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Rurouni Kenshin - Legendary Swordsman, Vol. 1

Rurouni Kenshin - Legendary Swordsman, Vol. 1

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $26.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: bravo to one of the best anime series ever
Review: i agree with all the previous reviewers. definitely the bestanime ever. it's very emotional, portraying Himura Kenshin's idealismas a peaceful samurai in the dawn of modern japan in the making. verystrong devotion to his philosophy. Again, DO NOT GET THE ENGLISHDUBBED VERSION, you will not feel the character's emotions andfeelings as much. i've heard feedback from others saying that it's alittle ridiculous that there is so much dialogue going on in the fightscenes, that it's too over-written, but that's where the beautylies. Here is a sword-wielding assassin who repented from his bloodyway of life into life-preserving, and this is shown mostly in thefight scenes, where he communicates his idealism and philosophy. Ialso agree to a previous reviewer that as excellent this anime is, thelast 30 or so episodes just plain suck. I warn you, the anime does notconclude very well. it feels a little "hanging" since theanime started out capturing our curiosity, and builds so very stronglyin the Kyoto battle episodes, and anti-climaxed (sort of) in theShimabara chapter, but the last plot about the exorcism (oroo??) orwhatever it is, is just not in character for Himura Kenshin or therest of the crew. And the very last episode, WHAT (...) IS THAT? ithas no plot, and it looked like it was just thrown in the series toput an end to everything. it feels like a plug had been pulled withoutconsent. Nevertheless, it's definitely a must-see, especially fromepisode 1 throughout the end of the Shimabara chapter. Very moving. Weget to know the characters inside out, since the anime let us see whatgoes on in their daily life and how they relate and feel towards oneanother instead of just all about fighting crime together as someanimes do. It's just too bad that a little bit too much of the plot(portrayed in the manga) is yanked out since it added more strength tothe plot. It would have been a 10-star if the OVA parts were actuallyincorporated into the series :) END

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: = )
Review: well, where do i start in this series! I think that this is a great overall series (I have read the manga, have the whole TV series from Japan). It starts off kinda slow. But for those who have patience (heaven forbid that anyone has that quality in them) you will be greatly rewarded. This series has all sorts of different characters. A female doctor, a professor, orpahans, guys that combust(you will see), the sweetest little girls, the most cunning men, the poilceman(MEN IN UNIFORM ARE THE HOTTEST!), to the *i'll do anything for you boss* type of guy, the boy that wants revenge, a blind man, a student, a circus family, an artist, a sumo wrestler, to the sassiest short teenage girl(she is one of my idols), to a poor teenager that was abused by his stepfamily when he was little, to a sweet man who takes care of orphaned children , a man that thinks he is a god, to the darkest female ninja, to the drunken super human master, to an old pervert (dun worry, this series is completely hentai free),or even German knights! I think that is about 1/4 of the characters in the comics and anime combined.I would go on, but it would be too long of a list. If you don't relate to any one of the characters (with personality) in this whole series, i would call you a freak (sorry)! Cuz there is such a variety you need to relate to one of them! No nudity in this series (I love the MALE creator of this series, most men draw that kinda stuff. He lets the women have their dignity though.) So start watching!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Anime at its Best
Review: Well done conversion from the japanese tv show to english dvd. The subtitles and original soundtrack are great options. If you do not want to sit through the intro most dvd players can fast forward. Also I suggest using the remote to switch to the japanese soundtrack and english subtitles. These earlier episodes lack the drama of the later episodes, but these are the funniest. Also I believe the intro song during the first episodes is the best one. The guitarist is great and the singer hauntingly addictive.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: very mediocre
Review: I'm always on the hunt for a new great anime and when I saw the titles 'BEST ANIME OF THE 20TH CENTURY', 'BEST ANIME EVER' and all the twinkling stars I knew I had to order this one. Rarely have I seen such glowing reviews so what went wrong.

When I popped in the DVD I was FORCED to sit through over three minutes of animated production company logos. And cheesy, shoddy logos at that. But it's not about the logo's it's about the anime, RIGHT. And I knew I was in for a terrific one. I mean look at the reviews.

Rurouni Kenshin is taken from a television series and as such has television show quality. The animation is very average and the plots are clearly thrown together quickly to meet a deadline. As I listened to the opening theme song my heart sunk. It was a wacky, annoying ditty that sets the tone of the series. Lots of low end humor, goofy expressions and dopey cardboard villians. Kenshin himself is so one dimensional that he vanishes when standing sideways (he he). Actually, if he were one dimensional he'd be a point. Anyway he's the generic quiet but UNBELIEVABLY unstoppable fighter. The twist is, he's also a goofy dork. Perhaps the series improves but the after viewing the first DVD I have no desire to get another. My advice is to purchase Cowboy Bebop. It's the real deal. This one is way, way WAY overrated.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: light comedy, great action
Review: This is one of the many animes that mix great action with slight to heavy humor. The fighting sequences are well done, and the fights aren't dragged out for episodes upon episodes upon episodes. The soundtrack is much better in the japanese version, and the subtitles are easy to read. If you buy this dvd I would recommend trying out TRIGUN. You'll see similarites, but soon realize they are very different.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Introducing... Your New Addiction
Review: Rurouni Kenshin is one of the best series to have come out in the past few years. It's a sprawling epic tale of a wandering samurai who has vowed never to kill again and his struggle to keep it. Although the story does not hit its full stride until much later in the series (The Shishio Saga), this DVD is still a funny and captivating set of episodes.

On a technical note, there are some minor flaws. First, the Japanese track is mixed a little lower than the English track. Second, the typeface they use for the logos and title cards is really tacky. And finally, the translation is good but lacks the offbeat humor of the fansub version.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great series, one of the best ever made
Review: I just love the vast majority of this series (the last 30 or so episodes suck, I'm sorry, but isn't black-magic just a little cliche?). However, if you have never seen this series, I advise you to buy this, if not here, then go to your local anime shop.

I also advise avoiding the dubbed version. The voices could be a hella lot worse, but they still aren't great, it's like watching Ranma with a storyline and good characters. They also make Kenshin sound just a tad bit stupid (he repeats stuff and says, "I do," at the end of almost every sentence. ex: "I think that is what your father would want, I do.")

This and Flame of Recca, in my humble opinion, are the two best fighting animes ever, Dragonball just doesn't even compair in any catagory, it is that simple.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A perfect blend of fun and technique
Review: I am very picky with my martial art movies/manga, but Kenshin fits the bill perfectly. While the series does start off slowly, as many other series do, it is for the sake of giving the viewer a better insight as to Kenshin's past and his goals.

The first DVD has the first four series and focuses on Kenshin's "settling" in a little town called Tokyo during the beginning of the Meiji period. Kenshin, after years of being the biggest bad a** warrior against the shogunate has become a wanderer and has given up the traditional bladed sword for a reverse-bladed sword (essentially, the blade is switched around so that the only way Kenshin can ever kill anyone with a single slash is by using the akward inner curve of the top part of the blade) and has given up killing so that he can atone for his years of slaying by helping those in need of help.

The storyline does an excellent job of making sure you know just how powerful Kenshin is, even when he is acting clumsy for the sake of appearance. Other characters in the series, Sonoske and Yahiko especially, add a gracious amount of flavor and collaboration with Kenshin's own goals that will make you want to watch each series over and over.

I strongly suggest, so that you don't feel cheated, getting the first two DVDs, which show not only Sonoske's fight with Kenshin, but also Kenshin's first real fight that he is tempted to his old way as the Battousai. I say this because many people may feel cheated by the first DVD because it is mostly background episodes, but it immediately picks up with Sonoske and continues along an exciting vein thereafter. I guarantee that if you see the first two DVDs in a row, you will be addicted and will want to get the 3rd,4th, and will be waiting for the 5th DVD's release in February.

If you are interested in a more serious Kenshin showing, I strongly suggest Samurai X: Truth and Betrayal (2 DVDs) which show in excellent detail and even more beautiful art the past of Kenshin and how he became to be know as the Battousai. Also, look for Samurai X the movie.

The DVDs offer English dubbed, English subbed/Japanese spoken versions in one; storyline notes describing why certain things were named and more about the time period the series is set in; character profiles; some outtakes that are amusing; and especially detailed artwork that you can freeze frame and watch the progression of color and lines as they blend into a single fight.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Whoever rates this under 5 stars is smoking something
Review: Rurouni Kenshin is awesome. The animation, the plot, the character development. It's a very fun series but if you plan on getting the VHS version whatever you do DO NOT get the dubbed version because the voice acting just plain stinks. Instead get the subtitled version or get the DVD. The series is about Kenshin who was previously the Hitokiri Battousai, a feared assassin (if you want to find out more about that watch the OAV). Kenshin is a wandering samurai who has vowed not to kill. This series may seem like a violent one, but really isn't except for a few scenes. I really don't know why it's rated 13 and up. I really like this anim a lot, and it is by far the greatest one I have ever seen. It really surpases Fushigi Yugi, Serial Expirements Lain, Escaflowne, Ranma 1/2, Record of the Lodoss War, and many more.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of the Best Anime Series I Have Seen in a While
Review: I started with the Rurouni Kenshin Series a few months ago while I was searching for something new and different. I was always fascinated with Oriental Culture - especially the Samurai and Swordsmen in general. I was simple blown away by the story and the development of characters, and the artwork is beautiful. If you are a fan of anime, then this is a series that you should have for your collection because it is simply one of the better series I have seen in a while. I promise that you will not be disappointed.


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