Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)

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Although it boasts plenty of sword fights, martial arts combat, and odd, orange blood, Samurai X offers deeper and more sensitive characterizations than typical anime samurai epics. Based on the manga by Noboru Watsuki, the film centers on questions about the nature of Japanese society during the years following the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. Kenshin Himura and his friends Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko seem like an ordinary, slightly goofy quartet. But red-haired Kenshin is an expert swordsman; tall, lanky Sanosuke, a martial arts master; adolescent Yahiko, a samurai-in-training. Kaoru fills the role of outspoken anime heroine. An ugly encounter with some drunken British sailors introduces Kenshin and his friends to the noble Takimi Shigure and lovely Toki Takatsuki. Shigure leads a group opposed to the Meiji government, which they believe is corrupting Japanese culture, and his ill-conceived attempt at rebellion brings him into conflict with Kenshin. A key fighter in the Restoration, Kenshin received scars on his soul that mark him more decisively than the X on his cheek; he weeps for the needless bloodshed he helped to unleash. Director Hatsuki Tsuji builds subtle visual patterns of downward motions--falling tears, fluttering bamboo leaves, the deadly stroke of a sword, Kenshin's spectacular leaps--to create a film with an unusually satisfying resolution. Not rated; suitable for ages 14 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

The war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years ago. But there are some who are not happy with the outcome. Shigure Takimi watched his friends and family get slashed down in the name of freedom and prosperity. Now he and a band of desparate rebels have sworn to settle one final score. Only one man stands in their way: Rurouni Kenshin. Will the former assassin take up his sword to fight again? When Shigure discovers Kenshin's true identity and his fight becomes a personal vendetta, the young hero will have no choice.

Customer Reviews:

Samurai X - The Motion Picture way too boring.......2007-08-31

I thought all the Samurai X Anime were slow and tiresome, I dont think they are worth paying over 20 dollars for. Fight scenes were few.... dialog was plentiful.

Not all that great to me. Nothing new at all........2007-07-23

First of all if your new to Kenshin skip this movie and get the TV series Rouroni Kenshin. It contains all the character development and a detailed history of Kenshin and everyones origin. You are not going to find that here. Also pick up the Samurai X ova's which is a prequel to the series.

Now on to the review. This movie has a pretty decent plot to it. But its been done to death by now if you saw the TV series. A group of samurai's is unhappy with the new government and the only way to change it is to kill and destroy. The animation to me is on par with the TV series. Its pretty good, fluid and great character designs. The fights are ok at best. After watching the TV series, especially the battle with Saiyto, then later Shishio. There really isn't anything too special to see anymore. They already used their best to make the series a classic milestone.

The bad with this movie definitely has to be the new voice actors. I wasn't pleased with any of the cast at all. Still at least they managed to keep their original personalities. I feel the characterization was off alot concerning Yahiko. At one point in the movie it seemed as though he has no respect for Kenshin at all. And by the 4th or 5th episode I'm guessing in the series, he was already idolizing Kenshin. So for him to idolize that captain was off to me. To include when he joined the resistance for revenge, this was totally out of character for him.

I'm guessing this movie takes place at somepoint before the Shishio arc. That would probably explain the reason why Saiyto is still "alive" and interacting with Kenshin. And it also explains Kenshin's overall weakness to include his lack of control for the manslayer lurking within him.

Well I took this movie for what it is. This is the 3rd time I watched and it has grown on me. Had I reviewed this when I first saw it I would've shot this with 2 stars at the most. Simply because it lacked originality and I got tired of seeing the same flashback like for the 5th time.

Bottomline if your fan of Kenshin and haven't seen this. Its worth a watch. But don't expect anything to surpass or even get as deep as the Shishio arc. They couldn't even do that in the series, so there was no way it could've been done with this.

should have been ruroni kenshin: the movie.......2007-07-05

this movie takes place midway between the series, before the shishio saga, after sanno meets his artist friend. its a stand alone story and is quite like an extended 4 episode part of the series itself.

there is some getting used to the voice actors as only a few of the voices returned for it.

if you have the series, its wrtht getting

the animation is not like the samurai x movies, it is like the series.

its worth seeing at least once... i would however reccomend having seen the series first to help in the points of reference

A fitting continuation of the epic saga.......2007-03-20

The motion picture set a few years after the end of the series is a nice look into the continuing saga of Kenshin and his gang. This anima is always at it's best when they bring in people from Kenshin's past and the era of the Meiji Restoration.

My one gripe about the anime, in general. After learning the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki (the Hiten Ryu's final attack) it's suddenly become the only way Kenshin can defeat enemies. I can see that being the case against Makoto Shisio, but against everybody? C'mon.

Otherwise a wonderful anime.

Oh my.......2006-09-29

I like kenshin i really do but this movie just...upset me. I like the funny cracks and jokes but it just kept on with the flashbacks. Alot more gore...if I wanted to see that I would have watched the OVA version. I don't like the way it jumped around...sigh.

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