviewing movies that are featured at the Japanese Film Festival and so far I have enjoyed all the movies that I have watched. For those of you who are wondering the 1000ryo or 300 million yen mentioned in the movie works out to be about $3,809,681.15AUD.
In the past I have mentioned that I like watching historical (or period pieces if you prefer) particularly Asians movies because of the depth of history. Though I have admit The Magnificent Nine completely different to the historical movies that I usually watch (they are more focused on historical battles) and it was good to watch something that was about everyday life in Edo period Japan.
I wasn’t familiar with any of the actors cast in The Magnificent Nine though there was a great overall flow to the movie and I found myself chuckling more than a few times.