A Superb Updating of the Classic Samurai Film

Posted by Dave B. on 8th Mar 2015

I am reviewing the Kenshin live-action movie without any reference or comparison to the animated series, as I have never seen it. It is not necessary to have seen the animated Kenshin, or to see the live-action Kenshin 2 and 3, to enjoy this film. It can be viewed on its own and it is satisfying and complete.

This is a fantastic film that ends far too soon, in spite of its two hour plus running time. I find that movies longer than ninety minutes tend to get talky and tedious, but I was actually sorry when this one ended. It seemed much shorter due to its excellent pacing and the many exciting, innovative action scenes dispersed throughout the film.

Unlike the more classic Japanese samurai films which often drag, this one moves along very quickly. The more dramatic parts are interesting and offer a breather from the action rather than slowing down the overall fast pace of the film. In terms of pure entertainment value, the action scenes of modern Japanese films like Kenshin and Miyamoto Musashi 2014 have finally surpassed what’s been coming out of Hong Kong since the late eighties.

The action is fast, exciting and very well choreographed. It is very different from the action found in the classic samurai films from the past. Although not completely realistic, the action is more on par with the exceptional ground based fighting of Jet Li’s Fist of Legend than with other “flying through the air” martial arts films typically coming out of Hong Kong. The fight scenes are a blend of traditional, realistic fights from older samurai films and the more modern, mostly ground based fighting from the best Hong Kong films such as Fist of Legend. I find the end result to be very exciting and entertaining while stopping short of being completely unbelievable. This type of well-choreographed action should open up the samurai film genre to a much broader audience.

This is an awesome film. The young Japanese cast did a superb job of bringing the classic samurai film into the new age. I highly recommend it for any fan of samurai films, Japanese action movies, or to casual viewers who just want a couple of hours of superb entertainment.