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Movie review: ‘Black Butler’ a delightful live adaptation of anime ‘Kuroshitsuji’




As someone who watched the first season of the anime series “Black Butler” (“Kuroshitsuji”) a few years back, I found its live adaptation film to be quite amusing.

Having forgotten most of the anime's plot and characters, the film was a refresher for me. The movie stars Hiro Mizushima as the demonic butler Sebastian, who serves Genpo Group's young CEO Shiori Genpo, played by Ayame Gouriki, in the year 2020.

Hardcore fans of the manga and the anime the film is based on may be slightly disappointed with this change, since the movie is a sequel of sorts, set over a century after events in the anime—which was set in Victorian England, and in which Sebastian served the cute and charismatic Ciel Phantomhive, who has a huge fan base and who is evidently absent in the film.

Hiro Mizushima and Ayame Gouriki star in 'Black Butler'
 
The film revolves around the master-and-servant relationship between Sebastian and Shiori, as the latter seeks revenge for the cold-blooded murder of her parents.

Shiori sheds her former self, dressing as a boy and taking the name Kiyoharu to hide her identity as the heir to one of the world's largest corporations while she searches for those responsible for her parents' death.

The film opens with a fierce fight scene that displays Sebastian's deadly combat skills with his weapon of choice: the table knife.

I have to say that this opening scene really pumped me up for the rest of the film, as the choreography was done extremely well. The fight scene was portrayed in a way that was believable, unlike in other films where fight scenes tend to be overdone.

On top of this, the scene also perfectly displayed Sebastian's cheeky side. Mizushima not only looks the part; he really nailed the way Sebastian smirks and moves in the anime.

There are two other major fight scenes, which are both as good as the first one and which will surely not let viewers down.

Gouriki as Shiori Genpo seems to be a carbon copy of Ciel Phantomhive, from her appearance to her facial expressions and attitude. It will actually feel like you are watching a parallel universe treatment of the anime series.

The film also has a roster of other characters but the focus never strays too far from Sebastian and Shiori, who have the most interesting roles and interaction with each other.

There are also comedic jabs thrown every now and then which may prompt the audience to a hearty chuckle or two.

"Black Butler' features excellent fight choreography and strong lead performances.
 
Overall, I think “Black Butler” is a pretty good film, every bit of it entertaining. This could be especially true for fans of the anime series, if they watch the film without comparing it too much to the anime.

It may not be an exact rendition of the anime series but it still serves viewers with the delightful servant and master relationship that got fans hooked on the anime in the first place. — BM, GMA News

"Black Butler" opens on Wednesday, July 23, exclusively in SM Cinemas.
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