The Kingdom title is a series of Japanese action films directed by Shinsuke Sato, based on the manga series of the same name written by Yasuhisa Hara. The three films, released in 2019, 2020 and 2022, tell the story of Shin, a young orphan who wants to become a great general. He joins the army of Ei Sei, a young man who dreams of becoming the emperor of China.
Synopsis
The story of the films begins in the 3rd century BC, in China. China is divided into seven rival states fighting for supremacy. Shin is a young orphan living in the state of Qin. He dreams of becoming a great general, and helping to unify China.
One day, Shin meets Ei Sei, a young man who dreams of becoming the emperor of China. Ei Sei is a descendant of the royal family of the state of Qin, but was exiled by his older brother.
Shin and Ei Sei team up to make their dreams come true. They join the army of the Qin state, and begin to fight to unify China.
The movies are a faithful adaptation of the manga series, and manage to capture the epic and suspenseful atmosphere of the story well. The fight scenes are spectacular and well choreographed and the actors are excellent. I recommend - you will like it a lot.
Part I (2019)
The first part of the trilogy, Rise of a King, introduces the characters and the story. Xin is a young orphan who is raised by a Qin army soldier. He dreams of becoming a great general of China, but is rejected by the Qin army because of his humble origins.
Xin meets Ying Zheng, the crown prince of the state of Qin. Ying Zheng is an ambitious young man who dreams of uniting China under his leadership. Xin and Ying Zheng form an alliance and begin working together to achieve their dreams.
Part I of the trilogy is a solid introduction to the story. The film is well made and has an engaging action. The characters are well developed and easy to sympathize with.
Part II: Kingdom 2 ~ Far and Away (2022)
The second part of the trilogy, features the Qin invasion, continuing the story. Xin and Ying Zheng have become generals of the Qin army and lead a campaign to conquer the rival states.
Xin faces a number of challenges, including powerful generals and large armies. However, he overcomes all obstacles and continues to get closer to his dream of becoming a great general.
The second part of the trilogy is more intense than the first part. The movie has more thrilling action and more epic fight scenes. The characters continue to develop and become more complex. Yep, it was beyond my expectations.
Part III: Kingdom 3 ~ Flame of Destiny
The third part of the trilogy, The Battle of Changping, is the climax of the story. Xin and Ying Zheng face their greatest challenge yet: the battle against the Zhao Army, the most powerful army in ancient China.
The Battle of Changping is an epic battle that will decide the fate of China. Xin and Ying Zheng must overcome all odds to win the battle and fulfill their dream of unifying China.
Part III of the trilogy is the most visually impressive. The film has a number of epic fight scenes that are truly spectacular. The characters come of age and are ready to fulfill their destinies. I hope that a fourth part will be published by the end of this year - it kind of leaves room for continuity in the story of this superb trilogy.
Personally, i found all three parts of the Kingdom trilogy very interesting and engaging. I really enjoyed the story, which is well written and well developed. The characters are also very well done and easy to sympathize with.
The action is thrilling and there are a number of epic fight scenes that are truly impressive. I also appreciate that the trilogy is pretty faithful to the original source, the manga series.
If you're looking for a cinematic trilogy to captivate you, Kingdom is an excellent choice. Yep, i recommend all three parts of the Kingdom trilogy to all fans of action and historical films.
