Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno
Nov. 16th, 2014 12:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustSaw this last night at the Japanese Film Festival. Brief but spoilery reactions.
* So excited to get to see this at last. But my reactions were a blend of THIS IS SO COOL and SERIOUSLY?! and RAGE.
* The opening sequence with the showdown between Saito and Shishio in the fiery mines? Totally worth the price of admission.
* Once again, everyone was brilliantly cast. Amazing that they can bring these characters to life so realistically. Sojiro was a highlight.
* Some of the acting was kind of overwrought though. I'm looking at you, Sanosuke. Also you, Cho. And - I feel bad for saying this - all the people wailing over the bodies of the loved ones killed by Shishio. It just felt a bit emotionally manipulative, is all.
* All the questions about bloody deeds done in the service of a new age, and violence and justice and peace, and whether you can protect people without killing, these were wrestled with again and again, and pretty much the heart of the Rurouni Kenshin story, so kudos to the writers.
* I kept thinking, helplessly, how do you stop a wooden city from burning? History was not on their side.
* I remember liking Aoshi from the anime, but I ended up hating him here. Everyone else is trying to save the city from burning, and all he cares about is his quest for vengeance. And when he killed the innkeeper Watcher, I was like, you heartless bastard. Isn't Aoshi's quest about avenging his slain Watcher comrades in the first place? I will be angry if he is forgiven without a damn good reason.
* When Sojiro kidnapped Kaoru, I was staring at the screen thinking YOU ARE FUCKING KIDDING ME. I am so over this.
* When Kenshin washed up on the beach, and the stranger found him, I suddenly realised who was still missing from the story so far, and I shrieked with delight inside. OMG I CANNOT WAIT.
I'm seeing the third and final movie tonight. To be continued...
* So excited to get to see this at last. But my reactions were a blend of THIS IS SO COOL and SERIOUSLY?! and RAGE.
* The opening sequence with the showdown between Saito and Shishio in the fiery mines? Totally worth the price of admission.
* Once again, everyone was brilliantly cast. Amazing that they can bring these characters to life so realistically. Sojiro was a highlight.
* Some of the acting was kind of overwrought though. I'm looking at you, Sanosuke. Also you, Cho. And - I feel bad for saying this - all the people wailing over the bodies of the loved ones killed by Shishio. It just felt a bit emotionally manipulative, is all.
* All the questions about bloody deeds done in the service of a new age, and violence and justice and peace, and whether you can protect people without killing, these were wrestled with again and again, and pretty much the heart of the Rurouni Kenshin story, so kudos to the writers.
* I kept thinking, helplessly, how do you stop a wooden city from burning? History was not on their side.
* I remember liking Aoshi from the anime, but I ended up hating him here. Everyone else is trying to save the city from burning, and all he cares about is his quest for vengeance. And when he killed the innkeeper Watcher, I was like, you heartless bastard. Isn't Aoshi's quest about avenging his slain Watcher comrades in the first place? I will be angry if he is forgiven without a damn good reason.
* When Sojiro kidnapped Kaoru, I was staring at the screen thinking YOU ARE FUCKING KIDDING ME. I am so over this.
* When Kenshin washed up on the beach, and the stranger found him, I suddenly realised who was still missing from the story so far, and I shrieked with delight inside. OMG I CANNOT WAIT.
I'm seeing the third and final movie tonight. To be continued...
