Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Kenshin has settled into his new life with Kaoru and his other friends when he is approached with a request from the Meiji government. Makoto Shishio, a former assassin like Kenshin, was betrayed, set on fire and left for dead. He survived, and is now in Kyoto, plotting with his gathered warriors to overthrow the new government. Against Kaoru's wishes, Kenshin reluctantly agrees to go to Kyoto and help keep his country from falling back into civil war.
Kyoto Inferno is a visually impressive live-action manga adaptation with kinetic, well-choreographed sword fights and strong production design that elevates the cinematography to a genuine highlight. The plot faithfully follows the beloved manga arc but moves somewhat mechanically as a setup film, ending abruptly mid-story as the first half of a two-part finale, which significantly hurts the Ending score. Acting is competent across the board with Takeru Satoh committed in the lead role, though supporting characters vary in depth. Novelty is limited — while the franchise has its own style, this entry is a fairly standard continuation of an established formula, and its cliffhanger structure diminishes its standalone distinctiveness.