Rurouni Kenshin

10 years ago, Battosai the Manslayer, a man feared throughout all of Japan, disappeared after bringing about the new age of the Meiji.  Few know he has been wandering the country as a Rurouni named Kenshin Himura.  Finding his way to Tokyo, the seemingly bumbling and harmless swordsman becomes enveloped in a plot involving a Kendo Dojo, a woman trying to escape her sins and a swordsman from the revolution claiming to be Battosai the Manslayer.  For the first time in 10 years, Kenshin will draw his sword, not to end lives but to save them.  In a battle this intense, can a man who has sworn never to kill again keep his vow intact?

Whenever I think about this movie, I think back to the first time I saw it at Otakon 2013.  The main theater was packed, the anticipation was high and something big was about to happen.  A good friend I met during that screening likened her anticipation to the first time she saw The Avengers for the first time.  Barely 15 minutes into the movie, I could see why she thought that.  Rurouni Kenshin is probably the first live action anime adaptation I have really enjoyed since Death Note.  It gets so much right that even a couple of nitpicks can bring it down from the legendary pedestal I hold it on.

The film covers roughly the entire first arc of the manga and surprisingly does a great job cramming several volumes into a two hour film (something most Anime compilation films are terrible at).  There are some liberties taken with the appearance of certain characters and one notable presence in the final battle is absent (HOWEVER this certain character does appear in the follow up sequels).  But the liberties are done in a way that is very respectful and true in spirit to the original material.  And, of course, this is an adaptation so it can't be fully blow for blow.  The film flows at a perfect pace.  Characters are introduced quickly but given enough time to shine and get their stories out of the way before the plot continues and it's done very respectfully.  Once characters are introduced, they are not shunned for most of the film, sharing almost as much screen time as Kenshin which is a rare thing to see in a film like this.

The cast is perfect.  I never thought I would see the day when Kenshin, Kaoru, Saito, Sanosuke and Yahiko were on the big screen as real human beings, but low and behold that day has come and it was glorious.  The actor playing Kenshin was spot on, perfectly balancing his ruthless dark side and his charming and lovable good natured persona (his delivery of Kenshin's trademark "Oro?" was dead on how I always imagined it would be).  And while the actors bring their A-Game to these characters, the costume and set designs do their own wonders as well bringing them to life.  Kenshin, Sanosuke and Saito in particular look like they were ripped directly from the Anime and plopped right into the film and it always felt like I was watching a legitimate old school Japan on screen as they walked about and fought.  It just felt so real and believable.

But I'm sure if you know Kenshin, you're very curious about the action.  WOW HOLY CRAP WTF THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!  Ahem, excuse me for that.  But if there is one way to experience this movie properly, it is in a crowded room of Anime fans who know the story and go totally nuts when something cool happens…which in the case of this film is every five to ten minutes, especially in the action department.  While there are some visual touch ups and a little bit of wire work, you're so caught up in how fast and furious Kenshin is moving in battle to care.  And when super speed isn't being used and the battles are more personal, i.e. Kenshin vs. Saito (while not as intense as it's manga version is still a sight to behold), the choreography and the sense that every sword clash or fist thrown and connecting is personal is down right beautiful.  Also, these allow for some bad ass trailer shots such as Kenshin and Sano walking like bad asses up the Kanryu's front door after mowing down an army of his guards.  Speaking of Sano, I keep bragging about this because it is true but he steals the show several times just showing up on screen and his big fight scene towards the end of the movie is hands down the best scene of the film, it's freaking hilarious. 

Were there some downsides?  Honestly, they're just tiny nitpicks.  Like I said there was one character absent from the film who was in this story arc that I was really looking forward to.  But his role was gracefully given to another villain and, again, he does appear in the sequels, Kyoto Inferno and The Legend Ends.  Also, and again this is just a nitpick, I don't think there was enough "Oro?"…I know that sounds weird but I feel like they got all of that out early on and I rarely heard it afterwards.

So all in all, this is only the first chapter of a franchise but it has done far more than any other adaptation has come before it, even the Death Note films which I love to death.  It's faithful, it's heartfelt, it's action packed and it's full of cheer worthy moments.  Rurouni Kenshin is hands down my favorite Live Action Anime adaptation of all time and it’s a film I wouldn’t just recommend to Anime fans but fans of action films in general.  This is something that should be experienced by everyone.

10/10

So I guess you all know what’s coming next right?  Tomorrow, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno followed by Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends on Thursday before I head off for Katsucon.  These reviews have waited long enough.  Hope you all enjoy them.