PART I: WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS DECEMBER…

Chances are, you were once a follower of this Japanese anime famously known as Samurai X. A live action movie version of Rurouni Kenshin was premiered nationwide in SM Cinemas last December 5 to 7, 2012. Pioneer Films Philippines, using the name Movie Punch, has announced the Philippine-wide release of Rurouni Kenshin. It was announced thru SM Cinema's Facebook as an early Christmas present to all Kenshin fans in the Philippines.  The film has performed extremely well, earning $36.7M in Japan and $25M in limited international release.

Equally uplifting news is the announcement that the film will be having its US premiere at LA EigaFest which runs from Dec. 14-16. The film will be released with English subtitles rather than voiceovers. No word yet on a wider release but keep your fingers crossed anime/manga faithful.  Specifically, the film has been licensed in 64 countries and two additional areas. (Some locations such as Hong Kong are considered their own separate market, even though they are not countries.) The countries span Europe, Latin America, and Asia and include Germany, Mexico, and Taiwan. In addition, the rights for another 17 countries are under negotiations. Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web

Samurai X movie was first shown in Japan last August 25 produced by Warner Bros. Starred by Takeru Satoh who is the star in the series Kamen Rider Den-O. Created by manga artist Nobuhiro Watsuki in 1994, the legend of Kenshin went on to become one of the top 100 manga series, animated television series, and animated movies ever produced. Its reader base is large, and its audience in other media is considerably huge. Recently Rurouni Kenshin has spread to art, guidebooks, and novels.


THE MOVIE CASTS 

Samurai X is a story of an x-legendary assassin called Hitokiri Battosai or Battousai: The Slasher, and his adventures. Hitokiri Battousai is the world’s deadliest samurai assassin in 18th century Japan, a violent era called Bakumatsu, when he suddenly disappeared. Eleven years later he resurfaced to become a wandering swordsman under a different name, Himura Kenshin ‘the wanderer’. He refused to commit murder any longer.  He gave up his trade of killing people as he finds new life and vowed to leave his past behind.

Himura Kenshin, as a reformed man, has vowed to resolve issues with peaceful means. Hence, his Reverse Blade sword is his most appropriate weapon. It has a unique feature of the cutting edge found on the inwardly curving side. This is directly opposite design to the samurai swords, where the outward edge is rigidly polished to a fatal sharpness. The Reverse Blade sword cannot kill lethally to anyone got hit by it. The Reverse Blade sword is also consistent with his commitment: that he would never kill a single life heedlessly.

Final Thoughts

Going into the film I was expecting an ordinary and trashy Kenshin story being retold, suitable only for diehard fans of the series. But it turned out to be completely the opposite of what I’ve expected. It was a good movie in its own right. The fighting scenes were amazing. The SWORD FIGHT SCENES WERE A KICK ASS! Violence has and always will be one of the most exciting things to see on film FOR MOST. The movie is an absolute visual marvel, filled with considerable violence, an engaging plot, and imaginative fight sequences that make for an unforgettable experience. The film’s highest point is a 40-minute long battle between our champion Kenshin versus a great number of cruel soldiers. The directing was brilliant, the casting nearly perfect, and the story was told correctly according to my close friend who is a kenshin diehard fan. Well, I have to say Rurouni Kenshin may be the single best Japanese live-action adaptation I have ever seen.

If you have seen the movie, was it worth the watch? You decide…

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