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Reviews
Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku romantan - Tsuioku-hen (1999)
Okay adaptation
Maybe I'm the only person who liked the manga better than this. People see this as being separate from Rurouni Kenshin, because the artwork is different and it has no humor. However, if people would read the manga, they'd see how the whole story ties together. Kenshin, the sometimes clumsy, Oroing rurouni, was indeed once a dangerous assassin. He did fall in love with Tomoe., who changed his life. But this OVA changed the general tone, even though the Remembrance arc is indeed the most serious part of the excellent manga. My biggest pet peeve is the beginning. Here we have Shinta (young Kenshin) and a woman (on a horse? What?!) smiling happily. That makes no sense whatsoever especially as the OVA is so dark and gloomy. The part where Kenshin leaves Hiko is dark and gloomy, of course, while in the manga/anime Kenshin smacks Hiko with his sword in a rather silly way. Anyway, I wouldn't really recommend this to fans of the manga Rurouni Kenshin. Watch The Beginning instead. Even though it's live action, it sticks more to the manga than the OVA does.
Rurôni Kenshin: Sai shûshô - The Beginning (2021)
My favorite movie!!
This film is an extremely close adaptation of the remembrance arc of the manga called Rurouni Kenshin. It is a prequel, showing Kenshin before he was a peace-loving wanderer. There is an OVA based on this story already, but it had many flaws. For instance, in The Beginning, as in the superior manga, it is obvious that Kenshin can't see or hear when he kills Tomoe. In the OVA, he just closes his eyes and charges! There are other changes that are good as well; no need to go into all that.
If you like the original anime and perhaps the OVAs, you will probably like this film. If you like the manga, I'm almost certain you'll like it. If you aren't familiar at all with Kenshin, you can watch this as a stand-alone, and still enjoy it. But knowing about Kenshin's redemption story makes it particularly satisfying. When he walks away from the burning house, he's also walking away from his days as Hitokiri Battousai.
Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku romantan (2023)
The reboot I've always wanted!
This anime is almost exactly like the wonderful manga of the same name. They kicked out all the unnecessary changes from the first anime. I can't wait to see more episodes; hopefully we'll get the whole story this time with no fillers.
I'm especially longing for the jinchuu arc with the remembrance arc in it. Seeing Tomoe in a close adaptation will be awesome. The OVA with her in it was okay, but wasn't really in the true spirit of the manga.
IMO, in the original anime Kenshin was too light and fluffy, and in the OVA he was too dark. His true character has elements of both.
I really hope people will give this a chance, whether or not they saw the original series.