Kingdom 2: Far and Away

Kingdom 2: Far and Away (Japanese: キングダム2 遥かなる大地へ, Hepburn: Kingudamu 2 Harukanaru Daichi e) is a 2022 Japanese historical war film directed by Shinsuke Sato. An adaptation of the manga of the same name by Yasuhisa Hara, the film is the sequel to Kingdom (2019). The film stars Kento Yamazaki, Ryo Yoshizawa, and Kanna Hashimoto.[1]

Kingdom 2: Far and Away
Theatrical release poster
Japaneseキングダム2遥かなる大地へ
Directed byShinsuke Sato
Screenplay by
Based onKingdom
by Yasuhisa Hara
Produced by
  • Naoaki Kitajima
  • Shinzou Matsuhashi
  • Ryousuke Mori
  • Yuuya Satoyoshi
  • Gao Xiulan
StarringKento Yamazaki
Ryo Yoshizawa
Kanna Hashimoto
Nana Seino
Etsushi Toyokawa
Takao Osawa
Narrated byKouichi Yoshinaga
CinematographyAkira Sako [ja]
Edited byTsuyoshi Imai [ja]
Music byYutaka Yamada
Production
company
CREDEUS
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • July 15, 2022 (2022-07-15) (Japan)
Running time
134 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office¥5.16 billion

By the end of 2022, Kingdom 2 had earned ¥5.16 billion (equivalent to US$47,015,945), making it the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of that year.[2] Two sequels have been released: Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny (2023) and Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General (2024).

Plot

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6 months after the events of the first film regarding the usurpation attempt by Souetsu's younger half-brother. An assassination attempt is made upon the properly stabilized King of Qin. Most of the original gang makes their reappearance at this time with Shin/Xin (Kento Yamazaki) finally defeats the would-be assassins. During their final moments the name of Chi-woo clan (Chi-you clan) was revealed. Further information regarding the clan is revealed to Shin before news of about the state of Wei invading the state of Qin. Shin moves to join the infantry army of the 4th division. He is quickly grouped up with 2 childhood friends, a smith and an unknown figure who goes by the name of Outcast (Qiang Wei- Nana Seino). Together they form a 5-man team.

The army marches to the Dalken plains where the Wei army had already taken over two hills within the plains. The goal of the army that Shin was part of was to take the 2nd hill that was recently captured by the enemy. As if to portray the difference between good strategy and bad strategy, the leaders of Shin's group made rash and foolhardy decisions but they worked out well in the end as the initial conflict ended with Shin taking the life of the enemy commander. The enemy retreats only for a second enemy division made up of armored chariots to arrive. Outcast provides a tip to stack up the enemy bodies to create an impromptu barricade against the charging chariots. The plan worked and the remaining members of the 4th division army that Shin was part of survived.

Night soon fell and the remaining members of the 4th division scramble to stay alive from the persistent assault of the enemy soldiers. Most of the group retreats under Shin's insistence with the exception of Outcast who revealed a powerful assault method against the enemies before running out of breathe. The enemies had dragged down Outcast's scarf to reveal that they were a women this whole time. Shin and Outcast are soon encircled and are forced to jump off a cliff into the river below.

After some time Shin awakens to find that Outcast had bandaged him. After some talks it is revealed that Outcast is from the Chiyou clan. She has come to join the war against Wei to find and kill the fellow Chi-you clan member who killed her sister during the official clan competition to find the final member who would inherit the true title of 'Chi-you". Shin begins to coerce outcast to kill for herself after she gets her revenge. His words inspire her to change the more she ponders it.

The duo soon make their way back to where the rest of the 4th infantry division is. Shin proposes the bold idea of charging into the semi empty hill they were originally assigned to. News spreads to both enemy camps as well as ally camps. The command from the ally camp allows the 4th cavalry division to finally charge up the hill and support the infantry to capture the hill. With the power of infantry and cavalry they reach the peak of the hill where the enemy camp that had originally disregarded them to focus upon capturing the ally general (Biao Gong) and ending the fight. This disregard allowed the army and Shin to reach the commander where the army commander that had originally showcased foolhardy thoughts about not letting the infantry rest upon their arrival to the Dalken plains. This commander is stabbed by the enemy commander but in his final moments the army commander stabs a knife into the neck of the enemy commander.

Meanwhile back at the forest that the infantry had reached on their way to the top of the hill, Outcast finally remembers what her 'sisters' dream was. This causes her attitude to become more caring as she overexerts herself to protect the 4th division infantry members. With the enemy routed soon, the infantry members that were left behind while Shin went alongside the Cavalry arrive at the camp.

As the army commander gives his final message, Shin spots the entire Wei army has left the first hill and are moving to assault the Qin army camp. At this time, the Qin commander finally grants the command for a full charge while 'Great General of the Heavens' Wang Qi (General Ouki) also makes his appearance at the hill that Shin and company took. He begins to give advice to Shin about what it means to be a general. At the same time, the Qin army general is charging towards the enemy army. Shin is given a horse by Wang Qi that he uses to catch up with the Qin general and supports their arrival to the Wei army where the Wei general and Qin general face off with Qin winning. The Wei army breaks down without a commander. The Qin commander and General Wang Qi chat for a bit whilst looking at the sunset.

The scene soon changes to Shin returning back to the Qin capital and meeting up with the king and He Lei Diao (Ten-Kanna Hashimoto). He Lei Diao reveals that she wishes to join the army as well but not as a soldier but advisor. After another scene change It shows the Qin imperial hall where news about Shin being made a centurion are revealed. Unexpected company soon arrives as the Prime minister finally arrives from his trip to Wei state during the first movie. The prime minister claims to investigate the assassins that arrived at the beginning of the film. Ying Zheng (the king of Qin/Souetsu) ends the movie by saying "I shall be in your care".

Cast

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Awards and nominations

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Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
35th Nikkan Sports Film Awards Yūjirō Ishihara Award Kingdom 2: Far and Away Won [3]
Best Supporting Actress Nana Seino Won [4]
65th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Supporting Actress Won [5]
46th Japan Academy Film Prize Best Supporting Actress Nominated [6]
Best Cinematography Akira Sakō Nominated
Best Lighting Direction Hiroyuki Kase Nominated
Best Art Direction Hidetaka Ozawa Nominated
Best Sound Recording Akira Sakō Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "実写映画『キングダム』続編製作が決定 山崎賢人が番組で発表「来た!よっしゃー!". Oricon (in Japanese). May 29, 2020. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "東宝、『呪術廻戦』『すずめの戸締まり』『名探偵コナン』のビッグヒットでコロナ前の水準に 10億円の壁に課題も". Oricon (in Japanese). December 14, 2022. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "【映画大賞】石原裕次郎賞は「キングダム2遥かなる大地へ」山崎賢人「3はさらにさらにすごい」". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "【映画大賞】清野菜名が助演女優賞、挑戦の1年「ハリウッドにアクションで行きたい」将来の夢も". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "【ブルーリボン賞】助演女優賞・清野菜名「筋肉痛はキョウカイ痛」撮影後は体が"大きく"". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "『第46回 日本アカデミー賞』受賞者・作品発表 『ある男』最多12部門13の優秀賞 助演女優に2人同時". Oricon. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
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