Kingdom 2: Far and Away (2022) Movie Review

 

Kingdom 2: Far and Away (Original title: Kingudamu 2: Harukanaru daichi e) | 2022 | 2h 14m
Genre: Action Epic/Historical Epic/War Epic/Action/Adventure/History/War | Country: Japan
Director: Shinsuke Satô | Writers: Yasuhisa Hara, Tsutomu Kuroiwa
Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Ryô Yoshizawa, Kanna Hashimoto
IMDB: 6.7
My Rate: 9/10

Shin participates in the battle involving Qin and Wei to realize his dream of becoming a great general and Eisei’s dream of uniting the land of China. Fierce battles occur, making Shin learn many things about warfare and find a figure who can help him achieve his dream.

Warning:

Contains scenes of violence

 

Synopsis:

Six months after the battle to reclaim his power, Eisei (Ryo Yoshizawa) is devising a strategy to achieve his dream of uniting the land of China. Suddenly, an attack by assassins occurs, making him feel cornered. Shin suddenly appears and helps kill the assassins.

Before dying, one of the assassins raises an important topic about Shiyuu. Shiyuu is a legendary assassin from the Tribe of Sorrow, said to be able to kill many people at once. This makes Eisei want to find out who is behind the assassin. However, news about an attack from the Wei kingdom divides his attention.

Shin decides to join the war and leaves Ten with Eisei. Shin wants to experience real warfare to realize his dream of becoming a general. Shin joins the slave troops. They must fight on the front lines immediately despite being tired from a long journey.

A fierce battle ensues. Shin meets Hyoukai (Nana Seino) in his group. Hyoukai has a mysterious personality with amazing fighting skills. It turns out Hyoukai is one of the Shiyuu who tries to infiltrate Wei to find her sister’s killer.

The battle strategy of Kyugen, a general known for his suicide tactics, makes them face a fight risking their lives. Without help from other soldiers, their situation becomes even more difficult. They must also kill the opposing general.

Will they succeed in driving back the Wei forces and return safely to Qin?

 
Review:

Kingdom 2: Far and Away (2022) is the sequel to Kingdom (2019), still based on the manga by Yasuhisa Hara. This installment focuses more on Shin’s journey and struggle to gain experience in order to realize his dream. Viewers are treated to more intense and numerous action scenes during the battles compared to the first film.

At the beginning, the film provides a recap of the first movie through narration and images, which is helpful for new viewers or as a reminder for returning audiences. This also serves as a smooth transition into the new story.

The storyline develops consistently and systematically from the first film, introducing new characters while bringing back key figures. The timeline is set six months later, starting with Eisei strategizing to unite China, followed by Shin and Ten helping him fend off an assassin attack. This scene also hints at a new character, Hyoukai. Soon after, the war with Wei kingdom emerges as the reason for Shin’s participation.

Conflicts are twofold: internal kingdom intrigue and external warfare. The internal conflict involves betrayal within the kingdom, while the external conflict unfolds on the battlefield where Shin and fellow slaves fight on the front lines. Their challenges increase due to General Hyoko’s deadly strategies, culminating in a critical mission to kill the enemy general.

The film’s intense action scenes are a highlight, balanced with touching moments related to Kyoukai’s story. Amidst the tension, there are also unexpected entertaining scenes.

The resolution is well-executed, clearly showing character development. Shin’s understanding of what it means to be a great general deepens, Kyoukai learns the meaning of life, and other scenes provide a perfect anticlimax.

The cast delivers impressive performances. While Ryo Yoshizawa’s screen time is limited compared to the first film, Kento Yamazaki remains a strong presence, alongside Nana Seino’s remarkable swordplay, which is physically demanding especially with the costumes.

Cinematography and detail remain excellent, capturing expressions and battles vividly. The color composition suits the desert setting without overexposure. Costumes and makeup fit the scenes well.

One notable difference from the first film is the frequent use of horses in this sequel. Hopefully, no horses were harmed during filming, as many scenes look quite intense.

Overall, this film is a must-watch for fans of the Kingdom manga. Don’t forget to watch the first film, Kingdom (2019), to get the full story.

 

Memorable Scene:

Kyoukai fights while protecting the injured Bi Hei. Bi Hei asks Kyoukai to leave him behind because he cannot hold on any longer. However, this moment leads Kyoukai to understand her late sister’s dreams and wishes. Kyoukai tells Bi Hei that she can still endure and fight because she is still alive.

This scene shows how we often choose to give up when feeling at our lowest, but in reality, we can still fight and endure by recognizing the fact that we are still alive. As long as we live and breathe, nothing is impossible, including rising again.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"Comeback, and let's fight together again."

 

Ending:

Happy Ending

 
Recommendation:

Must Watch

 

(Aluna)