‘Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny’ Netflix Movie Review - A Thrilling Conclusion to the Epic Saga

Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny is a Japanese historical action film directed by Shinsuke Sato and starring Kento Yamazaki, Ryo Yoshizawa, and Kanna Hashimoto. It is the third and final part of the Kingdom trilogy, based on the manga series of the same name by Yasuhisa Hara.

The film follows the events of Kingdom 2: Far and Away, where the young war orphan Xin (Yamazaki) and his friend the king of Qin, successfully defeat the rival state of Zhao and its formidable general. However, their victory is short-lived, as a new threat emerges from the west: the state of Chu, led by the ruthless king and his loyal general. To defend their kingdom against this sudden invasion, Xin and Zheng must return to the battlefield, along with their allies and comrades, and face their greatest challenge yet.

The film begins with a flashback to the childhood of Xin and Zheng, where they first met and became friends. They vowed to unite the warring states of China under one banner and create a new era of peace and prosperity. They are soon interrupted by a messenger from Chu, who delivers a declaration of war from the self-proclaimed King of Western Chu. Xiang Yu claims that he is the true heir of the legendary King Yu, who once ruled over all of China.

The film ends with a montage of scenes showing the aftermath of the war, and the celebration of Qin’s victory. Xin and Zheng reunite and hug each other. They then join their friends and allies, and thank them for their support and loyalty. They then address the people of Qin and announce their plan to unify the remaining states of China under one banner. They also announce their intention to rename Qin as Zhongguo, meaning the Middle Kingdom, or China. The people cheer and applaud, and express their hope and excitement for the future. The film then fades to black, and the credits roll.

Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny is a thrilling conclusion to the epic saga of Kingdom and a satisfying adaptation of the manga series by Yasuhisa Hara. The film delivers on its promise of providing a spectacular spectacle of action, drama, and emotion while staying faithful to the original source material. The film also succeeds in conveying the themes and messages of the manga, such as the importance of friendship, loyalty, courage, and dreams, as well as the complexity and tragedy of war, power, and destiny.

The film’s strengths lie in its cast, direction, and production. The cast, led by Kento Yamazaki and Ryo Yoshizawa, gives excellent performances that capture the essence and personality of their characters. Yamazaki and Yoshizawa have great chemistry and rapport and portray the bond and growth of Xin and Zheng with conviction and charisma.

Sato manages to balance the action and drama and create a coherent and cohesive narrative that flows smoothly and engagingly. The production values are also impressive and commendable, and reflect the high budget and quality of the film.

The film’s weaknesses, however, are its length, pace, and originality. The film is over two hours long and feels a bit dragged and repetitive at times. The film could have benefited from a tighter and more focused script and more efficient and effective editing. The film could have improved its pace by having a clearer and smoother structure and a more balanced and dynamic rhythm.

The originality of the film is also questionable, as it borrows and adapts many elements and tropes from other historical and fantasy films, such as The Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Braveheart, and 300.

Overall, Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny is a worthy and satisfying conclusion to the Kingdom trilogy and a faithful and impressive adaptation of the manga series by Yasuhisa Hara. The film is a must-watch for fans of the manga and a recommended watch for fans of historical and action films.

Final Score – [6/10]
Reviewed by - Arpita Mondal
Publisher at Midgard Times