Rating: 
Summary: General Review of "Kenshin OVA: Trust"
Review: This DVD contains the first two episodes of the 4-episode mini-series, exploring the past of Himura Kenshin. The animation is of a different quality than the television series, with dark, almost phosphorescent colors. For those who have seen the first thirty episodes of the Kenshin TV series, you will notice the graphic violence to have sharply increased. While this is not "Fist of the Northstar" or "Ninja Scroll," the battle scenes are not for impressionable children.The Japanese voice of Kenshin returns for the same role, while the otherwise alien cast does a wonderful job for the Japanese dialogue. This hybrid DVD boasts an English track, which at times contradicts the Japanese subtitling, but is of a superior quality than general anime (for taste-comparison, I consider "Princess Mononoke" to have had the best dubbing of any anime film I've seen). It becomes apparent the voice-casting for the English edition was to better define characters for the US audience. This a hybrid, so you can switch between languages and subtitles as you please. Both sets of dialogue are supported by a soundtrack rivaling that of the US's big budget war films. In particular, the ominous "Shades of Revolution" track drives the grittier and more intense scenes. There is a brief, expositional scene that reveals the greater points of Kenshin's childhood, and his real name. After this opening, there are ten or fifteen minutes of ragged time transitions, before the story levels out. Episode two is also intense, but maintains intensity through linear storytelling, though there is one heavy-handed element, that I will neglect to comment otherwise upon, because it would be a harsh spoiler. Do not expect slapstick in this series, for there is little to no comic relief in any episode. The love story will draw a fair share of fans, while the action, which tapers off towards episode two, is certainly worthy of its own following. If you purchase this DVD, it is almost necessary to purchase Kenshin: Betrayal. I wish all four episodes had been collected on one DVD (Mediablasters does put out two-hour DVD's), but you can't have everything.
Rating: 
Summary: Meji Era Kenshin.
Review: [ The same guy from Rurouni Kenshin, but before his no-killing days. ] This anime is one of the best i know of. Of course i'm just saying that, but you get that feeling after watching a lot of Anime... at least i do. And i guess it's a successful anime if you can say that about it right after watching it. Genre: Action, Samurai. Its second title is Romantic Tales of the Meji. While leads one to believe these are romantic tales... which they are. But the first disk isn't all that romantic... the second disk may be. ArtStyle: I'm a casual Anime viewer and i can say that i have never seen art style similar to this one... though they look like so many art styles i just can't put my finger on a similar one. Realistic, no funny faces or odd features. Dark. Gore: Blood, killing, sword fights. The first disc, this one, is about a boy named Kenshin, you see him as a young child. Now this is not about Kenshin from the Ruroni Kenshin TV series... by no means, he kills in these. So you see him as this great fighter who no one can beat. But he finds this woman one night who catches the end of a battle he was in, and gets rained on by some of blood from Kenshin's opponent. The second disk is about what happens after disc one (of course) but it focuses on the Woman a lot too. The second disc, Betrayal is a must buy, it is a very powerful, if you are a Kenshin fan. These two Dics tell you how Kenshin got the Cross shaped scar on his face. It'll make you think about it the next time you see another episode of Ruroni Kenshin. I recommend this to any Anime Fan, beware the second disc those that are big action fans. Oddly enough, as different as the art may be, the voices are the same as the TV series.
Rating:
Summary: i love this movie
Review: hey i loved htis movie it was great i know it says its for 17 and up but hay im 14 and i enjoyed it thers a lot of blood so if u dont like blood dont get it and a loot of stabing like where kenshin stabes this guy in the head.but its a really good movi and has a great story line.i loved it and know i whant to get batray.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Anime
Review: I couldnt't believe what i saw the first time I watch Samarai X:Trust(Rurouni Kenshin).There's everything in this:great story, beautiful animation, plenty of violence, and very unique characters.For those that don't know, this is sort of a background to the Rurouni Kenshin anime tv series, and this was made after the tv series.The main character goes by the nickname Hitokiri Battousai, and hes an awesome assassin(almost ninja-like) who is trying to make the world a better place at the cost of people's lives, but he soon realizes another path in life he should take.Saying anymore would ruin it,but you jus have to watch it cuz i can't praise it enough.There's Trust and Betrayal, 2 dvds, with Trust being the best.However, one dvd cant survive without the other.Theres also a movie that follows the tv series, and I suggest viewing all of it eventhough the tv series is 95 episodes long.The tv series is much more comical and a lil less violent(but violent enough), but its still great.If you're more interested in serious,dark,and Ninja Scroll-like stuff, then Samarai X(both Trust and Betrayal) are highly recommended.These 2 dvds can stand alone as its own movie, its jus that great.In my opinion, I'd have to say that Rurouni Kenshin is the best anime series I've ever seen, and if you end up not liking it...well, i guess thats your opinion, but i doubt anyone would say that.Buy it!Buy it!Buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Emotionally Stunning
Review: Having had the experience of viewing several different anime series and feature films, I was quite familiar with the formulaic comedy scenarios or "superhero" type storylines. I decided to give the Samurai X series (Trust + Betrayal) a try and was stunned not only visually, but emotionally as well. Immediately within the first few minutes of footage the viewer is thrown into a heartwrenching situation and we are introduced to "Shinta" who later is known as Kenshin. This two part series encompasses a wide scope of emotional themes - besides trust and betrayal, it deals with love, loss, redemption, coming of age (however disturbing the circumstances), and it also dives into sheer ethics and morals regarding the value of human life. Although it may be easy for some people to write off anime as 'cartoonish' or 'unreal' or 'unbelievable', such enrapturing storytelling cannot be downgraded. If you're looking for an anime series NOT for the kids, but aimed more towards those of us who, perhaps, have seen the many sides of humanity, this series is for you. Be forewarned though: it obviously contains violence, but there are hidden stories within the frames of this anime series. Visually the animation is extremely sharp and clean cut. The colors are vivid and the imagery is beyond words - especially the scenes in the rain where Tomoe first meets Kenshin after he was involved in a one-on-one battle. This installment of Kenshin is not for the faint of heart, but it IS for the open soul. These DVD's will be the ones you WON'T want to return.
Rating:
Summary: A very rare gem among anime.
Review: First off, I wish this DVD had included the second disc(betrayal), since they could've easily fit both within one DVD. Also, the DVD didn't have much in the way of "extras" that should've been included. Ok, enough about the rants. I won't go into telling a summary of the story. For those who don't know, Samurai X is actually Rurouni Kenshin in it's OVA/OAV format. This is not the TV show. Samurai X can be compared to Ninja Scrolls, Ghost in the Shell, etc. Why? For one, it doesn't offer cute little half naked goddesses that appear from the sky to live with some idiot 16 year old teenage kid. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Tenchi and some of it's variants immensely. Secondly, there's a strong plot that is weaved very intelligently. The movie is serious and very direct. As many of the reviewers have already stated, this first DVD is packed with a lot of action and gore. Don't let that fool you, the gore just adds more to the flavor of a serious storyline. The art is one of the best I've ever seen in animation. The movement is very fluid, down to the facial expression. The environment is beautifully drawn, espcially the snow that starts to fall. One gripe I do have is that a bit of CGI was thrown in during some parts, however, it doesn't deter from the actual storyline. The music is perfect during every single moment of the film. Yes, it's all classical/symphony type. Like one reviewer said, no J-POP! Very emotional and very powerful indeed, this rarity among anime only seems to pop up once every few years.
Rating:
Summary: actually make that 6 stars
Review: Samurai X: is really Kenshin the OAV(DUH)for some stupid reason,the name was changed.overlook that and you have one of the greatest pieces of art to ever grace a DvD.Trust is parts 1 and 2 of a 4 part OAV.it is the story of Kenshins past,what made him what he is in the TV series,how he got his scars. Art and animation is clearly high budget.character design is diffirent from the series,the story takes a dark and serious mood through out the entire feature,music is top notch.take it from someone who bought the original japanese version.the price is practacly a give away for this OAV,unlike some series which I won't watch even if paid.
I will not give away any part of the story since it is part of the experiance,just be ready not to do anything for a few hours after watching this.
Rating:
Summary: He probably was a samurai...
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A young orphan becomes Kenshin, the feared assassin
Review: The first two episodes of "Samurai X" include on "Volume 1: Trust" take place in 19th-century Japan, when the land is torn by warfare and rebellion. During this time small bands of soldiers rise up with the intention of overthrowing the tyranny of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Our story begins with Shinta, a young man who was sold into slavery after his parents died. During a brutal attack by brigands, he is rescued at the last minute by a mystic swordsman named Hiko who decides to train the boy to become the most feared assassin in Japan. Declaring that Shinta is too much of a child's name for a swordsman, Hiko names his pupil Kenshin. Of course, fans of "Rurouni Kenshin" know that this red-haired boy will grow up to be Kenshin Himura, the "Hitokiri Battousai" (i.e., "the man who slashes even as he draws his sword"). But at this point our young hero's main concern is Tomoe Yukishiro, a mysterious young woman whose fiance is murdered by Kenshin and who encounters him by chance in Edo. "Samurai X" is a prequel to the "Rurouni Kenshin" series, although whether you see it first and then proceed to the series or (as I did) come to it afterwards, you are going to be struck by the profound differences. As anime "Samurai X" is more sophisticated that the television series, but more importantly the violence is heightened and the comic elements that sometimes reduced "Rurouni Kenshin" to the level of an anime for young children is completely gone. It suddenly strikes me that it is sort of like the difference between "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in the second, larger work was much darker and more adult. Here it is the prequel that is that is clearly not intended for younger children. We know that Kenshin was once the "Manslayer," but being an assassin is an even darker chapter in his life. But Hiko is a believer in the philosophy of Hitra-Mitsunagi, and while we never hear of him (or Tomoe) during the run of "Rurouni Kenshin," clearly he is the master who trained our hero. Even if Kenshin is an assassin, there is at least the idea that he is engaging in a move towards the greater good by helping to clear the way for the new world that Katsura Kogoro and others plan in order to restore the Meji to power. This DVD of "Romantic Tales from the Meiji Era" includes "Act 1: The Man of the Slashing Sword" and "Act 2: The Lost Cat." You also get a trailer for "Samurai X" and a "Historical Background on the Tokugawa Era" that comes after Act 2 but which I would suggest you read before hand (the information scrolls slowly as opposed to having to move through a series of frames) as it explains the socio-political stakes at this point in Japanese history. If you watched "Rurouni Kenshin" then some of this will be familiar to you, but you will end up with a better appreciation of the Meiji Restoration beyond the idea that this period is as pivotal to Japan as the Civil War was to the United States. There are also character descriptions that will be of interest afterwards.
Rating:
Summary: Best since Ninja Scroll
Review: This is by far the best anime sonce Ninja Scroll, the Story-line in insane and the characters are perfectely detailed.
Would recomend it even to an enemy!!!!
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