Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno | |
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Directed by | Keishi Ōtomo |
Screenplay by |
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Based on | Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki |
Produced by | Satoshi Fukushima |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Takuro Ishizaka |
Edited by | Tsuyoshi Imai |
Music by | Naoki Satō |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 138 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Budget | $30 million (shared with The Legend Ends)[2] |
Box office | $52.7 million (international)[3] |
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (Japanese: るろうに剣心 京都大火編, Hepburn: Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Taika-hen), also known as Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno in North America, is a 2014 Japanese jidaigeki action film based on the Rurouni Kenshin manga series, and serves as the second installment of the Rurouni Kenshin film series', following the first film Rurouni Kenshin (2012).[4][5][6] The story follows Himura Kenshin as he heads to Kyoto to face a powerful group led by Shishio Makoto, a man who wants to rule Japan after being betrayed by the government.
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno released in Japan on August 1, 2014, by
Plot
In Settsu Mine, Hyōgo Prefecture, Saitō Hajime leads the Japanese police in tracking Shishio Makoto,[7] a notorious renegade who was betrayed by the government after he had helped them defeat the Tokugawa shogunate during the Battle of Toba–Fushimi. However, Shishio's men ambush and massacre the police in the mine; Sishio tells Saitō his plan to conquer Japan before leaving.
After the events of
While on the way, Kenshin meets with Makimachi Misao, who attempts to steal his sakabato. While the two converse, they are alerted by a boy to the plight of his parents and brother, all of whom are killed by Shishio's men for trying to report their atrocities to their village to the authorities. Kenshin beats Shishio's men, though his identity as Hitokiri Battōsai is revealed. Kenshin is taken to Shishio himself, the latter ordering Sōjiro to duel Kenshin, which ends with Sōjiro breaking Kenshin's sakabato. As he leaves the scene, Kenshin urges the villagers, including the orphaned boy, not to take their revenge against Shishio's men.
Arriving at Kyoto, Kenshin is asked by Misao, who is impressed by his words, to take shelter at an inn run by
Meanwhile, Kaoru decides to follow Kenshin to Kyoto, accompanied by Yahiko and Sanosuke. At the same time, Kenshin discovers to his dismay that the person who made his sakabato,
Kenshin discovers Shishio's ship about to set sail to the capital after learning that Sōjirō has kidnapped Kaoru. There, he has an inconclusive battle with Shishio, which ends when Kaoru is thrown over board. Kenshin jumps into the sea, but is unable to locate her. The film ends with a mysterious man finding Kenshin's unconscious body washed up on the beach and carries him away.
Cast
Principal cast list as presented on the Funimation Films website in Western name order:[8]
- Kenshin Himura[9]
- Kaoru Kamiya[9]
- Sanosuke Sagara[9]
- Megumi Takani[9]
- Kaito Oyagi as Yahiko Myojin
- Yōsuke Eguchi as Hajime Saito
- Makoto Shishio
- Sojiro Seta
- Yumi Komagata
- Cho Sawagejo
- Tao Tsuchiya as Misao Makimachi
- Min Tanaka as Okina
- Masaharu Fukuyama as Seijuro Hiko
- Aoshi Shinomori.
- Miyazawa Kazufumi as Ōkubo Toshimichi, one of historical Three Great Nobles of the Restoration
Production
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno was shot in a variety of locations around Japan, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagano, Ibaraki, and Kanagawa. Over 5000 extras were hired for the production, and filming wrapped on December 27, 2013.[10]
For the Kyoto duology films, director Keishi Ōtomo said he did not have to put much advice to Takeru Satoh as his acting in the first film attracted multiple positive reactions by the staff and the audience. He then stated "Even without saying this or that from the side, he created an image of Kenshin, including his behavior, swordplay, and speech, through the necessary preparation and hard work. So I didn’t worry at all".[11]
Due to the Kyoto films showing a darker characterization of Kenshin as he struggles against different strong rivals, Satoh also said his work became more challenging. Still, he found it interesting. A scene that Satoh enjoyed was Kenshin's fight against
Music
One Ok Rock's song "Mighty Long Fall" from their seventh album, 35xxxv, is featured in the movie.[13]
Release
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno was released theatrically by
In June 2016,
Reception
Box office
At the box office the movie earned a total of $52.9 million internationally.[15] The film also held the top spot at the box office in Japan during its first week.[16] It was the third highest-grossing film of 2014 at the Japanese box office with ¥5.22 billion.[17] The film made its United States premiere at LA EigaFest 2014.[18]
Critical reception
The film received positive reviews from critics, with widespread praise regarding the film's action direction and fight choreography conducted by
Remy Van Ruiten praised the film, stating that "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is a fantastic movie...Even in the age of a high budget Marvel Cinematic Universe, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is a very rare treat. As there aren’t as many of these movies being made based on anime of this caliber and the few that do get made avoiding sticking to the same formula, both overall and for the choreography during the battles, the experience still manages to feel fresh."[21]
Mikhail Lecaros of
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Asian Film Festival of Dallas | Audience Award | Keishi Ōtomo | Won |
Sequel
A direct sequel, Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends, released on September 13, 2014. The film takes place immediately after the ending of Kyoto Inferno
References
- ^ a b c d e "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno". The Godzilla Cineaste. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Taika-hen". The Japan Times. August 6, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno. Boxofficemojo
- ^ "Actor: Filming of Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequels Halfway Done". Anime News Network. November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ "New Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequel Image Previews Juppongatana". Anime News Network. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ "New Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequels' Photos Feature Kenshin vs. Sōjirō". Anime News Network. January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ "Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's Photos Reveal More of Shishio's Costume". Anime News Network. January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ Films, Funimation. "Rurouni Kenshin: Part 3: The Legend Ends - Funimation Films". www.funimationfilms.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Takeru Satoh on Set. Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Movie". The Shinigami List. January 14, 2014. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ Loo, Egan (January 6, 2014). "Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequels' Principal Photography Ends". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "Interview: Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Director Keishi Otomo". Otaku Mode. August 24, 2014. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ^ "Interview: Takeru Satoh, Kenshin Himura in "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno/The Legend Ends"". Otaku Mode. August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- ^ "Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequels' Subtitled Trailer Previews ONE OK ROCK's Song". Anime News Network. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "The classic samurai manga hits the big screen in a riveting live-action film trilogy. Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends – in select theaters October 3, 4 & 5 with English subtitles".
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy; Bloom, David (January 10, 2015). "'Transformers 4' Tops 2014's 100 Highest-Grossing International Films – Chart". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
- ^ "2014". Eiren. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ^ "L.A. EigaFest to Show Live-Action Lupin III, Rurouni Kenshin Sequel". Anime News Network. September 22, 2023.
- ^ "Review: RUROUNI KENSHIN: KYOTO INFERNO Delivers Grand Thrills". screenanarchy.com. September 4, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ^ "Review: 'Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno' strikes a perfect balance". yahoo.com. August 31, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ^ AboveUp (January 8, 2015). "[Review] Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Inferno". wordpress.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ^ "Movie review: 'Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno' is a live-action anime epic". GMA News Online. August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ^ Khan, Jahanzeb (November 30, 2014). "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno Review". snapthirty.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
External links
- Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno at IMDb