Bleach (live-action film)

Bleach is a live-action film adaptation of the manga/anime series Bleach. The film was released in Japanese theaters on July 20, 2018. The theme song for the film is Mosquito Bite and Milk by the band Alexandros. The film premiered in North America on July 23rd at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, and was released on Netflix September 14, 2018.

Taglines

 * “Shinigami, Meeting”

Plot
High school student Ichigo Kurosaki has the ability to see dead spirits. One day, his family is attacked by a demonic spirit known as a Hollow that eats Human souls. A mysterious woman who calls herself a Shinigami, Rukia Kuchiki, attempts to stop the Hollow but is injured. She transfers her Shinigami power to Ichigo so that he can save his family, after which Ichigo must fulfill Rukia's duties until she recovers.

Production
The live action film adaptation was announced in the 32nd issue of Shuiesha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, shortly after the publication of the manga's 686th and final chapter. The film will be directed by Shinsuke Sato, who is best known for directing two live-action Gantz films as well as Death Note: Light Up the New World. Tite Kubo, the original author of Bleach himself is involved in the film's production.

Reception
On its debut weekend, the movie ranked at number four in Japan, selling 99,000 tickets for 135 million yen (about US$1.21 million).

Story differences

 * Kon and the usage of Soul Candy is omitted, which leaves Ichigo's body lying lifeless whenever he becomes a Shinigami.
 * During the process of transferring power from a Shinigami into a substitute, the film includes a method to completely reverse the effects by having a substitute thrust their Zanpakutō into the original Shinigami, restoring their powers and returning the substitute back to their original state. In the manga and anime, there is no mention of this being possible.
 * Ichigo meets Renji much earlier than in the manga and anime, and alone rather than with Byakuya. In this scene, Renji attacks Ichigo in his Human body, but is interrupted by Uryū.
 * Uryū's challenge ends prematurely due to being interrupted by Renji and Byakuya, and no Menos Grande arrives.
 * Hexapodus is able to hold its ground during its battle against Ichigo, and Renji arrives to kill it instead. Renji then attacks Ichigo and Byakuya makes his first appearance here.
 * There is a mix of bargains and demands between Byakuya and Rukia/Ichigo. Byakuya commands Rukia to retrieve her powers from Ichigo or she will be executed, and gives her until the next full moon for her to decide. Ichigo then interrupts their meeting and demands that in exchange for defeating Grand Fisher, Soul Society absolves Rukia from her crimes, to which Byakuya agrees. In the manga and anime, there is no negotiation and Grand Fisher is defeated before Renji and Byakuya arrive.
 * Ichigo trains hard and hones his skills in order to show gratitude to the generosity and sacrifices Rukia has made for him, whereas in the manga and anime he only meant to protect those close to him.
 * The Grand Fisher fight has a number of changes:
 * The battle spreads towards Karakura Town's commercial district instead of being confined to the shrine area.
 * Sado and Orihime get a hint of Ichigo's Shinigami powers here.
 * Uryū assists Ichigo during the fight.
 * Renji and Byakuya resume their attacks on Ichigo immediately after Grand Fisher is defeated.
 * Rukia retrieves her powers from Ichigo and wipes his memory of her before departing back to Soul Society.

Minor differences

 * There is a running gag where Keigo falsely claims that Ichigo dies when breaking news to his friends, only for Ichigo to interrupt him showing himself alive and well.
 * Rukia's explanation of Souls and Hollows occurs during school after Fishbone D's attack rather than right after she meets Ichigo.
 * Ichigo learns of Urahara through Uryū.

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