From a collection of graphic novels, to an animated television series, to Playstation video games – it seems that the natural progression of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise is a move into cinema, and this popular Japanese manga has finally made its way to the big screen. Though it may not be particularly well known outside of East Asia, with a theatrical release in over 60 nations worldwide, perhaps it’s about time we got to know what Rurouni Kenshin is all about.
Directed by Keishi Ohtomo, we set foot into 1868, in the aftermath of the brutal Bakumatsu war. We delve into the life of Kenshin (Takeru Satô), a former assassin who, in a bid to repent for past sins, has decided to protect the locals, living by an oath to never kill again, One of those in need is Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), a fearsome yet vulnerable woman who seeks in defending the honour of her father’s school. The school used to be a home to the elusive, and vicious killer Battosai, who is on a barbaric rampage, killing innocent civilians and police officers alike. When Kenshin sees it as his duty to protect Kaoru, he finds himself undertaking a tougher task than initially envisaged, as the local, affluent entrepreneur Kanryuu Takeda (Teruyuki Kagawa) gets involved, wanting to take over the school to sell opium to the masses.
Remaining faithful to its original publications, Rurouni Kenshin feels like a comic book in the way it has been presented, with a series of quick-fire edits, as we move swiftly between frames, with few panning shots – a technique used mostly during scenes of conflict. It looks impressive too, complete with a chilling ambiance, helped along by a consistent downpour of rain, with a dark, brooding atmosphere not too dissimilar to that of Sin City. Nonetheless, Ohtomo does abide by a somewhat traditional formula, with a damsel in distress amongst other familiarities of the genre. There is also a romantic sub-plot, yet it never steals the limelight and remains in the background, leaving the emphasis on what truly matters.
Though becoming surrealistic at times, with a supernatural edge – Ohtomo has earnt the audience’s suspension of disbelief with a riveting opening act. It remains relatable all the while, as at the very core of this tale is a man vying to change his image and clear his name – and the villains are effectively just drug dealers, so despite the period setting and the culture depicted, this is a tale that could be placed anywhere and remain equally as relevant.
As for our hero, Kenshin is depicted in a somewhat effeminate manner, yet he remains believable and despite the plethora of potentially fatal scenarios, where it’s just one man against many, you never once doubt his survival. Oh, and you’ve got to respect a man who strolls around wearing socks and sandals, so comfortably and proudly. On a negative note, the villain isn’t quite infallible enough, and with a handful of antagonists, we are distracted by the various tangents in the narrative, disallowing us the chance to put our energy into one real adversary. That said, Kagawa is suitably freakish in his role as Kanryuu, and we certainly believe in his uncontrollable lust for power.
The choreography also leaves a little to be desired, especially in the big set pieces towards the end of the picture, yet Rurouni Kenshin comes complete with a strong message – whereby our lead is against the act of killing, not encouraging such violence like so many films in this genre does. Herein lies a franchise all set up for sequels, and you can see why, as you can’t help but want to step foot into this world and revisit this set of characters once again.
[Rating:3/5]
Clip – Street Fight
