Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (2014)

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (2014)

 

7/10

Starring

Takeru Satoh

Emi Takei

Tatsuya Fujiwara

Yosuke Eguchi

Munetaka Aoki

Yūsuke Iseya

Directed by Keishi Ōtomo

This marks the end of the main arc in the Samurai X anime. The popular series builds up to this long-overdue final showdown between Kenshin Himura and Makoto Shishio. Watching the anime, you can appreciate the journey—Kenshin striving to be someone who no longer kills or fights unnecessarily. Along the way, his friendships take shape, and in the battles leading up to Shishio, we see everyone in his circle reaching their full potential. From Sanosuke to Saito, each character rises to their challenges and overcomes them.

This movie was shot back-to-back with the previous installment, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, as part of the Shishio trilogy. Since this live-action adaptation delivers the much-anticipated final battle between protagonist and antagonist, the cinematography and fight scenes had to meet high expectations—and they did not disappoint. The speed and intensity of both Kenshin and Shishio perfectly capture what fans envisioned for this epic clash.

The story picks up where Kenshin discovers Shishio’s ship about to set sail with the kidnapped Kaoru onboard. He boards the ship, setting the stage for what appears to be the main battle between Kenshin and Shishio. However, when Kaoru is thrown overboard, Kenshin dives into the sea to save her. Tragically, he fails to find her, and the sea takes its toll on him. We next see our hero’s unconscious body washed ashore, where a man finds and carries him away.

That man turns out to be Hiko, Kenshin’s master, who originally trained him in the Hiten Mitsurugi style. Kenshin pleads with his master to complete his training so he can learn the ultimate technique, "Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki," and defeat Shishio. At this point, Kenshin accepts the grim possibility that Kaoru is dead since her body, unlike his, never washed ashore.

Meanwhile, Shishio has seized the prime minister and is holding the country hostage, demanding Battousai be brought to him. On his side, Kenshin struggles to master his training, learning that adopting the name Battousai had caused him to lose his will to live. Hiko reveals the secret to unlocking the Hiten Mitsurugi technique, "Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki," allowing Kenshin to finally complete his training.

Afterward, Kenshin returns home and surrenders to the police. From this point on, revealing any more would spoil the experience. If you’ve seen the anime, you can probably piece everything together. If not, what are you waiting for?

Once again, Takeru Satoh wields the reverse-edged sword as Rurouni Kenshin, and his portrayal will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come. His performance cements him as the definitive Kenshin in live-action form. I was pleasantly surprised to learn later that a two-part continuation of the story would be released on Netflix in 2021.