I haven't watched any of parts of this movie but I watched this one and it seems to be classic action movie. Storyline was good too . Great fighting scenes with sword and some good plot twists too. Definitely go for it.
79 Reviews
Beauty by a Beast
AJ_McAninch8 August 2021
I enjoy martial arts though more the artistry and finesse than gore and bloodshed. But what I really liked here was the powerful yet gentle love story and the two leads' heartbreaking depictions of that love. But when I researched and found out more about the author, I was done.
Different yet the same
Roykipoyki3 August 2021
As a big fan of the masterpiece that is the "Tsuioku Hen" OVA (which is what this movie is based off of) I must say this movie falls a bit short compared to it. That doesn't make this a bad movie at all. More of an entity on it's own as there are quite some difference between the two.
The differences go from actual cut content, new scenes made for the movie, scenes that should be at the end put in the middle or in other locations and the pacing/the way the story get's told, etc. So in a way the story will be different, but yet the same.
Some of these changes are fun and exciting, but others left me scratching my head wondering why they did it (as the movie is about the same length as the OVA).
That being said I didn't expect/want a copy of the OVA, but it does take away from some of the relationships and character building. For example: the subtle push and pull dynamic (that slowly leads up to something beautiful) Kenshin normally has with a certain individual now feels stoic and more of a necessity for the most part.
The action scenes are crisp and well choreographed, but miss the gore and are not as graphic as the OVA. Which imo shouldn't be your focus. Instead it should be the beautiful and gritty story.
The acting is like the other Kenshin live action movies a.k.a. Good and the occasional dramatic anime overacting fitting to the character who it is paired to.
All in all the movie is the lesser of the two, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It is still worth the time you will spend watching it.
The differences go from actual cut content, new scenes made for the movie, scenes that should be at the end put in the middle or in other locations and the pacing/the way the story get's told, etc. So in a way the story will be different, but yet the same.
Some of these changes are fun and exciting, but others left me scratching my head wondering why they did it (as the movie is about the same length as the OVA).
That being said I didn't expect/want a copy of the OVA, but it does take away from some of the relationships and character building. For example: the subtle push and pull dynamic (that slowly leads up to something beautiful) Kenshin normally has with a certain individual now feels stoic and more of a necessity for the most part.
The action scenes are crisp and well choreographed, but miss the gore and are not as graphic as the OVA. Which imo shouldn't be your focus. Instead it should be the beautiful and gritty story.
The acting is like the other Kenshin live action movies a.k.a. Good and the occasional dramatic anime overacting fitting to the character who it is paired to.
All in all the movie is the lesser of the two, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It is still worth the time you will spend watching it.
A new height in the series!
GulfGhost1 August 2021
I really didn't expect the beginning to be better than the final.
Everything is perfect the story and cinematography and the fights OMG. This is the only movie in the series that shows kenshin real sword and killing skills.
I really really enjoyed it and now also the series is complete and you can watch it in the storyline order as below: The Beginning Origin Kyoto inferno The legend ends The final.
Everything is perfect the story and cinematography and the fights OMG. This is the only movie in the series that shows kenshin real sword and killing skills.
I really really enjoyed it and now also the series is complete and you can watch it in the storyline order as below: The Beginning Origin Kyoto inferno The legend ends The final.
Excellent
neosoul15001 August 2021
A deeper story than the previous one
hiraishinnojutsu14 March 2022
And I can quiet confidently say it's deeper than all of the previous movies, which is understandable since this is a part of Kenshin's origin story. Not too draggy or boring, the romantic build up fits the runtime it is given though it's still pretty unclear how it could happen. Fight choreography is still as good as the last one yet sadly the most anticipated fight (perhaps) in this story arc, which is shown briefly in the anime and therefore supposed to happen, is not happening at all. Still we need to remind ourselves that this film is less about the fight and more about a monster who throughout the story undergoing a process of change along with the world he lives in
7.5/10.
7.5/10.
THE BEST ACTION FILM SERIES
cile-chan30 July 2021
As expected, "The Beginning" dives more into Tomoe (Kasumi) and Kenshin's (Takeru) tragic love story, hence, it's a bit more poignant, slow-paced, and is significantly less in action compared to its predecessors. However, the series' nature and samurai grandeur trademark that fans relish remain, and you get to see more of Kenshin's ruthless Battosai phase!
10/10 for the 10 years.
10/10 for the 10 years.
Fitting final installment
kelvynchin1 August 2021
Himura Kenshin's character arc in the rousing Rurouni Kenshin series comes full circle by tracing his beginnings as the assassin Battosai the Killer, during the years of the Shogun war. Pic paints the samurai Kenshin as a conflicted killer, although there is a lot of bloodletting in the first half of the film. The second half, though, is an elegiac and moving account of the doomed love affair between Kenshin and Tomoe - the woman who will shape his character's motivation throughout the preceding four chapters. Mounted with flair and panache, this is a much more sombre installment compared to the other movies in the series- but there is still enough lightning fast swordplay which has become a hallmark of the series. Star Takeru Satoh also has filled in the character he has played for almost a decade. A must watch for fans of the series. Also returning as leader of the Shogun police force is Saito, although he has yet to pick up chain smoking.
Wonderful jon again
ramosaral31 July 2021
Kenshin live actions have been the best live actions ever and this last installment does not disappoint. Although they left out my favourite part of the OVA (the beginning, Hiko saving Shinta) they perfectly brought Kenshin to life. We will miss the man that makes it rain blood.
Boring!
BudoSenpai2 August 2021
Great Sword Fighting
efd-104676 August 2021
Very close to anime ova
vla-8522431 July 2021
The trust and betrayal ova are some of best work I've ever seen. So naturally I was comparing this live action to the ova and it comes very, very close. Actually the live action is outstanding. The pace and story buildup to music and sets are of high quality. This movie looks and feels like professional production. It's entertaining and also realistic. No over the top fake flaying through air nonsense. Perfect blend between action and drama. Definitely worth the watch.
Begin the heartbreake!
AndyCordReviews5 August 2021
The final movie and prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin live-action series is as heart-breaking as expected.
The opening scene must be one of the strongest openings seen in Rurouni Kenshin live action and the first act is really strong, setting the tone for the time period and this Kenshin. Things start to drag a bit in the second act though and there is an overall lack of explanation to why this revolution is happening in the first place so you should be familiar with the manga or anime, to ensure you get the most out of the movie.
The performances, as per usual, were great, the cinematography and choreography are as beautiful and seamless as established from the very first movie.
Still, the OVA of this part of the story is my favorite and I was often comparing the movie to it, wishing they had gone for a bit more heart and brutality than what was delivered.
But, overall I really enjoyed it, Takeru Satoh is the best Kenshin we could ever ask for and I have only gratitude for the respect they have given to the animated series and manga while still making their mark in the Rurouni Kenshin universe.
The opening scene must be one of the strongest openings seen in Rurouni Kenshin live action and the first act is really strong, setting the tone for the time period and this Kenshin. Things start to drag a bit in the second act though and there is an overall lack of explanation to why this revolution is happening in the first place so you should be familiar with the manga or anime, to ensure you get the most out of the movie.
The performances, as per usual, were great, the cinematography and choreography are as beautiful and seamless as established from the very first movie.
Still, the OVA of this part of the story is my favorite and I was often comparing the movie to it, wishing they had gone for a bit more heart and brutality than what was delivered.
But, overall I really enjoyed it, Takeru Satoh is the best Kenshin we could ever ask for and I have only gratitude for the respect they have given to the animated series and manga while still making their mark in the Rurouni Kenshin universe.
Casual Viewers Should Be Cautious
bbevis-479544 August 2021
My opinion is coming from someone who hasn't read the Manga. The positives are the first third of the movies fight scenes. The fast-paced brutality caught me off guard and I was quite invested for the first 30 minutes of the movie. Some of the sets looked great and the cinematography is pleasing to the eye for a production on a modest budget.
However, the second half of the movie derails everything into a boring montage love story. A predictable moment happens after the worst implied romance scene and even the action can't save this film. What really hurts the romance is the acting in this movie. None of the acting is convincing, the dialogue is bad and everyone is moping around. The two leads literally have the same facial expression the whole movie. About two percent of the time the actors smile. Staring blankly into each others eyes and saying the dialogue slowly does is the most unconvincing way to convey deep sorrow. The acting really hurts this movie.
The story is boring and there are no characters to really latch onto. Also there is no humor to be found in the movie, so you have to sit through two hours of mundane-melodrama. Not to mention the action in the last act pales in comparison to anything that came before it.
Therefor I would suggest if you're a casual viewer to avoid this movie. It is not a good movie by any means. The high reviews are from fans of the manga and previous movies and will most likely downvote anything that doesn't agree with them.
However, the second half of the movie derails everything into a boring montage love story. A predictable moment happens after the worst implied romance scene and even the action can't save this film. What really hurts the romance is the acting in this movie. None of the acting is convincing, the dialogue is bad and everyone is moping around. The two leads literally have the same facial expression the whole movie. About two percent of the time the actors smile. Staring blankly into each others eyes and saying the dialogue slowly does is the most unconvincing way to convey deep sorrow. The acting really hurts this movie.
The story is boring and there are no characters to really latch onto. Also there is no humor to be found in the movie, so you have to sit through two hours of mundane-melodrama. Not to mention the action in the last act pales in comparison to anything that came before it.
Therefor I would suggest if you're a casual viewer to avoid this movie. It is not a good movie by any means. The high reviews are from fans of the manga and previous movies and will most likely downvote anything that doesn't agree with them.
How I love a great origin story, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning is a stylish and brilliant samurai film
Holt3449 August 2021
Keishi Otomo returns to the Rurouni Kenshin franchise with its fifth and final installment, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning. It's a prequel to the four other films which takes place in the year of 1864, when the samurai Kenshin Himura was known as the Battosai, a deadly assassin whose fierce swordsmanship had killed over one hundred men in one year. But all that changed when he saved a young woman named Tomoe Yukishiro. From the previous film we know what happened, how she dies and how her brother Yukishiro Enishi witnessed it and swore to avenge her. This is the origin story fans of Rurouni Kenshin have longed for, it shows the horrors Himura Kenshin struck as the Battosai and how he went over to the good side. It's brilliantly told, Keishi Otomo nailed it with this prequel, there's some great writing but also incredible direction from him.
There aren't a lot of returning characters except for Himura Kenshin, Saito Hajime, Yukishiro Tomoe and Yukishiro Enishi. But the characters which were introduced, many being historical characters. The likes of Katsura Kogoro, Okita Soji and Takasugi Shinsaku stood out the most. Interesting and likeable, a pair of well written characters. The Yaminobu are the main antagonist of Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, they're a group of assassins who were once called the "Oniwabanshu of the West" and has a plan to kill Kenshin. I have praised Takeru Satoh's performance since my first review, I absolutely love him in this role and it's a role he have played since 2012, and has been doing all his own stunts since he first took on the role. Satoh reportedly spends weeks perfecting the sword fights with choreographers, going through the moves multiple times both in and out of costume in a studio before heading out on set. That's talent and love for the craft. Seeing him as Kenshin during his time as the Battosai was so entertaining as there were nothing holding him back from killing and that leads to some much more refreshing fight and action sequences after watching four movies of him being a pacifist.
The locations and sets are like the previous film (The Final), remarkable and beautiful. But the most astonishing part of the film is of course its cinematography, the way they shoot things and line up the shots. Breathtaking. There's also some things that I never brought up in my past reviews, scenes shot like a one take, dramatic and fight sequences. The musical score is incredible, Naoki Sato created music that fits perfectly in with the dramatic scenes which there are plenty of.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning doesn't try to do anything big, it retells the events before the first movie in an excellent way and the director did a great job with making each second count as it never got boring. Though, I did expect more action sequences but I think it was for the better to keep it as a more dramatic story as more fight sequences would only make us despite Kenshin as the story is trying to tell why he changed and Keishi Otomo succeeded. This isn't the best film in the franchise but still worth watching. I hope this isn't the end but if so, The Final and The Beginning tied up things nicely. Giving us a satisfying beginning and conclusion.
There aren't a lot of returning characters except for Himura Kenshin, Saito Hajime, Yukishiro Tomoe and Yukishiro Enishi. But the characters which were introduced, many being historical characters. The likes of Katsura Kogoro, Okita Soji and Takasugi Shinsaku stood out the most. Interesting and likeable, a pair of well written characters. The Yaminobu are the main antagonist of Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, they're a group of assassins who were once called the "Oniwabanshu of the West" and has a plan to kill Kenshin. I have praised Takeru Satoh's performance since my first review, I absolutely love him in this role and it's a role he have played since 2012, and has been doing all his own stunts since he first took on the role. Satoh reportedly spends weeks perfecting the sword fights with choreographers, going through the moves multiple times both in and out of costume in a studio before heading out on set. That's talent and love for the craft. Seeing him as Kenshin during his time as the Battosai was so entertaining as there were nothing holding him back from killing and that leads to some much more refreshing fight and action sequences after watching four movies of him being a pacifist.
The locations and sets are like the previous film (The Final), remarkable and beautiful. But the most astonishing part of the film is of course its cinematography, the way they shoot things and line up the shots. Breathtaking. There's also some things that I never brought up in my past reviews, scenes shot like a one take, dramatic and fight sequences. The musical score is incredible, Naoki Sato created music that fits perfectly in with the dramatic scenes which there are plenty of.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning doesn't try to do anything big, it retells the events before the first movie in an excellent way and the director did a great job with making each second count as it never got boring. Though, I did expect more action sequences but I think it was for the better to keep it as a more dramatic story as more fight sequences would only make us despite Kenshin as the story is trying to tell why he changed and Keishi Otomo succeeded. This isn't the best film in the franchise but still worth watching. I hope this isn't the end but if so, The Final and The Beginning tied up things nicely. Giving us a satisfying beginning and conclusion.
Best movie I've ever enjoyed
kokomohamed-4622331 July 2021
I enjoyed this part a lot, which is full of drama, action and excellent cinematography, the Roroni Kenshin movie series, which is an action-drama genre based on a famous anime series of the same name. Not to burn the events in the previous parts
My rating for the series is 10/10 without exaggeration, a great series, an enjoyable story, enthusiastic action, cinematography and directing, and there is no mistake.
Rest of the parts Rurouni Kenshin 2012 Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno 2014 Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends 2014 Rurouni Kenshin: The Final 2021 Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning 2021.
My rating for the series is 10/10 without exaggeration, a great series, an enjoyable story, enthusiastic action, cinematography and directing, and there is no mistake.
Rest of the parts Rurouni Kenshin 2012 Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno 2014 Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends 2014 Rurouni Kenshin: The Final 2021 Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning 2021.
Well worth the watch even if your not a fan..
talaveraf1 August 2021
Sorry good Movie but 6 stars reason read it
stevenvs-2612522 February 2023
The movie is nice but not realistic
He get stabbed alot with the swords and servive.
The girl just get a wound in the back and die ,sorry but his wounds where alot bigger then her wounds ,little bit treatment and she would live and he would die by all the wounds he had.
So next time make the movie more realistic ,make if she needed die that she got the sword in her hole boddy ,to show her death .
Or let her servive ,a day later he still got fresh cut in his face but from other wounds you see nothing annymore he just walk like nothing have happend.
Thats the reason why this movie only get 6 stars ,make the movie is believe worthy and you get 10 stars.
He get stabbed alot with the swords and servive.
The girl just get a wound in the back and die ,sorry but his wounds where alot bigger then her wounds ,little bit treatment and she would live and he would die by all the wounds he had.
So next time make the movie more realistic ,make if she needed die that she got the sword in her hole boddy ,to show her death .
Or let her servive ,a day later he still got fresh cut in his face but from other wounds you see nothing annymore he just walk like nothing have happend.
Thats the reason why this movie only get 6 stars ,make the movie is believe worthy and you get 10 stars.
A lovely ending
MickeyTheConstant18 November 2021
This was a really befitting end to a great franchise. It has a slower pace than the others and is actually more of a melodrama and love story than an action movie. When the action kicks in it is great though. Really good use of archive footage from previous films and it all kinds of brings the franchise together, explaining how our hero became who he is. Will genuinely miss these characters. Great movie, great cast, great cinematography and great story. Loved it.
Confusing but intriguing
ssstbob7 February 2023
I saw this movie randomly on Netflix without any preexisting knowledge of the lore. The dialogue is quite terse so that didn't help to understand what was going on. Maybe it's me not being used to japanese names too, but i kept on mixing up the characters and who was on who's side! 😁 The sword fights were pretty good and there's quite a nice atmosphere going on, although i could imagine some people finding this boring. The movie is quite long and the ending can seem dragged on.
All in all, it was an interesting watch, different from main stream Hollywood, though I expected more out of it. Nevertheless the movie intrigued me so that I might watch one of the sequels (that were produced earlier so it seems)
All in all, it was an interesting watch, different from main stream Hollywood, though I expected more out of it. Nevertheless the movie intrigued me so that I might watch one of the sequels (that were produced earlier so it seems)
Best live action
hoangyen_kimsa1 August 2021
Cool movie to watch With the boys
kickisde1 September 2021
Was afraid first half was going to be slow and only history.
Surprised over how instantly the movie started with lots of fight scenes for the first half.
I still dont understand what a shogunshenanigan is.
Lots of blood.
You can turn off after 1 hour lol.
If you like samurai fighting movies, you Will like this one, If you dont like it Will be boring.
Surprised over how instantly the movie started with lots of fight scenes for the first half.
I still dont understand what a shogunshenanigan is.
Lots of blood.
You can turn off after 1 hour lol.
If you like samurai fighting movies, you Will like this one, If you dont like it Will be boring.
Recommended
alkhidaid114 August 2021
Hitokiri Battousai
kelvinaustin31 July 2021
I must say this is a MASTERPIECE.. Beautiful storyline with outstanding sword battles to finally close the journey of Hitokiri Battousai.. From the first movie (2012) till the end (2021), not one of them has dissappointed me.. 101% PERFECT!
The best live action movie so far
sasukedanzel1 August 2021
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