Rurouni Kenshin Live Action (Samurai X)

Who does not know the anime samurai x? anime which tells the story of a battosai named Himura Kenshin. Samurai X or Rurouni Kenshin, manga were released from 1994 to 1999 was one of the titles the phenomenal work of Nobuhiro Watsuko. Until now this manga has been adapted into various forms of media. The last few months have just release the movie Rurouni Kenshin Live Action.  In short, the story revolves around the main character, Himura Kenshin (Takeru Sato), also referred to often as Hitokiri Battosai. He fought during the terrible Bakumatsu wars in Japan as a highly trained killer, hence his name of Hitokiri Battosai, and his skill was so great that he became legendary.

Upon the end of the revolution, he chooses to turn his back on killing people and disappears into anonymity. He now seeks to live life in the new Meiji era without needing to kill anyone with his sword, represented by the fact that he now wields a Sakabato-a reverse bladed katana. Along the way he meets several new allies and friends, while coming against new enemies and old ones. His new found purpose and meaning in life is challenged every step of the way.

This film is produced by Warner Bros Japan. Staring Takeru Sato as Himura Kenshin, the Japanese actor and the entire cast did a great job in the acting department. 

Sato Takeru makes the perfect Himura Kenshin: from his small, lithe frame to his speed and agility, from the reddish tinge of his hair to the way he says "Oro?" (Kenshin's famous catchphrase).

Takeru’s Kenshin really toes the line between goofy Kenshin and Battosai-Kenshin, and he does it so effortlessly that you really believe in him in the role. Takei’s Kaoru is given less to do, but her importance to the story is so integral and she does it so effortlessly that you are really capable of believing and understanding the reason why Kenshin chooses her, and why she manages to be so important to the story. Kenshin and Kaoru and their relationship and story made and carried the manga for me, and they do so in the movie while being incredibly real and effortless in their roles.

The movie itself is phenomenal both as a stand alone samurai/action film, as well as a movie adaptation of an anime. Needless to say, this movie deserves the huge rave it’s been getting worldwide.

The action is amazing, as the Director Keishi Otomo himself refused to use CGI. He asked all his actors to do their own stunts, and got a Hong Kong choreographer to help choreograph the fight scenes, so that results in extraordinary beautiful fight scenes where we get to see the actors in the raw. The fight scenes are reminiscent of all the great martial arts movies in the past where the fighting is just beautiful and glorious and feels real.

There are even several moments where I knew they had pulled the manga out and copied that image visually onto the screen. In closing, the costume design, action, story, pacing were all phenomenal. The whole cast was outstanding, and well cast in their roles. It's very recomended film for you that like action movie.