Platform: Netflix
Rating: M18
Running Time: 139 minutes (2 hours 19 minutes)
Director: Keishi Ōtomo
Writer: Keishi Ōtomo
Cast: Takeru Satoh (Himura Kenshin), Emi Takei (Kamiya Kaoru), Mackenyu Arata (Yukishiro Enishi), Yōsuke Eguchi (Saitō Hajime), Munetaka Aoki (Sagara Sanosuke), Yū Aoi (Takani Megumi), Yusuke Iseya (Shinomori Aoshi), Riku Ōnishi (Myōjin Yahiko), Tao Tsuchiya (Makimachi Misao), and Ryūnosuke Kamiki (Seta Sōjirō).
Score: 4.1/5
It’s been seven years since the last Rurouni Kenshin film, Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends. That was when we saw him battling Shishio Makoto, generally recognised as his most powerful nemesis ever. So you can imagine the excitement when a new pair of Rurouni Kenshin films were announced! They delve into Kenshin’s storied background and reveal the secret behind the scars on his face, and see him dealing with the ghosts of his past. They both saw a theatrical release in Japan, and now an international release on Netflix.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final is a fantasy action film that is based on the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime. It is the fourth in the Rurouni Kenshin film franchise. It sees Kenshin dealing with a threat that has come from his past, a mistake that he deeply regrets, and sins that he feels he has not atoned for. If Kenshin cannot resolve this threat, then many lives will be lost.
As with any Rurouni Kenshin film, the fights are excellent. The battles are mostly in the second half of the film, which sees Kenshin and his allies battling Yukishiro Enishi (Mackenyu Arata) and his forces as they fight to save Kaoru and other endangered citizens. The fights are well choreographed and give everyone a chance to shine (though maybe not Sanosuke as much). After all, if you’re watching the film for your favourite character, you’d want to see their moment in the spotlight right?
in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final. (Warner Bros Pictures & Netflix)
The film knows its target audience, so it brings back as many fan favourite characters as possible, such as Seta Sōjirō (Ryūnosuke Kamiki), Makimachi Misao (Tao Tsuchiya), Shinomori Aoshi (Yusuke Iseya) and quite a few others. At one point, I even thought that we’d somehow see Shishio return! These characters don’t really add to the plot, but the movie manages to give them each a few minutes of glory with the aforementioned battles, since this is the last movie that they could feasibly appear in.
in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final. (Warner Bros Pictures & Netflix)
Kenshin’s mysterious past is also fleshed out a little more (though not as much as it will be in the next movie, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning) here, and it’s the first time we hear of the tragic tale of his first wife. So, rather than having his past being amorphous period of blood and swords, we have a clearer picture of Kenshin’s character and the parts of him that have stayed the same since his Battōsai days. Of course, fans of the manga and the OVA would have known about this aspect of Kenshin’s character, but it is interesting to see it depicted on screen (since it’s not as famous as the Kyoto/Shishio arc).
However, the way the film covers the flashback is hampered by the fact that another movie, focusing on Kenshin’s early days, will be coming out soon. As a result, the story that’s presented feels a little incomplete, with several unanswered questions (with the implication that they will be answered in Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning). I can understand why this was done, since the movies are supposed to come as a pair. But because this film provides a conclusive ending (and hence, seems like it is supposed to be a standalone movie), it felt like an odd narrative decision to make.
Also, this movie is rather long. I think it best to watch it in two sittings, since the first half is full of pensive shots and exposition. I appreciate the artistic value of those shots – cinematically, they are wonderful. However, given that we more or less know what’s going to happen next, they don’t have as much dramatic impact as they should. So I felt that Act Two could have gotten a hefty trim, and we wouldn’t have lost much from the movie.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final is one of those rare movies that manages to continue a franchise that had ended with another movie earlier, by giving us an impactful story and a strong dramatic reason for audiences to know about this tale. It does this by leveraging on Kenshin’s past, creating an interesting tale that allows everything that has come before to retain its importance, but still showing us why this story is significant to Kenshin’s life. It also whets your appetite for the final film, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, as it teases us with how Kenshin got his scars.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final is now available on Netflix.
You might also want to read:
- [Television] TV Guide for June 2021: Loki, Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, Trinity of Shadows, Voice 4 and more
- [Movie Review] – “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” strikes a perfect balance
- [Movie Review] – “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” presents a fitting finale for Kenshin
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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