The
Rurouni Kenshin movie (also called Samurai X in the US) was quite a disappointment for me. It contained one of the most linear plots I've ever seen. For instance, you see the "bad guy" in the first scene of the movie and, surprise surprise, Kenshin fights him in the end. The fight scenes, which are the series' high points, are very short in the movie and all three are almost exactly the same. Kenshin blocks an attack, jumps into the air, then finishes the guy off. All three fight scenes end exactly that way.
From a technical standpoint, the movie does pretty well. The animation, while vibrant and colorful, is low quality for a movie. The music, however, is very well done. The only complaint I have about the music is that it NEVER ENDS. Even when it feels like there should be silence, we hear some melancholic music. There aren't many tracks either, so you'll just be listening to the same music for much of the whole film.
The story, although linear, is quite intriguing. Yes, it is your standard "you killed my boss so I'll kill you" revenge story. There are some twists, but those are expected and don't really provide any surprise. The "bad guy" is actually a pretty interesting character. He's the only character in the movie that's fleshed out and developed and so we actually feel for him.
Likes - Nice, emotional music; colorful artwork; interesting "bad guy"
Dislikes - Too linear; the music goes on and on; low quality animation for a movie
