Disclaimer:
This is not a
paid advertisement, I just really like Rurouni Kenshin; if I had the opportunity
to be paid to watch what I love so much, I would definitely take it… hit me up,
RuroKen makers! :P
Hello, folks! I’m back
with another film review: Rurouni Kenshin: Origins [2012]! After having
reviewed A Silent Voice [2016] in March, I decided that Rurouni
Kenshin was the next one I wanted to write about. Yes, it’s a Japanese
film; and no, this one isn’t animated—it’s live action!
Since I’m not a very big
fan of live-action films in general, I wasn’t very sure if I wanted to watch
the Rurouni Kenshin ones. I was sceptical, because I wasn’t sure if the
adaptations would include everything I wanted to see—character interactions, the
typical 1990s anime comedy, or those gravity-defying action stunts I’m so fond
of. However, I’m very proud to say that all three films turned my expectations
on their heads [in a great way], especially Origins!
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins is
the first in a series of five films, spanning the years 2012 to 2021, all based
on the massively famous historical fiction manga, Rurouni Kenshin [1994-99],
written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. And let me just say this—since I
first began reading the manga four and a half years ago, it’s been super close
to my heart, and has remained my favourite ever since, no matter how many other
manga I read! Although I never watched the anime adaptation, I did watch
three of the five live-action films.
Rurouni Kenshin follows
Himura Kenshin [the titular protagonist, portrayed to great effect by Takeru
Satoh], who is a rurouni [a wandering samurai who serves no master]. He
was formerly known as Hitokiri Battousai, an infamous
assassin-turned-warrior, who was instrumental in ushering in the Meiji Era in
1868. Following the establishment of the new government at the end of the
Boshin War, he disappears without a trace, only resurfacing in Tokyo in 1878. This
time, however, he is simply a wanderer who carries a sakabatou—a sword
in which the blunt edge and the blade are reversed—having taken a vow to never
kill again. [At the beginning of the film, there is a very impactful scene in
which he just thrusts his blood-soaked sword into the ground as a sign that
he’s done with killing]. It’s obviously a difficult oath to keep, but my man
Kenny is surprisingly good at keeping it!
The film, which adapts
approximately 5 manga volumes in two hours and 14 minutes (!!!), actually does
an excellent job. Having picked a stellar cast, authentic costumes, realistic
sets, and amazing action scenes, the film is everything I wanted. [The action
scenes, particularly, are more enjoyable than the ones in the manga and anime,
because they’re more realistic, and yet absolutely jaw-dropping]. The main
themes of the manga [redemption, value of life, atonement for past crimes, trust
and comradery, etc.] have been artfully adapted by the film.
Satoh is in full form
here, portraying Kenshin in a very natural yet subtle manner—he’s slightly less
wordy and not as cartoonish as his manga counterpart, but I genuinely like this
version of him better. He’s got Kenshin’s attitude down pat—the expressive
eyes, the secretive little smile, the rapid change of posture from relaxed to
highly alert when danger is near—even his overt politeness and his cute verbal
tick, “oro”, which he tends to use whenever he’s surprised or confused [it
really is super cute!]. So yes, I was pretty darn impressed by Satoh’s
performance. Emi Takei, who portrays the female lead, Kamiya Kaoru [a
seventeen-year-old girl who runs a small kenjutsu doujou in Tokyo], also
does her part very well—she’s literally the Kaoru I envisaged! Takei’s Kaoru is
in equal parts powerful and vulnerable, and she manages to pull off the role
without making it seem over the top or exaggerated. She’s the first person
Kenshin meets in Tokyo, and her acceptance of him in spite of his bloody past
is heartwarming (and equal parts foolish, but we don’t talk about that :P).
The film’s plot as a
whole is rather cohesive—far more than the manga, I’d say—which came as a
pleasant surprise. They’ve done away with all the unnecessary bits, but have
managed to retain the essence of Rurouni Kenshin, which is why I liked
it. The way they fleshed out the character of Udou Jin-E [a relatively minor,
yet significant, antagonist in the manga, and a major one in the film] was also
very interesting. All in all, I was so pleased with the film that there was
barely anything I could nit-pick. This one is by far the easiest [and most fun]
to watch as well, because it isn’t as dark and heavy as the other four! [I won’t
be revealing the plot here, so go watch the film, people!]
All in all, I felt this was
one of those films where you don’t really need to be familiar with the source
material [my sister hasn’t read the whole manga, and she enjoyed the film even
more than I did]. It’s got subtitles, so that won’t be an issue either. A
little knowledge of Japan’s history during the turbulent Bakumatsu and Meiji
Era is definitely helpful, but it isn’t a requirement. Besides, anyone who
loves really cool fights will definitely enjoy Rurouni Kenshin: Origins!
I shall be reviewing the other films in the series soon as well, so stay tuned!
I really hope you’ll
check out the film, my dear readers! And let me know if you like it!! [If you don’t
like it, I’ll probably be going “oro” myself, hehe].
Signing off for today!
See you soon!
Anubhuti
