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Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)

Samurai X - The Motion Picture (Rurouni Kenshin)

List Price: $29.98
Your Price: $23.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent!
Review: After watching the Samurai X OVAs and the two seasons of Rurouni Kenshin, I knew I had to get the Samurai X TMP. I just finished watching it and I loved it! Needless to say, I was not disappointed. The movie was drawn in the same manner as the tv series, along with the same characters, so please watch the series first before watching this! Trust me, it will be even more enjoyable and watching the OVAs first is even better. I love this storyline and it ties both series together rather nicely. My only complaints are that there is a skimpy offering of trailers (none that I really want to watch) and the really bad opening song. Trust me, none of those things are important once you start watching the movie!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: NOT WHAT i EXPECTED
Review: Samurai X the movie or Rurouni Kenshin the movie. It's actually the later of the two. When I first saw the title, Samurai X, I was expecting to see a new addition to the OVA 4 part series. This film, however, is based on the TV show. I was not as impressed with the animation, but I got over it eventually,and started to enjoy the film. There were several well done fight scenes, especially the climatic battle at the end. It reminded me of the Kung-Fu style filming you see in Hong Kong flicks. I had to give this movie 4 stars, however, mainly because of the misleading packaging. If your going to call a movie Samurai X, and use the same logo as the 4 part series, then that should be the movie you put out. Now I have to go back and watch the Rorouni Kenshin series which is long and extensive. I'm not putting the movie down. I'm just warning those of you who are expecting a Samurai X style movie. It's got the same charcaters, but it's not OVA's Samurai X.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: OVA, move over...
Review: When the "Rurouni Kenshin OVA" came out in 1998, people were stunned. The animation, the gorgeous music, the fantastic plot which finally revealed how Kenshin received his cross-scar... everything. When it was released in America a year ago, people were again stunned. With its increasing popularity, ADV Films released the motion picture, which takes place after both the OVA and TV series. And is it comparable? With its amazing animation, marvelous music, incredible plot, and talented voice actors, you cannot complain.

The animation is very fluid, and in no way could I complain. Okay, maybe I can a little. The battle sequences are similar to the TV series, with mere cuts being slashed on a still frame. What's bad about this is that the sound effects are still going with all the slashes and grunts. A few times (namely the beginning and end) were drawn in the OVA's type of fighting (where you can actually see what's going on). These were extremely enjoyable, and a few were even more action-packed than the OVA.

Fortunately, the original company that produced this decided not to use any CG effects. Thank God. They came off poorly in the OVA, due to the mixing of artistry and special effects.

According to the back cover, the movie got a remastered VHS source. Comparing it to the Rurouni Kenshin OVA, you can indefinitely see a major difference. But on its own, the movie looks fairly nice. There weren't any major rainbows or any line noise that I could detect.

During the entire viewing session, I listened to the Japanese audio. There are no real flaws here, technically. Unlike "Endless Waltz"'s 5.1 mix, this one only received a 2.0; it still sounds good, though. What's my complaint? The opening and ending songs. Ugh... they're just so... terrible. It's basically a man singing with some background music, but it doesn't fit at all with the actual movie's mood. The composer, Taro Iwashiro, seemed to copy the OVA's composer, Taku Iwakasi (who did the best job that could have been done). The only thing Iwashiro did wrong was that he made the songs too repetitive.

Packaging was extremely nice for this one. It's simplistic and very cool. The front cover sports Kenshin with the opponent yelling (extremely lame, might I add) in the background. The back cover is much nicer, though! There is a black background with a greyscale image of Kenshin blended in. The image of Kenshin holding Kaoru is stamped on and looks marvelous. In addition, there are nice little screenshots that are decorated in a nice white border work very well, as they mix beautifully. Nitpicks? Heck yes. The last two screenshots are, at closer inspection, very blurry and poorly captured. The top two of Toki and Yahiko must not have been screenshots; but rather scans. The listings of the cast and crew enhance the feel of it being a "movie."

While many people hated the Samurai X title (as do I), ADV actually gave us a nice looking "X". The actual DVD disc looks incredible. It has the picture of half of a 3D blue X, with three signs of ADV Films, DVD Video, and Dolby Digital. The insert is amazing. Though it first is terrible, once you flip it over you seem something much cooler. The colors (black, grey, red, and white) work extremely well. A greyscale modified image of Sanosuke screaming in the background, with a sharp full-color image of Kenshin about to slash his sword, layered over works on so many levels. ^^;

Extras? What extras? The only... *ahem* "extra" was the trailers for the movie and OVA. Extremely weak. ADV could of at least shown us some effort! Even textless versions of the opening and ending themes would have satisfied me! Bah...

Nothing new here: the same cast did the same magnificent job. After hearing Mayo Suzukaze's serious role in the OVA a million times, it's nice to hear her go back to the wackier Kenshin. All the others are on par, as well. A definite A+ job.

In Media Blasters's production of the domestic TV series, they list attacks as their pronunciation (for example: do-ryu-sen). However, ADV decided to list their translations and I had to resist the urge to break out in laughter. In the middle of the last fight, Kenshin yelled out the battle cry, "Dragon Hammer Flash!" Come on, people! This is turning into Pokémon, for crying out loud!

Content-wise, the movie is humorous, dark, and at the same time, dramatic. Though I've only seen the OVAs and 20-or-so episodes of the TV series, I can definitely say that this was an attempt to "combine" the two together. The result is incredible. While it does have a few chuckles here and there, the main theme is fairly dark; it deals a lot with Kenshin's past (a definite plus to all the people that hate this "wimp" version) as Hitokiri Battousai. We even learn that there are more "hitokiris" than just Kenshin! Cool!

Kenshin's opponent is just like many of the television episodes; a former Bakumatsu samurai, wanting to destroy the new Meiji government. But this one actually ties in with everything, if not a bit cliched.

Believe it or not, I enjoyed it just a bit more than the OVA (although watching it about thirty times might have helped). I've heard many people complain about it, but I rather enjoyed this 90-minute presentation.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Better then the OVA's
Review: I was suggested to buy the OVA's by my friend and i did on DVD. I have since watched them each over 7 times and am still amazed. Then I started purchising the Show DVD's and though it took some getting use to after seeing the OVA's. I have grown to love the show. Finally I bought THE MOVIE. I was blown away. It takes place after the show i believe. In the begining its a little light-hearted but soon becomes indepth with a plot that i fell in love with. I very much enjoyed the final battle. The music is very imprssive. In the end it puts the best qualities from the OVA's and the show into one must but movie

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pleeeeeeeeeeease Watch The Anime Serie!!!!!!!!!
Review: For those who Watch The Rurouni Kenshin for the first time, let me tell you that you don't know what you're loosgin by not knowing the original anime serie. I watched the whole 95 chapters, for me it is the best anime i've ever seen, i even felt very unhappy with the serie finale, anyway, Requiem fot the Ishinshin, is a very good movie but a i dare to say that the could've done better, it is a Battousai Movie, of course they could've done better than that, buttttttttt, no matter what it's Rurouni Kenshin, and just beacuse of that it deserves 5 whole stars

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Neither here nor there
Review: Let me start first by saying that RK is currently my favorite Anime - I think the Trust/Betrayal set and the entire TV series so far are FANTASTIC and worth 5+ stars. Unfortunately, Samurai X - The Motion Picture is neither "here nor there".

The Trust/Betrayal series takes a little getting used to (because it's different from the TV series), but the pair is a masterpiece - the quality of the Anime, the music, and most of all, the storyline, are all first rate. At first, when I saw the cross scar on Kenshin, I thought the Anime may be somewhat cheesy, but the Trust/Betrayal series totally dispelled that idea...

The TV series from Media Blasters isn't as deep or dark as the pair, but the storylines are tight, the action fast, and there's a great mix of lighthearted situations along with deeper tales - you'll care about the bad guys as much as the good!

Now, we get the Samurai X - TMP. The animation is in the style of the TV series, but it's as long as a movie. The story is flabby and doesn't get anywhere until the second half (not as well written as the TV series) and the animation quality tries to be more than the TV series, but doesn't quite do it. If you are an RK fan, there's nothing I can write here to convince you of anything, but I would just suggest that you RENT this one first.

So far, I have purchased ALL the RK DVDs and I intend to purchase the entire TV series on DVD. The one exception is this one - I've cancelled my order after having rented it. It truly deserves 3.5 stars - suggestion: rent it first, before you buy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Rurouni Kenshin the end of the samurai
Review: On the first minutes of the movie Rurouni Kenshin and gang are traveling in a train and the trip is around five to ten minutes after that is pure action with a great art work and a lot of fun. If you saw Samurai X and Rurouni Kenshin you will love this motion picture, but if this is your first time watching Rurouni Kenshin well you will find youself into a new way of watch true anime.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Heed of Warning
Review: I don't find it very fare to call this Samurai X the movie, cause when you think of Samurai X, your first thought is the 4 part OVA series. This isn't it. This is the movie based on 98 episode TV series Anime Works is currently producing. That doesn't mean you shouldn't see this film however. Just make sure you see Rurouni Kenshin from Anime Works first before you see the movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love this anime
Review: Kenshin is one of the best animes I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot). This movie keeps the animation of the series, and spins off a very nice story. The dubbing isn't the best, but if you're like me, you whatch it in Japanese anyway. Trust me, if you liked Trust and Betrayal (the OVA's) you like this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Actually this is more "Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture"
Review: At the start of "Samurai X: The Motion Picture" ("Rurôni Kenshin: Ishin shishi e no Requiem") we are clearly in the same bloody world of "Samurai X: Betrayal" and "Samurai X: Trust." But then the titles come along and we are back to the world of "Rurôni Kenshin" the series, with Kaoru Kamiya, Sanosuke Sagara, and Yahiko Myôjin on the train to Yokohama. Apparently the violent prologue was only a reminder of Kenshin's life as the "Hitokiri Battousai" ("the man who slashes even as he draws his sword").

Within the context of the character's history the point of this story is to contrive a situation in which Kenshin Himura might break his vow and actually kill somebody with his reverse blade sword. As is often the case in the series although the war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years earlier with the Meiji Restoration there are those who are not happy with the new world order in Japan. Shigare Takimi is haunted by the death of his friend Takatsuki Gentatsu and now leads a band of desparate rebels who intended to kill a foreign ambassador. But when Kenshin helps to protect Takatsuki Toki from the brutality of foreign sailors, the two men become friends. Shigure asks Kenshime to take care of Toki if anything should ever happen to him. Of course it is a small world even in Japan Toki is the sister of Gentatsu, who was killed by Kenshin (in the prologue).

Still, there are plans within plans in Meiji Japan as someone else is trying to use Shigure to his own ends and in the end it seems inevitable that Shigure and Kenshin will cross swords. This is another example of a "Rurôni Kenshin" story in which the stranger with a past whose path has crossed our hero before ends up being the most interesting character. It also remind those of us who enjoyed the anime series that things had ended there with Kaoru and Kenshin finally getting together and now we have apparently reset to an earlier time (the trip to Yokohama) and we can only ask, what is up with that? Still, you have to admit that this is "movie" version is representative of the series, where a long string of former foes cross Kenshin's path once again.

I accidentally started watching the movie with the English dub and the English subtitles and kept it going just because there were so few times when they came close to matching. So if you are not enthralled by the sword fighting and the human drama you can check out the dueling translations.


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