Rating: 
Summary: WOW!
Review: Truly amazing, that's all that has to be said!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This is an example of Animation at it's finest. The story and combat scenes are all depicted with attention to detail. Not for children as the rating is for 17+ (mature) for graphic violence. The two episodes on this DVD introduce us to Kenshin and his development from a child sold into slavery to an experienced assasin with no conscience. The music is noteworthy and very well done. This should be in the top of your "I want" list in your DVD collection. It really is worth the money. Check it out!
Rating:
Summary: Hitokiri Battosai - Not a Samurai by any means.
Review: Himura Kenshin, also known by many as the Hitokiri Battosai. Unlike the title suggested, he was NEVER A SAMURAI to begin with. He didn't received such title from any but Sony Corporation. Who's too dumb to even recognize his legendary status as the finest assassin ever graced the anime world. Ok, the review: I won't describe how incredibly poetic the story is, but the music and the animation quality is a degree above Ghost in the Shell. The dramatic music in the background fits the mood of the OVAs ( Orignal Video Animation ) perfectly. The character design is a big step toward realism oppose to the TV series' big eyes and big hairs and big... etc. The tone of the show is one of the gritty and dark and very bloody. Speaking of blood, there's about three dozen bucket of them shed in this show, but nothing was overdone; everything from the tearing of human flesh to the sound of metal alloy of the Katana forcing its way down toward the inside of human brain is captured flawlessly. The dubbing is TERRIBLE, not only does Kenshin doesn't sound like his Japanese counterpart, most of the meaning of the words were altered to be more appealed to the US audience, I recommend you all to set it to Japanese and with subtitles. One last secret, when you purchased the DVD, turn it flat with the cover sides up, then slip out the cover paper SLOWLY... turn it upside down and prepare for an AMAZING surprise! IT's the ORIGINAL COVERS of the Kenshin OVAs, instead of that ANNOYING Samurai X, ( what a cheesy title! ) there's the orignal title in Japanese " Rurouni Kenshin ". If you LOVE " amazing bloody swordfights, political conflicts, sadness, moody atmosphere and tragedy of love " then by all means, BUY THIS DVD! P.S. the love area of this show was handled with such a grace and care, it's not cheesy by any means.
Rating:
Summary: Kenshin OVAs
Review: There is no way that I can express in words just how fantastic this anime is. The animation, music, and direction are all top-notch. Even if you are not familiar with the Rurouni Kenshin series, you will definitely still want to watch these OVAs. They tell the story of Himura Kenshin's tragic young days. PS: If you are a Kenshin fan, I would ask that you please sign my petition to Dark Horse Comics to translate the Rurouni Kenshin manga into English.
Rating:
Summary: Up there with the best
Review: This four part OVA is simply brilliant. In my book, it rates up there with the original Bubblegum Crisis 8-part OVA and 13-part Tenchi Muyo OVA. The quality of the storyline and animation is excellent. The characters are three-dimensional and the series has to be watched a couple of times to pick up the little subtleties. I look forward to acquiring some more of the Kenshin series, and hope that the animation quality, character detail and plots are equally as well crafted.
Rating:
Summary: History and Politics
Review: For those who have not read articles in animation magazines about Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin) during the history/politics of Japan (the Shogunate Revolution), I would highly recommend reading about it first before you watch this video. This a must for those who want to understand the background characters first before watching the OVAs. The animation is emotionally beautiful, combining CGI with traditional Japanese artistry. The music is heartrending and the dubbing/subtitling is excellent. It is a violent OVA series so I don't recommend this to any children - which the violence is understandable since this is a bloody revolution with samurais and assassins. If you have to watch a series/OVA/movie this year, Rurouni Kenshin the TV Series, Samurai X: The Motion Picture, and the Samurai X: OVAs are a must-see and purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: Overhyped
Review: I keep on hearing on how great Samurai X was. So naturally I wanted to see these DVDs badly. After finishing the TV series, I went and sent out for these right away. I eagerly popped them in...and what was the first thing I saw? A woman getting a sword through her face. Despite what people may say about it's "realism" and "plot"...I found these to be the worst anime buys I've ever made. The plot was far too focused on history and politics, and there was no action at all. That's right, NO ACTION. I don't count Kenshin slicing people open as action...it's simple bloodshed. Another problem was that there was pretty much no emotion in the characters. They were far too cold and annoying to see...all that they did was cut people up, go to sleep, cut people up, go to sleep. It got better later, but still I felt ABSOLUTELY ZERO emotion when I FORCED myself through this. There was way too much violence for my tastes, it took way too much from a potential story that could catch my eyes. It's not very nice to see an anime take such AMAZING animation and put its use to showing off gore. I can not see how any one could actually like this..but it seems a LOT do. Something with the "realism" it has. Hmmm, last time I checked real life had more realism than an animation...
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Beautiful and Haunting
Review: Now this is what Animation should strive to be. Stunning imagery and symbolism everywhere in this OVA series, intertwined with beautiful character development. I was literally drawn into a world where samurais are lurking around the corner and politically corrupt governments and clans reign supreme. In every way this is a stunning masterpiece of historical fiction. However, I recommend that you should watch at least the first season of the TV series Rurouni Kenshin first. So that this OVA series will be less confusing. I still have to watch it twice before I fully understood the complexity of the poltical environment that this series is base upon. Of course you could always read up about the history of Feudal Japan during that era too. Trust me, it will make a lot more sense. So if you love Anime and you love a hefty amount of substance in your Anime, then watch this, it will leave you breathless.
Rating:
Summary: is this your first time?
Review: If you're an american watching this for the first time I feel sorry for you. The series this is a OVA to is already compleated in Japan, and it's great; look for it's boot leg in the states, if the registered version never comes out. The series, and OVA, is swell, but the dub ruins a lot of it; the japnese vioces have a lot more character. The series, and OVA again, have significantly more plot not to mention tastefull violence than any anime I've viewed in a long time. Definiatly chack it out, especially if you're into samurai dramas.
Rating: 
Summary: A good start, and it gets better
Review: It's obvious from the glowing reviews that Samurai X is, indeed, good. And yes, for those of use who don't have the attention span of a DragonBall Z fan, this is a great OVA to watch. With its attention to historical fact, emphasis on fluid animation, and a tragic love-story along with it, any anime-fan worth their salt should find something to like in this series. The visual presntation is suprisingly, bright and clear, but the main charachter, Himura, who is clothed in a dark kimono, is not. In this context, we are able to see the vivid contrast between him, and the world that he is surrounded by. Such is the origins of Himura Kenshin, and to say that this a departure from the Rurouni Kenshin tv series is a gross understatment ( though their IS an underlying grimness in the tv series itself, when one looks in-between the humor and light-heartedness ). There are no bouts of slapstick punctuating this show; this is just a straight out story of violence and blood. And at times, it's emphasize on the slaughter is the show's strength and weakness. It's constant barrage of bloody images, though powerful, lacks a certain subtlety, and we seem to find ourselves lingering too long at the maimed corpses. In the film Mononoke Hime ( or Princess Mononoke for the un-initiated ), the combat was often very violent, but not neccasarily gory. The amount of blood in Samurai X makes one wonder if the gore was done for gore's sake, and it almost detracts from this finely woven story. Yet, this is just the first half of 2 part DVD series, and the ending is better than the beginning. A worthwhile purchase indeed.
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