Rorouni Kenshin Kyoto Taika Hen ~ るろうに剣心 京都大火編

[spsn]

I watched this on yesterday, first day of SG premiere because this time I have a partner in crime LOL. For the past 2 months, it seems to me that Sato Takeru is everywhere, I've seen him in SDK, VS Arashi, and another SDK within short period of time promoting different things and just last week I started watching Kano Uso, and his spring drama Bitter Blood (a good drama! too) just ended. On top of all these, few weeks ago there's a news that he's going to be in the new 2015 movie, Bakuman. Damn he's so productive these 2 years. So, with all Sato Takeru lurking around my TV screen that often, the excitement for this movie has built up, hence the hype for me. I actually only managed to finish half of the OVA of Kyoto Arc, which translate to about a little bit over half of the movie. But fret not, you actually don't need to know the anime storyline beforehand to watch this movie. You just need to watch, and enjoy the movie, that's what this movie can promise you. So, again, what's with all the hype?


Just like the first movie, Kenshin's strong feature is in the super cool no CG fighting scenes (which explains why Sato Takeru mentioned about his bruises and cuts injuries). So, since this is the second movie, such coolness is totally expected and in my book, the second movie just upped the bar even higher. Yes, don't set a low expectation for Kenshin as life action because this movie delivers. The fighting movements are so smooth and seriously complicated and fast. Not to mention the jumping from one roof to another then somersaulting over the walls. Every fighting scenes will take your breathe away (well, slightly, it won't suffocate you with awe but, you'll forget to take a breathe for split seconds) and with so much details. When I say details, it's no joke. For example, the fighting scene at the shrine between Kenshin and Cho Sawagejo over the baby and Kenshin is using the new sword. Kenshin falls back, roll over, his thumb (yes, his thumb) hits the ground and when it's up, voila!, there's a cut with a little bit of fresh blood there at the tip of his thumb. If it's not details, I don't know what is. Another example is when Aoshi beat up Sanosuke. It's not a gruesome scene, but rather there's some comedy to it. However, just after the fight, the movie presents Sanosuke in bruises and swelling eyes, and those bruises color look so real.

Next, the characters. The movie team did a very good job with the casting obviously, aside for casting big names and rising stars for almost all the characters. As the result, all the characters in the anime are really transformed into life. We already know Sato Takeru is the Kenshin from first movie. But Fujiwara Tatsuya as Shishio is really something. I know Fujiwara can act his ass off from Wara no Tate (self note, I must watch his other movie, Monsterz), but so far I've never paid attention to his eyes, in which become the important projection in here. Since Shishio is always covered with bandages, he only use his eyes and voices to project the character and he did it wonderfully with full of hatred, dark and menace. I'm already annoyed with Kamiki's character, Soujiro, in the anime, but seeing it in a 3D human form with the same characteristics is even more annoying hence Kamiki has perfected on how to be Soujiro. The smile with empty emotion and the urge to always please Shishio in Soujiro is so transparent, which amaze me because I don't think it's easy to act with only 1 or 2 types of emotions and not to mention, do the fighting scene too, in the character. And we have the impressive Iseya's portrayal of Aoishi. I didn't remember Iseya until I saw his wiki that it turnes out I've watch quite amount of his works (he's not the lead, maybe that's why). In this movie, his character has only sole purpose, to kill the Battosai, and he'll eliminate everything which are on his way, including his own group, to fill that purpose. I only can see darkness from Aoshi aside to super kakkoii fighting scenes. So, with all this, it's a no wonder that fans will just devour this movie, raving about it and wanting more, hence, we have the 2nd installment (aside to the story is that long). And one last bit, I've always thought that Megumi sounds and looks familiar and no wonder, it's Aoi Yu.

What about the Kenshin itself? We see the comedic Kenshin with the hint of darkness in the first movie, but in this movie, we see the darker shade of Kenshin. I totally forget that this Kenshin is the same Aki from Kano Uso that I watched last week and the day before, or Sahara from Bitter Blood. He's just Kenshin here from the way he walks, draws the sword (which is very smooth and cool), and fights. Kenshin is actually full of emotions, which we also see in the anime, but not often. Since this is life action and we off course love drama, we just have to see lots of angst to justify our money. Lots of scenes in this movie challenge Kenshin's character to borderline, because lots of people in this movie just deserve to die in a painful way. So far Kenshin still sticks to his principle for not killing, but you'll wonder whether he'll fall and if he does fall, will he come back? Perfect example is from the shrine fighting scene (it's not the best fighting scene out of the whole movie, but this one leaves me deep impression). You'll get to see lots of Kenshin's emotions here. The struggle to suppress the blood lust and the killing urges can be seen here. Hence, the feels... LOL.

As I mentioned before, there's no need to know the story before hand or watching the anime first. The movie team understand general public very well to balance up the story for both hard core fans and people who don't give a shit on anime. Story line is arranged with the opening so dramatic to show Shishio's darkness. We're even in treat for Shishio's past. If we compare it to the anime, the movie is actually toned down a bit. Example, there's no Shishio's sex scene (yes, that dude in the bandage can bang a hottie), less blood, though there're lots of blood already in the movie. But the movie team know how to be faithful to the anime, which is I think why Kenshin is a success life action. Characters is faithfully depicted as per the anime, which some tweaking to suit the 3D world. The camera angles and shots are done beautifully. I can even say that the fighting scenes are more beautiful rather than violent, and we're talking about the samurai slashing up people here.

One tidbits, the director is Keishi Ohtomo. He's the man behind Kenshin franchise (off course), Ryomaden (no wonder! we have Fukuyama Masaharu/Sato Takeru reunion, the feels!!!), and Platina Data (oh!!!). So basically I love all of these works, more feels!



So the verdict: Must watch! And it's better than the first movie (a sign of a good franchise)!
Not convince enough? The trailer would tickle you to go to the website and book your tickets :)

So just like one of the girls in the theater say after the movie ended ' OMG I have to wait until October?' Yes, OMG, more than 1 month to go to October 9 for the second part; Rurouni Kenshin ~ Densetsu no Saigo Hen

Comments

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

It's out alreadeeeeee!!!! I didn't know. Ok will watch soon as I can. Where? Not just at Iluma again. Sigh. You'd think GV or Shaw would pick it up. Sigh. I skipped the post. I didn't want spoilers. ٩(๛ ˘ ³˘)۶ 

[spsn.livejournal.com]

yes yes it's out!!! yes it's at Iluma again. I'd rather Filmgarde pick it up rather than GV or Shaw coz there're chance these 2 WILL DUB the movie, just like what Shaw did for Captain Harlock.

Actually you can read coz I don't put in any story line whatever LOL, so no spoiler, promise :) but, you have to watch, it's THAT GOOD!