Rating: Summary: A beautiful movie... Review: This movie is among the best I've ever seen. No expense is spared in the creation of Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal. The animation is crisp, smooth, and extremely detailed. The story is wonderful and well-crafted, the violence has plenty of purpose to it (and it is extremely violent- definantly not for the kids), in fact everything has purpose to it, and this is the only movie I've watched again and again just to hear the soundtrack. I picked this movie up, hoping for just a good Samurai slasher, but what I got was so much better than any slasher. It's an emotional ride, and every aspect of this film come together to deliver a killer performance. This is by far the best anime movie I've ever seen, surpassing legends like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop. Samurai X should be a part of any serious anime fans collection, because no anime experience is complete without this movie.
Rating: Summary: This is incredible! Review: Whether you are a Rurouni Kenshin fan or not, you must see this. Everything about this movie is fantastic. The pacing is steady, not fast and rushed like the anime or manga. But be warned: This movie is gory. Be prepared mentally, this movie is dark, depressing, and very heavy. There is a ton of blood and violence. So if you are weak of stomach or heart, this is not the best choice for you. You will fall in love with Kenshin and Tomoe as they struggle to live with one another and come to terms with their pasts. From beginning to end this movie will have you hooked. I recommend the sound track too, the music is gorgeous. A 5/5.
Rating: Summary: A Work of Art Without A Doubt! Review: Beautifully drawn, Samurai X is just an anime masterpeice. I would reccomend it to any anime fan of Rurouni Kenshin, or anime lover. In fact, anime lover or not, everyone will most likely find a way to enjoy this movie. It is aimed at more mature audiences, probably because of the excessive blood and gore, alcohol use, mature themes (including a non-graphic sex scene) But, despite the name, It includes romance, and angst as well. When you do watch this movie, I would also recommend that you are ready for something completely different from the popular tv series. In Rurouni Kenshin, you have a much more uplifting and suspensfully wonderful anime, but heed my word, if that is the only thing that floats your boat, you may not want to watch Samurai X Trust and Betrayal. As awesome beyond belief as this anime is, the plot is very angsty and depressing, with a more romantic theme. Being a huge fan of our favorite, sweet, kind, and peaceful warrior, Kenshin, myself, it was surprising to see such a strangely different side to him. Tha animation takes a little getting used to, but it's diverse style is what made me appreciate it more. In fact, when I saw it, I was amazed at how much more serious and (to me) prettier than the tv show it was. It is also interesting to see the perfectly spaced out character development, with reticent and beautiful Tomoe, and troubled, assasin man, Kenshin. And as an aside, you may be better off seeing the tv show, or at least up to episode 14, to really get the idea. And you will also be pleased to know this also explains how our favorite Samurai got that mysterious X scar, hence the name. All in all, I distictly remember watching a video clip for it, and being awed at its amazing beauty. (Not to mention I was bawling my eyes out, being that it was the saddest scene!) Samurai X is just great, with action, blood, sake (gotta love that), Samurai(and be fair! EVERYONE likes a samurai), saddness, reality, romance, trust, and betrayal. The name says it all. One of the best yet!
Rating: Summary: Very good Review: Probably one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time!!! I love the Manga series, so I wanted to see the OAV. I immediatley fell in love with it. The animation is incredible and the movie is dubbed very well. I would recommend it to anyone. But be prepared for it, it is very heavy and dark. Lots of violence and gore, but you should definatley see it if you think you can handle it. You will love the characters and the plot. You SHOULD know something about Japanese history before you see it though, or it will leave you scratching your head. I'd recommend this to ANY Rurouni Kenshin fan and even people who do not like Anime or Manga. This is definatley a 5 star movie.
Rating: Summary: Wow WOW WOW!! Review: This is the most incredible movie I've ever seen. I watched the entire Rurouni Kenshin series, asking myself what could've happened to Kenshin back then? This story is beautiful. If you enjoy action, drama, romance, and tragedy, get this movie! It is definitly worth the money! After you purchase it, you'll lay thinking in bed for hours in the dark. A wonderful, wonderful DVD, my personal favorite! Get it!!
Rating: Summary: A thing of beauty Review: This may be the most visually stunning film I've ever seen. It's like it was intended to be art, not entertainment. The story, though, is what earned this movie a special place in my heart. It's poetry, the kind of tale you carry around with you forever. It's a war story, a love story, and a story of sin and redemption. It made me want to cry, and, for some bizarre reason, arrange flowers. (Insert shrug here. Flowers, huh? Whatever.) Everything seemed more beautiful once this story had become a part of me (even my annoying little sister seemed beautiful). I'm a sucker for these kinds of stories.
Rating: Summary: Good movie but not like the "Rerouni Kenshin" series Review: I got this movie for christmas expecting more of a the "Rerouni Kenshin" looks... you know the slap-stick humor, the wide eyes in shock whole thing. But the movie is NOTHING like the cartoon series. That was my mistake, I was expecting the cartoon series. DON'T! Its a sad movie and not much humor is in it. I am going to tell you the story but im not going to ruin it for you. The story is this, Shinta was an orphan whose parents died of sickness so he was turned into a slave. But his slave masters were attacked and he was saved by Hiko. Hiko changed his name to Kenshin and taught him Hiten Mistourougi(I think thats how its spelled) syle of swordmanship. Kenshin became an assassin. Later he picks up a girl named Tomoe after being attacked. Time passes and then Kenshin's clan was attacked so he had to run. The leader of Kenshins clan advises him to move out of town and pretend to be husband and wife with Tomoe. That's only the first part but I can't really tell the second part without ruining the movie. But this dvd explains how Kenshin got the cross-shaped scar on his cheek. The movie is a sad movie but one of the best parts of the movie is the music. The music can stay in your head for quite awhile. Unlike the cartoon series, none of the music uses rock instruments(electric guitars, drumset, etc.) it uses classical music instruments. So expect classical music. There are some complaints, but not enough for me to give it 4 stars. First of all you can't really tell if when the first movie ends and the second begins. Also the ending credits are in japanese and the subtitles won't tell you who helped to make this wonderlful movie. I also thought there was going to be some more extra features but there isn't just previews to other anime movies. As another reviewer had said before this is a hard movie to watch. You have to be set to see a sad movie. You also have to have a open heart or sorta interested into love stories or you won't see how sad and great this movie really is, but if you are you will feel the emotions of the movie and see the greatness of this movie. Oh I almost forgot, this is both trust and betrayal put together, don't buy them separate or your wasting money, and if you do buy them separate "Trust" is a cliffhanger so you will be itching to get the "Betrayal" movie. Just buy this dvd so you can watch it in one sitting. I hope this review helps you to go out and buy this movie, anime fan or not.
Rating: Summary: Must have for Kenshin fan Review: Trust & Betrayal follows the life of Kenshin, from his youth as an orphan named Shinta, to his violent life as Battousai the manslayer, and then to his life as a man seeking atonement for his plentiful sins. As an orphan, he sees the murder of the people presently caring for him, and is saved from getting killed himself by the man who will become his master. Kenshin, however, abandons his master before his training is fulfilled in order to stop a corrupt government and fight for the "good" guys. He kills without feeling, suppressing his emotions and conscience, and is the most effective assassin on either side. And then he meets Tomoe, a woman everyone mistakes for a prostitute. Unknown and unrealized to Kenshin, Tomoe is as much a pawn of the revolution as Kenshin himself is, being used by the opposition to exact revenge, as well as by his own people to ensure that he doesn't break down emotionally and become useless as a fighter. Kenshin's fiercest struggles, however, are not physical. It is too easy for this killing machine to defeat his opponent for the fight to ever be called into question. His struggles only truly begin when he finally lives a normal life, and starts to question why he thought he could only be happy using his sword to kill for justice, asking himself if justice can ever be exacted through murder? While the main premise of Kenshin is fascinating, the theme of atonement, and if good ends can ever be justified by evil means, my problem with the movie is that I don't think the relationship between Kenshin and Tomoe was developed enough to make me believe that Kenshin's existence with Tomoe was enough to begin his path to redemption and atonement. While what happens at the end clearly would be a catalyst for a change, (I won't spoil it here by telling you,) I don't think I saw the type of romantic relationship between them that would make me believe they had fallen in love. I didn't see any sparks, only two people living a daily existence in a situation they were forced into. Still, the Kenshin fan must see this DVD. It fills in the blanks as to what caused Kenshin to become the manslayer, how he got the famous X-shaped scar, and what caused him to realize he needed redemption. It also explains why Kenshin would be hesitant to ever embark upon another serious relationship- talk about get the wool pulled over your eyes and then the rug pulled out from under your feet in a matter of hours. I do think the relationship between Kaoru and Kenshin in the series is much more believable, because Kaoru is a character I could see Kenshin falling in love with, smart, strong, always trying to do the right thing, but still a woman who needs some protection. I never knew Tomoe well enough to believe that Kenshin would have fallen in love with her. Kenshin fans should appreciate this movie. The animation is slightly different, better in fact, and there is none of the sometimes over the top silliness of the series- although much of what makes Kenshin lovable in the series is his goofiness. The movie is worth getting if for no other reason than to learn about Kenshin's past. For those who don't know Kenshin, I would probably not recommend this DVD. You won't appreciate Kenshin without knowing his TV series personality, as his personality in the movie is a little flat and humorless, and quite a bit more serious. I would suggest watching the first few episodes of the Kenshin series- you can buy the English dubbed versions in sets of three episodes. I can almost guarantee you will be hooked if you do. Finally, I would recommend this DVD set over buying the movies separately. Although my DVD didn't seem to come with any of the promised extras except previews, I liked watching the two movies as one long movie with only a second-long black screen in between them. The DVD set could easily have been made as one movie to begin with, and probably would have in this country, as a one hour movie is unheard of in the U.S.. As an aside, the preview of Samurai X, Reflection, is compelling enough to watch over and over before you actually view the last movie of the OAV. In fact, my kid made me play it four times in a row. I would have given this five stars, except for the problem of the lack of development of the relationship of Kenshin and Tomoe, and the fact that I don't think non-Kenshinites will be able to relate to it.
Rating: Summary: a truly wonderful masterpeice Review: Samurai X is one of the best movies I've seen. It is very violent but it is great! the action scenes are amazing and the story is wonderful. if u liked the series (rurouni kenshin) then u will also love this movie too. ~~but i'd reccomend seeing this movie before u watch the series~~
Rating: Summary: Top notch sword fight flick Review: "Samurai X - Trust and Betrayal (Director's Cut)" is probably the best chambara anime that I have seen. Excellent story, top-notch animation, pathos and melodrama, over-the-top sword fighting...everything you want from sword-fight flicks. There is a big difference between good chambara and bad chambara, and there is far more bad chambara than good. This DVD is an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. Medieval Japan is on good display here, with an nice blend between fact and fantasy. Not exactly Kurosawa, and not exactly "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the warriors perform some pretty amazing feats befitting the super samurai that they are. The blood is fairly fountain-like, but not silly. This is my only experience with "Rurouni Kenshin," and to tell the truth, a friend had to force this DVD on me as I didn't want to see anything with the stupid name of "Samurai X." I am glad that I gave it a chance.
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