'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle' Review
Image Source: OneMoreGame
After the last arc of the modern classic ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ ended on a mind-blowing cliffhanger, fans were shocked when we learned that the final arc of the series, Infinity Castle, would be adapted as not just one movie, but an entire film trilogy.
Over a year later, the first film in the Infinity Castle Trilogy has finally hit theaters, delivering all of the breathtaking action and deep emotion the show has become known for, dialed up to 11, rightfully earning it #1 at the Box Office its opening weekend.
The movie picks up right where the anime’s ‘Hashira Training Arc’ ended, with Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, the Hashira, and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps plummeting into Muzan’s constantly shifting fortress, where they face the fight for their lives to bring an end to Muzan’s reign of terror. This setup instantly flips the narrative the series is used to, with the Demon Slayers fighting through the night to sunrise, now having found themselves in a realm where there is no sun, and faced with hordes of demons as well as all of Muzan’s Upper Moons.
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Image Source: OneMoreGame
This first act of the trilogy can be effectively broken up into three tentpole battles. First, being the Insect Hashira, Shinobu, facing Upper Moon 2, Douma, with tensions running high as Shinobu fights to the death against the demon who murdered her sister, creating a battle that leaves you on the edge of your seat until the final strike
The second battle is Zenitsu versus Upper Moon 6, Kaigaku. Keen-eyed viewers may also recognize Kaigaku, seeing as he was a minor recurring character from both Zenitsu and Gyomei’s pasts, with the movie revealing that he had not only become a demon, but recently became an Upper Moon. His battle with Zenitsu is a personal one for their honor and pride, both being users of the rare Thunder Breathing technique.
Finally, we get the battle between Tanjiro and Giyu (the Water Hashira) vs Upper Moon 3, Akaza, finally bringing about the highly anticipated rematch between Tanjiro and Akaza after their first encounter in the Mugen Train film. This is not only the longest battle of the film, but without a doubt the most intense, finally revealing how strong Tanjiro had become, as well as how strong Akaza truly is, while also painting a full picture of Akaza’s origins and the circumstances that made him one of the most feared demons in the series.
Image Source: JoBlo
When it comes to this movie’s strengths, the animation is Ufotable firing on all cylinders with inarguably some of the most visually stunning and complex sequences and setpieces put forth in any of their projects to date, including one sequence that saw animator Nozume Abe drawing upwards of 5000 frames for one minute of animation. On top of such immense grit, Ufotable’s compositing of 2D Characters and VFX with CGI for backgrounds and more complex designs is as seamless as ever, masterfully blended to the point where, at times, it's near impossible to tell what is CGI and what is hand-drawn. Additionally, the score by Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina perfectly matches the action and raw emotion of every scene from start to finish, including the movie’s beautiful opening and ending themes by Aimer and LiSA. The writing is also incredibly clever from start to finish, delivering some serious emotional gut punches amidst the chaos, with the film truly elevating its source material.
The only real challenge this film faces comes down to its uneven pacing, which can largely be attributed to extended flashbacks throughout the film, focusing on both heroes and villains alike. While Demon Slayer is no stranger to films, having masterfully adapted the manga’s Mugen Train arc as a movie with impeccable pacing, ultimately, the timing and length of a couple of key flashbacks at times make Infinity Castle feel less like a movie and more like several episodes of the series combined to become a feature.
While there is no word on when the next installment of the Infinity Castle Trilogy hits theaters, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle delivers a gorgeous opening act that leaves you waiting with baited breath to find out what’s next for Tanjiro as he and his allies continue their hunt for Muzan to bring an end to this nightmare. This is a movie that was made to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Rating: 9/10
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