Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku romantan - Ishinshishi e no requiem

I have never seen a single episode of the 'Rurouni Kenshin'-series, but I was fully able to enjoy this movie. I wasn't really sure what I could expect. I can say it was a very pleasant surprise. May be the story is not very good but there is so much more that is great that it didn't bother me. The story isn't bad either, it is pretty standard. It is about revenge, of course with some hidden secrets, and great samurais like Kenshin himself.

The animation is perfect for a movie like this. The fighting sequences look great and powerful, almost like you're in the middle of the fight yourself. The opening sequence amazed me in every positive way possible. Only the way this movie looks makes it interesting and entertaining to watch. Like I said, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this movie, but I did. Even more than that.

Let me start first by complimenting several things. This movie was, frankly, beautifully drawn. Every shot was full of such amazing detail that at times it became difficult to tell the difference between the animated and the actual footage that appears randomly throughout the film.

The sword fighting was very cool as well.

And that's about all I can say that is positive about "Samurai X". I watched the English-dubbed version, something I would never do normally except a friend of mine who loved the movie insisted. I feel that they may have hired some of the worst voice actors ever to speak these lines. Almost anything said by the main character came off as sounding like he was an idiot or reading off a page. It wasn't just Kenshin who suffered from this ailment. It seemed that many of the characters could not speak a believable sentence if their lives depended on it.

The characters themselves were another huge problem. With Kenshin I just couldn't buy his motives. The movie went on and on and on trying to prove to him that killing was not the way to do things. He continues to think this way throughout, however, and his utter lack of character development made his "suck"-meter inflate beyond all expectations.

The cast seemed to leave suddenly at random points. For example his "mentor" who we see for a mere 5 minutes, vanishes entirely from the story. Why didn't Kenshin get a better character? Because he, as well as everyone else, was horribly underdeveloped. It ended up that I couldn't care who lived and died and spent much of my time awaiting the next sword fight.

The fighting was frequent and bloody, a good combination for a movie whose script was rotten. This and the amazing imagery was "Samurai X"'s saving graces because it was severely lacking in so many parts. The story was simple, and simply predictable, another one of the things in the movie that revolted me.

I wish that the talented artists who brought this alive could apply their skill to something worthwhile, such as a sequel to "Noir"...

I say this is more of an extended episode of the series, and the beginning looked like one of the filler episodes of the show. And the story is not much except more of Kenshin's past back to haunt him, and a conspiracy going on about their new friends they meet at the beginning is stirring up. I would say the animation is very good, the effects okay, and more background of Kenshin also. But not all of the characters are there, only a few others make an appearance but others don't. Just the four, Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sano, and oh, at least Saitou is back. That's good to see, but you seem fight only a few times, and I also like the poem or haiku in it, and it goes something like this, "the bluest sky is infinitely high and crystal clear." That is something I'll never forget, very beautiful. Recommended to the fans of the show.

The Japanese are the best animators in the world and this anime film proves it.

Rurôni Kenshin: Ishin shishi e no Requiem (1997)starts back in the days of the Meji revolution when Kenshin was the feared Hitokiri Battōsai.

Hitokiri Battōsai kills in battle a samurai called Takatsuki Gentatsu. Takatsuki's death is witnessed by his comrade Shigure Takimi.

The film then shifts to the year is 1879, and Japan is finally at peace, starting to modernize, and has opened its borders to the outside world.

Miss Kaoru, Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko arrive at Yokohama by train for a sight-seeing tour.

There they witness a fight between some European sailors and a man called Shigure Takimi. Kenshin helps Shigure fight off the sailors. Later Kenshin and Shigure acquaint themselves.

Shigure Takimi has secretly sworn to avenge his fallen comrade by a Restoration movement to overthrow the current Japanese Government, and he has amassed some weapons and recruits for that purpose.

Toki who is the sister of the slain Takatsuki Gentatsu is deeply in love with Shigure Takimi. When things begin to get out of Toki's hands she reaches out to seek Kenshin's help. Kenshin promises to unite Toki and Shigure, but will that promise be fulfilled?

Watch this exciting film to find out.

Note: this anime contains scenes of violence so I do not recommend this film for children and persons under the age of 18.

When I saw this film I had no idea that it was a series, in fact I had never even heard of the film, I just caught it at a friends house. I was utterly shocked at the shear quality of it, the action is superb, and while the actual story isn't great (nor is it bad by any means) the messages and thoughts it provokes are very impressive (i wont go into them here). As I said I had never heard of this before, I knew nothing about the film, but unlike many anime the story doesn't get confusing and you get a good feel for the history of the characters. The only bad thing that I can say about the film is the quality of the animation isn't as good as I've seen, but this doesn't really detract from the enjoyment, especially when you get dragged into the story. Top stuff.(8/10).