Rurouni Kenshin (Between life & Death) Episodes 40-43

Starring:Mayo Suzukaze, Miki Fujitani, YÃ»ji Ueda, MÃ®na Tominaga, Mika Doi, Yoku Shioya, Kaori Yuasa, Noriko Namiki, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Yoshito Yasuhara, Tomo Sakurai, Akio Ã”tsuka, Yasuyoshi Hara, RyÃ»nosuke Ã”bayashi, Hiroshi Takahashi (II), Mitsuru Miyamoto, Masanori Ikeda, Taeko Kawada, Minoru Inaba, Norito Yashima
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Kaeko Sakamoto
Studio: Anime Works
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Kenshin's swordsmanship has always been the strongest, but he is not a true master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. As a young revolutionary, Kenshin abandoned his martial training prematurely, in order to become a killer and tread the dark path of the Battousai. Finally, Kenshin is determined to finish what he started, and is reunited with his former master, Seijuro Hiko.

Rurouni Kenshin Complete Collections
Average customer rating:
Rurouni Kenshin Complete Collections
Starring: Richard Cansino , Dorothy Elias-Fahn , Lex Lang , Wendee Lee , and Jane Alan
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000Q6XZ3W

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season One
Average customer rating:

My favorite anime!!!!!

Kenshin - No Kills Hitokiri!

Great show

KENSHIN ROCKS!!!

The most powerful anime I'll watch with family

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season One
Starring: Richard Cansino , Dorothy Elias-Fahn , Lex Lang , Wendee Lee , and Jane Alan
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Volume Three

Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)

Samurai X - OVA Collection

Samurai X - Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut)

ASIN: B000ASATEE
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Customer Reviews:

My favorite anime!!!!!.......2007-06-11

i saw this show about 5 years ago on tv, and until now i had forgotten almost everything about the series. I recently bought this dvd set a couple of weeks ago and im soo glad i did. This was my favorite anime back 5 years ago, and I would have to say it still is my favorite. Everything from the animations to the story is simply phenominal, and would I recommend this dvd set to any anime fan!!

Kenshin - No Kills Hitokiri!.......2007-01-06

Kenshin is among the best animes ever produced. The story is epic and it has plenty of side story humor. The characters for both the good guys and the badguys are not generic typical people. Most of them have a complete past and a story behind them that makes all of them unique.

I gave this Anime a rating of 5 stars for the following reasons:
1.)Completed story
2.)Character uniqueness
3.)Side story humor
4.)Believability (I admit the sword fighting can seem over the top but I am refering to the stories.)
5.)Knowledge (it may seem somewhat silly but this anime is packed with excellent qualities. plus the characters make mistakes and work to correct them, nobody is perfect and it points that in their constant vigilance in making up for what they have done wrong.)

I strongly recommend Season one and Season two of Rurouni Kenshin. Season 3 has the lowest rating becuase the storyline is somewhat generic and the characters are not particularly amazing. This is amazing work and I would advise adding it to any anime collection. Worth every penny.

Hails,

Great show.......2007-01-05

The uncut version of the show is much better than what was on tv. The fights made more since and the jokes are funnier. If you liked the tv show you will love this.

KENSHIN ROCKS!!!.......2006-11-30

I love Rurouni Kenshin! I remember watching it on Toonami when I was 6. I was to young to understand it, but now that I might buy it, I can tell I'm going to love it more! You should also check out the manga, I'm about half-way though the series (there's 28 books).

The most powerful anime I'll watch with family.......2006-10-30

This is another of the great classics of Anime. It combines several major elements (love, philosophy, and action) to form a story that is entertaining while still captivating and profound.

While there is some violence, this is a rare gem among anime in that there is nothing perverse or offensive thrown in to water it down. It sticks to its purpose and doesn't pander to baser interests.

The story spends the right amount of time developing its characters, keeping the cast relatively small so the series isn't devoted to constant introductions, but large enough for variety. It then leaves itself plenty of time to explore its characters and their past, and does a good job of moving between them.

Perhaps most interesting is the philosophy. Samurai are famous for being "poet warriors", possessing both a fighting spirit and a sense of deeper truths. This is expressed beautifully in Kenshin's persona and behavior, not merely in speech, but in his methods and actions.

This is one story that made me feel I had truely gained something of value by watching it.

Average customer rating:

DVD #6 does not play
disc 1 shadow of the wolf has no data on it
Travel, food, bad guys!
Season 2 Economy Box
Kenshin Review

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two
Starring: Richard Cansino , Dorothy Elias-Fahn , Lex Lang , Wendee Lee , and Jane Alan
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season One
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Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - OVA Collection

ASIN: B000BPL2IS
Release Date: 2006-01-17

Amazon.com

The 34 episodes in this eight-disc set make up the "Kyoto" arc of the popular martial arts adventure-comedy. The tone of the narrative has darkened since the introductory story (Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai). When the forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate were defeated by the Imperialists 10 years earlier, Kenshin Himura abandoned his identity as Battousai the Manslayer. Makoto Shishio succeeded him as the country's deadliest assassin. Government agents captured Shishio, and although he survived a botched execution, an attempt to incinerate his body left him hideously scarred. Shishio has assembled a private army to overthrow the Meiji government and make himself ruler of Japan. Can Kenshin keep his oath never to kill again, or must he once again become a murderer to prevent a civil war? Kenshin's internal struggle is complicated by Seiko, his arrogant former sensei; Aoshi, the ex-commander of the Oniwaban; and Saito, a police officer who may be a friend, rival, and/or enemy. The drama and violence are played against the broad comedy of the cast of friends Kenshin made in Tokyo in the previous continuity: Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Megumi. Yahiko tries to emulate Kenshin, clobbering an opponent as he shouts, "Hiten Mitsurugi style--or close to it, anyway!"

Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi stages the sword fights and martial arts duels with panache, using rapid cutting, split-screen, and reversed colors to heighten the excitement. But the filmmakers stress that the spiritual aspects of the samurai tradition of bushido outweigh mere physical skills. Kenshin's inner nobility triumphs over Shishio's commitment to a misguided social Darwinism. The emphasis on internal conflict demands nuanced performances from the vocal cast. As Kenshin, Richard Hayworth finds subtle transitions between the warm, slightly goofy Kenshin and the implacable warrior who once terrified Kyoto. This depth and complexity of characterization gives Rurouni Kenshin a resonance lacking in animation that pits blandly virtuous heroes against cackling villains. The Legend of Kyoto set makes it clear why Rurouni Kenshin remains one of the best-loved anime continuities of all time. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

DVD #6 does not play.......2007-06-27

My son was very excited to finally get his hands on this set, but when it arrived he was immediately let down. As soon as he opened the item he noticed the DVD case was broken. Not only was the case broken, but DVD #6, evidently an important part of this series, would not play. We returned it and requested a replacement which we recieved immediately. Unfortunately, once again, DVD #6 would not play. What a let down.

disc 1 shadow of the wolf has no data on it.......2007-01-16

I purchased the item listed below as a Christmas present so it was not opened until now. the disc 1 shadow of the wolf has no data on it.
ASIN: B000BPL2IS
Price Paid: $56.08
Condition: New

Travel, food, bad guys!.......2006-05-07

Travel and sight seeing! Lets all go with Kenshin as he faces Shishio, a man who wishes to replace the weak government with a stronger one. With him as the head, of course. With Lord Shishio's Juppongatana, ten of the most deadly warriors of Japan (one of them a transvestite), he plans to bring about another Revolution. One long story, unlike the Wandering Samurai, this season really allows us to get into the characters, learn new fighting styles and also really shows the improvement of the anime in art and plot.

Season 2 Economy Box.......2006-03-25

The Economy Box set of "Rurouni Kenshin" Season 2 is well worth the price. It is far cheaper than the $139.99 original box set of the Kyoto Arc.

There are 8 discs (which I found to be a surprise). The discs are the same as the ones you would get if you purchased the more expensive version (they are identical in all respects except for the "Rurouni Kenshin" logo on the disc itself which has been changed to fit the style of the graphic novels). The box is unlike the original set and there are no special sleeves to hold the discs. The box for the economy set is basically an oversized DVD box.

A minor flaw was the packaging of the discs. They overlapped in two parts of the box (which made them more susceptible to scratches) and some were difficult to remove and put back.

If you've seen the show and know the story, skip the following paragraphs.

The story follows Kenshin and his journey to stop the madman Shishio Makoto from gaining control of Japan. Main and secondary characters get larger roles and new ones are introduced.
The action scenes are well done. The best one, by far, is the fight between Kenshin and Saito Hajime (of the Shinsengumi) in the episodes after the beginning of the season.

The one thing that may bother new fans is the inconsistency of the animation. I have read that there were "guest artists" who lended their skills to a batch of episodes every now and then. The results are sometimes subtle, but in some they are very apparent and distracting. Because you get used to the initial style, the transition becomes rather annoying. Besides the art style changing, the quality of the animation also varies at specific times. The Kenshin-Saito fight and ensuing episode have an apparent animation differences from the other episodes: they're more detailed and flow beautifully. Though this is a good thing, the abrupt change to a slightly lower quality animation in the following episode is displeasing.

Overall, the economy box is worth purchase. It has a good price and the second season of "Rurouni Kenshin" is darker, more enjoyable, and one of the reasons this series is known as a classic.

Kenshin Review.......2006-02-20

First off I have to say that I'm a big Kenshin fan, best anime series in my opinion, with Inuyasha following close behind. This DVD set was awesome the menu's, extra's, and all the rest were all nicely done and I loved it. If you are a true Kenshin, Japan, or Samurai lover then this DVD set will be sure to fill you with hours of none stop action and thrills. This story line was in my opinion one of the best, the bad guy was one of Kenshin's hardest battles pushing him to the brink of death and back. In this story the relationship between Kenshin and Kaoru reaches its peak, with both of them realizing what they really mean to each other. So I give this DVD set 5 out of 5(lol, I would give it a 6 but it will not let me go that high)

Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)

Average customer rating:

A fitting continuation of the epic saga
Oh my
Samurai X The Motion Picture
Good, but not the quality I think it deserves
Amazing Movie But

Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
Director: Hatsuki Tsuji
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Samurai X - OVA Collection
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two
Samurai X - Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut)
Samurai X - Reflection - Director's Cut (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Volume Three

ASIN: B000056HOW
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Amazon.com

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:

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.

Samurai X The Motion Picture.......2006-08-07

I saw Samurai X on Cartoon Network. So I picked up a copy. The DVD come with front end trailers. Kenshin must take up his sword once again. To stop the fall up the Meiji Government. The uncut version of this movie is even better. There are many swords fights in this movie. If you love Rorouni Kenshin this is the Movie to get.

Good, but not the quality I think it deserves.......2006-03-20

Let's get this out in the open: I love Kenshin, I've read the whole manga, own the first 2 arcs of the anime, and both OVA's. This movie had high potential to be good, but poor subtitling and voice acting ruined it for me.

Plot was good, and the movie gave some good fan-service to avid watchers. It was very self contained, but you get to learn alot about Kenshin if you had never seen the series before. I love the intro scene, it's one of my favorites in all anime.

I have a big problem with the English VA cast and the script, because there are huge differences between the 2 English and Japanese scripts that do not need to be there. To top that off, many of the voices sound too dissimilar to their series counterparts. The subtitling were good, but they decided to translate the attack names to English, which was very different from every other Kenshin dvd I've seen. Not bad, but I found myself wondering which move the 'dragon hammer flash' was.

If you love Kenshin and must own this, buy it. However, for a quality product, I'd have to reccommend against it, hence the 2 stars. Go spend your money on the OVAs or manga instead.

Amazing Movie But .......2006-02-17

Samurai X the movie is an amazing film but the voice actors are terribly weak and any true fan of the series will realize this as soon as they start talking. They take so much away from the film, Kenshin sounds like a young and inexperienced child, Kaoru's always whining and I mean way more than she does on the series, Yahiko might as well have grown a few feet and a beard cause he sounds like a grown man, and Sanosuke's new voice isn't deep enough.

The Samurai X Movie is just another story of how Kenshins past catches up with him. Of course once again Kenshin is faced against a furious man obsessed with revenge and confused of how the deadly Battousai that once took someone from him could turn into Kenshin. I suggest watching Samurai X - The Motion Picture with the Japanese audio and English subtitles because it will hurt your ears to hear these amazing characters with these horrible voices.

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Volume Three

Average customer rating:

good series bad box
For younger people but still good.
Not my favorite
All Over the Place...........True Fans ONLY!!!!!!
wasn't what i expected

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Volume Three
Starring: Richard Cansino , Dorothy Elias-Fahn , Lex Lang , Wendee Lee , and Jane Alan
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season One
Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
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Samurai X - Complete

ASIN: B000C6NP8Q
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Description

After the epic of Kyoto, Kenshin and his group settle back into their usual cycle of adventures. Old friends like Yutaro and Misao make appearances, as do villians like Shogo Amakusa, a rogue warrior who fights with the same sword style as Kenshin.

Customer Reviews:

good series bad box.......2007-06-08

the series is good but the box is bad the first and last disks will be scratched severly so I suggest that you make a backup of these two disks immediatly after the purchase

For younger people but still good........2007-05-30

If you like it when people kick people's a**es without killing them this is for you. There is still killing but not done by Kenshin. Kids can watch this but adults will enjoy it too.

Not my favorite.......2007-01-09

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big Kenshin fan. I started reading the manga and was so hooked I had to start the anime. Fortunately, I had read before seeing the third season that Watsuki (the writer/artist for Rurouni Kenshin) was finishing the Kyoto plotline just barely ahead of the anime artists and that for the third season the anime would be different than the books otherwise I would've been highly disappointed by the anime. It was extremely obvious that the anime writers didn't have a good grip on Kenshin's character (as was obvious as well in some of the "filler" episodes in season 1), or they thought it was a great idea for a character, but wanted Kenshin to be their character instead of realizing that they were just borrowing Watsuki's character. Still, this season does have some interesting characters and episodes. If you're a fan who just wants more Kenshin and is willing to completely suspend your disbelief, then you'll enjoy it. If you only want Kenshin exactly as he is in the manga with no deviation at all in character, you're not going to enjoy this as much as you hope.

All Over the Place...........True Fans ONLY!!!!!!.......2006-08-05

This season of Rurouni Kenshin has got to be da weirdest ones. The season starts off like Season 1, mini events that happen in Tokyo n Kenshin as always saves the da, also some comedic episodes. but then It gets a lil interesting when a guy name Shougo Amakusa comes by and is said to be the son of god. What makes it also interesting is dat he has also inherited the style of Hiten Mitsurugi (Kenshins exact Same Style). From that point it gets too religious with Christianity, It then gets a lil annoying and u wander when its gonna end and move on with the series. basically the series is all over the place, so basically get this if u absolutly luv Kenshin and want to see more.......

wasn't what i expected.......2006-06-25

i think season 3 of rurouni kenshin was ok. but it wasn't what i expexted. kenshin's last enemy was supposed to be enishi yukishiro, not shogo amakusa. in the last episode of season 2, they showed totmoe's grave. what is also disappointing is that they didn't show saito. i hope there will be a season where kenshin will fight enishi and his csix commrades. see you later.

Samurai X - Reflection - Director's Cut (Rurouni Kenshin)

Average customer rating:

Uninspired and Flawed Storytelling Nigh Unwatchable
Pathetic!!!!!!!
To die for!
Great Movie
2.5; this is not what I fell in love with

Samurai X - Reflection - Director's Cut (Rurouni Kenshin)
Starring: Samurai X-Reflection
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Samurai X - Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut)
Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Trust (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Betrayal (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two

ASIN: B00065GWHE
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Amazon.com

As he did in Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut), director Kazuhiro Furuhashi has re-edited episodes of the Samurai X OVA into a seamless feature. Shinta, the child who grew up to become the assassin Battousai the Manslayer and the wanderer Kenshin Himura, returns to being just Shinta in the arms of his beloved second wife Kaoru. The story takes place 1893, long after Kenshin's bloody deeds during the civil wars that led to the Meiji Restoration--and the previous OVAs that culminated in the death of Kenshin's first wife, Tomoe. Despite his efforts at expiation, Kenshin's soul is burdened with many deaths and can find no peace in this world. Furuhashi has added new still images and repeated some shots to achieve a more deliberate narrative pace. Kenshin's tragedy concludes amid the falling cherry blossoms that symbolize the evanescent life of a samurai. Darker in tone than the popular Rurouni Kenshin broadcast series, Trust & Betrayal is a moving and skillfully told elegy. (Rated 17 and older: violence, alcohol use, mature themes) --Charles Solomon

Description

Rurouni Kenshin is a wanderer, a lost soul, cursed to seek atonement for his life in the bloody trade of the samurai, known throughout all Japan as the Hitokiri Battousai (sword-bearing master assassin). The peacetime after a long war to overthrow a corr

Customer Reviews:

Uninspired and Flawed Storytelling Nigh Unwatchable.......2007-06-03

As many have commented, this movie does not feel like Ruroni Kenshin. The tone is bleak and hopeless and lacks the magical elements of the series. When one watches a Star Wars episode, you know it's Star Wars. Here though except for the cross-marked scar and red hair, I would not have known it to be Ruroni Kenshin.

The basic plot is that Kenshin wanders across China helping the sick while Kaoru waits for his return. He is for the most part uninspiring and unlovable as he speaks in bland tones over and over about his guilt. This may have been acceptable at the very beginning of the series but here at the end, it completely disregards his development and all the humanity (his humanity) for which he fought. Please note as well that we're never shown any of the work that Kenshin does or the aid he offers to people; all we're shown is him feeling guilty or looking over the sea.

Kaoru's plight is even more pathetic; basically she spends every day going to the harbour and then going back home and everyone asks her "Kenshin didn't come back?" She then spends a fair amount of time being sick and receiving care from everyone else. How is this supposed to be heroic?

The story is also told through flashbacks featuring some fo the best animation sequences I've seen, but again these snips are poorly sewn together. In none of these sequences do I see anything to explain Kaoru's dedication or love; nor do I see Kenshin's peace or happiness at home. The flashbacks are by the way the only part of the movie that contains fighting/action scenes.

***************** SPOILER ALERT *************************

The ending is not necessarily a bad one if it had been built up correctly. Basically Kenshin walks back home; falls into Kaoru's arms and dies in peace. However, having been bored and alienated by self-pity drivel in the first 98% of the movie, this wasn't as strong or potent. I felt sad because this was the "end" of the character of Kenshin who I have watched and read; and thought he deserved a better send-off.
A better example of a noble ending is in the Lone Wolf & Cub Manga.

I suppose I should be added to the list of people who want to pretend this never happened. I think it may have been Shinta (Kenshin's birth name) who died but not the legend Kenshin. I hope they do release another Kenshi movie and say this was just a bad dream, the kind you have after drinking sour milk.

Pathetic!!!!!!!.......2007-05-13

I've seen Samurai X-Reflection on the net and i gotta say, it is pathetic as the title says. Imma big Ruruoni kenshin fan and i can't believe the OVA strayed away from the Anime.. Wut happened to Kenshin?? all of a sudden he looks weak and lacking of confidence.. he's not the same Kenshin Himura i used to know..i prefer the original anime designs from the series, i liked it better...i hated the ending, kenshin dying..no way.. i was pissseddd off cuz of dat...the ending in the anime series was 100x better than this...i encourage everyone who hasn't seen it to forget about it and not to recognize it as part fo the Kenshin saga...i officially denounce it and will pretend dat it was never made...

To die for!.......2007-05-13

I can watch this movie over and over again and no matter what I still cry.
The sense and the strory behind it is one of the deepest heartbreaking stories ever.
There are a lot of things to explain, but even if you don't know the whole story, is worth it.
If you are interested you should start with the first 3 OVAs, the series, the movie and to close this magnificent OVA.
2 Thumbs up!

Great Movie.......2007-05-12

Thisis a must have for Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin) fans. This is part 2 to Samurai X Trust and Betreyal. Amazing Movie!

2.5; this is not what I fell in love with.......2007-01-23

When I first seriously started getting into anime and not those starter shows people suggest like Evangelion or Dragon Ball Z, I started to get into more obscure ones or just popular ones among anime fans and not the general public. Look at how Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon or Airbender are known even to people who don't even bother with anime. One of the initial series was Rurouni Kenshin except I probably watched the amazing Truth/Betrayal OVA's first (which I absolutely reccommend). Reflection, on the other hand, just seems so wrong on so many counts that it's hard to figure out if it was just simply bad ideas or just a genuine lack of care.

Essentially, this is the story of Kenshin's later life, burdened by the amount of people he's killed but also the lives that had to live on without their loved ones/friends. Showing re-animated clips of stuff we've already seen in a kind of flashback fashion, we see Kenshin unable to deal with his life, even though he has Kaoru. But Kenshin's fighting isn't over as Enishi, the kid seen in the Trust/Betrayal OVA's is older and he wants revenge.

The main problem with this is that it just doesn't feel like a Kenshin story. In Psychology class, we were told a story of a guy with a brain defect that made him unable to recognize his own mother and father, believing them to be imposters. Essentially, I wouldn't go as far with Reflection but not only the spirit is lost, character designs are a bit different but the whole thing just feels off, especially since characters don't act like their series counterparts. This would all be fine if the story was at least decently told. Nope, it mixes so much scenes from the series that it's hard to tell if you're watching a flashback from the series, something they made up or something new. In fact, there were times where I would've been lost had it not been for certain story elements.

Is the story about Enishi's revenge or Kenshin's later life? In a way, it's basically him unable to deal with things right in front of him. Even when he says he's happy with Kaoru and their new son, Kenji, he just buggers off and disappears. What happened to fun loving "oro?" speaking Kenshin? Not to mention there's Enishi. He was a whiny brat when we first saw him and even though he talks more intelligently he's still a brat. You felt like you wanted to slap him and say smarten up. Trust/Betrayal was nicely animated with lots of memorable images (Tomoe hugging Kenshin from behind is my all-time favorite) but while the character designs are immensely off but backgrounds are pretty well done, especially cherry blossom trees and Kenshin's fight with Enishi is great too.

Should you bother with this? Don't know. My dad was a big movie collector and he once remarked that even though a certain actor's movie sucked, he had to have it to complete his "whoever" collection. Same thing here. You might hate it, might love it but whether you want to have it for your collection is entirely up to you.

Average customer rating:

Part 1 of probably the best anime film ever
Samurai X! The Precuel the Rurouni KenshinThis DVD was awesome! I've never seen anything like it!
The Best anime movie.
a action-packed dang movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!( By: Joey)
He probably was a samurai...

Samurai X - Trust (Rurouni Kenshin)
Starring: Mayo Suzukaze , Miki Fujitani , Yûji Ueda , Mîna Tominaga , and Mika Doi
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi , and Kaeko Sakamoto
Manufacturer: Adv Films
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Samurai X - Betrayal (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Reflection - Director's Cut (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two
Rurouni Kenshin - Legendary Swordsman, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00004YKPY
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Amazon.com

The four-episode Samurai X original animation video captures the mixture of swordplay and poetry that makes Japanese warrior culture so intriguing to viewers on both sides of the Pacific. The OAV series serves as a prequel to both Samurai X: The Movie and the more lighthearted TV series. The action unfolds in 1864, when a few clans began the revolt that would overthrow the military dictatorship of the Tokugawa Shogunate and return power to the Emperor in the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Shinta, a lonely orphan, is transformed by master swordsman Hiko into Kenshin Himura, an assassin in the service of Katsuga, one of the revolutionary leaders. Kenshin kills whomever Katsuga orders with consummate skill and unshatterable calm. He believes he is using his sword to bring about a better world, even as the intrigues and counter-intrigues escalate. But he becomes aware of unspoken doubts when he meets Tomoe, a mysterious girl whose beauty, like the iris, is seen to best advantage in cloudy weather. Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi choreographs the sword fights with a grace that infuses even scenes of extreme violence with an elegant sensuality: in one striking image, he focuses on the rain washing a spatter of blood from Tomoe's cheek. The dialogue in the English translation often sounds stilted, but the words are usually superfluous. Furuhashi's ability to present a story visually has made Samurai X a popular anime property in America and Japan. Unrated; suitable for ages 18 and up for explicit violence. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

Part 1 of probably the best anime film ever.......2006-08-04

It always surprises me the stigma that anime has. Despite the fact there's fairly innocent anime shows like Love Hina or Fruits Basket, people focus on the ultra-violent ones like Akira or Evangelion. Don't get me wrong, the Samurai X OVA's are indeed bloody as well but there's also a poetic atmosphere running through the entire thing that rivals even the best Hollywood productions. Even though the separated OVA's kind of ruin the flow, it's still a memorable look at a man forever scarred.

Shinta was with a group of slave traders who were then killed by bandits. A man saves Shinta and takes him on as a swordsman apprentice. Renamed Kenshin Himura, he becomes the legendary Hitokiri Battousai(although he's never named that here), an assassin wanting to take down an oppressive government. He ends up meeting a woman named Tomoe who is slowly starting to calm him down and give him some humanity. But there's something in her past that connects her with Kenshin which is tearing her up.

Keep in mind this is a really violent film, even more so than you normally see from Kenshin. While nothing really gets cut off(at times), there's a lot of huge sword slashes and blood flows a lot. But it's not done in a kind of exploitative blood for blood's sake like other anime so it's better handled considering how violent it is.

The animation is quite fluid and really expressive which helps the film considerably, allowing a more poetic imagery to come across. The one thing that you'll notice but won't really pay that much attention to is the character designs. Kenshin, while still retaining his red hair and clothes, looks remarkably different in design to the show.

Now the question of whether or not to watch is obvious: a resounding yes. Whether you choose to watch it after finishing the Kyoto Arc of Rurouni Kenshin(do NOT watch the 3rd season) is entirely up to you.

Samurai X! The Precuel the Rurouni KenshinThis DVD was awesome! I've never seen anything like it! .......2006-03-05

This DVD was awesome! I've never seen anything like it! It may be a bit bloody but who cares about that! this is definately a must buy!

The Best anime movie........2005-07-29

If you've read the Rurouni Kenshin manga or watched the Rurouni Kenshin series you'll love this movie. I think you would love this movie even if you didn't know anything about Rurouni Kenshin. It is rated for people 17 and up mainly for violence, but there is also alcohol, and some jokes. And one small sugjestive cene, but it is nothing compared to many PG13 anime shows. It's mainly violent. The art is wonderful, truly captivating. And the story is engaging, and the characters are complex. The story is about Himura Kenshin and how he becomes a hitokiri(assassin)for the Ishin Shishi. The story is placed in the chaotic times of the Bakumatsu. It's a wonderful story of love and hate, trust and betrayal, your justice and the justice of the enemy. You can watch it over and over again, and get something out of it each time. I sugjest that you buy Samurai X Trust and Betrayal in Director's Cut instead of buying them separate, it's better that way and you save some money. You really should buy this movie. Thank you.

a action-packed dang movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!( By: Joey).......2005-01-30

the legacy of Bai'tosai!!!!!!!! sweet kenshin with tons of violence!! it is what I think is 17+ for EXTRA VIOLENCE,ect.
ect.:

1)violence
2)more violence
3)alchol re. ( For instance Margerita, Beer, Wine, ect.)
4)tobacco re. (For instance cigar, cigarettte, pipe,ect.)
5)whaddda ya' know even more VIOLENCE!

(i messed up on my first review on yuyu movie.)

He probably was a samurai..........2004-06-06

If he wasnt a samurai, like one of the previous earlier posts suggests, why was he permitted to adorn the two swords? this is not allowed in society if he was not a retainer.

Average customer rating:

Part 2 of one of the best anime films ever
Revealed at last: how Kenshin earned his cross-shaped wound
Better or Worse?
Only for the Kenshin fan
EXCELLENT!!!

Samurai X - Betrayal (Rurouni Kenshin)
Starring: Mayo Suzukaze , Miki Fujitani , Yûji Ueda , Mîna Tominaga , and Mika Doi
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi , and Kaeko Sakamoto
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
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Samurai X - Trust (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Reflection - Director's Cut (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut)
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two

ASIN: B000050GC8
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Amazon.com

The peace that reigns over the remote mountain village of Otsu contrasts sharply with the rapid-fire violence of the previous episodes (Samurai X: Trust) set in Kyoto. Working as a farmer, growing crops and savoring the passage of the seasons, Kenshin comes to terms with the discontent festering in his soul. He regrets the death and suffering he has caused, and hopes to find a better life--with the mysterious Tomoe. A conventional story would end on this note of self-discovery and moral growth. But Samurai Xunfolds like a Kabuki tragedy: the desire for revenge remains strong, especially among the agents of the last Tokugawa Shogun, who are anxious to crush the nascent rebellion led by the Choshu clan. Kenshin was an important agent for the Choshu; Tomoe is just a pawn, but the outcome of a game may hinge on a strategically positioned pawn. Kenshin finally grasps the lessons his master, Hiko, attempted to teach him: the need for inner peace and the possibility of defending the weak without resorting to violence. The exquisitely detailed artwork evokes 19th century Japan, and director Kazuhiro Furuhashi depicts these understated inner conflicts as skillfully as the epic sword fights in the first episodes. Samurai X demonstrates the power of animation to present stories of great emotional depth, earning it a rightful place among the top anime series. Unrated; suitable for ages 18 and up for explicit violence. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

Part 2 of one of the best anime films ever.......2006-08-04

Prequels for the most part are tricky: they tend to not include fan favorites from the show/movie/book while setting up the backstory of some of the main characters. While the story does include Kenshin(and even Saitoh makes an appearance), the film is missing characters like Kaoru, Sanosuke and Aoshi and our favorite "oro" speaking Kenshin is gone. In the show, Kenshin is atoneing for his life as an assassin, so what made him change? This second part answers it, revealing probably one of the most fleshed out and haunted characters in anime.

At the end of the first half, Kenshin and Tomoe had to escape the city when soldiers try to track down everyone in Kenshin's group. Now posing as husband and wife in the countryside, Kenshin starts to become more human and experience a sense of peace he never had. However it's shattered when a truth comes out which will make him lead the life we see in the show.

One thing that many will notice is the explanation of Kenshin's star-shaped scar on his cheek. Most stories just explain it with a simple "that battle 5 years ago..." but it usually doesn't amount to nothing but a simple minor annoyance, a wrong place-wrong time kind of thing. How Kenshin got his is a great image and a daily reminder of the catalyst that changed his life.

The film ultimately works because of its imagery. When Kenshin starts imagining crossing a field of bodies, or, in my opinion, one of the most touching images involving Kenshin and Tomoe right at the end, you know this isn't just your run-of-the-mill anime that's either way too fun/violent or just way too confusing and abstract. You notice just how well-done the visuals are and how better they are compared to traditional cinema.

If you're into anime at all, honestly, you have to watch this. Watching this after the show gives a better explanation for how Kenshin is, not to mention it's a great movie.

Revealed at last: how Kenshin earned his cross-shaped wound.......2004-06-02

Telling fans of the "Rurouni Kenshin" series that "Samurai X: Betrayal," the second half of a four-episode anime mini-series is where we find out why Kenshin has that "X" shaped scar on his face should be enough to get them to check out this prequel. The story is set in 19th-century Japan and in the first half, "Samurai X: Trust," Shinta, a young man sold into slavery after his parents died, is trained by the mystic swordsman in Japan to be the most feared assassin in Japan and given the name Kenshin. When he grows up our young hero meets Tomoe Yukishiro, a mysterious young woman whose fiancé had been murdered by Kenshin.

This DVD of "Romantic Tales from the Meiji Era" includes "Act 3: The Previous Night at the Mountain Home" and "Act 4: The Cross-Shaped Wound." In Act 3 Kenshin tries to live a life of peace that is at odds with his brutal life as he and Tomoe hide out in Otsu, posing as a simple farmer and his wife. Kenshin even thinks of making the fantasy real, although there does not seem to be any reason for him to fall in love with the mysterious Tomoe, but then the "traitor" is revealed to Kenshin, setting up the tragic end game in Act 4. As the title indicates, this is where we learn how Kenshin received his distinctive wound and the most impressive part of the tale is that writer Nobuhiro Watsuki and director Kazuhiro Furuhashi come up with something that is both surprising and lyrical. You might have trouble reconciling the contemplative Keshin we see at the end of "Samurai X" with the more childlike one of "Rurouni Kenshin," but it is hard to deny the power of this story.

I think watching "Samurai X" after enjoying "Rurouni Kenshin" is the correct order for viewing, even though it is the prequel to the series. There are profound differences between the two, with "Samurai X" being more sophisticated that the series, with the violence heightened and the comic elements stripped away. The prequel is not intended for young viewers, even if they are fans of the series, because even though we all know that Kenshin becomes the "Hitokiri Battousai" (i.e., "the man who slashes even as he draws his sword"), his being an assassin constitutes an even darker chapter in his early life.

Better or Worse?.......2004-03-20

Some people say it's much better than the TV series,or it's not that much more violent,there wrong.Samurai X is a whole lot gory than the TV series because in this they show swords going through people's heads,etc.In the TV they don't,so that ends there.Anyone who says this is ok for kids has problems.THIS IS NOT FOR KIDS,that's why it says 17+.
Personally I like the TV series better,because it's got a better story,and in the TV series it's got better fighting.Let me tell you why,anyone can kill someone with a sword,but it's much different with a reverse-blade sword,with a reverse-blade sword you have to have skill therefore making Kenshin to use better techniques of the Hiten-Mitsurugi style.In samurai X he doesn't do any cool moves,just cut slice,off goes your head.
If you like gore and not that good and an ok story this is for you.If you like alot of action,awesome moves that you've never seen or thought you'd ever see,no gore(not a whole lot of blood),and an awesome story the Rurouni Kenshin TV series is for you.
2 stars for the story & art,that's all.

Only for the Kenshin fan.......2004-01-08

If you like Kenshin, you will like this DVD. It is, however, quite different than the t.v. series. First, the animation is quite a bit better. Second, there is none of the silliness of the series. This is 100 percent serious, which may be good or bad, depending upon if you like some of the foolishness of the series. I felt like Kenshin loses some of his appeal in this by being too serious, although the series could perhaps tone down SOME of the silliness. Third, the characters are never quite developed in this movie (although they are more Asian-looking. I never understand why Japanese anime heroes always look more American than me, but the villains always seem to still look Japanese. Is this a Japanese ideal?) In the series, we see Kenshin's struggle and turmoil, but in the movie he is basically portayed rather one dimensional and flat until the sees the errors of his ways. Finally, while everyone else seems to think it was violent, I don't find it that much more violent than the t.v. series. I personally don't have a problem with my children watching it, because it's animation and loses the edge that reality violence has.

The main problem I see with this movie, and not to give anything away, is that I had trouble figuring out why Kenshin and Tomoe fell in love to begin with, because there was nothing overly interesting or particularly redeeming in their personalities to spark a romance. While the Kenshin in the t.v. series is quite lovable and adorable, the movie version of Kenshin is a little bland and not as personable or caring. The relationship does explain, however, why he might be a little shell shocked about falling in love again, and why he is so hesitant to fall in love with Kaoru in the series. If you like Kenshin, you will want to have these blanks filled in, as the first two movies fill the gaps of what happened to Kenshin to make him what he is in the series.

The reason I give this only four of five stars is because if you are not a Kenshin fan, you will not appreciate the movie. It is SLOOOOOW moving for the most part, almost painfully so in some parts, (in fact I thought my DVD player had stopped during one scene), and if you are not familiar with Kenshin the man from the series, it is doubtful you will appreciate or understand his character. People I watched the movie with who had not seen the series did not think the movie was very good, and could not figure out why I like Kenshin so much to begin with.

I would recommend this if you are a Kenshin fan, and you have any desire to find out about his first love, how he got the famous X-shaped scar, what made him decide to become the manslayer, what made him decide he needed redemption, and how he almost found it prior to his meeting Kaoru. If you are not a Kenshin fan, I wouldn't buy the movie, but maybe start with the series. Buy one DVD with three episodes and I can almost guarantee you will be HOOKED.

EXCELLENT!!!.......2003-09-21

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. The english version isn't dat good while the Japanese/subtitles can't get any better! This is the last 2 epidsodes of the Samurai X: Trust and Betrayel movie. Overall, this movie is very serious, bloody and just one of the best out there, not only in anime!

Samurai X - Reflection (Rurouni Kenshin)

Average customer rating:

Uninspired and Flawed Storytelling Nigh Unwatchable
Pathetic!!!!!!!
To die for!
Great Movie
2.5; this is not what I fell in love with

Samurai X - Reflection (Rurouni Kenshin)
Starring: Mayo Suzukaze , Miki Fujitani , Yûji Ueda , Mîna Tominaga , and Mika Doi
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi , and Kaeko Sakamoto
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Samurai X - Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut)
Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Trust (Rurouni Kenshin)
Samurai X - Betrayal (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two

ASIN: B0000844K0
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Amazon.com

The final OAV in the Samurai X/Rurouni Kenshin continuity brings the long-running saga of master swordsman and assassin Kenshin Himura to its conclusion. The story is set in 1893, long after the bloody conflicts of the Meiji Restoration--and the events in the previous OAVs that culminated in the death of Kenshin's wife, Tomoe. With his devoted second wife, Kaoru, Kenshin seeks peace in trying to aid the helpless. But he cannot escape the karmic burden of the many deaths he caused: there is no peace for Kenshin in this world. The Japanese concept of the transitory nature of beauty permeates the two-part adventure. Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi ushers the narrative along at a deliberate pace, deftly inserting the many flashback sequences. The result is a properly elegiac farewell to one of most popular anime characters on both sides of the Pacific. (Rated 17 and older: violence, alcohol use, mature themes) --Charles Solomon

Description

Rurouni Kenshin is a wanderer, a lost soul, cursed to seek atonement for his life in the bloody trade of the samurai. During the long war to overthrow the corrupt government, he was known throughout all Japan as the Hitokiri Battousai ("sword-bearing master assassin"). But the end of the war has brought no peace to Kenshin, despite a vow to draw his sword only for the protection of those in need. Now his wife Kaoru steadfastly awaits his return, mourning his absence as well as that of their son, Kenji. Will Kenshin return before she dies of grief? The past meets the present fifteen years after Kenshin first left.

Customer Reviews:

Uninspired and Flawed Storytelling Nigh Unwatchable.......2007-06-03

Pathetic!!!!!!!.......2007-05-13

To die for!.......2007-05-13

Great Movie.......2007-05-12

Thisis a must have for Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin) fans. This is part 2 to Samurai X Trust and Betreyal. Amazing Movie!

2.5; this is not what I fell in love with.......2007-01-23

Rurouni Kenshin - Legendary Swordsman, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

A Good Start to the Series
A Miracle Begins (by Joey L. Abdullah)
very good
Something for Everyone
The first, but not certainly not the best...

Rurouni Kenshin - Legendary Swordsman, Vol. 1
Starring: Mayo Suzukaze , Miki Fujitani , Yûji Ueda , Mîna Tominaga , and Mika Doi
Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi , and Kaeko Sakamoto
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Rurouni Kenshin - Battle in the Moonlight, Vol. 2
Rurouni Kenshin - Shadow Elite, Vol. 3
Rurouni Kenshin - False Prophet, Vol. 4
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 5 - Renegade Samurai
Rurouni Kenshin - The Flames Of The Revolution DVD (Vol. 6)

ASIN: 1586551027
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Amazon.com

Set during the second half of the 19th century--a time of enormous change in Japanese society--Rurouni Kenshin begins when a wandering swordsman saves the life of a young woman on the streets of Tokyo. The wanderer's name is Kenshin and his blade is sharpened only on the back edge, meaning that he can use it to disable, but not kill, his enemies. The woman, Kaoru, invites Kenshin to stay at her father's kendo dojo, and he comes to her aid when she is attacked by a disgraced student. During the battle it emerges that Kenshin is Battousai the Manslayer, a vicious assassin who terrorized Japan in the turbulent years before the beginning of the Meiji Era. Now he is looking for redemption, but the forces arrayed against him will make it very difficult for him to escape his past. This first installment contains the first four episodes of a long and complex series, and the plot doesn't really begin to gather steam until episode 4. There's plenty of entertaining scene-setting in the other episodes, which introduce the main characters and give a glimpse of Kenshin's troubled past. The series strikes a nice balance between adventure and cute comedy, but its real strength is its convincing evocation of a fascinating historical period. A refreshing change from the more common science fiction and fantasy titles, Rurouni Kenshin is a thrilling adventure that only gets better as the plot develops. Suitable for ages 12 and up. --Simon Leake

Description

The Meiji Era was one of great renewal for Japan, where swords and killing were outlawed. How-ever, many survivors from the time of Revolu-tion still lived, lurking in the shadows and waiting for a chance to use their killing blades again. Only Kenshin Himura, formerly one of the most brutal of killers, hopes to keep his swordsman's honor and still live in the new era.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Start to the Series.......2006-01-03

I own the PRemium Box Set 1 and this is the first disc in that set.

The episodes on this are good, I really enjoyed the first 1, the other 3 help bring the plot forward and add the other characters, but they are not as exciting.

However his is still a great disc.

The features are cool, but I love the outtakes which are not on this disc.

All in all, this disc is still a must have.

A Miracle Begins (by Joey L. Abdullah).......2005-02-02

O.K., Hikorti Bai'tosai has sworn to no longer kill, but help the defenceless. Know, as Himura Kenshin & his gang fight as team.(Sano,Yahiko, & Karou.) let me tell you characters.

Himaru Kenshin: The "Bai' tosai" is Kenshin. He is a skillful swordsman who acts like he never killed & always says "Oro".
He uses a sako-bato ( a reverese blade sword )otherwise called a " Rurouni".

Kamiya Karou: a very main character. she is the teacher of the Kamiya arts. She also trains young Yahiko. She also has a crush on Kenshin.

Myojin Yahiko: a young samurai,whom has a smart mouth,too.He is being picked on by a gang of thugs. Kenshin comes & saves him. Know he trains with Karou,but calls her "ugly".

Sagara Sanosuke: Sano is my 2nd favorite character.(No one beats Saito)Sanosuke is a karate-master,but for emergency he uses his zanza.

very good.......2005-01-18

I first watched rurouni kenshin on cartoon network,I liked it,than I watched it on VHS...I loved it,BUT anyone who wants to watch this should first watch'Samurai X',which tells the story of kenshin when he was evil.I liked this story so I think anyone who likes samurai storys will like this too.

Something for Everyone.......2005-01-12

Ruroni Kenshin looks like a girl. With Elizabeth Taylor's violet eyes and a matching kimono, he is prettier than his love interest, Kaoru Kamiya. That aside, Ruroni Kenshin is an energetic, easy-to-watch series. The colors in this series are beautiful and vivid, maybe a little too vivid.

This first volume contains the first four episodes of the anime series. I appreciated that they wasted no time in introducing us to the four main characters. Viewers meet them all in this volume. Two hunks, a little boy, and a girl.

In general, this is a series that combines elements of bishounen and bishoujo anime. There are great action and fighting scenes for the boys, and cutesy and romantic things for the girls. For example, in the first episode, Kenshin creates rice balls with berries and vegetables added so they look like bunny rabbits. Then he defeats a murderer by paralyzing the murderer's remaining good thumb. The opening song, "Freckles," is all J-Pop sweetness and light. The closing song is a metal riff-laden, throaty, sexy song with suggestive lyrics and great graphics. Kenshin looks like more of a man in the pics shown during the closing song than the episodes in this volume. I personally prefer the closing song.

There is also something for History buffs. This series is set just after the Meiji Revolution, when Japan is going through a period of transition. The influence of Europe and America is finally being explored after years of Japan being isolated from the West. Samurai have been defeated, and no one except certain police officers are allowed to carry swords. Kenshin gets away with carrying his sword, because it is a "reverse-blade," and therefore can kill no one. Or so it seems.

I will watch more of the series, but Kenshin's incongrous changing between a home economics teacher to "Battousai the Manslayer" is a little much.

The first, but not certainly not the best..........2005-01-10

The first installment of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series acts mainly as an introduction to what is a long series of episodes, 95 in all.

If you have seen the anime on television or know the basics of the characters and their personalities, this isn't for you--you'll want to purchase installments of the second season beginning with volume 7, Shadow of the Wolf, which is when the main plot finally begins to build and action scenes are no longer motionless flashes of light.

However if you are new to the series, I recommend purchasing this volume. It certainly serves its purpose and the purpose of the entire first season, introducing the basics of the characters to those unfamiliar with Rurouni Kenshin. If you buy this and end up feeling disappointed, be aware that it is not the most accurate representation of the content of the anime as a whole.

DVD:

DVD

Rainbow - 30th Anniversary Special Edition

DVD: Make Way for the Ping Pong Club

Cop And A Half