Seeing a live action version of your favorite anime and manga is a bit of a trip. In some cases, you can’t predict what you are going to get to see, whether it’s an encapsulation of the series, or if it is a ‘reimagination’ of the given material. Either way, it is often a mixed bag of results with casting, the story, and how the whole movie flows together.
After seeing several live action adaptations, I had come to the startling revelation that it is really cosplay in action. Actors are suited up as your favorite anime persona, acting out the character and the given story. In most cases, since this is a 90 minute to 2 hour movie, it is a condensed version of the original story.
I recently found a copy of “Rurouni Kenshin” live action. Not long ago, it was announced online and I squealed. It actually looked rather good and very promising as adaptations go. I hoped that it wasn’t going to be a bland or flat adaptation. After watching it one evening, I found it to be a rather faithful adaptation, albeit a condensed version, of the first series of the manga and anime. I rather liked how the story was structured, and added in the key elements of both story and character to make it a grand story.
Like any martial arts movie, it has some flaws- special effects, stunts, and some props just seemed a little fake-looking. It does have the look and feel of a period piece, but the hyper-reality that the manga and anime have doesn’t translate 100% to the screen. I am actually glad about that, making sure the film has more realistic roots while making it gives it credibility.
The opening sequence is excellent, showing how Himura Kenshin, or Hitokiri Battousai in his last act as a member of the Revolutionary Army. He abandons his sword as he walks away from the war. His sword is not left alone for long as another survivor takes up his sword.
Ten years later, he emerges as a wanderer, living a rather vagrant life. He wanders into Tokyo and encounters Kamiya Kaoru, a local kendo instructor. She mistakenly accuses the newly arrived Kenshin of being the mysterious Hitokiri Battousai, who has been slandering her family’s martial arts school, claiming that he was using that style.
Elsewhere, Takani Megumi is trying to flee from her current employer Takeda Kanryu, a business man who is a smuggler, weapons, and drug dealer. He has his men execute the workers Megumi uses in her job making opium. She flees and is pursued by Udo Jin-e, Kanryu’s top assassin. In his pursuit, he slays all of the officers that Megumi comes into contact with when she surrenders herself to the police.
Kaoru is on her way home, when he encounters Jin-e, the one who claims to be the Hitokiri Battousai and has been sullying her family name. She tries to fight the powerful Jin-e, only to be saved by Kenshin in an amazing display of agility.
Returning Kaoru to her family dojo, Kenshin tends to her injuries. She allows him to stay as thanks for saving her. The modest Kenshin leaves letting her rest.
Later, a local gang tries to take over the Kamiya Dojo, where Kaoru is teaching the only student she has, the orphan Myojin Yahiko. They are overwhelmed by the thugs, when Kenshin steps in to intervene. He unsheathes his sakabato and defeats every one of the gang, not killing any one of them.
Kenshin is arrested for carrying a sword (illegal at this time) and is thrown in jail. He is later found out by Saito Hajime a former rival during the Bakumatsu, who had become a Police officer. He is bought back to Yamagata Aritomo who tries to recruit him to become an assassin for him once again. Kenshin refuses, and after a duel with Saito, he is released. Kaoru picks him up from prison and takes him home to the Kamiya Dojo. Meanwhile, Yahiko helps Megumi hide from her pursuers at the dojo.
They try to enjoy an evening out at a local sukiyaki restaurant, when Kanryu tries to recruit Kenshin after learning that he is the true Hitokiri Battousai. Kenshin refuses, and is then challenged by Sagara Sanosuke, a local brawler. He is nearly beaten by Kenshin, who refuses to draw his sword.
For his refusal to be hired by Kanryu, he has his men poison the local well water near and around the Kamiya Dojo. The training hall becomes a makeshift hospital, as Megumi treats all of the people who have gotten sick from the poisoned water. Megumi returns to Kanryu, intending to kill him.
Kenshin is angered by the threat and upon learning that Megumi has returned to Kanryu’s side to stop him. He goes to stop Kanryu and his men, and is joined by Sanosuke. The two take on Kanryu’s men who are no match for the pair. Kanryu is also prepared with his elite guard, and his top assassin Jin-e, who has his own machinations for Kenshin.
This is in my humble opinion a fine condensed version of the “Rurouni Kenshin” manga and anime. If you have seen or read either the manga or anime, you can pick out all the key scenes from the series. What gives this movies some volume is how these rather iconic scenes are sequenced out into the movie. It gives the characters an introduction without lengthy exposition like in the series.
The episodic nature of the series worked in the film adaptation’s favor, being to take large story areas and rearranging them into a cinematic experience. It is refreshing to see this interpretation play out in a film structure , with each plot point being used well, leading one to the other up to the climatic showdown.
“Rurouni Kenshin” is one of my favorite series of anime and manga. Seeing it in live action can be a little jarring, but it takes the fantastic story and elements and puts it into real world context. It makes for an excellent adaptation and an entertaining film.
Joe Adventure Magazine 