Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno

The long awaited sequel to one of the most consistent live action anime/manga adaptation comes back. With more to offer.. 

Well, surprisingly, the line was very long. I thought I'm lining up in a Kathniel flick. But anyhow, that didn't stop really to grab a seat and enjoy sort of reminiscing a great samurai character comes to life.

Let's go first what I did not really like about the film. There were a lot but forgivable. Perhaps. First is the changes made for film, there were many changes just to fit the story into film, such as one example. Aoshi is not part of Shishio's men. I think the big boat was not used in attacking Tokyo, more so, there is no giant dude that terrorized Tokyo. Cho's blade was only long, not flexible. And a lot things changed. It not really affect the story or pace but I hope they kinda more true to the source, at least. Another choice of actors or how they were used. Yu Aoi was underused, maybe for this film. Or am I biased because she's my crush. Actor who played Aoshi should be the Kenshin's sensei because of his big built and looks but we might get a thinner sensei. Even Yumi, the hot right hand of Shishio is kinda thin, but looks great. Some of the assasins look different than in the anime, except for that I forgot the name always smiling killer, Soujiro. Lastly, which is I thought, Emi Takei's performance as Kaoru, declined. She always like lost or indecisive and sad.

Lastly, of course, it's not the films fault.. Less violent due to Kenshin's nature and as usual, more talking first then fight. Geez.. They did the adaptation good. 

Great things about the flick, first of all the fight scenes, with more than 2 hours long in this film, I can't remember or count how many fight scenes were there. I believe it has more fight scenes than the melodramatic moments in the film. It's only the number but the quality of it. Two fight scenes stand out for me, it's Aoshi versus his old Master and the short fight of Soujiro and Kenshin. The chose the latter because of it's close to a samurai fight. That's all. But like I said, there were more you can choose.

Give credit to the director that despite with the changes made, I still felt I'm watching Kenshin. It did not change the feel of watching one and the anime. The right amount of fun, and pace of story and the development of Shishio is still there. I'm not sure others felt but for me, of course it's just fine. I also did not feel watching a 2 hour more film. I just felt it when it was done and I was not able to do afterwards going around the mall. 

The production set up is really great, as usual in Japanese flicks, they made like samurai time or Edo time easily set up. No trace of letting down the production value up to the costumes and of course, katanas. 

Final credit goes to the actors, Takeru Sato made a great impression as kenshin and surprisingly, Tatsuya Fujiwara as Shishio. From the survivor in Battle Royale to Death Note and now as a villain, this dude can really act. Don't forget Sano, Saito who really resembles their characters. Maryjun as Yumi despite her thin/model figure, and few lines, looks great, Aoishi dude, wow and the rest of night watchers. Yoshi is still the same, Soujiro as well and the most suprisingly, Misao! After watching her, and I thought, she is more fit as Kaoru. I know there might be Emi Takei's fans but seriously, the actress who plays Misao should be Kaoru. Well, I still give Kaoru a chance, there is still one film left. 

Speaking of the last film, I feel it maybe the last film in Kenshin. The last time we will see this. Reasons? The Amakusa arc is interesting but quite boring due to well, it has a lot of talking as the anime/manga shown. The only interesting part there is the villain use the same style as Kenshin. The last arc, which is shown in the anime, the magic dude arc which is a letdown. The only movies left they can do after this last one, it's either a prequel which I feel a samurai flick as shown in the OVA and my favorite due to the love story, and the supposed ending which shown in the OVA but despite melodramatic and very emotional ending, the author discredit it. 

Of course, if they can make a spinoff about Seijuro Hiko's story, why not! hahaha

Everybody is excited about the last film which it will be shown on Sept.24.. I don't care waiting in a long line again. Definitely!!!! 

I felt that Warner Bros Japan is doing a good job at doing adaptations recently huh.. From Berserk to this except for Black Butler. They should do more of this in other source materials or better yet well, invest more. Better yet, our cinemas should release more Japanese flicks. I'm quite biased. hehe

The Epic battle awaits. 

300: Rise of an Empire

What happened when the bravest 300 spartans led by the great King Leonidas sacrificed their lives to save Greece from tyranny and slavery?

This might be the answer. Don't forget how Xerxes became or proclaimed himself God King. Who led Greeks to fight over this conquering empire? 

I was in a mad rush to really watch this sequel despite not so good reviews or previews. I also decided to use my globe points to have the price of ticket low. 

Hour and a half later, I'm relieved because of two things. I used the discount wisely to lessen the agony, and the reviews were right. hehe
It's a pre/sequel at the same time. Simple story, it shows the first invasion of persian empire and how Themistocles rose to the occassion, defeated the invasion. It also shows how Xerxes was deceived by his lead naval commander, the beautiful and cunning Artemisia to charge the empire of conquering countries and attack Greece again. It also shows, unfortunately with an abrupt ending how all Greeks unite and start to defeat the Persian Empire. 

That's it. The story is much more wider unlike the famed predeccessor, however nothing notable about it. 
The great things about this film? First the visuals, this is more detailed than the first film. From the flashes of war torn Greece, the first scene of attack running through mud, the naval war attack scenes despite enormous amount of CGI used for water.  Slow motion scenes were used correct in some scenes. Another great thing, hmmmm despite 7 plus years from the first film, actors from the first film did not look old or I don't know how they done it but they look indeed just happened yesterday. Point of example, Xerxes. 

Last great thing, Eva Green stole the film. Her character was made perfect as the backstory worked and of course, the actress gave life to a very very mad woman. That's why despite her beautiful stature, no men dare to take advantage of her because they know what will happen for such defiance. hehe Wow, I can't wait to see her at Sin City 2!

Not so good things at this film. The director tried to really have a sequel or copy what Zack Snyder did, but he failed. Actions scenes were not clear, too much use of CGI blood, and most of all, you want to see how Greeks stand together soon to finish off the empire, but like I said, it was abrupt. To be continued. 

It has also too much dialogue and character devolpment was kinda lame for the lead athenian army or most of the characters. Themosticles is somewhere between brave and stupid. Brave charging forward but when one small thing fails, he's confused and his acting or his character has that one expression for the whole film. He's tired and exasperated. Although what I like about him, he's quite very very lucky. 
Editing was kinda poor as you what to see more of previous 300, they deviated that and it focuses more of the development of the empire as the title suggest yet indeed not really interested of that. 

I really also found lack of depth in the distressed state of the lead army. I mean the feeling of soldiers from the start, they just want to fight and not brave enough unlike the first 300. Despite they will die, but you know the feeling they will do this for the many.
In this film, I don't feel that. Sad indeed.

One thing, but it's not the films fault. MTRCB's fault. They cut two scenes, one of them is important, and that scene I knew when you have Eva Green in the film. Not because a trademark but it's just most of her films has this. hehehe

R-16 then cut that scene? What for? 

Well, I thought this film is best when this was included in the first film and that first film make it like 3 hours. Editing will be hard but for me, that will be better like in one scene spartans are fighting then athenians are fighting at one side. Then there might be a scene Artemisia and Leonidas meet. hehe Naval scenes back to back with the hot gates fighting scene, then Zack is the director of that one epic, that will be awesome. That is a full grand story then the sequel will be like the fall of the empire. 
Simple right? But well..

They went to the money making route.

Bad route. 

It's like blood flowing in the Aegean Sea.