Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I'm not going to tell you what it's all about, since you probably know already if you're considering to buy this.I'm just here to help you make the decision. So I'll just skip right to the point: this is the most beatiful piece of animation I have ever seen. Even though the animation doesn't resemble that of the Rurouni Kenshin tv-series I can assure you that once you start watching it, that won't bother you a bit. The OAV is a lot more serious than the tv-series, as it is about Kenshin's past. It masterfully captures the feelings of the people in it and it really helps you understand Kenshin and his actions. I wasn't able to take my eyes off the screen during the four episodes, because you get to witness such awesome fight scenes and experience such strong feelings(especially in the end). The only recommendation I have is tfor you to watch it with the Japanese voices and english subtitles, since the english voice acting really is nothing compared to that of the Japanese, they truly put their heart and soul into it. Hope you enjoy the OAV as much as I did =)
Rating:
Summary: Anime, 'Classical Cinema'-Style
Review: The translator of this series says in his notes on the disc that this series is much the same to anime as Kurosawa Akira was to Japanese filmmaking. I find it hard to disagree as both draw from many of the same themes and styles. The series, known to the rest of anime fandom as the "Rurouni Kenshin" OAV series, tells the background of the series hero Himura Kenshin who is a major (fictional) source behind the civil war at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the late 1860s to early 1880s. By the time we meet him in the TV Series, he is a wanderer who is dedicated to peace and has a past of incredible violence that he can never seem to completely live down. This series tells the back story for Kenshin. This disc is the second (of two) in his story. Many themes of classical Japanese literature and film are found in the OAV Series - and especially in this disc - and the pace of it is highly evocative of movies like "Ran" and "Gonza the Spearman". The art is simply incredible - and done in large part with computer-generated animation. In many ways, the animation style is much like the early episodes of "Serial Experiments Lain" with a much brighter feel. The muscial score is lovely and does a surprisingly good job a steering clear of J-Pop like that which is found in the TV Series. While not totally classically Japanese, it fits well with the story - which is not totally classically Japanese either. There are many reminders that the series is not a complete throwback to classic Japanese cinema. The romance, while maintaining a very classical twist, owes much to modern anime melodrama. The action sequences, while very impressive, are very indicative of what one finds in anime of the last five to ten years - not cinema of half a century ago. Likewise, the almost seemingly airbrushed images of fire, waves and falling blossoms give a modern anchor to this tale. On the whole, almost nothing to fault in the series. It is simply a masterpiece of animation and can rightly be ranked with critically acclaimed pieces by Miyazaki and Ishii as well as cinematic works of filmmakers like Kurosawa. You do not need to have seen the TV Series to follow the plot and, in some cases, may find it a hindrance. For any fan of not just anime, but of film or Japanese culture, I highly recommend both this disc and its predecessor.
Rating: 
Summary: Better or Worse?
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: Whether you are an anime fan or not, the OVA series, Samurai X Trust (part I) and Betrayal (part II) are storytelling and cinema at their finest. The promise of Trust is completely fulfilled by Betrayal. All of the top-notch qualities that made the first set of episodes stand out (beautifully animated visuals, compelling characters, engaging story, etc.) is wrapped up in this last half as Kenshin, the assassin and Tomoe, a mysterious girl he rescued, barely escape Kyoto with their lives. The third episode takes place while Tomoe and Kenshin hide out in remote Otsu, posing as husband and wife. The compassion and kindness that the viewer knows Kenshin possesses comes out as he happily adapts to a new life as a farmer and husband. For Tomoe it is a revelation since the only Kenshin she knows is that of an assassin, a murderer who brings the bloody rain. Her feelings for Kenshin become confused as she struggles with the reality that the peaceful husband she knows now also killed her fiance, her first love. She asks herself, "The first gift you gave me was death. How shall I repay you?" Their precarious peace is about to be shattered by the unexpected arrival of Tomoe's brother, who has news he thinks will bring Tomoe great happiness. Episode four brings us to the stunning conclusion of Kenshin's story of which episode three was but a brief interlude. Tomoe has confessed her secrets, though not that Kenshin himself was the one who killed her fiance. She has also admitted to herself, and to Kenshin, that she loves him. As fate would have it, the traitor suspected in Trust is actively working to bring down Kenshin for his crimes and the bucolic interlude in the mountains has played directly into his hands. As Tomoe realizes, "My love for you will not be enough to save you from the consequences of your actions." His tragic story plays out in an inevitable chain of events that will leave you heartbroken but strangely satisfied. In the end many questions will be answered, including the outcome of the battle between Tomoe's love and her desire for revenge, Kenshin's struggle between the killer he has become and the protector he could be, and most importantly how he wins the other half of his cross-shaped scar(which comes only at great cost to himself and others). A classic tale that will leave an indelible impression on your soul, much as it has left scars on Kenshin's face.
Rating:
Summary: Rurouni Kenshin, OAV: Best Anime OAV Ever?
Review: Well, it's my favorite . . . as a historical drama, classically Japanese-styled film, and an action anime, the Rurouni Kenshin OAV is certainly the best example of the anime OAV format I've ever seen. This 4 episode mini-series, for me, stands well on its own apart from the Rurouni Kenshin TV series' Kyoto Arc, though many of the finer details are better appreciated by fans who've seen the TV show already. I feel that these four episodes should have been a single film--if it were, I think it would stand proudly alongside the classic live-action Japanese samurai films of Kurosawa and other directors. For one, the script is nuanced, poetic, and filled with evocative Japanese flower metaphors, and it tells a simple, tragic story that honestly could have come from Shakespere or any other classic drama. The animation, particularly in the sword duels and fight choreography, is stunningly fluid (though bloody). The depictions of the pre-industrial Japanese landscape achieves a level of detail and vividness seen only in the very best of Miyazaki's work, such as Princess Mononoke. Visual symbolism abounds as well, complementing the literate script. And I must mention the score: alternately deeply melancholy, intense, thrilling, and romantic, it accompanies the scenes perfectly and stands as wonderful music on its own. It's the best score not written by Yoko Kanno I've heard in any anime. The acting on the original Japanese vocals stands out for its emotional restraint tinged with heartfelt sorrow--Kenshin and Tomoe's voice actresses in particular do a great job. (The dub in English is not nearly as good: changes have been made to the script, the voices are often woefully inappropriate, and everything is usually overacted in the typical American fashion. Avoid at all costs.) Above all else, the story deeply moved me, in finding out how horrible a childhood the laughing, contented adult Kenshin of the TV series came from. In fact, the main problem with this OAV is that it so completely overshadows the TV series. If you start with this OAV and then move on to the TV show, you'll almost sure to be disappointed--the TV show, while often funny and lighthearted, never quite achieves the weight and significance that this OAV strives for and fully accomplishes. This OAV is an example of anime as genuine Japanese cinema in the tradition of Ozu, Kurosawa, and others. Recommended for all, except for young vieweres as the violence is graphic and the mood unrelentingly grim--though it never feels exploitive or self-consciously gloomy. Rurounki Kenshin OAV is a work of true art.
Rating:
Summary: Revealed at last: how Kenshin earned his cross-shaped wound
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Only for the Kenshin fan
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!!
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing but informative none the less
Review: REVIEW MADE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ENGLISH AND ONLY KNOW A FEW JAPANESE WORDS (sakabatao, rurouni, etc) AND WHO HAVE SEEN THE SERIES FIRST!!!!
This OVA was very disapointing to me for a number of reasons. 1.)The voices are different from the series 2.)the animation is different from the series 3.) The dialogue is poor, drags on and sounds corny 4.)Kenshin is really really serious and, although he is in a lot of pain, even in the manga he joked around and was like he is in the series. Basically those are all things that i could get past but unfortunately, the way that the story is caried out is the most depressing. It is such an excellent story that should really effect u and be very emotional. The story falls short of capturing the viewer by not giving the full effect on the characters, having poor, underdone voice acting, and being just plain confusing. It seems that the series was able to make u feel closer to the characters and gives them a more personal aspect. This OVA fails to do that and doesnt quite grasp the sheer verocity of the tale. On the other hand it is very interesting to finally discover the real meaning of the scar on kenshins left cheek and to find out who Tomoe was, her presence only hinted at in the series. The same things apply to the "Reflections" OVA, which seems to have the same talents as well as faults. I recommend seeing it but i will not rave about it. I think that it would have been better if it was the same style as the series (flashbacks in the series clearly show that) but its worth it just the same.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking, beautiful, intelligent - a must-see.
Review: This is one of those treasures that leaves you shaken.
I bought the 2 volume set (TRUST and BETRAYAL) over a year ago and it is just as powerful now as the first time I was stunned by it. The sheer artistry on all levels is amazing : the tale, the artwork, the music.... everything just fits together to present an unforgettable experience. To Nubuhiro Watsuki and all the others involved in this work, I must say thank you.
See it, you simply must see it.
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