Rating: Summary: The best! Review: I've never seen such a rough, sad, beautiful and romantic anime. I've seen many of them but this one rules. Great story, breathteaking animation, beautiful music and elaborate characters. All of these elements guide you to the sad end. And I recommend to everybody to watch all the episodes in TV series and of course, last OAV. You won't regret it.
Rating: Summary: I trust you to buy trust. Review: First off I would like to say that whatever written in my review is my opinion and mine alone. It is neither fact nor fiction, It is merely how I interperuted the story. Now, with that off my back I shall move into the reviewing part of the review.In the beginning of this sad tale Shinta's (The lead character, later known as Kenshin) Caretakers were brutally murdered (No gratuitous rape scenes involved thank god) filling him with, not hate but a certain need to help people. He is saved and trained by a great warrior who changes Shinta's name to Kenshin Beacause he claims it's more manly or something like that. Kenshin becomes a great fighter but He feels that his master is holding him back. He wants to save the innocents that are getting slaughtered during the war. His master won't allow it because he thinks Kenshin is not ready. Not physically unready, but mentally unready. He fears that Kenshin will become a killer. And that's exactly what happens. Despite his masters warnings he leaves and works for a group fighting against the "Bad Guys". At first he uses his blade only to protect people. But before long he is asked to asassinate someone. He is asked to kill someone who has been killing innocents. He hesitates but does what he is asked. Pretty soon he is killing hundreds without knowing what they have done. He just does what he is told. The animation in Samurai X is stunning, as well as the dubbing. Samurai X is very violent but is done in a way that makes it beutifull. It's done with such grace it makes it seem more like dancing. Similiar to crouching tiger hidden dragon. Buy this with Betrayal and if you samurai X thirst still doesn't go away collect all of the Rurouni Kenshin DVDs.
Rating: Summary: Comparable to Ninja Scroll? no.. Review: Let me start by saying that what i find interesting in anime is a kind of hyper-kinetic surrealism with lots of far-out over-the-top ideas and images. So, this review is for others like me.. i ordered this dvd after many people said it was comparable to Ninja Scroll. It's not. boring realism typical plot uninteresting artwork uninspired action
Rating: Summary: Incredible Review: If you are a Kenshin fan, you don't have to read this. Just go buy it if you haven't seen it yet. If you have not seen Rurouni Kenshin, it just doesn't matter. This is as good as it gets. Animation is beyond most other anime. The story is intricate and incredible. The action is teeth-grinding and what comes after is "That was so cool." One note: After watching this you are going to feel empty, like your soul is missing something.... so watch Rurouni Kenshin: The TV Series After!
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: TECHNICAL PROS AND CONS Review: There's already a lot of comments on the storyline, the drawings, etc., but now I want to make a warning here, so everyone knows what they're getting. Personally, I like my anime (specially when it's in DVD) to be as faithful as it can to the original japanese versions. In this case, I must say there's quite a poor job of keeping up with it. That's why I decided to give it 3 stars, NOTHING ELSE (these OVAs are one of my favorite pieces of animation and I would undoubtedly give it even 6 stars, if it was just for the content itself). So, here: Pros: * Good quality masters for source. * Subtitles deliver. Cons: * Horrible use of abovementioned masters: Text screens, needed to understand the story development, show up TEXTLESS (!!). This because the masters did not include the japanese text on them. * Disgusting titling screens that use ridiculous fonts in outlandish designs and drawings, highly computerized, in replacement for the ancient Japan kind of lettering. Might sound as a minor issue, but clashes terribly with the overall feeling of the show. * Case design is very much in the line of the title screens. I can't say about the dub, because I haven't listened to it and I won't. Don't like dubs. But there, I hope you all think twice before getting this version; if you don't mind these, be my guest and buy.
Rating: Summary: About the rurouni Review: I read the review above, and i only have one thing to say: okay, this four ovas are not from watsuki, okay, kenshin was never a samurai (he was a legendary hitokiri), okay, this four ovas do not look like the tv series, but, what the hell, this ovas are even the most cool thing i saw about kenshin, they present a more darker battousai, with more fellings than ever, more depper person. The story looks really like a drama, not like a funny anime show, anyway i love the tv series, but this ovas are a must have.
Rating: Summary: True Classic Anime Review: This is the first of 2 volumes which give background information on the Rurouni Kenshin series - an excellent anime in its own right. If you have seen the series, do not expect the light-hearted humour that is prevalent there. This 4-part OVA is dead serious. There are a few 'funny' parts, but the humour is completely different and much more dark. Spoiler Warning Spoiler Warning The premise is this - young Shinta (meaning 'boy with a heart' is saved from bandits by the swordsman Hiko, who gives him the name Kenshin (meaning boy with sword in his heart), teaches him the Hiten Mitsurugi sword technique so he can use it to protect people. However, Kenshin is impatient, and leaves Hiko to train with the Kihei-tai, a group that is rebelling against the Tokugawa Shogunate. Soon, his skills are noticed by Lord Katsura, the leader of the Choshu clan. Kenshin kills the enemies of his new master to help facilitate the revolution, but it turns him into a ruthless murderer, until... I won't spoil it for you here. You really must see it for yourself. But be sure to get Betrayal as well - that concludes the story.
Rating: Summary: Good! Review: I am almost tempted to say this is NOT anime. Sure, it has the familiar huge eyes and huge faces type of art, but it also has many things most other animes out there don't - a good story, coherent characters and a well written orchestral soundtrack, which are all essential for a good movie. The animation itself is on a high level - not Akira or Ghost in the Shell, but pretty high nonetheless (think Cowboy Bebop). The story is a tragedy set in 19th century feudal Japan and centers around the exploitation of young men as hired assasins because of their political naivety, as the hero, Kenshin, gets exploited. The story follows him as he matures and realizes this by falling in love with a young woman. This is yet another "Samurai looking for redemption" story, but one that people (me included) like hearing over and over again, provided that it is well told - and it IS well told in this film. One of the things I felt was missing from this movie is a humor. I did not smile once during the show. All of the characters have tried their best to remain as serious as possible - perhaps to a point that made them inhuman at times. This problem of being overly dramatic is however common in anime and shouldn't detract too much of this movie's value. All in all, not a cinematic masterpiece, but definitely one that is worth your time and money. (A warning, though - it tends to get quite gory at points, and is not intended for kids.)
Rating: Summary: As if it needed another great review Review: Simply put, this is the best anime I've ever seen. The animation, story, characters, just everything about it is incredible. The endless gallons of blood might deter some, but the OVA is so artistic I doubt anything else could ever come close. But since they insist on not using its proper title, I just wish they could have thought of something a little less [bad].
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