“Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” takes us back to the roots of Himura Kenshin.
The scene opens with a young boy digging graves for his slavers and the bandits who just attacked them. The swordsman who rescues him from them asks him why he bothers to even give them a proper burial. The boy’s answer impresses the swordsman so much that he decides to take the boy as his apprentice.
From Shinta to Kenshin
He renames the young boy—from Shinta to Kenshin.
The opening scene does two things for the third installment of the “RK” franchise. First, we see how Himura Kenshin came to be a swordsman. Second, we see that even in his innocent years, Kenshin was kind and had a strong sense of responsibility to those around him, including those who had been cruel to him.
The film then jumps to three days after the “Kyoto Inferno.” Kenshin wakes up to find himself in the company of Hiko Seijuro (Fukuyama Masaharu), referred in the film as “Master,” attending to him.
Kenshin has been rescued by his old master from the shore where he was beached after the tumultuous night on Shishio’s ship sailing toward Tokyo to destroy the new order.
The reunion after 15 years gives us the complete picture of Kenshin’s complex character because, next to his master, his emotional and physical weaknesses are exposed.
The introspection of our hero lasts for the first hour of the film. Those scenes are cut to show how Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara) acts on his plans.
Contrast
The contrast between the two is emphasized through the setting and the background music. Where Kenshin’s scenes with his master are peaceful, even silent and picturesque, Shishio’s are loud, grating on the nerves, and the beautiful landscape is marred by his ironclad’s overbearing presence.
Takeru Satoh as Kenshin is successful in showcasing how the weight of our hero’s past has finally caught up on him. Kenshin appears to be tired and wounded in almost the entirety of two hours and 15 minutes of the film.
Yet, his facial expression becomes darker when he has to revert back to the ferocious warrior that he really is.
With Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), whom he apparently loves (amid giggles and oh’s and ah’s from the audience), it is soft like the fur of a harmless kitten. Satoh has truly mastered his role.
Heavy and sad
Those who will watch the film because of the promise of blade clashing against each other will not be disappointed. Director Keishi Otomo makes do with the last film’s promise of flying bodies, broken blades, and bloodied swords. The film is merciless in exposing the ugly side of violence and mayhem.
The tone of the film is heavy and sad. If there is one commonality between Shishio and Kenshin, it is their tragic past. The comic relief is very sparse compared to the first two films, and yet it comes at the most unexpected times.
Climax
The rest of the members of the Ten Swords or Juppongatana are reduced to cameo roles and background for Shishio’s grand plan. Who they are and the purpose of why they are with the burnt madman is explained in passing.
The film’s climax is in the battle scene of the two rivals. Shishio repeats several times throughout the film that he and Kenshin are of the same kind. Kenshin never verbally debunks this statement, but the supporting characters do it for him through their actions.
While anime fans of RK would probably be surprised or even be disappointed at how the climax is played out, it is the perfect ending for the two-part sequel. Simply because it shows how Kenshin is not like the monster Shishio is.
The closing scene of “Legend” hints that almost a year has passed since Shishio came barging into the characters’ lives.
Kenshin enjoys a contemplative scene back in Kaoru’s place, with the Japanese stripped-bark maple tree with red leaves indicating spring. With that, the film washes off the violence that the audience has just witnessed—with a promise of a beautiful new beginning of Kenshin with Kaoru.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends, which is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, opens in cinemas on Sept. 24.