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Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc

Movie Review

Review: Rurouni Kenshin The Legend Ends

All good things come to an end, they say. The prompt answer to this is “BUT WHY??”, but somehow, director Keishi Otomo, the legend Takeru Satoh and crew were able to give good, reassuring reasons as Battousai says goodbye.

From the very title of the film, Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends had distinct words of finality, no matter how much fans wanted to deny it. As the movies from the franchise kept coming out better and stronger than the last, it was hard to accept an end to such deliciously addictive samurai live action/full on manga geek franchise. But separation anxiety aside, Otomo and Satoh’s dream team delivered a worthy denoument. Let’s break it down.

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Movie Review

Review: Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto Inferno

Kenshin Himura sets the silver screen ablaze again.

Forgive the pun. Can’t help it. That statement was one of the many things scrambling about inside my head after 2+ hours of glorious samurai legend story telling. The second installment of this much-awaited three-part saga, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno delivered exactly what its predecessor promised, plus more tricks and twists care of director Keishi Otomo‘s artistic madness.

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Previews

Rurouni Kenshin is Coming Back, Twice!!

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Himura Kenshin returns in two sequels set for release in Japan in 2014.

Yeah that was intended to be grammatically confusing. I guess I cannot be witty or original with titles right now as I am still cartwheeling with joy from the announcement that my favorite scarred samurai is coming back for not one, but TWO confirmed sequels!!

(short pause for fan boy and fan girl high fives)

As reported by ANC News last July 3, Japanese magazine Jump Square announced that director Keishi Otomo will return to helm two upcoming movies– Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Taika-hen (Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc) and Rurouni Kenshin: Densetsu no Saigo-hen (Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc). Takeru Sato will be reprising the titular role of Kenshin Himura, with Tatsuya Fujiwara (popular as Light Yagami to fans of the Death Note live action films) and Shuya Nanahara of Battle Royale fame playing the role of Kenshin’s greatest nemesis ever, Shishio Makoto.

I’m going to take a calculated guess that fans of the manga and the series could only hope for nothing else than the Shishio arc to come alive in a  movie. The first film has quieted our qualms of a shaky, corny rendition of the cult hit. So by now I think we are all just on the edge of our seats to see the Kyoto plot played out (very much condensed!) on the silver screen. As for the third sequel, I am crossing my fingers this is the Shinichi arc. If yes, then 2014 is going to be one epic year.

Photo credits to owner.