Kingdom 4: A brilliant, poignant sequel that proves a franchise can last.

 

I have loved all of the Kingdom movies released so far. I firmly believe that they have earnt a place amongst the very best live-action adaptations alongside the likes of the Rurouni Kenshin movies. Going on strong, I had high hopes for the 4th movie with Ouki finally being teased to do battle and not stand around looking glorious and smiling. I was not disappointed. 

Kingdom picks up immediately where the previous movie left off with Houken having ambushed Hi Shin at night following their prior victorious battle. After battling Kyoukai and Shin, Houken realises that his actual target, Ohki, isn't amongst them and so, the Hi Shin unit is allowed to flee having been reduced to half of their original number. Following this, the battle between Qin and Zhao continues, with Mobu being caught up in a death trap that also ensnares Ouki, who was lured in to be killed by the strategy of Riboku. Ohki squares off against Houken whilst also having to deal with the cunning mind of Riboku.

The 4th movie of the franchise proves that it hasn't grown stale just yet. Shinsuke Sato's wonderful direction continues and I suspect that if you watch the movies back to back, it would feel as though they were filmed one after the other. The ancient Chinese setting is brought to life with a stellar, dynamic array of shot types with some truly beautiful wide shots capturing the wonderful set design perfectly. Throw in the clever usage of various editing techniques such as the classic screen wipes to seamlessly transition between scenes and it makes for a very pleasant feast for the eyes. 

I greatly enjoyed the soundtrack as it enhanced the viewing experience remarkably. It was tense when it needed tension, epic when there were battles and duels, sombre when moments of drama and sorrow were happening and most importantly of all, it knew when to be quiet and let the plot unfold. 

Once again, the actual battles are very well laid out and I love the tactics and strategies shown on screen. The fantastical elements also return, such as the way that armies of men are sent flying from a swing of a glaive. It's not realistic, but there is something magical about the way it is used in the Kingdom movies that makes it ok in my book. The one major highlight in regards to the battle scenes is the much anticipated one on one duel between two major characters. The duel doesn't disappoint.  

What the movie does well is delivering real emotional, impactful major character deaths. There's a fake out, but that only enhances the first death that little bit more. The second death might just be my favourite cinematic death of them all, with the way it was shot, the dialogue and the actual death itself being excellent. It's perhaps the most dramatic sequel so far with a lot of emotional scenes and the theme of loss being a major key in that. Loss also occurs for the army of Qin for the first time in the series, although they don't truly admit it.  

Kingdom 4 is Ohki's movie. There's no denying that fact with the movie heavily focusing on him and his backstory as well. Shin is still present, but is pushed to the side just a bit to allow Ohki to take centre stage. This could have backfired in a huge way, but it worked fantastically in this movie. Takao Osawa plays a big role in that fact as his sheer screen presence and theatricality are magnetic and awe inspiring. In this one, he finally manages to get involved and excels in the action, whilst also showcasing an impressive range of emotions beyond anything seen from him in the prior movies. He is the emotional heart of it all and I loved his character. 

Kento Yamazaki made the most of what he had been given which is much less than in the previous movies, but he still gets some rather impactful moments. He's a remarkable talent that I 've seen catch flak that I don't think he deserves as I have always been impressed with his talent and work ethic. 

In a great contrast to Kento Yamazaki's extremely expressive, emotive Shin, Shun Oguri delivered a much more calculated, cold and ruthless performance as the genius strategist, Riboku. He seems much more subdued emotionally than Shin, which is nice. 

I think that this might have been the second best movie in the franchise, behind the first movie which holds a special place in my heart. The future is bright for a fifth part and I would absolutely recommend checking out all 4 movies so far to action fans, Kingdom fans, those who enjoy historical epics with a dash of fantasy and those who enjoy war movies too.