Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Movie Review

This is GREAT movie ! Filmmakers teams are successfully turn the manga into a real life hero.

Himura Kenshin (緋村 剣心^?), known as Kenshin Himura  is a fictional character as well as the main protagonist from the Rurouni Kenshin manga created by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Kenshin's story is set in a fictional version of Japan during the Meiji period. Kenshin is a former legendary assassin known as "Hitokiri Battōsai" more properly named Himura Battōsai . At the end of the Bakumatsu, he becomes a wandering samurai, now wielding a sakabatō lit. "reverse-blade sword"), a katana that has the cutting edge on the inwardly curved side of the sword, thus being nearly incapable of killing. Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan offering protection and aid to those in need, as atonement for the murders he once committed as an assassin. In Tokyo, he meets a young woman named Kamiya Kaoru, who invites him to live in her dojo despite learning about Kenshin's past. 

Complete information here in their youtube chanel

http://www.youtube.com/user/RUROUNIKENSHINMOVIE/videos

While it is produced by Warner Bros., the live action “Rurouni Kenshin” movie was directed by Keishi Otomo, who took a lot of time writing the script, focusing more on the characters’ emotions instead of relying on exaggerated wire action scenes (there still are, though) and computer graphics. And also all of this movie setting was fully taken in Japan. ^^

Otomo also had the support of Nobuhiro Watsuki (the original author of the manga and anime series) as he was doing the film, so he was right on track.

Thanks to the gorgeous cinematography, the beauty of old-world Japan was captured in every frame, from the opening battle sequence in the snow to the bustling streets, quaint houses bathed in warm yellow tones, and the Akabeko restaurant where Himura’s gang would usually hang out to eat and celebrate. The directing was so brilliant!  I was surprised again and again while watch Kenshin fight with footwork so fast and when he ran on the wall. I really want to watch behind the scene this film ! Amazing thing is the selection of film actors and also costume who resemble the original, I feel like watch a BLOCKBUSTER movie cosplay. LoL.  

Getting “Kamen Rider Den-O” star Takeru Satoh as Himura is probably the best decision that Otomo made in connection with the film.

Aside from being able to pull off the protagonist’s outfit and long red hair, Satoh effectively portrayed Himura’s character, down to the smallest details – from the way he runs, jumps and draws his sword, to his sleeping position and the light moments when he delivers his signature line: “oro?”

Emi Takei performed well as Kaoru Kamiya, a strong-minded woman who runs a dojo left by her late father, and Himura’s leading lady of sorts. She looks simple yet pretty, just like in the anime and manga, but at some point it seems like her acting is subdued – she could have been more tomboyish, particularly in the scenes when she is with her lone student, Myojin Yahiko.

The Japanese actors who played the roles of the rest of Himura’s gang – Yahiko, the rough and rowdy Sanosuke Sagara and the flirtatious Megumi Takani – were exactly how I imagined them while watching the anime. The same goes for the antagonists – from the creepy Jin-e Udo to the money-minded Kanryu Takeda – and even the random thugs and police officers. scenes were beautifully executed.

Rurouni Kenshin cast

The only one who successfully awaken us to the present is a sweet ending of ONE OK ROCK "The Beginning". \m/

Kenshin's flashback in the movie showed how he got the first scar. That was quite a surprise because this scene was only shown in the final arc of the manga. Let's hope the movie production team gets to the end and show how he got his second!

I have to say, Rurouni Kenshin may be the single best Japanese live action adaption I ever seen.