Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (2014)
Director: Keishi Ohtomo
Starring: Takeru Satoh, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Emi Takei, Munetaka Aoki
Primary genre: Action
Secondary genre: Period
Third genre: Drama
“Are you content with
what this world has become?”
“Kyoto Inferno” is exactly what the title of this highly ambitious sequel stands for. Split into two parts, the sequel to “Rurouni Kenshin: Origins” was a bold gamble that saw the split of Himura’s adventures with a fiery new antagonist into two parts: “Kyoto Inferno” and “The Legend Ends”. Bypassing the rather anemic promotional materials, the first part is low on emotion and high on the action front delivering thunderous skirmishes in plenty of arenas giving out videogame vibes and put expertly together by a team willing to surpass the first film in every aspect.
While “Origins” gave us hints about Himura’s past and his connection to political violence, “Kyoto Inferno” goes a step further showcasing us the new Japanese government. Yet despite all the sacrifice involved for its establishment, it is still no different than the Shogunate projecting a more publicly appealing side along with strong Western influences. Ohtomo subtly directs jabs towards this new era but he does not detract from those who still linger to the ghosts of the past in the form of a visually exciting (and multi-layered) villain (an unrecognizable Tatsuya Fujiwara, the protagonist of Kinju Fukasaku’s “Battle Royale” (2000)) who threatens to upset the balance of power through militaristic and suicidal means. From his fiery introduction that resembles Renaissance and Baroque depictions of hell under a superb dramatic theme to his passionate speeches about betrayal and trust, Shishio is a force to be reckoned with at least intellectually in this chapter, sure to make top ten villain lists in the years to come.
As such the weight of physical antagonization falls to his minions and goons who make fascinating entrances and are integral parts of extremely elaborate fight sequences that outmatch anything you’ve seen before. Kenshin’s one-on-one with Sojiro Seta is a marvel of choreography - the actors doing their own moves in real time - while the culminating almost 20 minute nonstop climax in - you guessed it - Kyoto brings several players together to kick ass. Ohtomo does not waste a single opportunity making appropriate use of his bigger budget and using his cinematography to great effect capturing ravaged villages and mansions in awesome production design.
Takeru Satoh - the now face of Kenshin - finds additional aspects of his character bringing an honest vulnerability to his relatable superhuman assassin who still refuses to break his oath and kill people even if the circumstances really call for the use of violence to terminate events which can shape the history of the Japanese nation. Therefore, Satoh remains the heart in this massive action period drama demonstrating hard work ethic by doing impossible physical feats while maintaining a troubled stoicism that John Wick would envy amidst the myriads of action sequences.
Like before, “Kyoto Inferno” expands the cast tremendously and although there is sharp characterization, key personnel such as Sojiro Seta, Misao Makimachi, and Nenji Kashiwaki do not get enough to do, reduced to glorified cameos which is a typical trait of Japanese ensemble films. It is a shame then like all part 1 flicks, proceedings come to a sudden halt just when your blood begins to pump, desiring to witness the inevitable confrontation of Kenshin’s pacifism with Shishio’s nihilism. Thus, we will wait for “The Legend Ends” and remain hopeful it will provide satisfactory answers to the upcoming battle royale that has been set up here.
Strong and ambitious sequel
+Superb cinematography
+Upgraded production
+Takeru Satoh kills it
+Fujiwara is an excellent antagonist
+The fighting is out of this world
+Great stuntwork
+Naoki Satoh’s soundtrack
-Cliffhanger ending
-Too many characters