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Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (るろうに剣心 最終章) – Netflix Movie Review

Directed by: Keishi Ohtomo

Starring:  Takeru Satoh, Mackenyu

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (るろうに剣心 最終章)

Synopsis:

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (るろうに剣心 最終章) is an adaptation of a Japanese manga series “Rurouni Kenshin” by Nobuhiro Watsuki, but its story differs from the original. The film takes place in 1879, Kenshin and his allies face their strongest enemy yet: his former brother-in-law Enishi Yukishiro and his minions, who have vowed to take their revenge.

My Opinion –

Despite being the final film in the franchise chronologically, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final was actually the first film from the franchise that I have watched. Needless to say, I loved it! While I did feel a bit left behind at the start of the story, the film does a great job to introduce new viewers to the world and its characters in a quick, yet informative and organic way. So do not be afraid to tackle this film if you haven’t watched others in the series.

One thing that sets the Rurouni Kenshin films apart from others that may seem similar is the incredibly well-choreographed action set pieces. Watching these sequences take place is like watching a manga’s pages come to life or an anime in live-action. Characters pulling off insane acrobatics, running along walls, and throwing each other throw structures seems almost natural and are completely unique in every way.

But, there is much more to the film than action set pieces and senseless fighting. The film is carried by a strong plot, enjoyable characters, and multi-layered performances from the actors. While I believe the pacing may be a bit slower than necessary for these more emotional scenes, never once did I feel bored or distracted – My eyes were glued to the screen from beginning to end.

I would highly recommend Rurouni Kenshin: The Final to fans of the Manga and anime, but also to anime and manga lovers in general. This is a perfect example of a live-action adaptation done correctly, and I hope to see more adaptations take this sort of approach with the source material.