So I went to the first showing of the Hunter x Hunter film on Saturday! I’ve had a busy weekend so this is my first chance to get a review. I wanted to do a vlog but I’m super tired so this will have to suffice ^^
I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you know the set up of the Phantom Rouge from watching the trailers. The Spiders are featured (including Uvogin, despite the fact he is dead in the current anime). Also the movie focuses on Kurapika’s back story, which was a two shot manga recently released by Yoshihiro Togashi. I recommend reading that first, or it’s going to get very confusing!
Please note I watched the film in a language I’m not fluent in english, so there may be minor mistakes!
The movie opens with Killua at the top of a building. It’s misleading, making you thinking he’s tracking the spiders like in the anime. He’s watching some Mafia boss down below when his creepy brother Illumi appears. He does the old lecturing thing, and Killua jumps down and kills the Mafia guy and his cronies, which comes as a surprise. He walks away, and comes across some kids playing ball. They ask him to kick it back, and it’s clear this symbolism is showing that Killua has no friends- he is still an assassin, which means this is before meeting Gon. Illumi appears again, reminding Killua he can’t have friends, and kills the boys.
Killua wakes up with a start. I assumed this was a flashback, not a dream, but it was interesting way to start the movie that’s meant to be focused on Kurapika. Gon is sleeping opposite Killua and it’s made clear they’re riding a blimp. They get into an argument, upsetting the passengers and getting told off.
Leorio meets the boys off the blimp, and they’re in a Mediterranean looking town- reminds me of old Italy or Spain. He fills the boys in on what’s happened to Kurapika, flashing back.
A boy wearing clothing similar to Kurapika but in red is playing harp.He’s sitting on a fountain type thing and Kurapika is shocked to see him. He approaches, and the boy (Pairo, his old friend from his hometown) recognizes his voice. (He’s blind, but this has always been the case)
Kurapika is overcome and shocked, and goes closer. Pairo reaches out, wanting to touch and check it is really him. He draws close to Kurapika’s face, and next thing, a power goes through and connects their eyes. You see parts of this in the trailer. Leorio tries to come to the rescue. Kurapika falls back, Pairo fighting him, and he is crying.
End flashback and we’re in a hospital. Kurapika has the bandages on and recognizes Gon’s voice. His eyes have been stolen (which makes you wonder how he can be alive, but go with it) and he fills them in on his backstory. It’s the story in the two shot manga so I’m not going to explain it all. It was really well done, and the angry Kurapika scenes were great ^^
As he is talking to everyone in the present, Kurapika can see something- someone is feeding him an image. We see Pairo being sat on a throne type chair in front of a window by some unknown man. Obviously there is some nen type stuff afoot, as if some had stolen your eyes you would have no connection with their sight. Pairo now has Kurapika’s eyes.
Kurapika describes the landscape and Leorio draws it down. After a visit to a computer to the Hunter website, the team split up to track down the similar landscape in order to find the culprit.
It was a shame that even though we heard Melody (Senritsu)’s music hunter, she never appeared in the film. You’d think she’d have been by Kurapika’s side, but maybe it would have complicated the plot.
Killua finds a similar spot, but it’s not the right place. Gon does the usual, wandering and talking to stranger. He watches a street performer who uses Ren to control a puppet. He saves her from being trampled by a horse and they get talking. Killua arrives and is immediately jealous Gon is with someone else. (He thinks the girl, Retsu, is a boy). It’s not until they fight and Killua pushes Retsu on the chest, making her fall back, that he realizes she’s a girl. It’s really cute ^^
