Rurouni Kenshin: Saishusho – Za Fainaru AKA Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final

 

Rurouni Kenshin: Saishusho – Za Fainaru AKA Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final (8.5/10)
Genre: Action
Director: Keishi Otomo
Cast: Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Mackenyu Arata
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2021

Forget DC and Marvel, Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final is the real deal. My introduction to Rurouni Kenshin was accidental after I saw a few scenes of the first film in a music video some years ago, and since then, I'm a huge fan of the live-action franchise, having seen all the live-action versions to date. 

I have not read the Rurouni Kenshin mangas created by Nobuhiro Watsuki or watched the anime series, so fans will know better about the comparisons, however, I loved every film in the series released so far, while the final film in the franchise is scheduled for release later this year. As the title suggests, it is the first chapter in the series finale and leaves no stone unturned to make it one of the most entertaining films in recent times. One of the major highlights of the franchise is action, and the final chapter has some crazy action scenes which exceed the previous films by a wide margin. 

Keishi Otomo, who has worked on all the previous films as writer-director, makes his return with a bang, especially after the third film, which is my least favorite (just a personal opinion). The primary cast also makes a comeback along with some new faces. 

The story continues from the third film as Kenshin leads a peaceful life in a periodic Tokyo as his past catches up with him when he faces a vengeful foe. 

Keishi Otomo's direction is fantastic, especially during some of the drama scenes, which is an incredible achievement considering it is an action film. Takeru Satoh returns as the titular character while Emi Takei returns as his love interest. A lot of casts reunites from the previous films, but Mackenyu Arata as the antagonist is very impressive. 

Takuro Ishizaka's cinematography will make Christopher Doyle proud. The visual effects are equally impressive and the overall visualization in the film is very cinematic. It will be a heinous crime, not to mention the action - be it the sword fighting choreography or hand-to-hand, stunts or the explosions - this film has all. It is a feast for action lovers. 

It doesn't matter if you're a fan of manga or anime or both, or if you have read or seen these versions of Ruroni Kenshin, Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final is a must-watch and should not be missed if you have seen the previous films.