Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

The story sounds familiar: a skilled and deadly swordsman/assassin begins to question his chosen path in life. A woman enters the story laden with a backstory of her own. They leave town for the country to avoid the warring factions with which he has been involved. His past catches up with him. More violence. The body count ratchets up.

What could have been a grade B samurai slice-and-dice bloodfest turns instead, in the hands of Director Keishi Ōtomo, into a display of insanely competent fight choreography and a prolonged meditation on love, friendship, and honor. And, the film is regularly punctuated by some of the best swordplay I’ve seen.

This film is an “origin” tale. We learn the backstory of the main character and there are five films in the series. This one is intended as a “prequel“ that dramatically lays the groundwork for following events. It shows how Kenshin began his life as an assassin teamed with anti-Shogunate revolutionaries.

Based on a Japanese manga, the story might be a challenge to follow for anyone not somewhat familiar with 19th century Japanese history and culture. What saves the day are very strong performances, superb action sequences, and the director’s consistent focus on character. We even get to see Kenshin smile a few times in this film! Highly recommended.

Review copyright 2021 by Dennis D. McDonald

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