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Buttousai - The Killer Movie of the Year
The Rurouni Kenshin fever is rekindled, as the movie has impressed in every department!
Oro? Battousai Sugoi!
Samurai X fans' dreams of seeing the highly popular manga "Rurouni Kenshin - Meiji Kenkaku Romantan" in real life became true when a live-action movie was announced in July 2010, starring Takeru Satoh (of Kamen Rider Den-O fame) as Kenshin Himura/Battousai.
Adopting mainly from the first two arc of the manga and anime, the story portrayed the assassin, Himura Battousai, who struggled with himself emotionally while committing numerous murders during the Bakumatsu war, the last years of the Edo period. After the war, he disappeared and no one ever heard of him since then.
Ten years after the Meiji Restoration, a wandering swordman, Kenshin Himura, appeared in Tokyo with a reverse blade, seeking a peaceful life. However, a killer named Buttousai threatened the peace in Tokyo and a dark conspiracy was behind the murders made by him. Will Kenshin save the people he had sworn to protect with his reverse sword?
It's an almost-prefect movie!
Let me review the movie in the different departments. So let's start from...
Story:
The movie is not a full adaptation from the manga and anime. Be prepared for some minor to semi-major changes to the original storyline and characters. By squeezing a significant amount of the manga volumes into one 2-hour movie, you definitely have to sacrifice the story plot and development of some characters, which Samurai X die-hard fans will definitely see.
The movie does have some light-hearted scenes, especially with the presence of Sanosuke and Kenshin's "Oro!" moment. However, much of the slapstick humor you may have seen in the manga or anime have been removed, giving a "do-or-die" serious feel to the movie.
Yet with these changes, the movie never falls short of our expectations. In fact, it has exceeded what we can wish for. A well balance mixture of action, emotions and character development, the movie brings out that same Kenshin mood: the struggles of a former assassin to not kill anyone while protecting those around him.
Choreography:
As of any anime/manga fan fears, with the elaborated amount of actions and out-of-the-world scenes, one will wonder how the director, Keishi Ohtomo will bring out Kenshin's speed and sword techiques into live-action.
The movie, however, brings justice to the manga/anime as these scenes are well executed with very little CG and perfect action directions, choreography. Say for a few blood scenes and wireworks, the movie brings a fresh and unique experience to the viewers. All the fight scenes featuring Sanoksuke sure bring out laughter in us.
Casting:
We definitely have little complains on the director's choices. Takeru Satoh sure brings out the character of Kenshin Himura to life with his "Oro!" expressions and his interaction with Kaoru and Megumi. There is some reservations (in my opinion) on how he portrays the killer and ruthless look of Battousai though. Still overall, he is the perfect choice for Kenshin.
To be in the foot of the female lead characters, Kaoru and Megumi must be very tough, as they are involved in many emotional scenes. Emi Takei and Yu Aoi definitely portray these moments with conviction and realism. Our little critique of them is that Emi's Kaoru looks more pretty than Yu's Megumi, unlike the reverse portrayal in the anime and manga.
The director sure has found the perfect villain in Teruyuki Kagawa as Kanryuu Takeda. He sure brings out the bad-ass and "only money can rule the world" attitude. Finally how can we forget Munetaka Aoki as ever funny Sanosuke Sagara?
Our Verdict:
There is no doubt that this is one of the best movie adaptation from an anime/manga series, if not the best Japanese movie I have watched thus far. With an awesome cast, fighting scenes and emotional moments, even the original author of Kenshin gives his stamp of approval to this creation of Kenshin's world!
Rurouni Kenshin now opens in Filmgrade Cineplex Bugis+!
More reviews here:
The Live Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie is a Nearly Perfect Film Adaptation
Rurouni Kenshin Movie Review: No samurai movie is complete without a duel in the rain
Rurouni Kenshin - Anime News Network Review