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Apr 18, 2021 · Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is the first and only Demon Slayer movie, and it picks up directly after Demon Slayer season 1 while adapting the Mugen Train manga arc. That ...
Apr 24, 2021 · The “Demon Slayer” movie’s record-breaking run started when it opened in October. It took just 10 days for it to gross over $100 million in Japan and became the fastest film to ever hit that ...
- tracy.brown@latimes.com
- Staff Writer
- The Demon Express (mostly) stays on track.
- Top 10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2021
- Verdict
By Richard Eisenbeis
Updated: Nov 4, 2022 12:16 am
Posted: Apr 18, 2021 3:00 pm
Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train opens in theaters nationwide in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, April 23, 2021. This was reviewed out of Japan. Read more on IGN's policy on movie reviews in light of COVID-19 here. IGN strongly encourages anyone considering going to a movie theater during the COVID-19 pandemic to check their local public health and safety guidelines before buying a ticket.
A visually stunning theatrical continuation of one of anime’s biggest recent hits, Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train only slightly misses the mark. The point of this film is to show us how the characters have grown from training after their last life-and-death battle—and to have them learn the hard way just how far they still have to go.
Picking up moments after the end of the TV series, the film -- a blockbuster success in international release -- follows our team of heroes as they board a train where both normal people and demon hunters have gone missing en masse—likely due to demons. Of course, this means that whatever’s going on is a bit too much for mid-level hunters like Tanjiro and his friends, so they are assigned to work with Rengoku, one of the nine strongest hunters in their organization. Yet as they begin to explore the mystery of the train, it quickly becomes clear that raw power alone will not be enough to save all those on board.
While the film does have some good character development, Enmu, the main villain of the film, gets almost none at all. Up to this point, the villains we have encountered have often had layers to them—something deep inside that both Tanjiro and the viewer can empathize with even as he cuts them down. For the mansion-twisting Kyogai, it was his need to be recognized, either as a demon or as a writer. For the spider-demon Rui, it was his need for a family to replace his human one even though he could no longer understand the concept.
Enmu, on the other hand, is spectacularly one-note. He is a sadist, plain and simple. He lets his victims experience their greatest dreams only so he can watch the horror on their faces as they awaken to him killing them. He shows no remorse for his actions and only regrets not killing more people. If it weren’t for his excellent character design, he’d probably be the most forgettable villain of the franchise.
And yet Enmu isn’t the weakest aspect of the film; the climax is. While the majority of the film is spent following Tanjiro, he is not the emotional core of the film but rather Rengoku. In fact, this film lives or dies on how well you connect with Rengoku, which is the problem.
It’s hard to connect with Rengoku because we don’t know Rengoku. Moreover, none of our heroes know him either. While he did appear briefly in the series proper, he was equal parts antagonist and comic relief during Nezuko’s trial. In fact, before the film, Rengoku and Tanjiro never even had a single conversation. In this film, beyond talking in battle, they have only two brief conversations, one at the start of the film and one at the end and neither are particularly deep. While Rengoku’s dreams and an almost-too-late flashback do let us know a bit about him it’s no way near enough to successfully pull off the emotional gut-punch the film is aiming for. No matter how much the score swells and voice actors give their all, the climax just falls flat.
On a visual level, there are few anime out there that look better than Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train. It expertly combines 3D and traditional animation in a way that makes both look amazing. Vivid colors, dynamic camera movements -- this film has all the things we’ve come to expect from Ufotable’s animation in recent years.
But where it truly stands apart from other Ufotable works is in its effects. While the Demon Slayer TV series focused mainly on the water effects -- making them look as if they came straight out of a Hokusai painting -- this film aims to do something comparable with fire. It feels powerful, otherworldly, and perfect for something that’s supposed to be able to destroy even the most powerful of demons. It’s hands down the visual highlight of the film.
Ufotable’s jaw-dropping visuals alone make Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train well worth a watch, even if the film stumbles a bit at the climax. Those who enjoyed the TV series will no doubt enjoy the film as it is a solid continuation of the show’s main story and will no doubt be a major moment that shapes the next step in our heroes’ lives. Howe...
Rent Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video. ... ” — alfred hitchcock Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/22/23 Full Review ...
- (49)
- Haruo Sotozaki
- R
- Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Anime
Apr 21, 2021 · The “Demon Slayer” movie is a must for fans. For those boarding late, it will likely be an enjoyable but sometimes confusing ride. 'Demon Slayer — Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Mugen Train'
Apr 19, 2021 · Demon Slayer’s first movie is an action spectacle with dazzling animation that puts Tanjiro and company in their biggest adventure yet. ... The movie does a reasonably good job covering the ...
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The story of Demon Slayer revolves around Tanjiro Kamado, a young man who has his life changed forever when he returns home from an errand to find nearly his entire family brutally murdered by a ...
