~Rurouni Kenshin (Highly recommended viewing)

My Rurouni Kenshin trilogy set on Blu-ray.

From beloved manga to anime and then to the big screen, “Rurouni Kenshin” makes a solid case as one of the very best samurai genre sagas ever to be adapted from the fantasy pages into a full blown action packed cinematic gem!

Theatrically released between 2012~2014 “Rurouni Kenshin” is brought to live action in a now completed trilogy: “Rurouni Kenshin”, “Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto Inferno” and “Rurouni Kenshin The Legend Ends” all of which have seen both DVD and Blu-ray releases in both individual movie releases as well as complete box sets. Getting the Blu-ray complete trilogy box set is recommended!~! …as these films feature vibrant period sets, explosive effects along with some of the most dynamic fight choreography filmed to date! All of which would look much better in Blu-ray true HD.

(The following words are movie spoiler free and safe for all ages =)!)

Satou Takeru♥!~! is perfectly cast as the wandering swordsman legend “Himura Kenshin” whose bloody past as an assassin now hides a dark secret, one which has rebirthed himself as a wanderer whom swears to never kill again and while most darkened pasts likely come back to haunt oneself, this inevitable reality is met with deathly circumstances which progress and twist throughout the three movies. The story of “Rurouni Kenshin” takes place during the Meiji period of Japan, a time of the country’s industrial revolution where Japan’s economic, military and social relations saw major movements and changes as the country transcended from an isolated feudal society into its modern state. Much of the films underlying storylines are reflected in this very sense as the growing Western influences are set to make a stronghold all the while the ways of the samurai are ever nearing its extinction.

One day a second chance meeting occurs between Kenshin and “Kamiya Kaoru” (played by the gorgeous Takei Emi) as an act of oppressive government officials and Kaoru (whom has inherited her father’s Kendo school) cross paths bringing the mysterious and yet enlightened Kenshin into the lives of Kaoru, her family and her circle of life-long friends. Enter Udou Jin-e (played by Kikkawa Koji), a ruthless killer who has assumed Kenshin’s former and darker self with his previous identity as “Battousai”, a man hell bent on bringing Kenshin back into his former world of death and darkness. “Rurouni Kenshin” features numerous character developing sub-plots which help to add an additional aura of conflict, intensity and intrigue helping to enrich the story all the while never muddying the main storyline’s course. Also brought to light is Kenshin’s iconic facial cross-scar and how it came to be a never ending reminder or the man he used to be and his now life-long reasons for avoiding killing at all costs. Also Kenshin’s uniquely odd backwards blade aids to keep this will for life in check all the while remaining a means for defense, and yet will Kenshin be able to protect those he cares for most with his conflicted heart in despair as his surrounding menaces reach an inevitable and climatic fever-pitch?

“Rurouni Kenshin” features a pretty stellar cast and addition to the already aforementioned Satou Takeru, Takei Emi and Kikkawa Koji…also notable are the roles of Aoi Yu and Eguchi Yosuke whom I’m sure many out there are fans of! The sequels “Tokyo Inferno” and “The Legend Ends” adds to the cast of regulars, great performances by Fujiwara Tatsuya (who’s done many a memorable role!) along with a MOST MOST gush~worthy role by the icon himself Fukuyama Masaharu♥…I won’t spoil his character’s revealing here as it’s one of those OMG! moments in film that you just have to experience first hand and you’ll love and appreciate his being cast here so so soooo much….it’s pretty much genius! ^^.

~ “Rurouni Kenshin” can be ordered @ YesAsia (You’ll need to scroll down a bit and through a few pages here to locate all of the available editions as they’re sold singly and as complete trilogy box sets, also take note of the subtitle information for each version~