Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends is a sequel to Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno and concludes the film's version of the popular Kyoto Arc. After Kenshin was drifted ashore due to the events of the previous film, he was picked up by his master, Seijuro Hiko and asks him to teach him the ultimate technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi style. Meanwhile, thanks to Shishio threatening the government, the government has no choice but to hunt down Himura punish him for his crimes.
Warning! Some minor spoilers of the movie and anime/manga are in this review.
The previous film setup all the key players and since they are now done setting up, they went no holds barred when it comes to action and story. First is with action, since Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is not yet available on DVD (as of this writing), I decided to rewatch the film's trailers. Aside from discovering that some scenes that are supposed to be for The Legend Ends are in the trailer, I noticed one thing interesting. Most of the fights in Kyoto Inferno are horde battles, meaning one vs. everyone, in The Legend Ends, most of the fights are one-on-one duels. It's an interesting contrast and gives the two films their own distinct identity.
The previous film setup all the key players and since they are now done setting up, they went no holds barred when it comes to action and story. First is with action, since Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is not yet available on DVD (as of this writing), I decided to rewatch the film's trailers. Aside from discovering that some scenes that are supposed to be for The Legend Ends are in the trailer, I noticed one thing interesting. Most of the fights in Kyoto Inferno are horde battles, meaning one vs. everyone, in The Legend Ends, most of the fights are one-on-one duels. It's an interesting contrast and gives the two films their own distinct identity.
Speaking of duels, one thing that I love about the duels in this film is that there are so many of them. Aside from Kenshin's numerous attempts in learning how to perform the ultimate technique, the later duels are basically the same duel match ups from the anime/manga, making fans of both mediums to appreciate the effort the filmmakers made to keep things accurate. The best about said match ups is that these duels feel natural, like it happened for a reason.
My problem with the duels in the original anime/manga Kyoto Arc especially when they are in Shishio's base is that it feels like it came straight from a video game. It's like they can't progress to the next room until they defeated the boss of the current room they are in right now. It makes sense why they went with this approach is because Shishio wants to stall Kenshin and co. so that he can execute his plan, but in the case of this movie, they can't do it because the plan is already in motion and by the looks of it, Shishio is actually winning.
My problem with the duels in the original anime/manga Kyoto Arc especially when they are in Shishio's base is that it feels like it came straight from a video game. It's like they can't progress to the next room until they defeated the boss of the current room they are in right now. It makes sense why they went with this approach is because Shishio wants to stall Kenshin and co. so that he can execute his plan, but in the case of this movie, they can't do it because the plan is already in motion and by the looks of it, Shishio is actually winning.
In the subject matter of being faithful to the source material, this film strikes the perfect balance between original content and adapted content. The adapted content works well on the original content that was added to make the film, well, a film and not a page by page retelling of the original source material. Thanks to this, my problem with Aoishi in the previous film was remedied. Since they already went with that dumb back story of his for this film, they just expanded it and make it work in the film's context.
Speaking of dumb stuff from the previous film that worked in this one is the black ship. In the source material, this ship didn't play an important role in the entire narrative, but in the film, this ship played a huge role in Shishio's plot. My problem with the ship in the previous film is that it felt like it was an unnecessary plot device so that we can have a scene to separate Kenshin and Kaoru. In this film, they made the ship work story wise. I mean, the filmmakers ditched Shishio's mountain fortress in favor of a moving fortress and they played with it like this ship is an extension of Shishio's power... and it worked.
Speaking of dumb stuff from the previous film that worked in this one is the black ship. In the source material, this ship didn't play an important role in the entire narrative, but in the film, this ship played a huge role in Shishio's plot. My problem with the ship in the previous film is that it felt like it was an unnecessary plot device so that we can have a scene to separate Kenshin and Kaoru. In this film, they made the ship work story wise. I mean, the filmmakers ditched Shishio's mountain fortress in favor of a moving fortress and they played with it like this ship is an extension of Shishio's power... and it worked.
Now for the major original plot for this film, surprisingly, I really liked it. It adds more trouble to Kenshin since they already resolved one major trouble in the previous film. Giving him this kind of plot made me, a fan of the source material at the edge of my seat since I don't know how this will unfold. Granted it was obvious that Kenshin will have his final duel with Shishio but man, the way they present this plot made me wonder if the trailers are once again, lying to me.
More on the original stuff of the film, I was surprised how much the government was involved in this crisis. Unlike in the manga/anime where they will just pop-up, give Kenshin his mission and leave, the government is heavily involved in a lot of major scenes in the film. From preparing their countermeasures against Shishio's ship and some other stuff related to Kenshin's apparent public execution, making this one of those rare times in movies that there's an actual competent governing body that runs a country.
More on the original stuff of the film, I was surprised how much the government was involved in this crisis. Unlike in the manga/anime where they will just pop-up, give Kenshin his mission and leave, the government is heavily involved in a lot of major scenes in the film. From preparing their countermeasures against Shishio's ship and some other stuff related to Kenshin's apparent public execution, making this one of those rare times in movies that there's an actual competent governing body that runs a country.
Now for the characters, first is with Seijuro Hiko, when I first saw this guy at the end of Kyoto Inferno, I was quite surprised that he looks more like a battle weary warrior rather than a young looking teacher. When they finally expanded his role for this film, it made sense why he looked weary. It's like seeing an old master who is forced to go out of retirement so that he can continue teaching his dumb student who left him so that he can usher in a new age. He's a monk who just wants to live a quiet life and live his life to the fullest only to be disturbed by his student. Seeing him train Kenshin with only a wooden sword reminded me of those old kung-fu movies where the old master uses a very mundane weapon to fight his student and win at the end. It's beautiful.
Seijuro's final duel with his student is a major highlight of his film as it expands Kenshin's character development. During the course of the movie, aside from Kenshin wanting some closure because of his past, they also brought up him not valuing his life to protect other people. They focused it especially during his duel with his master. Thinking about it, if this is the final Rurouni Kenshin film, it makes sense why they brought this up. After the restoration, Kenshin became a wanderer to protect the weak and the innocent, and after meeting Kaoru and co., he now has his own surrogate family. That being said, there are people who care that a guy named Kenshin Himura existed. To put it simply, his teacher wants him to learn the value of his own life since there are people who care for him.
Seijuro's final duel with his student is a major highlight of his film as it expands Kenshin's character development. During the course of the movie, aside from Kenshin wanting some closure because of his past, they also brought up him not valuing his life to protect other people. They focused it especially during his duel with his master. Thinking about it, if this is the final Rurouni Kenshin film, it makes sense why they brought this up. After the restoration, Kenshin became a wanderer to protect the weak and the innocent, and after meeting Kaoru and co., he now has his own surrogate family. That being said, there are people who care that a guy named Kenshin Himura existed. To put it simply, his teacher wants him to learn the value of his own life since there are people who care for him.
More on Kenshin, one thing that surprised me in this film is the use of flashback scenes from the previous two movies, which ties in with Kenshin's character development in this film. I liked that these flashbacks ties in with some key moments in the film, allowing the viewers to realize how much he has grown as a person after his years as an assassin. Bringing up that scene from Kenshin's past wherein he assassinated a man who is about to get married reminded the viewers how much he changed over the years. Kenshin is not anymore that man.
Finally, the rest of the characters; because of the events of the previous film, Kaoru didn't do much in this one. The other Juppongatana members in this film are now interesting, especially Hoji. In the previous film, he's just Shishio's yes man, but in this film, they made him one entertaining character to watch due to the fact that he can be quite over the top from time to time. As for the other members who does the fighting, they are all one-dimensional, it didn't help that Anji, one of my favorite members of the group just tells us some of the back stories of some members, losing the impact on some of their motivations, especially with Sojiro, who has one tragic back story and was one of my favorite stories in the original source material.
Finally, the rest of the characters; because of the events of the previous film, Kaoru didn't do much in this one. The other Juppongatana members in this film are now interesting, especially Hoji. In the previous film, he's just Shishio's yes man, but in this film, they made him one entertaining character to watch due to the fact that he can be quite over the top from time to time. As for the other members who does the fighting, they are all one-dimensional, it didn't help that Anji, one of my favorite members of the group just tells us some of the back stories of some members, losing the impact on some of their motivations, especially with Sojiro, who has one tragic back story and was one of my favorite stories in the original source material.
Overall, Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends is one great way to end this film trilogy. The action was top notch and all the actors put their A-game in this one. This is one of those rare anime adaptations that has the spirit of the source material even though the film did a lot of liberties to the story arc that they have adapted. Though it sounds a bit cliché right now, watching this film is like watching my favorite anime series come to life and that is one kind of experience I can't forget.
This film ties up with the entire film trilogy in ways I didn't expect and seeing this film end made me want to crave more of it. Heck, I even sat during the credits scene waiting for an after credits scene that hints the possible appearance of Enishi, a character who played a big role in Kenshin's life in the manga. Sadly, there are no after credits scene that teases Enishi. Oh well, this is one great film and I can't wait to watch it once it is out on DVD.
Originally posted on Orends: Range back in October 2, 2014.
This film ties up with the entire film trilogy in ways I didn't expect and seeing this film end made me want to crave more of it. Heck, I even sat during the credits scene waiting for an after credits scene that hints the possible appearance of Enishi, a character who played a big role in Kenshin's life in the manga. Sadly, there are no after credits scene that teases Enishi. Oh well, this is one great film and I can't wait to watch it once it is out on DVD.
Originally posted on Orends: Range back in October 2, 2014.
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