Rating: 
Summary: The beginning of a masterpiece
Review: Though the Kenshin series is certainly lighthearted compared to the four OVAs (Trust, Betrayal, Samurai X the Movie, Reflection)... its appeal is not lessened.The dynamics of Kenshin's personality, the almost goofy romantic that is trying to save lives with his sword, is out to atone for his murderous past and making great friends along the way. True, the same heroic elements are in any many other series. But Rurouni Kenshin, in a trait it shares with the OVA's, gives the viewer the sense that this peace will be fleeting as Kenshin's past catches up with him during the fledgling years of the Meiji government. Whether you are looking for a classic save-the-day hero or a fantastic story of turning over a new leaf after such a violent past, Kenshin has something for many viewers. Terrorism, light romance, trust, friendship, betrayals, and great sword fights make this series one of the greatest of all time.
Rating:
Summary: Heart of the sword
Review: Rurouni Keshin is one of the best kenshin's there are. It is exciting and you wish you dident have to ever stop waching it!
Rating:
Summary: I'm a huge fan of this entire series OVA's included
Review: Before I start rambling on about my favorite anime series here, I would like to say here that buying the entire series when it comes out on DVD is the only thing that makes sense but if you are going to start anywhere and see if you are willing to shell out that cash, you ought to start at the begining. Kenshin - Samurai X and Rurouni Kenshin - is probably my favorite anime series thus far. I absolutely love this series and while the Trust and Betrayal OVA's chronologically are the beginning of the series, in terms of the story line of the series I would recommend watching the OVA's after around the sixty-second episode of the series, that being after the Kyoto Arc. The most logical place to start watching this is this particular DVD is what i'm trying to say at any rate... This series is an interesting mix of history and fiction. Perhaps the reason I love this series so much is because the characters are based on real people. Some examples of this are Saito Hajime and Seta Soujiro. While some people may look at this and see DBZ with swords I personally see this series as much, MUCH more. Yes action is a large part of this series however there are many underlying themes within the series. One of the main themes that I certainly identified with as I believe most people will, is the idea of changing one's outlook on life. I find the characters to be fairly well developed and I find they all provide necessary roles to the series. A good blend of comedy and gravity is represented by the "cast" of Kenshin. I know Kenshin is not for everyone but I highly recommend you give the series a shot. While the series is fairly action filled there are some spots that move more slowly. The dialogues the characters engage in are relavent and therefore do not take away from the series in my opinion. I believe the series (as in not the OVA's) is suitable for children for the most part but in my opinion this isn't the sort of thing to buy for children. The OVA's are more dark than the series and more violent I would not think them suitable for young children. That's it, hope you buy it and enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: No other anime comes close
Review: It's funny that no one can say bad things about rurouni kenshin. I've talked face to face with teenagers from Louisiana to Hawaii. Everybody that has seen the show has fallen for it. Rurouni Kenshin(wandering swordsman) is the best anime series out there. From the first episode your already hooked. The series appeals to a broad audience. Kids to adults will enjoy the series. Rurouni Kenshin will not disapoint you. If the DVD is too expensive, then buy the VHS for five bucks! No worries, no pressure.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-See for Kenshin beginners!
Review: This DVD (or VHS, I have the DVD) is a must-see for all Kenshin fans just starting out. These four episodes introduce some of the main characters seen throughout the Rurouni Kenshin series. This is a great start to an even greater anime, the best anime I've ever seen. Each one has its own climax, so none of these episodes is boring. It begins telling about the revolution in the middle of the 18th century in Japan, where the Tokugawa shogunate is overthrown, and a famous assassin, known as Battousai the Manslayer, slew many men on the road to victory. But for reasons so far unknown, he disappeared at the end of the revolution, taking an oath to protect the innocent, and never to kill again, and how he became a wanderer. The perfect intro to this series, and I'd highly recommend it to beginners to Rurouni Kenshin. Recommended for ages 13+.
Mild swearing and mild violence
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent anime- my favorite!
Review: I'm not planning to delve into the story behind the anime, there are other reviews for that. I am only here to recommend this DVD to you, and I do. Ignore what people say about the dubbed episodes being inferior to the subtitled ones, they're just nitpicking. If you can get past the mistranslation and the occasional bizarre line, you'll find a very intruiging and engaging story about morality and a man's quest to redeem himself.
I wholeheartedly endorse this anime and recommend picking up the DVDs or at least taping the episodes, who currently air on Cartoon Network...
Rating:
Summary: From Such Beginnings
Review: Rurouni Kenshin has been one of Japanese anime's longest running and successful series in its genre of historical adventure and romance. Set in the early Meijin Restoration (late 19th Century), it is the story of a famous swordsman and assassin who finally grew tired of the violence of his memories and determined never to kill with his sword again. While still travelling as a wandering samurai, Kenshin wears a sword with a reversed blade - useless for killing, but more than adequate for protecting himself and others. In Tokyo he meets Kaoru Kamiya, a beautiful sword instructor who is struggling to keep her fathers sword school alive. Kenshin moves in and promptly makes himself welcome with Kaoru and her family - willing to cook, clean, and entertain the neighboring children rather than rest on his samurai laurels. In short order he finds Yahiko Myojin, son of a samurai family who now must make a living picking pockets on the streets. The final central character to appear is Sanosuke Sagara, who wields a great sword and initially intends to kill Kenshin. These first episodes plays the theme of Kenshin's warm affection for his fellows against the graceful yet horrific violence that the swordsman can unleash at a moments notice. For Kenshin's past is not as easy to escape as he would wish. His sense of duty and karma make impossible for him to ignore those in need. He is a Japanese knight errant, for whom peace is always just around the next corner. Coming to this series after seeing both the film and the OVA series, I was struck by the lighter note used in the TV series. The characters kid and make fun of each other, they indulge in slapstick, and the artists switch between elegant artwork and classic super-deformed comic style. The OVA, which provide both the prequel and conclusion to the Kenshin story are elegant and tragic, and extremely slow paced. While this works extremely well, it would be impossible to maintain in a series with Rurouni Kenshin's longevity. These episodes present a different, but entirely enjoyable emotional palette.
Rating:
Summary: Himura Kehsin meets Karou Kamiya and their journey begins
Review: Immensely popular in Japan, "Ruroui Kenshin" is an anime series about the intrepid journeys of a masterless roving samurai named Himura Kehsin, an idealist whose sword is only sharpened on the backside so that it cannot kill anyone. Volume 1 contains the first four episodes in which the wandering Kenshin meets Karou Kamiya, the idealistic, passionate and fiery Assistant Master of the Kamiya School. She is looking for the man who is tarnishing the name of the fencing school founded by her father, while he appears to be something of a simpleton whose chief asset seems to be that he cooks better than she does. Of course, this is because the legendary swordsman is playing some of the bumbling simpleton, in the great tradition of the Scarlet Pimpernel, Zorro, and other similarly heroic figures. In these first four episodes, set during the Meiji Restoration, we essentially have an introduction to the main characters that become the core group of the series. Episode 1 "The Handsome Swordsman of Legend" brings the title character and Karou together and establishes that her school no longer has any students because a former student has been violating its tenets and using his skills to kill. At the end of the episode Himura Kehsin agrees to stay for a while and help rebuild the school. Episode 2 "Kid Samurai" introduces Yahiko Myolin, an orphaned pickpocket from a samurai family, who is rescued by our leading characters from the gang to which he belongs and who then becomes the first new student in the school. Episode 3 "Swordsman of Sorrow" provides more details on the backstory of our wandering samurai hero, while Episode 4 "Bad!" introduces Sanosuke Sagara, who has the biggest sword in Japan and whose deep hatred for Imperialists makes him challenge Kenshin Himura to a duel. "Ruroui Kenshin" is very much an intermediate anime, which helps younger viewers make the transition from the "Pokemon" type shows to the more adult samurai anime. They are still a lot of the "cute" elements associated with the former, but there is also the sense of historical fidelity we associate with the latter, and the show manages to bridge the two styles. Think of it as a samurai anime for beginners. The result is not great at this point, but the potential is there. Among the extras on this first DVD in the series you will find Liner Notes explain what Battousai means, how to play cho-han, and where the Satsuma is in Japan (the notes are not arranged alphabetically). But you also want to be sure that you check out the lyrics to the song in the original Japanese end credits ("When seeing those eyes of yours with that gleam, my heart skipped a beat that lazy afternoon...").
Rating:
Summary: The wanderer you can't help but follow
Review: (Note- this is a general review of the whole series- no spoilers though, don't worry!) First, the story in brief (I assume others have described it in more detail): a young(ish) swordsman, Himura Kenshin, becomes a rurouni to leave behind his dark past as an assassin, and atone for the deaths he has caused. His travels lead him to the Kamiya dojo, where he falls in with Kaoru, Yahiko and Sanosuke. Old, and new, enemies make appearances, tension-filled fights ensue, mirth abounds, and Sanosuke just keeps on chewing on that fishbone of his. So, why watch this series? Because it is quite simply one of the best anime series ever made. I've seen a fair few animes, from pure shoujo (like Cardcaptor Sakura) to darker contemplations (such as X or Grave of the Fireflies), but this one is my firm favourite: it mixes laugh-out-loud humour with a deep and involving plot, with just enough romance to keep you smiling and the kind of action sequences that will have you gripping the edge of your seat. The end result is an amazing and fiendishly addictive series. I agree with those who think the Kyoto arc (the middle section of the series) is the best part of this anime: the battles are simply incredible and the character development leaves you feeling genuinely moved, as characters deal with their pasts and work through their inner and outer battles, without drowning you in long-drawn-out angst. The most notable example is the fight between Kenshin and Soujiro, whom I regard as one of the best supporting anime characters of all time. Character design is great, and though the animation itself is not amazing, it works well in context and is more than pleasing enough. It is worth noting that extra effort is made on many of the fight sequences, making them particularly fluid and detailed in comparison to the general level of animation of the series. One special thing worth mentioning is the music: this series has an excellent soundtrack. There's a great mixture of day-to-day cheerful tunes, as well as haunting scores and forceful, moving battle music. I would personally recommend watching it subbed- the dub is good enough, but I can't help but favour the original Japanese voices over the American version. Some have said Kenshin's Japanese voice is not 'manly' enough, but I've always admired the way he speaks in a light, easy tone one minute, and drops to a deep, serious tone the next. It reflects the opposing assassin/rurouni sides of his personality really well. Overall, I have never been so deeply touched by an TV show as I was by this series, or found such a well-rounded mix of all the best elements that go into a great anime. Needless to say, be prepared for late nights: this anime will keep you up until the early hours.
Rating:
Summary: Kenshin Volume I
Review: This DVD is by far one of the best DVDs I've ever seen. I've never really been one for Japanimation, but the Rurouni Kenshin series has caught my eye. With good morals, suspending action, and a distinct plotline, this is clearly one of the best cartoons of all time. Kenshin is a character that captures the hearts girls and the approval of boys. However, this show is accurately rated for ages 13 and up. The concepts are not best portrayed to those under this age. I recommend this movie for all teenagers.
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