Miike Takashi’s “Hatsukoi” (First Love) is a film that retains its Miike style of violence and humor, but there is also a romance angle as well. Having watched this film multiple times now, I’ve not grown tired of it because it’s quite entertaining and if anything, I highly recommend this film!
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TITLE: åˆæ‹ (Hatsukoi) a.k.a. “First Love”
FILM RELEASE DATE: 2019
DURATION: 109 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Color, 16:9 Widescreen, Japanese and English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
COMPANY: Well Go USA Entertainment
RELEASED: February 11, 2020
Directed by Sato Shinsuke
Written by Hara Yasuhisa
Screenplay by Kuroiwa Tsutomu, Sato Shinsuke
Produced by Kii Muneyuki, Saka Misako, Jeremy Thomas
Music by Endo Koji
Cinematography by Kita Nobuyasu
Edited by Tanji Matsuo
Starring:
Yamazaki Kento as Li Xin
Yoshizawa Ryo as Yin Zheng/Piao
Nagasawa Masami as Yang Duan He
Hashimoto Kanna as He Liao Diao
Hongo Kanata as Cheng Jiao
Mitsushima Shinnosuke as bi
Takashima Masahiro as Chang Wen Jun
Kaname Jun as Teng
Ohsawa Takao was Wang Qi
Abe Shinnosuke as Ba Jio
Orphaned by war, Xin and Piao, dream of changing their fate to become the world’s greatest generals. And after Piao sacrifices himself for the future emperor, Xin’s path is set in motion. Helping the King reclaim the throne puts Xin’s blade to the test as they go against assassins, large armies, and the mountain clan. In a country torn apart by war, only they can fight to unite the warring states!
Xin and Piao, dream of changing their fate to become the world’s greatest generals. And after Piao sacrifices himself for the future emperor, Xin’s path is set in motion. To help the King reclaim his throne, Xin’s blade will be put to the ultimate test!
In 2006, mangaka Hara Yasuhisa created his award-winning manga series “Kingdomâ€.
A fictionalized account of the Warring States period, the series has sold over 20 million copies in 2015 and was the grand prize winner of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2013. The anime series adaptation produced by Pierrot aired on NHK in 2012-2013, with a second season having aired in 2013-2014 and a live-action film was released in 2019.
The film was directed by Sato Shinsuke (“I Am Hero”, “The Princess Blade”, “Inuyashiki”) and a screenplay co-written by Sato and Kuroiwa Tsutomu (“Boku no Yabai Tsuma”, “Gantz: O”, “Kasane”).
The film stars Kento Yamazaki (“Orange”, “Heroine Disqualified”, “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure”), Yoshizawa Ryo (“Gintama”, “Kamen Rider Fourze”), Nagasawa Masami (“Godzilla: Final Wars”, “Your Name.”, “Before We Vanish”), Hashimoto Kanna (“Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation”, “Gintama”, “Assassination Classroom”), Hongo Kanata (“Attack on Titan”, “Returner”, “Fullmetal Alchemist”), Mitsushima Shinnosuke (“Blade of the Immortal”), Takashima Masahiro (“Totto Channel”, “Godzilla vs. Destroyah”, “Busu”) and Ohsawa Takao (“Wolf Children”, “Ichi”, “Metro ni notte”).
And now the live-action version of “Kingdom†is now available on Blu-ray courtesy of FUNimation.
The anime series begins with the introduction of two war-orphans, Xin and Piao. Both often training their fighting skills and have their dreams of becoming “Great Generals of the Heavens†in the kingdom of Qin. But both are peasants and are household slaves.
Xin is more of the hotheaded and blunt of the two, one day while training and sparring, a minister arrives and gives Piao the opportunity to have a position in the Palace, while Xin who is saddened he would be separated from Piao, knows that if one of them can make their dreams come true to become a general, then their dreams will be fulfilled.
A short time has past and one day, a bloodied and near-death Piao arrives and tells Xin that the King’s brother has betrayed him and he doesn’t have much time left. Piao’s final words is that Xin and him share the same goals, same spirit and he entrusts Xin to make their dream come true and gives him a map to visit. Piao dies and Xin wants revenge on who is responsible for killing him.
Xin goes to a location on the map and is shocked to a see a man who looks exactly like Piao, but in truth it is King Ying Zhen. Xin realizes the truth that Piao was a body double for the King and now he’s dead.
Xin is joined by He Liao Dao, of the Mountain Tribe and the three travel on a journey in hope to find people who will help the Ying Zheng.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“Kingdom” is presented in 2:35:1 aspect ratio. The overall picture quality is wonderful. I noticed no artifacts or any blemishes on video.
As for the soundtrack, included are the Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks. I watched the film in both languages and while the Japanese is very good as expected, Funimation did a great job in casting for the English dub.
But overall audio, dialogue and music are crystal clear. Action sequences and ambiance are heard through the surround channels.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Kingdom” only comes with a trailer.
EXTRAS:
The film comes with both the Blu-ray and DVD version of the film. Also, included is a Funimation digital code.
“Kingdom” is one of my favorite anime series and the manga series is still ongoing in Japan with a total of 56 volumes printed. So, there is still a lot of stories for Hara Yasuhisa to write.
With that being said, when the live action film was announced, many hoped the best for this well-loved series as manga to live-film adaptations tend to not go right or are very different from the original material.
For the most part, while there are small differences, the story stays very close to the source material. The characters portrayed on the live action film are great representations of their manga counterpart.
While the action utilizes a lot of visual effects, a big part of the series is strategy and from its smart display of using strategy of the Qin Empire and its enemies, the storyline is wonderfully written, pacing is excellent and unlike other anime series with plenty of characters, “Kingdom†is not hampered by complicated storylines.
This is a straight-up, action-driven anime series focused on Xin’s learning of the battlefield, growing in battle and honoring his deceased friend’s dying wish by making his and his friend’s death come true.
The first film focuses on Qin and Yin Zheng but with manga to live action film adaptations tend to be two to three films, how many live action films planned and how to incorporate the story for the next film will be a challenge. So, I hope the second film will be faithful to the manga and exciting like the first film, but I can foresee some differences if a sequel is created.
Overall, “Kingdom†is one of the best manga series written, one of the best anime series I have watched, I have to say the live action-film is absolutely entertaining. I definitely recommend this first live-action “Kingdom” film!
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