for those who have no idea about Kenshin...To begin with what are you doing here? just go and watch the anime and ova's, read the manga! But if you insist: Kenshin is a good movie. Cinematography, costumes,and action is above (very above) avarage. The dialogues can give you an idea about the period, which is a milestone in japanese history and caracters as well as actors are eye-catching. The weak point is unfortunately the story telling, which is a little too slow but I do not think you will get bored because of the beautiful shooting,peaceful colours and fitting music.
for fans...I know you are scared to watch this one, but be brave, I do not think you'll regret it. I totally fell in love with action scenes,costumes,colours as well as Takeru's own Kenshin interpretation. At first I thought it was different/ odd but somehow Takeru convinced me ...(wish he could be a little older) There were one or two scenes where I could barely see Megumi's fox ears,and Yahiko's wide open eyes.Unlike most of the people even Kaouru was ok. If you can accept the changes in the plot, which they wrapped very professionally,the only problem left is the pace which depends on your patience...Overall I think it was a very good movie with a different interpretation of Kenshin's story nicely sugar coated with nice costumes, amazing sword fights and harmonious scenery.
ps: I can not bring myself to write about Saito and Aoshi, it really hurts....
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Hopefully they can make the second part for the continuation of the moview,,,
A must watch to the manga fan, and even if you are not manga anime fan, the action is superb and to those outside Japan, you'll see the Japanese traditions, samurai techniques, the pretty girls, you will be succumb immediately with the glamour of Japan world and the action-dignity filled samurais.
The make ups, the production designs were superb, totally awesome!
A must watch and rewatch. highly reco!
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Well, being quite a Kenshin fan for many years, I've been waiting for this movie since I heard they'd make it, and I'm still not sure if I'm disappointed or not. It was an OK experience (it left me with a much better mood and experience than after the OVA's, for sure!), I could see Takeru Satoh as Kenshin, although theoretically you could see he's a bit too young (the real Kenshin, even if he looks quite young, he's in his 30s - mid-30s even?) for the cahracter. There were plenty of actors of that age that could have "seemed" young.
The story is fragmented, clearly directed to fans (there are some key moments related to his costume and the creation of the Ken-tachi (:P) crew that were supposed to create emotions, much the in the same way as the scene when burnt Anakin Skywalker gets his Darth Vader mask. I was not satisfied with the contenders, nor was I satisfied by Hajime - I wanted to see more gatotsu and stuff! I would have liked to see a more connected story that would introduce Kenshin to non-otaku / fan viewers and actually tell a story not putting as much from the original manga & anime as possible and pile them up nonsensically to the public who doesn't know the stories. Except for a few, the characters seem to be thrown in much like in a relay race and Kenshin seems to run around from here and there - must be really tiring, no matter how skilled Kenshin is!!!
Except for that (and Kaoru's look - who I've seen many are complaining about, anyway!), the acting is very good, it's obvious the title characters know where they're coming from and where the character's story is going. It was rather satisfying.
About the music... Being used to the wonderful anime (I mean the series, not the OVA's) soundtracks and all, it seemed out of place. There were some of the anime tracks that I love so much I keep listening to them even now. Perhaps it would have been too much of a hustle to get the composer at least...
I am also not satisfied with the way the changed the manga and anime stories. I was expecting to see one of my favourite characters, Shinomori Aoshi. I was actually wondering if they do make a sequel, how will they include the Oniwabanshu?
It seems Watsuki Nobuhiro (Kenshin's papa :P) was pretty content with the movie, so, that's a plus!
All in all, must-watch for fans, pretty confusing for anybody unfamiliar with the original stories.
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The visuals are stunning and the fight scenes were so awesome! They did a great job at converting the epic nature of fight scenes into live-action. I was totally swept up in the action despite knowing this story like the back of my hand.
What really carried this for me were the actors. They did such a great job capturing who the characters are in the manga/anime. They really did them justice. I was worried that Kenshin wouldn't be as awesome, Kaoru would be super obnoxious (which always seems to happen to the female leads), or that Sano/Yahiko/Megumi would barely make appearances. But they were all accurately portrayed. I may have fallen in love with Kenshin all over again!!
The only ciritism I have is the story line they choose. The manga/anime is pretty long and have lots of awesome villains and sub-plots to choose from. But this a completely subjective opinion and they carried this part of the story beautifully. And - who knows? Maybe they'll make more movies that follow the rest of the manga? (please? pretty please?)
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It's kinda violent but not really.
First HOW AMAZING AND AWESOME THIS MOVIE IS
It's now my favourite movie. I love all the characters and even some of the villains- The masked guy, he was terrifying at first but I LOVE THE WAY HES DRESSED! And the guy who fought with his fists ( MUST SEE XD) I kinda hoped they side with the good side because they are just so cool.
Megumi is honestly everything, real beauty right there.
THE MAIN GUY IS SO PERFECT DAMN (not only in looks). He's a powerful badass yet a good guy.
The fighting scenes weren't like any other. With the soundtrack in the background and the skills made it epic.
Also the graphics and the theme.
For those who want a serious historical movie with good music then you must watch this.
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Kaoru is played by Takei Emi, who has been a miss with me in the past, but she definitely is the perfect choice and even sounds a bit like the seiyuu for Kaoru in the anime. She doesn't get to do much in the film acting-wise until the end, but she does make the girl a bit believable.
I have to admit, seeing Yahiko as his actual age and not the bumped up ages we're used to in anime was...awkward. He was my favorite character in the anime, but he's really the kid he's supposed to be in the film. He gets little-to-no screen time, but he definitely steals his scenes, especially when he introduces himself as Kenshin's senpai to the dojo.
The stand out, though, is Sannosuke, the kick ass Brawler suddenly brought to life. He is beautifully hilarious and brutish in every scene, and his fights are by far the best edited and best acted throughout the film. He's everything we could have hoped for in the live action adaptation and more. Even my dad, with no knowledge of the anime, glommed onto Sano. He killed it.
The whole film was shot beautifully, a mix of perfect lighting and color palettes. Nothing beats the moment when Kenshin first dons his signature red frock and white pants, where the camera teasingly remains on the man's feet before we get a full pan up of Kenshin in all his notable glory. They tried their damnedest to make this movie worth watching for Kenshin fans, and they did a wonderful job.
The film runs a little long, but that's explained by the inclusion of plotlines from the prequel to Kenshin, Samurai X--we do get a little information about Kenshin's X-shaped scar (albeit not the most emotional bit) as well as the way he was before he gave up killing. Those scenes were excellent to show Sato Takeru's ability to play every side to a character. He made a name for himself playing side roles in jdrama, but any Kamen Rider fan knows the boy can play just about everything. Admittedly he and Emi are a bit young for their characters' supposed ages, but it works when everyone else is cast accordingly under-age.
And of course, a review would not be complete without a nod to the film's theme, "The Beginning" by ONE OK ROCK. I heard the song a few months ago and fell in love. It's a hard rock tune with an astounding amount of English throughout, and it totally fits the mood of the film. "Just give me a reason/To keep my heart beating" blasts out of your speakers and gives you shivers. Sad to say it doesn't appear until the credits of the film, but it wouldn't have fit during any particular moment within the story. Still, definitely pick up the track if you get the chance--you won't regret it.
And check out the film, too! It was incredible all around, and as I saw it as a casual Kenshin fan, with a die-hard Kenshin fan and a Kenshin novice, the fact that we all enjoyed it should tell you this movie is really made for everyone. Definitely an A.
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A must watch!!!
STORY: I hadn't seen the manga or anime beforehand so I went into it quite blindly. I knew that I just had to check it out after seeing such great reviews and knowing that Takeru Satoh was in here. I think the story is amazing and the way it portrays the role of samurais in the Meiji era was really interesting (thank you history class). The story moved at a perfect pace that didn't feel slow or fast. The end was satisfying and they did well to establish a bit of Kenshin's backstory in a very emotional way at the beginning.ACTING/CAST: The cast were perfect especially Takeru Satoh and Emi Takei which took me by surprise as I didn't enjoy her other roles as much. Everyone fit their roles perfectly and I think that Takeru was able to balance between adorable and a serious killer well. I felt alllll the emotions watching this thanks to the cast.
MUSIC: The music is amazing and it gets me sooo hyped during the battles. While they do end up using this same soundtrack for the later movies I don't blame them because the music is really really great!
REWATCH VALUE: I will DEFINITELY rewatch this masterpiece because the battles are just that amazing. The running, sword fights, and quick movements are just absolutely amazing and stunning. I couldn't help but squeal and scream at every action that I thought was cool. I think it's awesome that the cast do their own stunts. After you watch the movie try to check out the behind that scenes because it'll make you appreciate it better!
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Historical Fan
First thing I gotta say is even though I haven't read the manga I was very impressed. As always, there's probably more plot detail in the manga but you can still follow this action packed plot very well. Ratings are good and the sequels alone should tell you it's worth the watch. If you're a Japanese history fan or even a weapons fan in general, you'll enjoy the samurai/new age theme. I especially loved Sagara. He brought the fresh and fun humor and reminds me a bit of Kenpachi from the Bleach series lol Anyway, I was worried about an adaptation but this movie was great! Honestly, I think as long as adaptations don't get white-washed they're usually pretty good lol Enjoy...Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Killing Gives Birth to Hatred, and Hatred Kills In Its Turn
Himura Kenshin is a samurai and former assassin who has killed countless times. He soon discovers that each time he kills, it costs him a piece of himself.Vowing to live by a new code. A code in which he refuses to kill, Kenshin becomes a very unorthodox and yet inspiring character who uses his incredible fighting skills to help those who can't fight or defend themselves.
The Wanderer finds himself coming across young Miss Kaoru who owns a fencing dojo. Her dojo is wanted the new town bureaucrat who finds that in the new Japan, money is power. Not the samurai. He buys what he wants, and sends his own paid thugs and assassins to deal with those who refuse to sell.
Kenshin finds his new vow tested to its limits. For someone who has killed countless times, what's one more? And what does it matter if it's done to protect or save someone?
The fighting choreography is probably the best I've ever seen. The speed and skillset of each move is so lightning-quick that if you blink, you'll miss a sequence.
And yet this movie is so much deeper than a mere "samurai/martial arts" film. It's about love. It's about redemption. And it's about realizing that it's never too late to change. "No one is not worthy" Kenshin reminds one of his opponents. He's not only speaking about his foe, but also reminding himself that he's not lost.
The best pearl of wisdom is spoken to the high police official who believes that Kenshin is insane for applying a code that--in his mind--is ludicrous and can't possibly work. Kenshin replies, "Killing gives birth to hatred, and hatred kills in its turn. To break that chain, I carry a sword that will not kill." Indeed, Kenshin carries a blade that is backwards to help him prevent killing.
This series is simply a work of art. It has mystical elements, bordering on the "superhero" genre, but at its core, it's about the power of justice. There are elements of humor as well as a lot of flamboyance, but I believe that this is intentional, as I'm guessing that manga series it hails from is much the same.
I watched "The Beginning" and "The Final" before Netflix finally gave us the other three films. So far, none of these films have disappointed me at all. Two hours and twenty minutes seem to fly by.
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Those who love epic action, samurai, adventures I recommend strongly this movie.
Even those who love the romance and other genders will love this movie
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(Rurouni Kenshin is one of my favorite mangas.)
A faithful, thrilling rendition of the best scenes of the manga/anime, this string of moments is awe inspiring to watch. The strong themes on life after trauma - paired with thrilling action, compelling romance, and beautiful visuals is hard to beat.
If I had one nitpick, the manga is written by a man, but the story has fully developed women characters and themes, separate and apart from the 'villain of the week.' Yet here, the women become side characters, and strangely, the villains have lots of screen time. There was no need to overload the drama with these disturbing scenes, given the series already struggles to honor the large number of characters included in the manga.
Watching the live action Kenshin reconcile his past, and take a step into a better future with Kaoru and our gang showing him the way, is a rewarding, touching, even sublime experience. When I ended this series, I was incredibly sad to say goodbye to this universe.
It's the greatest compliment I can give when I say I wish there was more . . .
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one of the best live-action
From the choice of actors to the staging, Ruroni Kenshin is a great surprise and one of the best live-action adaptations of a manga. Expertly shot and critically written, the film manages to combine the best of the first four tankobons of the manga in a coherent and spectacular story. Everything is managed by dosing the best narrative and action scenes, directed and choreographed very well and able to give that grace superhuman to many of the characters involved: the killer Udo Jin-ai members of Oniwabanshu up to the same Kenshin. There is no shortage of ironic and funny moments that manage to play down the tone of the film, bringing it closer to those of the manga and anime rather than the dramatic and dark ones of the OAV. Definitely a film that does justice to the manga of Nobuhiro Watsuki and that will delight the many fans. Appreciated the choice of the ost and the song of one ok rock, the beginning, as the end title. We love One Ok Rock, and this could only make us doubly happy.Was this review helpful to you?
