One of the closest to the original live-action adaptations reached its third part in 2023 (with the fourth, which will conclude the adaptation of the first season of the anime, coming this year), retaining the quality and entertainment of the first two, even if the story is, necessarily, a bit more condensed on occasion.
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The film is split into two parts, with the first one focusing more on the characters and the second on the battle itself. While Shin is training under Ohki, the Best General in the World, the powerful neighboring country of Zhao suddenly attacks Qin. Within the palace, Eisei has to deal with inner politics, as Ryofui, who obviously commands much authority within the council, is promoting his own man, general Mobu, as the one to be in charge of the defense of the country. In the meantime, though, Shoheikun, who is the one with the last word on the matter, has invited Ohki back to the court, in order to give him the position of the head general. His appearance, along with Shin and his second in command To, causes much turmoil, but the combined will of Shoheikun and Eisei overcome all opposition. This part concludes with the Prince narrating his life story and how he came to become a king from a beggar, in an arc, though, that is quite cut down from the intensely dramatic essence of the original. Shin, who is eavesdropping, becomes even more faithful to his king's goal after hearing the story.
The second part concerns the actual battle, starting with Shin, currently a 100-man leader, appointing Kyokai as his second in command, while the appearance of Ohki boosts the morale of the troop even more. The battle, however, proves quite difficult, with Fuki, head general of Zhao, proving a worthy adversary, while the numbers and the quality of soldiers is also on his side. Ohki tasks Shin and his group with a suicide mission, that can turn the tide of the battle
Probably the best aspect of the whole movie is the presence of Takao Osawa as Ohki, who manages to embody the anime character in the most accurate and most impressive way, without losing his sense of measure, in a truly astonishing performance. The fact that the focus moves away from Shin is also quite welcome, both because it allows Ohki to shine and additional empathy to be created for Eisei through his dramatic back story. And truth be told, Shin is probably one of the least layered characters in the whole story, despite the fact that his underdog story is the driving force of the whole narrative.
Also once more, it is impressive to watch how close to the anime the characters are, in appearance, mannerisms and overall demeanor, in one of the best traits of the adaptation that also highlights the excellent job done in the casting. Lastly, in terms of story, the appearance, close to the end, of two of the main rivals of the story, creates much anticipation for the fourth entry.
Of course, the battles are once more quite epic, with the panoramic view of the two armies, the actions of the two generals that resemble a game of chess, and the way the individuals eventually shine in the battle being truly outstanding. Shinsuke Sato took full advantage of the desert and the mountains in the area to set the action, highlighting once more his knack on shooting battle scenes with a plethora of characters. The speed of the whole thing in particular is one of the key sources of the entertainment this part offers, with both editing and the actors, mainly Kento Yamazaki as Shin and Nana Seino as Kyokai, adding to this trait. Akira Sako's cinematography captures the whole thing in a way that adds to the overall epicness, again with the panoramic shots being quite impressive, while the overall work in SFX, costumes, and production design is of the highest caliber.
Not much more to say, if you are looking either for excellent live-action adaptations of anime or epic films in general, “Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny” will not disappoint you in any way.
