SQUEE: Rurouni Kenshin Live Action Movie Review

Whew, I haven't done one of these in a long time! For those who aren't familiar with my ~*review process*~, I don't actually review movies as much as make really random comments and often vague references. ;) Here goes.
I didn't even know the Rurouni Kenshin live action film had been cast, let alone scheduled for release, until I saw it among a list of movies opening this week in Manila. That was a VERY pleasant surprise.
I don't know the anime as well as some of my friends do, but I wanted to watch it because the franchise brings to mind fond memories of coming home from high school, plunking down for merienda in the front of the TV, and watching Samurai X on AXN (yes, the one dubbed in English OHNOES), and later, on Animax or Hero (original Japanese with subtitles).
I didn't watch the entire anime, or any of the OVAs, so I don't know how faithful this adaptation is to the anime or the manga. Just that it has the perfect Kenshin! ^_^ It stands on its own as an evenly-paced action drama with gorgeous cinematography. I would watch it again just for the fight sequences! Note that only SM Cinemas are showing the film. Random and possibly spoilery comments and picspam after the jump.

• Kenshin Himura is spot on. Not just the costume -- the shape of the ponytail is downright identical to the anime, and yet it's not some ridiculous shade of red, it actually looks natural. Not just the big stuff -- Kenshin's androgynous appearance, his soft-spoken voice, his clueless/innocent impression.  But even the subtleties -- the way he runs/jumps/draws his sword, even the way he stands.

Perfect "Oro?" face.
Spot on! SPOT ON.
So iconic. Kulang na lang cherry blossoms hahaha

• The mood is a lot darker than the anime, with an opium dealer seeking to be master of the universe Japan and a murderer on the loose posing as Battosai (as Himura was known in his former life as an assassin). But there are some light-hearted moments, mostly with Yohiko ang batang hindi naliligo. ♥


• Newlywed samurai who just won't die reminded me of The Black Knight Monty Python and the Holy Grail, just like Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai hahaha.


• The fight choreography is ace. Like the anime: fast, fresh, and exciting. Even some of the angles look like they were lifted from an anime sequence. Really, the cinematography as a whole is beautiful. Just look at this gifset!

I couldn't find a photo of Sanosuke's huge-ass zanbato, but it's pretty awesome.
His hair on the other hand, omglol.

• Also, I like that there are little to no CG slow-mo whatevs and what wirework they had was subtle COUGHCrouchingTigerHiddenDragonCOUGH. Just enough to make the characters move supernaturally fast or run parallel to the ground.


• The ladies in this movie are killer.

Megumi! She is sooo pretty.
But then Kaoru comes out and it's like yowza. FLAWLESS. iwanttotouchyourskin. I wish she was more pro-active though. She's all great and go-getter in the beginning but then fizzles out to become a woman in a refrigerator.
Kenshin gets stabbed multiple times and he still has to carry the girl home. "It's just a flesh wound!"

• Here is the trailer I never saw! I want to download the entire anime now...