Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) User Reviews

Even With Many Changes, Faithfully Captures Spirit of the Manga

[jennifer-chough · 8/10 · 1 January 2013]

First off - many of the reviewers thus far seem to be comparing this movie adaptation to "Samurai X" instead of its source material which is the manga. What they must realize is that "Samurai X" was an OVA created for western audiences done by people who had no connection with the manga or the original anime and thus was a departure from the original intent and feel of what the creator of the manga had in mind. He even disagreed with how "Samurai X" ended regarding the fate of Kaoru and Kenshin, so much so that he insisted on having the proper ending he envisioned for his own characters put into a collector's box edition of the original anime released in Japan. Even though it was gorgeously rendered, it was overly depressing and moody. Whether you want to believe it or not, Kenshin really wasn't that way. The whole point of his redemption was that, in spite of the pain of his past, he was still able to appreciate the simple joys in life and even laugh at things. The Kenshin in "Samurai X" was a somber, overly-wrought, super-tortured fellow who was awash with his own suffering. As a fan of RK, seeing him portrayed that way in "Samurai X" really broke my heart because a huge chunk of his personality went missing and all that was left was this emo dude. Onto the review:

PLOT/STORY: Understandably, this movie had a hard time trying to capture everything in the first volume of the manga in just over two hours. Because the manga was continuous, there was no way for the movie to be cut and dry in terms of villains and side characters. The director had to draw the line somewhere so the movie could have an ending. So, many fan favorite scenes were cut or changed in order to accommodate a more fluid movie. Time constraints didn't allow for a deep fleshing out of all the characters but, since this the first installment of other movies to come (it has been greenlit as a continuing series) I suspect that the audience is going to be exposed to that over time. I was taken aback at just how many things were changed (Sano's intro, Jin'e's concocted connection to Kanryu, Hanya's choice of weapons, the Oniwabanshu but no Aoshi?!) but I felt they did their best to stay true to the spirit of the story by trying to streamline events. There is even a flashback scene of Kenshin's past included in this movie but it gave you a hint (just a hint) of his tortured past and leaves you wondering.

ACTORS: The casting was very well done for this movie. Kenshin is supposed to be relatively diminutive and almost feminine in his looks and stature (the creator based him on an actual historical figure who could carry out assassinations in broad daylight, he was that good), which is why people always underestimated him in a fight or commented on his slight figure. He was a Jekyll and Hyde that way. He could go from unassuming, humble Rurouni to out-and-out killer who's eyes would change into a murderous gaze when the "hitokiri" side was provoked (straight outta the manga). You could say Kenshin can "hulk-out" lol. Sato, with his pretty looks and physicality, really did well in portraying the conflicted character of Kenshin. Emy was cute as a button, perhaps too cute, since Kaoru is supposed to be a bit more plain and a tomboy but it was satisfying to see her bickering with Yahiko. The kid playing Yahiko was spot-on with the brashness and stubborn pride. Sanosuke's portrayal was a little goofy. There is no allusion to what drives Sano into being a fighter for hire but read the manga for clarification and you will see why he and Kenshin create such a strong bond of friendship. In the movie, there was no time to do so, I guess and Sano's a lot tougher than he is portrayed. Megumi's actress did her justice, I think. Again, not too deep in fleshing out her past either but still, you can see her intelligence and intensity underneath her manipulations. Lastly, Saitou's actor was awesome. He captured the cold, brutal carriage of the Wolf of Mibu very well with his stoic face and the constant badgering of Kenshin. I will stop at the main characters or else this will be too long. All in all, the casting was superb.

MUSIC AND CINEMATOGRAPHY: The music ranges from fairly modern (techno beats with tribal vocals) to standard orchestral. I don't remember hearing any traditional Japanese instruments being played over scenes but I could be mistaken. Sometimes the music seemed to be out of place or over-used. For example, dramatic fight scenes seemed to bring out that techno song again and again). A part of me wishes they had somehow incorporated Kenshin's theme from the original anime series; just s simple wooden flute part or something as a nod since it's so recognizable. Otherwise it was fine. The look of the movie is fantastic. Whether it's a war-torn forest or just a village scene or a shot of Kaoru's dojo, it looks thick and substantial. I remember seeing shots of the creator of the manga (Nobuhiro Watsuki) on the set of the movie and watching over the set building. It gave me great comfort that he was there to see it through.

Overall, this is one of the best, if not THE best, live-action adaptations of a manga I've yet seen. For those of you who are going to see it, if you haven't read the manga yet it certainly isn't required in order to enjoy the movie but it was thoroughly more enjoyable to see these beloved characters come to life on screen. In any case, I am greatly looking forward to the next installment and will relish in trying to figure out what storyline is going to be featured next!!

It takes some liberties from the manga, but it's darn good still

[aikidofreak · 8/10 · 25 January 2013]

Lets get this out of the way: Im no kenshin fanboy. I've read the manga and have watched the anime. That's it. So when I heard about a live action movie I thought 'Oh my god'. Uwe Boll-like crap induced horror scenarios crossed my mind. But what a pleasant surprise. They haven't cocked it up. In fact, they did a pretty damn good job of making the manga come to life.

STORY

The story is basically the first 2 arcs of the manga mixed up and slightly changed to fit into a 2 hour movie. It's pretty good. nothing too fancy but it works and doesn't bore.

EFFECTS & CHOREOGRAPHY

No. Bleeding. CG. Like, none. everything you see is done by real humans. thank god there are still directors who know their stuff. a rope helps here and there but nothing as stupid as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. there was but 1 instant in the entire movie where a move looked slightly 'unnatural'. You'll know what I mean when ya see it.

the fights are simply awesome. real swordfights and at speeds that make your eyes go 0_o. slick moves, smooth as silk with a great pace. and the occasional brawling, courtesy of Sanosuke. the action is top notch. some of the best, if not -the- best sword fight scenes I've ever seen.

ACTING

The characters are all portrayed as they should be. there is no crappy acting. Kanryu is slightly over-acting but I guess it kinda fits his character anyway. solid acting all over. some dayplayers in the background seem to have been given little instructions of what to do at times though, it seems. they sometimes look rather lost or keep repeating the same motions. but no matter. you wont notice unless you re nitpicking.

OVERALL

The entire movie has a slightly 'cartoonish' feel over it. the way people talk, the way they move. but it still all seems very natural and appealing. The music is very nice as well. no tunes from the anime, but some nice original scores that fit the bill.

all in all this movie is what so many game/anime-turned-movies should have been. It's well made, with good actors, good music and it doesn't bore you for a second. Word has it there will be a sequel. if it can rival the quality of this movie, Ill be back for part 2.

A pleasant surprise

[zentist-563-976986 · 7/10 · 16 January 2013]

I have never even seen a manga so approached this movie with no preconceptions or prior knowledge of the characters. A bit like seeing a Batman movie without ever having read a comic, I imagine. The result was a very pleasant surprise. The principle characters were largely convincing, the photography was very attractive and the story line reasonable given the limits of the genre. The fact that it kept me interested for the entire 2+ hours speaks for itself. I found the sub-titles very effective in keeping me involved which is normally not the case. I am not sure if they are integral to the movie or a third party add-on, but were much better than a dubbed English version which would have taken away much of the authenticity of the movie. I am looking forward to the next episode.

Excellent Samurai Movie

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 22 December 2012]

In 1868, after the end of the Bakumatsu war, the former assassin Kenshin Himura (Takeru Sato) promises to defend those who needs without killing and wanders through Japan with a sword with inverted blade during the transition of the samurai age to the New Age.

When Kenshin helps the idealistic Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei) from the gangsters of the powerful opium drug lord Kanryuu Takeda (Teruyuki Kagawa) that wants her school for his production of opium, Kaoru invites Kenshin to stay in the school. But the drug chemist Megumi Takani (Yû Aoi) escapes from Kanryuu and seeks shelter in the school. Meanwhile the killer Battosai is murdering police officers and leaving messages attached to their bodies. When the cruel Kanryuu poisons the population to get the school, and Kenshin and the street fighter Sanosuke Sagara (Munetaka Aoki) join forces to attack their common enemy.

"Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku roman tan" is an excellent samurai movie with spectacular choreography of the fights and a good story. I have just learned that it is based on a manga and I really liked a lot. I saw this movie in the airplane and unfortunately my flight arrived and I did not see the conclusion of the story. The worst thing is that I will have to wait since this movie has not been released in my country yet. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Note: Fortunately Internet does exist and today (30 December 2012) I have just finished watching this awesome movie again, this time until the very end.

On 13 August 2016, I saw this film again on DVD.

If You Loved the Manga/Anime...

[McCamyTaylor · 9/10 · 7 February 2013]

...you will love this live action version. The actor portraying Kenshin was perfect. So are Saito, Sano and Megumi--so perfect in fact, that I recognized each of them at first sight. And was filled with all sorts of warm/fuzzy feelings as if I was seeing long lost friends again for the first time in years.

I am not sure how people new to the Kenshin franchise will respond, because the film's creators leave out a lot of character development that we get in the slower paced manga and anime TV series in order to jump straight into the action. Since this is one of the best manga/anime series to come out in a long time, I suggest reading the manga, seeing the anime and THEN watching the live action film for maximum enjoyment.

"Oro!"

Opting for a more down-to-earth feel than the original manga or the anime, this live-action adaptation is as cool and exciting as samurai movies get

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 26 November 2012]

Relying on the familiar narrative of a warrior who tries to shed his violent past in pursuit of a peaceful existence, this live-action adaptation of the highly popular manga and anime series (sometimes known as 'Samurai X') based on the well-known Civil War hero Himura Kenshin makes one wonder why there aren't more of such films coming out of Japan. To say it is good is an understatement, because director Keishi Otomo's film really is a rip-roaringly entertaining samurai movie that packs a riveting punch.

We'd have to admit that we aren't acquainted with Nobuhiro Watsuki's original shonen manga nor the anime series that followed, so we won't be able to inform fans of the former or the latter if this adaptation stays close to its source material. From what we have gathered though, Otomo – who co-wrote the screenplay with Kiyomi Fujii – has taken from the first two story arcs of the series, namely Kenshin's vendetta with an opium dealer during the early years of the Meiji Restoration as well as his harrowing past during the Civil War that led to the cross-shaped scar on his face.

When we are first introduced to Kenshin, it is already the deciding battle of the revolution - the battle of Toba-Fushima in 1868 – and amid stark sobering scenes of bloodshed and death, Kenshin, better known as the fearsome 'Battosai the Killer', slices the last remaining cohorts of the Shogunate. As news spreads of the Emperor's victory, Kenshin is content to ditch his sword for the solitary life of a wanderer – even as his fellow samurai, Jin'e (Koji Kikkawa), warns him that a samurai lives and dies by the blade.

Ten years later, Kenshin has pretty much managed to live his choice of seclusion, before running one day into Kaoru (Emi Takei). Kaoru runs the fencing school left to her by her father, a school whose name has however been vilified for being that of 'Battosai' widely believed to be responsible for a string of murders around Tokyo. A psychopathic warrior who manages to escape death from Kenshin's blade in the battle has assumed the name of 'Battosai' and now goes about doing the bidding for the ruthless businessman Kanryu (Teruyuki Kagawa).

Rapacious for power, Kanryu amasses his own private army of ex-samurai, most of them he wills into his service by getting them hooked on a special brand of opium he develops with reluctant pharmacist Megumi (Yu Aoi). Kenshin is forced to revisit his deadly ways when Kaoru, whom he develops an affection to, is threatened first by a sudden run-in with Battosai and later on when Megumi seeks refuge from Kanryu's men at the dojo. The only difference? Kenshin now fights with a 'reverse sword', or simply one with the sharp edge reversed.

Truth is, you can pretty much guess where the story is headed, but what makes the movie so enjoyable is the exhilarating fight choreography from action director Kenji Tanigaki. Indeed, the best parts are when we see Kenshin wielding his sword against numerous other opponents, even without the benefit of a lethal blade. Tanigaki ensures that the action is never repetitive, and each sequence boasts its own balletic rhythm to keep you engrossed. Unlike some wuxia films, Tanigaki also opts for a realistic style even with the requisite wirework, offering his audience the spectacle of fluid and furious swordplay without the exaggerated embellishments.

In between the clashing of swords, Otomo stages confidently the bond that develops between Kenshin and Kaoru. Rather than conforming their relationship to some formulaic romance, both characters are allowed to play out a more complex relationship that is entwined with Kenshin's own demons from the past. And in that regard, it is fortunate that both Sato and Takei are better actors than to resort to the melodramatic trappings of TV romances where both hail from, with both performers also sharing a graceful chemistry with each other.

That they are able to deliver such nuanced performances is also to Otomo's credit, who directs the movie with an assured hand. Rather than the slapstick humour we are told is part and parcel of Kenshin's character in the manga, Otomo opts for a more down to earth portrayal, so even the light heartedness is never overplayed. Similarly, Otomo drops the exposition on the various schools and techniques of kenjitsu, and keeps to having some other character name the cool-sounding move that Kenshin executes whenever it is expedient.

It is inevitable given its origins that fans of the manga and anime will bring their expectations to bear on this live-action version. Nonetheless, in going for a more true-to-life feel, this adaptation is, in our opinion, all the better for it. It's not one of those Yoji Yamada samurai movies, nor is it anywhere close to Takashi Miike's '13 Assassins', but this is solid blockbuster entertainment with universal themes of pacifism, vengeance and love packed with a distinct Nippon flavour.

Casey's Movie Mania: RUROUNI KENSHIN (2012)

[caseymoviemania · 8/10 · 1 January 2013]

When I was a teenager, I used to love watching the highly-popular anime series called Samurai X (an international title otherwise known as Rurouni Kenshin in its native Japan) back in the late 1990s. Now, over ten years later, writer-director Keishi Otomo finally brings RUROUNI KENSHIN to life. At first, I was doubtful whether a live-action adaptation from such a popular manga can live up to its high expectation since most like-minded movie like this always ends up as a rip-off. But thankfully, fans of the anime/manga series will be (mostly) satisfied the way this first live-action adaptation of RUROUNI KENSHIN has turned out admirably.

The movie opens briefly on a gritty battlefield in 1869 during the battle of Toba-Fushima, where a young samurai named Hitokiri Battosai (Takeru Sato) almost single-handedly defeated a score of enemies. He walks away from the battlefield as the Empire is finally declared victory and thus a new era has born.

Ten years later, Battosai becomes a wanderer and now calls himself as Himura Kenshin. He vows himself not to kill people anymore and even carries a reverse-edged sword. He arrives in a countryside of Japan and subsequently meets Kamiya Kaoru (Emi Takei), the owner of a fencing school used to run by her late father. After Kenshin manages to save her from getting killed by a fake Battosai named Jin-e (Koji Kikkawa) and also helps her to stop a group of thugs trying to take over her dojo, he moves in with her. Apart from them, Kaoru also has an orphaned boy named Myojin Yahiko (Taketo Tanaka) who happened to be her only student.

Meanwhile, Jin-e is actually a hired ex-samurai who works for a wealthy businessman named Kanryu Takeda (Teruyuki Kagawa). Takeda is also a notorious criminal who runs a huge opium operation. Megumi (Yu Aoi), who is being forced to make opium, manages to escape from his mansion and subsequently seeks shelter at Kaoru's dojo. Things get worse when a number of innocent people around the countryside are suffering from rat poison in the community wells, but luckily Megumi, who used to be a healer, manages to cure them with sufficient medication. She knows that this is the work of Takeda, and prompts her to return to his mansion so she can kills him. However, she fails to do so and ends up being a hostage. To save Megumi, Kenshin and his newfound friend, Sagara Sanosuke (Munetaka Aoki), who was a street brawler, make their way to Takeda's mansion and settle the matter once and for all.

Most of the cast are spot-on excellent. Takeru Sato is excellent as the titular character and he certainly looks the part fans have to use to see him in the anime series -- his trademark red-haired and long ponytail, curvaceous lips, wide eyes, his outfit and even the way he runs, jumps and draws his sword. Not only that, fans will also be delighted with Sato's signature delivery, "oro?" as well. As the street brawler Sagara Sanosuke, Munetaka Aoki carries that familiar rough-and-tumble attitude effectively, while Teruyuki Kagawa is gleefully over-the-top as the villainous Kanryu Takeda. The rest of the supporting cast are equally captivating -- ranging from Yu Aoi, Koji Kikkawa and even Taketo Tanaka. The only (slight) disappointment is Emi Takei as Kaoru. Her character is supposed to be a tomboy-ish type, but yet she is too pretty to pull off the part convincingly. Most of the time you'll see her more of a damsel-in-distress than a so-called tough vixen she meant to be.

RUROUNI KENSHIN is particularly noted for its impeccable technical values here. It is clear that Keishi Otomo has poured his heart to make this live-action adaptation as stunning as possible. The art direction and costume design are perfectly detailed, while Takuro Ishizaka's lush cinematography is right on target. The action sequence is also top-notch. The sword-fights choreography is fast and furious, yet it's well-staged with an adequate help of elegant slow-motion. The particularly final 30 minutes is downright entertaining -- Kenshin vs. Gein (Gou Ayano), the masked ex-samurai; Sanosuke vs. Banjin Inui (Genki Sudo) in a brutal fisticuffs; and of course the final sword-fight between Kenshin and Jin-e in a forest. Added to the excitement is Naoki Sato's energetic score which often gives the already well-choreographed action scenes a much-needed kinetic boost.

The movie has its flaw, though. Clocking at over two hours long, the story feels laborious at times, especially in the middle section. At the same time, the movie is a bit overlong as well. But such flaw is forgivable because RUROUNI KENSHIN manages to accomplish a rare feat for being a highly-satisfying, Japanese live-action adaptation I've ever seen so far.

Tries a little too hard to pander to fans and risks alienating the rest of the audience as a result

[guiltyschu · 7/10 · 7 September 2012]

I went to see this film last night with absolutely no knowledge of the manga upon which it was based, which was both a good and a bad thing. Good, because I understand how the average movie goer like myself will feel about this film. Bad, because I feel like as a fan of the original comic, I would have taken a lot more out of this film.

I'll start with the positives - this movie is beautifully filmed. There is not a single unattractive shot within it. I really feel like this movie was made for fans, by fans, because it is so lovingly crafted. The sets are gorgeous, the lighting and colour palette lovely, and the choreography of the fight scenes? FUN. It's actively enjoyable to watch Kenshin dance around with his sword. You actually believe that he is this extraordinary swordsmen, agile and swift.

Which brings me to Sato Takeru, who plays Kenshin himself. Again, I feel like he was a fan of the series, as he seems to be so invested in the role. I've no idea what the character of Kenshin was like in the manga, but Sato's portrayal is so layered and believable, I can't imagine it strays far. On that note, I felt like all of the actors did quite a good job. I've a friend who assures me the personalities of all the female characters do not line up with the manga, but I was actually completely satisfied with them! I was particularly enamored with Aoi Yu (whom I don't think has ever disappointed me in a role) who did her best with the script given to her in the role of Megumi.

But this brings me to what I felt were the weak points of the film. First, was the over inclusion of bit characters. I said this to friends afterwards, I'm sure if I was a fan of the series they would have been charming cameos from beloved fan favourites. As it is though, to me their inclusion seemed pointless, and stole time that could have been better spent on plot development.

And honestly, the plot for the film? A bit weak, and never properly fleshed out. A lot of characters who seem important to the story are never given proper motivations, leaving them seeming 2 dimensional - and the story as well, as a result. Particularly at the end, I feel like the storyline fell to pieces in a series of rushed character inclusions/fight scenes. This is the problem with a film made by fans for fans - while you can feel the love that's been poured into it, you can also see that they're trying too hard to put EVERYTHING in to a two hour film. These sort of films really suffer because they don't have someone ruthlessly eliminating the excess, and making the film more accessible to the public at large.

I read that they're hoping for an international release for this film, and I'm not terribly convinced that it will succeed. Fans of the original anime overseas will be at best a niche market (at least for the domestic release, there's a good chance the majority of the audience will have at best a passing familiarity with the series) and I feel like the rapid inclusion of bewildering useless characters will leave many in the audience feeling somewhat alienated.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, don't get me wrong, and I intend to seek out the manga as a result. However, I feel like they've pigeonholed themselves somewhat with their audience, if not so much domestically, then definitely abroad. However, if you can manage to be like me and just sit back and let the beautiful cinematography and Sato's truly excellent portrayal of Kenshin wash over you, you'll derive plenty of pleasure from this film.

Perfect Even for Those Who Do Not Know the "Samurai X" Manga or Anime

[3xHCCH · 8/10 · 11 December 2012]

I have heard of "Samurai X" but I have not really read the manga or seen any of anime about this character named Himura Kenshin. This live action movie had come with very high recommendations or else I may have just given this a pass. I am glad I made time for this movie.

Himura Kenshin is an assassin of the highest skill during that transition between the Imperial/Samurai Age and the New Age adapting Western practices. After a particular assignment plants in him a massive guilt-trip, he decided to "disappear" and become a wanderer, using his fighting skills to defend the helpless WITHOUT KILLING.

In this story, Kenshin meets and helps a young lady named Kaoru, whose fencing school was vandalized. They then get entangled in the affairs of a notorious ruthless drug dealer Kanryu Tanaka, when his drug chemist Megumi escapes and seeks shelter in Kaoru's school. On top of all this, there is a mad killer on the loose with mad sword skills calling himself the Battosai, a title bestowed on Kenshin in his murderous past which he would rather disown.

With all of these stories and more that the movie tries to tell, the running time is about two hours. However you will not feel the time at all as you get enthralled by the fantastic look of the movie and its spectacular fighting scenes. Either with sword, bare hands or firearms, the fights were choreographed with excitement. The cinematography, color palette and visual effects were impeccably executed.

I did not know how the anime drawings of each character before I watched, so I could not comment on that. It is sort of odd looking that with lead actor Takeru Sato, a highly skilled sword fighter looks so androgynous. Afterwards we see that he really does look like that in the anime series. So did the cute Emi Takei (as the feisty Kaoru), Munetaka Aoki (as the rash and brash street fighter Sanosuke)or even Yosuke Eguchi, the samurai turned police chief Hajime Saito.

As someone who had no prior knowledge about Samurai X, I was completely taken by this very good-looking film, enough that I may even seek out the animated TV series. This is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and Japanese culture. Catch it only in SM Cinemas, as this is being locally shown exclusively there.

Actually not too bad...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 6 July 2019]

Well, I am not familiar with anime or Manga that this movie is based upon, so whether or not the movie is true to the Manga, I have no idea. But still, this being a Japanese movie, of course I took the time to sit down and watch it; sure, seven years after it was initially released.

I will say that "Rurôni Kenshin" (aka "Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku roman tan") actually turned out to be fun to watch. I was sitting down to watch it with no clue as to what the story is about or whom the characters were.

The storyline told in the movie was good, although it was somewhat on the simplistic side. The audience weren't really challenged intellectually in any manner. All you have to do here, it sit back, strap yourself in and enjoy the movie.

There is a good amount of action and character development throughout the movie, spiced up with drama and a little bit of suspence. However, running at 2 hours and 15 minutes, give or take, the movie had a slight tendency of feeling a bit too long.

The cast in the movie were doing nice jobs with their given characters and roles. But again, I am basing this solely on what I saw in this particular movie, as I have no prior knowledge or familiarity with any of the characters.

All in all, "Rurôni Kenshin" turned out to be a watchable and enjoyable movie, particularly if you enjoy movies set in feudal Japan.

Awesome!

[Shad_Critic · 8/10 · 26 February 2015]

Rurouni Kenshin Trilogy is the best anime based live action movie ever! All three of it are the best. I didn't really appreciated the anime series when I was a kid but then I grew up and I saw the first movie. I was like, "Wow, even live action movies based on an anime is possible!" Because of this movie, I'm now interested to watch the anime series.

The story was great, the characters were also great, even the setting. This is the movie that made samurai battles more realistic. As anime fan, I also like this movie from start to finish. The sequels were also great and I might review those in the future.

In conclusion, Rurouni Kenshin is a must watch especially to Samurai X fans and other anime fans out there.

Slightly disappointed..

[plsletitrain · 14 December 2012]

As someone who loved the anime, I have to say that the movie was a bit disappointing. Call it bias, but what can I do, the anime set the standards high. Soundtrack was overused it was sometimes misapplied. Also, Samurai X, as in most animes, incorporate some comic dialogues which unfortunately this movie tried and it was just as it is..it tried. And failed. Rurouni Kenshin, the anime, was a serious one. I don't even know if the director really intended the movie to be laughable at some scenes which supposedly, should be a serious one (I'm not even going to talk about that Kanryu Takeda battle with that money confetti scene). There are some things which are better left untouched..leave it to the series if you can't successfully pull it off.

I think I was even more frustrated with their choice of saga, so to speak. Takeda was just a minimal, episode-filler type of opponent. Yet, he was built up to appear like Kenshin's reputation depended on him. I even think half of the movie centered on him. Jin'e was even forgettable a character in the series but at least insofar as the movie is concerned, he was someone not to be taken lightly. Or so I thought. And so it was supposed to be. But he was taken out of the limelight at times. I even came to the point of forgetting him and then when the scene includes him, I go, Oh yeah..there's Jin'e, he's still alive. Now if they're aiming for a sequel where they could emphasize on the bigger opponents Kenshin had (like Makoto Shishio for example) then I think they were a bit successful seeing how most watchers who were not able to watch the series was enticed by the movie. But I won't dwell on that because despite these downsides, I have to give credit where its due. Credit goes to the team for the effort.. The effort to at least impart the story of Kenshin Himura, aka Battousai, and synthesize his colorful life in just one movie. That's not an easy task. Especially with just much time, one cannot successfully fill in everything. But kudos to the movie for still being able to somehow include the highlights of Kenshin's life, especially on the past he wanted to erase and a reformed life he wanted to live. I also have to give it to the cast (and the director of course) for pulling off well how the characters were in the series. I mean, everyone of them was just the way they were portrayed in the series. Of course, its not how perfectly one imagined, but hey, they were the closest they could get. Now I think the greater burden is on Takeru Sato who played Kenshin. And good news for him, if he reads this, good job! He was just the Kenshin Himura in real-life form. Baby-faced, handsome, medium-built, even the way he stood, his signature moves..everything just felt right. Well-executed, well-prepared. Perfect.

Still, I'm not giving up on this. I even have to thank them for giving life to such well-loved anime. If ever a sequel comes on the way (and yes I'm still watching it despite my disappointment), I would love to see one whole movie with only the Shishio saga in it.

Entertaining but shallow as hell

[phanthinga · 6/10 · 12 March 2020]

I heard many people say that the live-action movie of Rurouni Kenshin is one of the best anime adaptation movies the world has ever seen so I decided to check out the first one in the franchise and all I can say is there definitely things worthy to be praised here and things that not only unnecessary but also make the movie kinda soulless when compared to the source material. The fight choreography is top-notch as expected when it got one of the best guy of the game Kenji Tanigaki as the action/stunt director plus the high production value that I can see from the set-pieces to the costume really show how much love the people behind the camera pour into the making of this movie but sadly all of that can make up for the lack of character development in Rurouni Kenshin. I do think Takeru Satoh as Himura Kenshin is a great choice when he can pull off the character inner conflict beautifully but for characters like Yahiko and Sanosuke two of Kenshin's most loyal companion in the manga is so bland to the point that it baffles me. I'm totally okay with the fact that Jine Udo got a bigger role in the movie but the bunch of ronin the movie pick to replace The Oniwabanshu Corp is laughable at best.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning (Short Movie Review)

[Cirene404 · 8/10 · 8 June 2019]

Positivies:

• Directing and cinematography
• Takeru Satoh
• Main cast
• Action scenes
• Pacing
• Faithful to the source material

Negatives:

• Some of the musical score
• Could have cut some secondary antagonists

Introduction

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 20 October 2013]

I have not seen the original Anime or read any of the Manga books this is based on. So it was an introduction to me to the universe and the movie does begin with an introduction. It might not be easy at times to follow for some people to follow for different reasons (who's bad, who's good in the story). But this is also the reason this might stay in mind a little longer than other movies.

The action scenes are more than decent and you do get violence depicted as what it is. Blood will flow and people die. Still there is a morality to it all, which has to do with the main character. Either you are down with what it tries to do and can get behind it or you don't like it all. I liked it and think it's worth a look

Maybe too much relying on anime

[aurimasvisockis · 6/10 · 5 July 2021]

What works for anime, may not necessarily work for a live-action movie: physics defying fight scenes and choreography, using supernatural or akin to that "fighting styles", one man versus an army etc. But, outside from that, the plot was competent. Its' just that I can't give it a higher score than 6 for what was stated above. It's genre should have been fantasy primarily.

One of the best anime adaptation

[blitzeinheit · 10/10 · 24 June 2019]

Awesome movie which remains true to the anime , but is absolutely convincing regardless. I was a bit skeptical myself, but the actors fit, the choreography is great and it remains exciting until the end - action with a lot of emotion. Only the beginning is a bit unclear and it takes 1-2 minutes to find your way around (at least I felt so). Anyone who knows the anime or manga will love the movie for its closeness to the source material. Those who do not know will still love it for its spiky action / fight scenes, great acting and nicely paced plot. Conclusion: very worth seeing. A film that you can definitely watch more often. 10/10 stars.

Rurouni Kenshin is a stylish samurai film with fantastic choreography and cinematography, an excellent film

[Holt344 · 9/10 · 24 July 2021]

Rurouni Kenshin: Origins is based on the manga of the same name which is written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The film is directed by Keishi Otomo and co-written by him and Kiyomi Fujii. It's a very stylish samurai film that's well shot and has some great cinematography, Takuro Ishizaka did a fantastic job. There's so many beautiful set pieces and Takuro has such a nice way of shooting things. The fight choreography is raw, bloody and seriously incredible. Naoki Sato's musical score is also a nice addition to the film. I have never read the manga or watched the anime so I can't judge on that level but as a live action adaption I'm sure it worked well and that seems to be okey regarding both viewers and critics. It spawned five films after all.

Rurouni Kenshin focuses on fictional events that take place during the early Meiji period in Japan, telling the story of a wanderer named Himura Kenshin, formerly known as the assassin Hitokiri Battosai. After participating in the Bakumatsu war, Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed.

Takeru Satoh is a brilliant actor, both in the dramatic side and the action side. He was totally the right choice for the character of Himura Kenshin, nailing the performance and probably doing justice for the manga and anime version. Emi Takei portrays Kamiya Kaoru, she's one of the main characters and it's a great performance and a great character. The supporting cast is also quite good, some characters are brilliant but some are not as good.

What I found interesting with Himura Kenshin is that as a pacifist his fight style is to not kill anyone, it makes for some really interesting and incredible stunt work and of course the choreography that goes into the stunts. I really like the character and can't wait for the second film and the rest. For a samurai film, Rurouni Kenshin was indeed great. At times quite unrealistic but I wasn't bothered about that, it's similar to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Stunts are kind of magical and I like that, most stunts are realistic though. Having it in Japanese and English subtitles was perfect. The first installment was a must watch, a film I probably want to watch again and I think it will be better on the second viewing as you already know the characters and the action set pieces alone is a reason.

Doesn't feel like a movie

[anubhavchattoraj · 6/10 · 14 May 2021]

The cinematography is excellent, but the story feels like a TV series compressed into 2.5 hours. It jumps from story beat to story beat with no narrative cohesion.

Silly

[keikoyoshikawa · 4/10 · 29 March 2020]

I think the mistake was making this into a live-action version of the manga, complete with a giant sword, ridiculous dialogues, and over-the-top acting. I know some people like that; but for me it would have been much better to make a drama-action version based more on realism.

Masterpiece in every regard

[qnrxydmf · 10/10 · 3 July 2021]

Great cinematography, grade, stunts, storyline, set, costumes and acting, there is just no way to fault this film.

Excellent Killing & Bloodshed

[Johnny_West · 8/10 · 30 August 2021]

I grew up watching Toshiro Mifune, Sonny Chiba, and Zatoichi movies. Back in those days, the samurai were nasty looking slobs. By comparison, in these Ruroni Kenshin movies, all the samurais seem to be wearing lipstick, and on several occasions I thought some of the characters were girls, and they turned out to be guys. Not a big deal. The movie was fun to watch.

This first movie in the series was great until halfway through when Kenshin got a girlfriend who was trying to make him into a man of peace. That is the most predictable twist in every movie about killers. It is not much fun to watch preaching and guilting in a movie about samurai killers.

Of the Kenshin movies I have seen, this one has the most action. The moralizing tone just gets louder in the rest of the movies, and they have less fights, less bloodshed, and less killing. This is the best one.

An OK movie, Sato's performance is commendable

[cor_sanjuan · 6/10 · 8 December 2012]

I've watched a couple of episodes of Samurai X when I was a kid so I basically had an idea what was it all about, not exactly a fan, but I enjoyed watching some of it.The cinematography was decent, Takeru Sato was excellent in portraying Kenshin Himura but other than that, I can't remember any other brilliant aspect of this film. Kenshin's personality is some sort of humorous but there are certain parts of the film that just made me asked if its meant to be funny or was it just plain futility. The plot isn't convenient for those people who doesn't have an idea what Samurai X is. Yes they've explained how he got his scar but there are a lot of things missing in the plot for you to have a connection with it. The fight scenes were fun but not gripping and satisfying enough. Completely predictable.

Decent, but needs storytelling improvement

[qtpxd · 8/10 · 31 December 2012]

I am familiar with both manga and anime, but I am not going to knit-pick the movie in comparison to the original material. The movie was a very decent effort.

What I liked about this adaptation was the characterization. The director let each actor's own quality that connects with each character come through. They were believable, not as a 3D copy of 2D original, but as characters in a movie. Sato was pretty much a perfect choice for Kenshin. The last time I saw him was in a TV series Ryomaden in which he played an innocent youth manipulated into becoming an assassin by his mentor. (familiar theme? it's in the same era too) His almost vulnerable, gentle quality worked well there for the tragic character, and it does here as well to contrast Kenshin's dark side. Cinematography was beautiful, and I thought action scenes were entertaining. Visually it was satisfying over all.

What disappointed me was the storytelling. It had missed many opportunities where the movie could go a little deeper. Personally I'd prefer interesting dialogs/plot line over multiple action scenes. Characterization was well done, so I wish I could've seen the drama among those characters more. Lastly, music. Those dramatic tunes with chanting are so overused.

Still, it is one of the best adaptation of manga/anime, and there is great potential, should they decide to make a sequel, and I'd see it if they make one.

Would've rated higher if not for the issues adapting from the Anime

[borismk-38942 · 7/10 · 4 March 2021]

Stylistically this is an excellent film, the choreography is epic and the storytelling is very well done. As a film in and of itself I don't have many complaints, it set a new tone for onscreen combat and the characterisation was interesting (with some exceptions).

Now for the bad part, I think it has a few key failures as an adaption. First and foremost, as a huge Sanosuke fan words cannot express my disappointment that he was made into cheap comic relief. This was basically character assassination and I definitely hold it against the movie. Furthermore, Kenshin as a character is not nearly as broody as the movie (and its sequels) make him out to be, though I understand this was a part of the transition to live action. Certain anime conventions don't sit so well with outside audiences.

All in all, it's a good watch, but I have issues with how they handled the translation to the big screen