[JAPAN MOVIE 2012-2014] るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- / RUROUNI KENSHIN

[pechumori]

Next magazine 2014 Sato - Rurouni Kenshin special edition vol.7
credit: Baidu Takeru Sato






the rest of the pictures can be seen in Takeru Sato's thread

[Guest dongwookie]

so there is an RK thread in soompi!
i watched Legend Ends twice already. for all its supposed faults (slow start, a very tamed down Juppongatana, low character development, etc) i love the movie to bits. as a new RK manga fan, i'm still amazed how the creators of the movie managed to translate the 256-chapter saga into 7 or so short hours, and still present a crowd-pleasing trilogy. and the action, it was superb!
Himura Kenshin is such an amazing character. i'm used to American heroes, and for the life of me, can't think of anyone of them who refuses to kill (everyone is welcome to refute me here). and that's why i am in awe of this samurai. he had been to the hell and back, and it's amazing how he can still be this soft-spoken and gentle (and baka, too!), no matter how many times his past enemies try to get him back to his hitokiri self. i want to thank nobuhiro watsuki for creating Kenshin.
btw, someone mentioned Kenshin did not say "oro" in Legend Ends. actually he has this "oro" facial expression almost the entire time he was riding on top of a horse, with his hands tied at the back and trying his best not to fall down, on his way to his public execution. i applaud the writers for this subtle hint at Kenshin, the rurouni, in the midst of going into battle with Shishio. just goes to show he completely has not turned back to his hitokiri self in facing Shishio.

[Maja]

September 24, 2014 by The Movie Clubbers class="entry-title"‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends’ Is a Finishing Touch to a Masterpiece

BY Gina Tumlos

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends is the final installation for the Kyoto arc, and boy, what an ending it is. Those familiar with the anime will be pleased to see the appearance of a beloved character and hints of character back stories (which could *hopefully* mean a prequel) and those who were hooked just recently on Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno  will be floored by the intense and deftly choreographed fight scenes this film is littered with.

The theme of death permeates heavily into many of the scenes, beginning with the very first shot of a young Kenshin Himura, then called Shinto, digging graves for his village and presumably, for his family. There he meets his master, Hiko (Masaharu Fukuyama), who takes him under his wing, and as the viewers will later on see, will test the adult Kenshin  (Takeru Satoh) to his limits again until the wandering samurai finally discovers what he needs to defeat his nemesis Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara).

The first hour of the movie moves slow, too slow in fact, with a lot of dialogue between Kenshin and Hiko and far too many flashbacks from Kyoto Inferno. Had the two been spaced evenly, then perhaps this would not have been too much of a distraction; instead, the flashbacks feel like a waste of precious time which could have been used to showcase more of the film’s excellent sword fights. The pace picks up when Kenshin encounters Aoshi (Yusuke Iseya), with the latter hellbent on unleashing his decade-long hatred for Kenshin. The scene lasts for about seven minutes, but the movements of the actors are so quick it’s almost hard to keep track of who’s striking who. Kenshin’s back-bending backstep, perhaps the most brilliant move in the entire film, elicits the first genuine collective audience gasp.

Though The Legend Ends is not entirely faithful to the source material, memorable scenes from the anime (i.e. the one-on-one between Sano and Anji, Saitoh and Usui Uonoma, Yumi stepping in during the final battle and then BAM!) and important plot points are kept intact. What keeps the film together is Kenshin’s singular goal to see to it that Shishio is stopped. All the major players from the first two films return for the final battle scene which is set in Shishio’s ship. It is here that Sanosuke (Munetaka Aoki) shines once again. For all his bravado and loudness, this guy can literally pack a punch and take on just about anybody. Bloodied and bruised, he charges on and on as if his body does not register pain. He gets his scene with Anji, which, admittedly, was a bit of a disappointment, but only because their original back story was so well-developed and would have been a great story to tell.

Saito also gets his fair share of screen time and respect. His perpetual scowl and his signature cigarette make him such a daunting character to play and Yôsuke Eguchi takes him on with just the right amount of deference and intensity. The world stops in the three seconds it takes for Saito to get into position for his left-handed Gatotsu thrust. There’s no surviving that once that locks in.

All hell breaks loose on the ship as the ultimate battle takes place. Director Keishi Otomo’s earlier gamble pays off at last as the next 40 minutes of the film is nothing short of epic.  The boat rocks, characters rush in and rush out of the scene, Hoji’s madness takes a hold of him, and the swish and clang and the song of samurai swords provide the only soundtrack the movie needs. This fight scene more than made up for the stumbles of the first half of the movie and went beyond all imaginable expectations.  No movie in recent memory can match the complicity and high-speed choreography The Legend Ends has.

Overall, the Rurouni Kenshin franchise managed to pull off one of the best anime-to-live action adaptations in cinema history. Otomo took just enough creative license to make the series work onscreen without compromising its essence. The series makes a good study of what great pre-production, production, and post-production management looks like, and should there be any more Rurouni Kenshin movies in the future, hopefully the same cast and crew will be on board.

 

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends, distributed by Warner Bros., opens in Philippine cinemas today, Sept. 24, 2014. Book your tickets here, here, or here. 

Source: https://themovieclubbers.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/rurouni-kenshin-the-legend-ends-is-a-finishing-touch-to-a-masterpiece/#more-2006

[pechumori]

Welcome to the Rurouni thread @Lyrayoo!

Article for Rurouoni Kenshin 1

RUROUNI KENSHIN Press Notes

The Best Selling Comic Series Finally Becomes a Live Action Film
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan
Official Site: warnerbros.co.jp/rurouni-kenshin (Japan)
Translations: Elliot Gay

Theatrical poster for RUROUNI KENSHIN. Image courtesy
of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © Watsuki Nobuhiro/
Shueisha. ©2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

A kind smile and a caring heart. A slender build like a young boy and long hair.

But when this man moves to save somebody, his eyes become sharp like no other.

Faster than God, Stronger than Shura, able to take control of a battle against multiple foes.

Yet he has vowed to never take a life, no matter how evil his opponent may be.

Based on the best selling manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the live action feature film RUROUNI KENSHIN (るろうに剣心) hits theater screens across Japan on August 25th.

Initially published in Weekly Shonen Jump, the manga Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story (るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-, Rurooni Kenshin Meiji Kenkaku Roomantan) made waves as a series like no other, even going on to gain a large female reader base. The manga was originally serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1994-1999. Collected in 28 volumes, Rurouni Kenshin has sold over 54 million copies and been published in 23 countries (including a US release from Viz Media). A new manga series, Rurouni Kenshin Restoration (るろうに剣心 -キネマ版-, Rurouni Kenshin -Kinema-ban-), debuted in Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine this past June, with the English translated version currently running in Viz’s digital manga Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha.

The manga was adapted into a 95 episode RUROUNI KENSHIN (るろうに剣心―明治剣客浪漫譚―, aka SAMURAI X) anime series which aired from 1995-1998, the anime feature film RUROUNI KENSHIN: THE MOTION PICTURE (るろうに剣心―明治剣客浪漫譚―維新志士への鎮魂歌, Rurouni Kenshin: Ishin Shishi no Chinkonka, 1997) and the OAVs RUROUNI KENSHIN: TRUST AND BETRAYAL (るろうに剣心―明治剣客浪漫譚―追憶編, Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen, 1999), RUROUNI KENSHIN: REFLECTION (るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 星霜編, Ruroni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan Seisohen, 2001) and RUROUNI KENSHIN: NEW KYOTO ARC (るろうに剣心―明治剣客浪満譚― 新京都編, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Shin Kyoto-Hen, 2011).

Kaoru Kamiya and Kenshin Himura. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Japan. © Watsuki Nobuhiro/ Shueisha. © 2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production
Committee

To complete this dream project, a wide variety of talented actors and staff have come together to create a super high quality 134 minute film that even the original creator can be proud of.

The man in charge of making a faithful big screen adaptation of the original manga is the director of the hit drama RYOMADEN (龍馬伝, 2010), Keishi Ohtomo. Ohtomo quickly cast RYOMADEN actor Takeru Sato (MASKED RIDER DEN-O, ROOKIES, GOEMON) in the lead role as Himura Kenshin, with the blessing of the original comic writer/artist Nobuhiro Watsuki. Director Ohtomo proclaimed that, “If we’re making a live action version, the only man fit for the job is him.”

Rounding out the cast are Emi Takei (FOR LOVE’S SAKE), Koji Kikkawa (KAMEN RIDER OOO & W FEATURING SKULL: MOVIE WAR CORE), Yu Aoi (HULA GIRLS, HONEY AND CLOVER), Munetaka Aoki (OPPAI VOLLEYBALL, TIME TRAVELLER: THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME), Gou Ayano (GANTZ, HELTER SKELTER), Genki Sudo (KAMEN RIDER DOUBLE FOREVER: A TO Z – THE GAIA MEMORIES OF FATE), Eiji Okuda (MILOCRORZE: A LOVE STORY), Yosuke Eguchi (SAMURAI COMMANDO MISSION 1549) and Teruyuki Kagawa (20TH CENTURY BOYS trilogy, KAIJI 2).

An extraordinary comic, a devoted director and a cast ready for anything!

Warner Bros. Japan and foreign sales agent Gaga Corporation are pushing for an international release of RUROUNI KENSHIN, which could launch a live action film series.

Takeru Sato as Kenshin Himura. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © Watsuki Nobuhiro/ Shueisha. © 2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

A man called Hitokiri Battousai (Kouji Kikkawa) terrorizes the citizens of
Tokyo. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © Watsuki Nobuhiro/
Shueisha. © 2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

“I will never kill again.”

The legendary assassin who made a promise. Despite vowing to never cut down another man, he could still protect the people he cares about. This is the story of a man wielding a reverse blade — sharpened only on the edge he holds toward himself — a wanderer fighting against the times.

It’s been ten years since the start of the Meiji Era and Japan’s and transition from the Middle Ages to industrialization. Unemployed, having lost the right to wear the sword, and facing guns and cannons, the samurai have gradually disappeared into legend.

In Tokyo, a man calling himself the “Hitokiri Battousai” (The Man slayer) has appeared. Recklessly standing against him is the young woman Kaoru Kamiya and the mysterious man who saves her.

As fate would have it, Kaoru’s savior was actually the assassin who, in the Bakumatsu period, once earned the title Hitokiri Battousai. He has since changed his name to Kenshin Himura, a vagabond devoting his life to protecting others with his reverse blade. He becomes a lodger at Kaoru’s dojo, where she struggles to continue the sword style her father left behind.

Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), Yahiko Myojin (Taketo Tanaka), Megumi Takani (Yu Aio)
and Kenshin Himura. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © Watsuki
Nobuhiro/ Shueisha. © 2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

The true identity behind the new — and false — Hitokiri Battousai is Jin-e Udo, a bodyguard for the industrialist Kanryu Takeda. Forcing the female doctor Takani Megumi to make opium, Kanryu makes a great deal of money that he uses to purchase weapons to further his goal of trying to control the world.

Police officer Saito Hajime, a former member of the Shinsengumi, catches onto Kanryu’s scheme but is incapable of laying a hand on the man due to his strong political influence. Kicking off his plans, Kanryu begins to take the lives of innocent people in a bid to acquire the land around Kaoru’s dojo.

Unable to turn a blind eye to those who are suffering, Kenshin decides to take action. Faced with the insurmountable odds of facing Kanryu’s 250 man personal guard, Kenshin’s only ally is a brawler named Sanosuke Sagara. Will he be able to protect the people he cares about with only his reverse blade?

CHARACTERS

Kenshin Himura: Takeru Satou
For five years starting from the age of 14, he was an assassin for the clan aiming to overthrow the Shogunate. After the restoration, he tried to change his way of living but found that one can never truly erase their past. The cross shaped scar on his face is proof of that.

Kaoru Kamiya: Emi Takei
A 17 year old girl protecting her dojo alone. She believes that the sword style her father taught, a blade that allows for others to live, is carried on through Kenshin’s reverse sword style. She seeks to support Kenshin.

Jin-e Udo: Kouji Kikkawa
Like a wolf thirsty for blood, he continued to kill others without end. However after meeting the Battousai and engaging him in life or death battle, he finds true meaning in his life.

Megumi Takani: Yu Aoi
The daughter of a long line of doctors, she becomes Kanryu’s lover in order to survive after her family is killed in battle. She truly regrets assisting him in taking the lives of others.

Sanosuke Sagara: Munetaka Aoki
A brawler who wields a Zanbatou (a type of long sword). While impulsive and quick to get angry, he’s a man who’s overflowing with kindness. It is through his earnest personality that he forms a true friendship with Kenshin.

Hajime Saito: Yousuke Eguchi
Former leader of the 3rd squad of the Shinsengumi. He is now a police officer in the Meiji government. He completely rejects Kenshin’s belief of using the sword to save others without killing.

Kanryu Takeda: Teruyuki Kagawa
An industrialist who believes there’s nothing one can’t buy with money. He has no problems with taking the lives of those he believes to be useless. He’s plotting to create a new empire.

CREDITS

Advance poster for RUROUNI KENSHIN. Image courtesy
of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © Watsuki Nobuhiro/
Shueisha. ©2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

Running Time: 134 minutes
Screen Size: 2.35:1
Japanese Theatrical Release: August 25, 2012

Cast
Kenshin Himura: Takeru Sato
Kaoru Kamiya: Emi Takei
Jin-e Udo: Koji Kikkawa
Megumi Takani: Yu Aoi
Sanosuke Sagara: Munetaka Aoki
Gein: Gou Ayano
Banjin Inui: Genki Sudo
Yahiko Myojin: Taketo Tanaka
Aritomo Yamagata: Eiji Okuda
Hajime Saito: Yosuke Eguchi
Kanryu Takeda: Teruyuki Kagawa

Staff
Director: Keishi Ohtomo
Executive Producer: William Ireton
Producer: Shinzo Matsuhashi
Original Comic: Nobuhiro Watsuki
Screenplay: Kiyomi Fujii and Keishi Ohtomo
Cinematography: Takuro Ishizaka
Production Designer: Sou Hashimoto
Action Director: Kenji Tanigaki
Music: Naoki Sato

Planning and Production: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Studio Swan
Theatrical Distribution: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan
International Sales: Gaga Corporation

© Watsuki Nobuhiro/ Shueisha. © 2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

Kenshin Himura and Sanosuke Sagara (Munetaka Aoki) leave their foes scattered in their wake. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan.
© Watsuki Nobuhiro/ Shueisha. © 2012 “Rurouni Kenshin” Production Committee

credit: scifijapan

[pechumori]

Rurouni Kenshin Art works





credit: amie689



credit: crellia



credit: YUNA77



credit: annmelisse



credit: Peacasson

source: deviantart

[Guest farstrep]

RK fan arts:

Random gifs:

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  



RK 1 fan arts:




credits: tumblr.com or as tagged

[Maja]

Deleted Scene in Rurouni Kenshin 2012
Kenshin and Kaoru Scene

CLICK HERE TO SEE VID

All rights reserved to Warner Brothers
No copyright infringement intended.

Source
RuroKen Movie

[Maja]

Spoiler Alert]

Ten tableflip-worthy moments in Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends

Fullcourtfresh.com September 30, 2014  

By ROEHL NIŃO BAUTISTA and MIKAEL ANGELO FRANCISCO

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends brings the senior-junior relationship of Kenshin Himura and Shishio Makoto to an end, with the bandaged antagonist finally getting his senpai‘s attention after kidnapping his girlfriend and bidding to overturn the Japanese government.

Tweaking a piece of wisdom from Tumblr:

“You are my senpai
My only senpai
We’re hitokiri
Back in the day
You’ll never kill me
So I will bite you
Tastes so great
Sugoi desu ne”

At least, that’s how we *think* it would look like without subs. Otherwise, we won’t know from Kaoru that “Kenshin came” or Hiko prodded his student to “Come at me.” Yeeeep, perfectly wholesome, right there. So we’re thankful for those who brought Rurouni Kenshin to the Philippines without dubbing, otherwise this list will be “Ten Table-Flipping Reasons Why Rurouni Kenshin Shouldn’t Have Been Dubbed (Oh God, Why).” (You really should stop spending too much time in the weird corner of the Internet, Ronin. – Mikael)

Anyway, on to the list! Here’s our list of the most tableflip-worthy moments in The Legend Ends. Whether we felt the urge to overturn our desks from excitement or frustration, it doesn’t change the fact that these scenes definitely left an impact on us.

Needless to say, SPOILERS AHOY for people who haven’t seen Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (to which we would say, “What the heck are you doing browsing the Internet, go and watch it, like, right now!” – Ronin).

1. Aoshi vs Kenshin

It took three movies, but we finally got to see the fight we really should have seen in the first installment: the dual-wielding, rage-fueled former captain of the Oniwabanshu, Shinomori Aoshi. Fans of the series (myself included) had been waiting for this fight ever since Aoshi beat the snot out of Sanosuke in Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno.

Unfortunately for *this* version of Aoshi, the first time he got to actually meet Kenshin just *had* to be the first time Kenshin stepped back into the “real world” after learning the Ultimate Technique from his master (more on that in a bit). Naturally, all Aoshi could do was draw his swords and act as a helpless target for Kenshin’s reverse-edged blade.

 

The latter was something he was able to do quite well. (Maybe a bit TOO well.)

Let’s be honest – there were few things in this film as satisfying as seeing Aoshi get smacked around with a well-executed Kuzu Ryu Sen (or at least, something as close to the Kuzu Ryu Sen as possible in live action).

We conveniently forgot that Aoshi was beaten using Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki, but we hoped to see the “flashing ring of speed” (we made that up) when it was finally shown in the movie.

 

Sojiro vs Kenshin Ahh, Seta Sojiro. The kid who can’t do three things: feel empathy, stop smiling, and find a good barber. Kidding aside, it’s easy to see why Sojiro is one of the most interesting – and dangerous – opponents Kenshin has ever faced. The boy could easily grow up to be another Shishio, perhaps even better – he’s got skill, strength, stamina, stealth, and shukuchi (speedy movement/”teleportation”). God, gotta love alliteration. Plus, he’s got that killer smile working for him. Except he’ll LITERALLY kill you.     In Kyoto Inferno, the speedy little brat broke Kenshin’s “shadow” sakabato; it’s a logical assumption that at some point during the last movie, Kenshin would get the chance to extract a bit of payback. And boy, he does; not only does he systematically attack Sojiro’s weak points with scary precision, he also puts a sizable hole in the misguided boy’s twisted outlook on life, leaving him a hair-pulling, crippled mess of tears with a broken sword and a broken spirit. Still, Kenshin also gave him the freedom to think about his life and find his own path after their battle. Or presumably drown when Shishio’s ship, Purgatory sank at the end. That Kenshin, such a mensch. The battle was truly a sight to behold – perhaps even ranking among the top 3 battles in The Legend Ends – but we feel that a bit of back story (a la Aoshi) could have helped the members of the audience who did not follow the original series to understand why this kid grew up to be so painfully antisocial.   Sanosuke vs Anji During the Rurouni Kenshin cast’s trip to Manila, when Munetaka Aoi told everyone to watch out for Sanosuke’s “special power,” we sort of thought we would finally see the Futae no Kiwami in live action. This could have been a win-win in two ways – we’d get to meet Sano’s mentor (or at least, the reason why Sano seems to be brain-damaged most of the time), and we’d finally get to see Sano do something *useful*. (And no, distracting Aoshi in Kyoto Inferno by becoming a human punching bag does not count as “useful.”) Well, the fearsome Buddhist monk DID make it into the film… Except in this version, he’s “just another member” of the Juppongatana (read: a glorified henchman with a better costume). There was absolutely no emotional connection between Sano and Anji, and while one can argue that it’s not even really necessary in the first place, it still would have been nice to see a bit more of Sano’s untold history, if only to flesh him out more as a character. Oh, and the so-called “special power?” A well-placed uppercut to the testicles. If there’s still any measure of doubt as to why we think this moment is tableflip-worthy, this should clear things up nicely. ‘Course, it’s not like that monk was going to use his balls for anything else, anyway. Oh, and just like in the first movie, Sano’s fight went cut-to-cut with Kenshin’s, serving as well-timed comedic breaks from the latter’s fight with Sojiro.   The execution sham For a movie with a rather straightforward story, The Legend Ends did have a few parts with so many twists that you could have sworn you were watching an M. Night Shyamalan movie. Shishio pressures the government into capturing Kenshin and publicly executing him… Pro tip: Well-cooked steak and a few swords to the back are the best bargaining chips. …Which turns out to be a ruse (surprise, surprise!) The kiss that never happened. In sequences like that, a hundred percent of the time, the question isn’t so much “Will the hero escape?” as it is “HOW will the hero escape?” Still, kudos to the filmmakers for managing to turn a foregone conclusion into an interesting and suspense-filled string of scenes. Also, it turns out that the execution sequence was the true beginning of the end – Kenshin’s escape immediately led to his final battle with Shishio (more on that in Part 2). Hiko Seijuro/that whole Ultimate Technique business Hiko Seijuro – He made it to our last list (clicky clicky!); he’s here, too, and with good reason. Don’t you love how he swings his wood with such confidence as he beats Kenshin with it while breaking some along the way? Oh, Hiko. Truly a master of beating wood. Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you Japanese idol Fukuyama Masahari, a man so special that when TV station NHK broadcasts its annual special for New Year’s Eve, he holds his own concert and THEN joins the show through the latter’s remote setup. It’s like, “I don’t come to you – you come to me.” (Careful, Ronin, we’re dangerously close to reaching our quota of “come” jokes. – Mikael) That’s how they met in the anime: Kenshin sought his master for the ultimate Hiten Mitsurugi technique, but not without getting smacked six ways to post-Tokugawa Sunday while being reminded of his most embarrassing moments.   “Remember when you wet your bed, little Shinta?” *beats mercilessly with wooden club*   Movie Hiko was badass – what he lacked in girth, he more than made up for in ego. Remember how he threw away his makeshift bokuto after breaking it while smacking the living daylights out of Kenshin? Yeah, it’s part of the lesson. Think about it – if movie Hiko did that much damage with a wooden sword, what more could he have done with a katana? In fact, The Legend Ends probably would have been over in an hour if Kenshin had persuaded his master to fight Shishio with him. Oh, and as we mentioned earlier, the Kuzu Ryu Sen – a special move that hits nine points of a person’s body at the same time – was used by Kenshin against Aoshi in their fight. That’s a Hiko original, too! (Maybe they didn’t let Fukuyama do it because they may have had to pay him more for that. Who knows?) If a version of this Kuzuryusen anime visualization was used, we would have made a tableflip + endearing 3-word-cuss-combo inside the theater.

Still with us? Here’s Part 2 of this list – click the link! Mikael and Ronin go way back from college, and are currently blogging respectively on mikaelangelofrancisco.com and roninbautista.ne t.

Source:  http://fullcourtfresh.com/2014/09/ten-tableflip-worthy-moments-in-rurouni-kenshin-the-legend-ends/

[pechumori]

8 Final Thoughts on “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends”

Sep 24, 2014

By Patricia Calzo Vega

A successful adaptation is no mean thing. Generation loss is always a possibility—this is the risk one takes when retrofitting narratives to a different storytelling medium—and there is the added matter of retaining old faithfuls while welcoming new recruits. Nostalgia sets expectations impossibly high, but the mere thought of lowering standards to more manageable levels seems a disservice to the legion of individuals who propelled the source material to popularity.

And yet, the Rurouni Kenshin live action trilogy has been breaking box office records and reaping critical acclaim since the first installment premiered in 2012. Yes, there will be quibbling about streamlined plots and diminished character involvement, but this is par for the course for any fandom, which thrives—in the words of Henry Jenkins, the granddaddy of participatory culture—on fascination and frustration. ‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends’ generates more of the former, and demands that we take off our nostalgia-tinted glasses and accept it for what it is: an interpretation that elevates the source material by respecting the maturity of its intended audience.
TL;DR? Let’s just call it legendary.

8. Cinematic catharsis

This could have been a simple victory lap for director Keishi Otomo, lead actor Takeru Satoh, and the rest of the cast and crew. They could have just stuck with the winning formula of a high impact opening sustained by action-packed set pieces. Instead Otomo takes a chance by starting slow and maintaining a more somber mood throughout the film; flashbacks to the previous installments make this tonal shift more apparent, while helping new viewers get up to speed with the story so far. Mission accomplished: the crowd at the press screening had a more measured response, even when the sword fights got really exciting.

(And I may have the benefit of hindsight, but the scenes’ color palette seemed to reflect Kenshin’s state of mind: blues and greys dominate his early scenes of uncertainty and contemplation, hopeful greens and natural light frame his epiphany, the fiery oranges and blacks evoke the danger and destruction unleashed by Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara).

7. Rurouni retreat

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno’s cliffhanger introduces viewers to a mysterious swordsman (Masaharu Fukuyama) who, trailers will show, plays an instrumental role in Kenshin’s training. Known as Seijuurou Hiko to fans, he is only identified in the movie as Master–he who taught Kenshin Hiten Mitsurugi sword fighting all those years ago, and whom Kenshin now entreats to share the famed final techniques.

Equal parts spiritual retreat and training montage, these scenes show that being a swordsman requires strength of body, mind,and spirit. Hiko questions Kenshin’s insistence on bearing responsibility by himself, his uneasy alliance with government (which somewhat contradicts the solitary way of the Hiten Mitsurugi master), and his conflicted interpretation of respect for human life.

And yes, the final techniques are executed in battle. Count the strikes in succeeding fight scenes to identify the Kuzu Ryu Sen, and let out a victorious shout when Kenshin finally name checks a move: the much awaited Ama Kakeru Ryu no Hirameki.

6. Past imperfect

But while Kenshin inches slowly towards the future, he continues to encounter fighters who are driven by their inability to leave their past behind. Aoshi Shinomori (Yusuke Iseya) is driven by the need to regain the honor he lost when the Oniwabanshu fell in battle by defeating the Hitokiri Battousai, while Sojiro Seta (Ryunosuke Kamiki)’s speed and precision is informed by a traumatic past that stripped him of empathy and imbued him with the belief that only the strong will survive. Their battles with Kenshin force them to face their demons and make decisions about their future.

5. All the single ladies

The women of Rurouni Kenshin are mostly strong-willed and capable in their own right, but chopping the Kyoto arc into two movies significantly reduced their participation in “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” into a source of inspiration and support for the men in their lives.

In some cases, characters are given a chance to shine: Yumi (Maryjun Takahashi) finally gets to do something other than hang on to Shishio’s arm, and Yu Aoi chews the scenery in Megumi’s brief but impactful interaction with Kenshin before the denouement.

Pro-tip: don’t talk to Misao fans about Misao (Tao Tsuchiya). There will be feels, and rightly so. Expediency has done away with the Oniwabanshu subplot and shortcuts were made to resolve their leadership crisis, at the expense of character development. On the other hand, hero worship is never a solid foundation for any sort of relationship–the movie just emphasizes how unsettling this can be.

And then there’s Kaoru. The previous movie saw the character take a more proactive response to the Kyoto fire, so it was a shame to see her fade into the background a bit. While absence may make Kenshin’s heart grow more resolute –mileage may vary depending on one’s shipper inclinations, since mysterious flashback lady makes another pivotal appearance–much of the chemistry between Emi Takei and Takeru Satoh is derived from their shared screentime and lessening their scenes together slightly dims the potential of their pairing.

4. Heart of sword

Leaving romantic notions aside, the character that expressed the most concern for Kenshin’s welfare was Sanosuke Sagara. That Sano is a crowd favorite and audience avatar–especially among new viewers–is a testament to Aoki Munetaka’s superb embodiment of the character. Astig, he says, and we agree. His cheerful attitude and never-say-die stance in the face of overwhelming odds resonates with us, because another thing Sano has is #puso.

3. Political plot twist

Fans gasped when the official trailer showed Kenshin being sentenced to death for the war crimes he committed as Hitokiri Battousai. Addressing the metanarrative surrounding Kenshin’s past and present heroics—power struggles, dirty politics, and underhanded cover-ups—was a risky move for Otomo. Hajime Saitoh (Yosuke Eguchi) and his antiestablishment tendencies notwithstanding, the original series rarely touched on this political aspect, focusing instead on Kenshin’s atonement, redemption, and badass fighting skills. Nuanced explorations of ethical grey areas are not a particular specialty of shonen fighting manga, so adding this dimension to Rurouni Kenshin’s Kyoto arc opens it to more mature discourse.

2. BOSS fights

This movie runs for approximately two and a half hours, and the last thirty or so minutes are devoted to the final encounter with Shishio. There are pyrotechnics! Tag teams! Unexpected comic relief! More importantly, Kenshin realizes that keeping the peace in Meiji society is not a solitary task. What’s not to love?

1. The end of an era

For legends, immortality is not their preferred reward, but fading into the obscurity of everyday life. We only get a very brief glimpse of that before the movie abruptly ends; after all, how peaceful can life with a notorious former assassin ever be? But the potential for happiness is there, and the slim possibility of a sequel—that’s a good enough ending for me.

credit:  8list.ph

[Maja]

#るろうに剣心 #RuroKenMovie BOX OFFICE NO. 1 ! (•̀ᴗ•́ﾒ)و
“Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends,” the second installment of a two-parter about a reformed sword-wielding assassin in post-feudal-era Japan, opened at number one with $8.6 million on 718,000 admissions for the Sept. 13-14 frame. That was 55% better than the opening weekend B.O. for the previous installment, “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” last month. [VARIETY]

Still at NO. 1 on its Third Week
Meanwhile TLE topped the weekend box office in the Philippines , with $926,087 gross to date ticket sales on its opening weekend.

XX KYOTO INFERNO BOX OFFICE STATS XX
Japan 8/1/14 $49,080,307 (No. 1/Top 10 , 9 weeks screening)
Hong Kong 9/18/14 $114,544 (Top 10, on its 2nd week)
Philippines 8/20/14 $1,827,401 (No. 1 for 2 weeks/Top 10, 5 weeks screening)
Singapore 8/28/14 $567,294 (Top 20 , screened for 6 weeks)

Source Box Office Mojo — with Michael Kaka Kenshi and Jaella Lumactod.

From
Rurouni Kenshin るろうに剣心

[pechumori]

MOVIE REVIEW: Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends All good things must come to an end, even the most awesome samurai action movie ever. By: Mark V. Navarro  |   Published on: Sep 24, 2014

In 1994, writer/artist Nobuhiro Watsuki created the Rurouni Kenshin manga about Kenshin Himura, a wandering samurai seeking redemption for his sins as a former assassin during the tumultuous Meiji Restoration in turn-of-the-century Japan. Then in 1996, the manga was adapted into an anime, the incarnation that garnered the widest audience. Until 2012—18 years, 28 volumes, and 95 episodes later—when it was adapted into a live-action film. Now in 2014, the two-part sequel is being released: Kyoto Inferno last August, and The Legend Ends this September.

 

The police try to arrest Kenshin Himura (Takeru Sato), formerly Japan’s most feared assassin.

Who would have thought this thing would catch on? Just kidding. Although I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t get into Rurouni Kenshin as much as my friends did (or manga and anime in general), even as a casual fan I recognized it as one of the greats. And so I was excited to finally see this series on the big screen and in live-action, if a little hesitant with this installment and its title’s promise.

 

Hoji Sadojima (Kenichi Takito), right-hand man of the villain Makoto Shishio, mocks the captive Kenshin.

 

Any hesitation I had was proved misplaced. Director Keishi Otomo juggles a large ensemble cast and a sprawling story to bring this series to an extremely satisfying conclusion. The action scenes are breathtaking, especially the fight scenes which mix real martial arts techniques with hyper-real ones from the manga. Kudos to the choreographer! The atmospheric scenes are equally breathtaking and showcase the natural beauty of Japan, be it a rugged coastline or a lush bamboo forest. There is one moving scene towards the end where Otomo’s national pride is evident, a literal salute to their figurative history.

Kenshin is schooled with a piece of wood by his old master Seijuro Hiko (Masaharu Fukuyama).

 

Takeru Sato is put through his acting paces as Kenshin Himura tries to overcome both physical and mental challenges in his mission to stop the villain Makoto Shishio. Doing the challenging is Kenshin’s old master Seijuro Hiko, who doesn’t approve of how Kenshin has applied his training in the intervening time since they last saw each other. Masaharu Fukuyama commands respect as the superior swordsman. Their “reunion” takes up most of Act One.

 

Tatsuya Fujiwara plays Makoto Shishio, who replaced Kenshin as the country’s most feared assassin. Shishio plans to conquer Japan and take revenge for his employers’ betrayal.

Misao Makimachi (Tao Tsuchiya) tends to her fallen comrade, Aoshi Shinomori (Yusuke Iseya).

 

Unfortunately, as is often the case with ensemble casts, the introduction of a new character leads to others getting sidelined. The main victims are the Juppongatana (Ten Swords), the elite of Shishio’s private army. Only a few of them had significant appearances. Let us take consolation in the fact that they were realized in live-action at all. However, Seijuro is an indispensable character in our hero’s journey so the trade-off is well worth it.

 

Characters from the previous installment also have somewhat diminished roles, but the film gives each of them at least one good moment of characterization. Reprising their roles are:

Emi Takei as Kaoru Kamiya, owner of a kendo (literally “Way of the Sword”) school, and Kenshin’s inspiration;

Munetaka Aoki as Sanosuke Sagara, a street fighter, and Kenshin’s loyal friend;

Yu Aoi as Megumi Takani, the last in a long line of doctors;

Kaito Oyagi as Yahiko Myojin, an orphan studying at Kaoru’s school; and

Yosuke Eguchi as Hajime Saito, a former samurai who has joined the police.

 

As promised, the legend indeed ends as all good things must. But my interest has been rekindled, and now my quest to catch up begins. Anybody have a VHS tape I can borrow?

 

RATING: ••••• 5 out of 5 spots

credit: spot.ph

[pechumori]

More pictures from
class="fbPhotoAlbumTitle"the "Rurouni Kenshin" The Movie Official Photobook

credit: Rurouni Kenshin るろうに剣心

[pechumori]

More pictures from
class="fbPhotoAlbumTitle"the "Rurouni Kenshin" The Movie Official Photobook

credit: Rurouni Kenshin るろうに剣心

[pechumori]

More pictures from
class="fbPhotoAlbumTitle"the "Rurouni Kenshin" The Movie Official Photobook

credit: Rurouni Kenshin るろうに剣心

[ChibiLy]

Oh I envy those who get to watch the two movies already. I have to wait until November the earliest!Thanks for the updates everyone

[pechumori]

Sweet embrace  :x
credit:  Carl Austin Usero and Rurouni Kenshin るろうに剣心

[pechumori]

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends, did it deliver or did it disappoint? [sGCafe Review]
Posted on Sep 26th, 2014
by spartanchef

After two resounding hits at the box office, the live-action Rurouni Kenshin has quickly become one of the biggest and most successful Japanese movie series out there, and with that success comes overwhelming pressure for the third and final film to deliver a conclusion worthy of the success of its predecessors. So how did Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends fare?

Simply put, it absolutely did not disappoint and it more than live up to its expectations. Takeru Satoh portrayed a very convincing Kenshin as he struggled between his past self, which is known by many as Battousai the Killer, and his peaceful wanderer present self known to his friends as Kenshin Himura. Unlike the first two where we saw Kenshin basically owning his opponents in mostly one-sided fights (with the exception of his first fight against Soujiro Seta in the second movie), this third movie featured a weaker Kenshin, which portrayed his human side a whole lot more. After “losing Kaoru” in the second movie, he finds himself questioning his worth and seeking vengeance, even to the point of wanting to die. Fortunately, he finds salvation when he meets his former teacher and sword master, Seijuro Hiko, played by Masaharu Fukuyama who basically lived up to his sake-loving, smart-talking, master swordsman role. And it was really fun to see Master Hiko own Kenshin with just a wooden twig.



The Kenshin-Kaoru romance was still very evident and it became one of the major driving forces for Kenshin to bury his Battousai self and embrace the wanderer. It was especially sweet near the end of it all too.



Tatsuya Fujiwar, who played big bad Makoto Shishio truly lived up to his “Final Boss” image by owning not only Kenshin, but everyone he encountered. The guy was truly a monster and the last battle between him and Kenshin’s group which composed of Kenshin himself, Sanosuke Sagara (Aoki Munetaka), Aoshi Shinomori (Yusuke Iseya), and Hajime Saito (Yosuke Eguchi) was just mind-blowing. The fight was well choreographed and very entertaining.



Though not as entertaining as the 4-on-1 handicap match of a final battle, Kenshin’s other two fights with Aoshi and Soujiro Seta (Ryunosuke Kamiki) will also hold you to the edge of your seats.





The story was focused on Kenshin and his inner struggles, and it was very successful in portraying that. However, I felt that it overshadowed other portions of the movie, most especially Shishio’s deadly band of swordsmen, the Juppongatana. They were heavily billed as Shishio’s deadliest henchmen, however, they fell flat… very flat. The most disappointing of them was Usui, the blind swordsman who was portrayed as the deadliest member of the group in the manga and anime. He was this mighty blind swordsman using his eyes of the heart to kill opponents mercilessly, but his story was never explored and his death was just… disappointing. Even Anji, the mad monk, was just as bad. Sure, he fought Sanosuke like in the manga and anime, but they never really explored his character and his relationship with Sanosuke. Their fight was also kind of bland, but given how long the movie already is, it was understandable. The other members were a disappointment as well as they were not even introduced and we did not even get to see their abilities.





However, despite giving the Juppongatana the very limited role ordinary disposable henchmen, the movie was very awesome overall. It is a must watch for any fan of the original series as well as anyone who would like to sit back, relax, and watch a fun and enjoyable movie.

credit: sgcafe

[pechumori]

class="entry-title" Apes Cannot Conquer Japan as Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends Remains on Top September 27, 2014 Michael Vincent

While looking at various Hollywood-related blogs, one major discussion is about Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, which was released in Japan this week. This is the final market where Apes was released. And it did not fare well.

Sure. the Hollywood movie opened at 2nd spot garnering 21 million yen ($1.9 M). However, Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends remains on top for the 2nd week in a row, garnerring 41.8 million yen ($3.8 M).

Interestingly, the second film in the trilogy, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is still at no. 8. The new Doraemon film is on the 3rd spot. I will be watching the Legend Ends next week and hope to share some insights in this blog.

credit:  sunrisingblog

[pechumori]

5 Reasons Why You Should Watch RUROUNI KENSHIN: THE LEGEND ENDS

Here’s a primer to help you prepare for what’s to come. Click here!

By: Julie Ishihara

All good things must come to an end. The final chapter to director Keishi Otomo's blockbuster trilogy based on the Kyoto arc of `Rurouni Kenshin' has finally arrived in Philippine cinemas,  fulfilling a promise to loyal fans for back-to-back bows on the twin sequels. The second installment of the film, Kyoto Inferno, ended with Kenshin lost at sea and feared dead at the hands of his archenemy and fellow assassin, Makoto Shishio. 
Every single element of the film is just downright amazing. Here’s why you ought to check out “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends" in theaters.
1. The Mind-boggling Plot Twists



The first half of an epic two-part finale, "Kyoto Inferno" finds the reformed assassin desperately trying to avoid the violence promised in the next film. While it was a bit of a cliffhanger, “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” is a giant, two-hour-plus action extravaganza in terms of its brilliant plot. There is little room for nitpicking in “The Legend Ends” as director Keishi Otomo throws the original plot out of the window and offers a new story, creating a new experience for fans who already know the story before going to the cinema. Fans may already know that Himura will fight Shishio, but they will just be as clueless as to how the events will unfold leading up to the final battle.
2. Acting At Its Finest



Every single one of the characters displayed impeccable acting skills. Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, and Munetaka Aoki gave awesome performances on the film as their characters Kenshin Himura, Kamiya Kaoru and Sagara Sanosuke, respectively. Takeru is successful in showcasing how the weight of our hero’s past has finally caught up on him. It's safe to say that he has truly mastered his role. And beecause Shishio’s face is covered in bandages, it required an actor who could bring a very strong emotion to his performance and Tatsuya Fujiwara certainly gave justice to the character. That being said, the highlight is the fight scene between the two and other worthy opponents (no spoilers here), that's bound to make movie-goers holding their breaths. 
But of course, everyone did a remarkable job. From Himura’s sidekick, Sanosuke Sagara to Emi Takei who plays the adorable Kaoru, Shinomori Aoshi and Saito were all amazing. 
3. Professionally Executed Stunts, Seamless Special Effects


One of the film's strengths is its high production value and its visually exciting action scenes that really put it above many other manga adaptations that are so frequently hampered by TV aesthetics and distractingly awful CGI. "Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends" impresses from the stunning opening onwards as it attempts to tell a much grander story with a marked step-up in characterization and a darker tone. 
When it comes to the fight scenes and stunts, "The Legend Ends" is top notch and completely flawless, so be sure to keep your eyes filled with some of the best scenes happening very fast. Many of the battles are incredibly complex that's bound to make your jaw drop to the floor. And to make it even better, they've managed to reflect the unique techniques of each of the characters - Saito’s left-handed Gatotsu thrust, Aoshi Shinomori’s dual kodachi slashes, Sojiro Seta’s Shukuchi technique, and even Shishio’s Homura Dama. Yes, complete with the tip of his sword on fire.
4. More Than Just The Intricately Crafted Fight Scenes



Even though the film is truly an action movie, you are guaranteed to leave uplifted. The movie opted to stick to realistic scenarios and well, it pretty much has everything in it. It artfully weaves in a multi-layered budding romance, drama, tragedy and just the right amount of comedy, it hits on concepts that stand in contrast with most animes.  
The battle for Kenshin's soul maintains the film's focus, with Kaoru acting as his moral compass while a romance subtlety develops between them. As always, Munetaka Aoki is as hilarious as ever as Himura’s sidekick, Sanosuke Sagara. His lines and antics will leave audiences cracking in laughter. 
5. Pleasurable Influx Of Morals, Perfect Display Of Political And Societal Issues


Other themes which are rarely seen in the anime genre, such as politics and moral dilemmas pop up as well. This is what contributed to the legendary multiple demographic appeal of the series, which crossed age, gender and national boundaries with equal ease. This is perfectly translated in the film. There's certainly a lot to take to heart, teaching viewers a thing or two about life. 

Rurouni Kenshin shows a lighter side to the shifting of eras during the transition from the Genji to the Meiji, with a dark, underlying shadow of bloodshed that keeps viewers shaking with belly giggles while on the the edge of their seats. The characters are unique and have different philosophies and morals and the storyline is excellent, and unpredictable.
Kenshin's new approach to life that follows "Killing is wrong no matter who you kill" and how "Revenge is never the way to live" will, to some extent, give a great deal of perspective about life in general.

credit: myxph

[pechumori]

Takeru Sato's impressive swordsmanship as Rurouni Kenshin
credit: Baidu Rurouni Kenshin