Line #36 Film/RurouniKenshin


1	%%
2	%%
3	%%\ Please add tropes for the second film to the RurouniKenshinKyotoInferno page. Thanks! %%
4	%%
5	%%
6	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rurounikenshin2012.jpg]]
7	[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine The journey begins.]]'']]
8	->''"Killing gives birth to hatred. And hatred kills in its turn. To break that chain, I carry a sword that will not kill."''
9	-->-- '''Himura Kenshin'''
10
11	''Rurouni Kenshin'' (るろうに剣心, Rurōni Kenshin), [[MarketBasedTitle marketed in international releases]] as ''Rurouni Kenshin: Origins'' is a 2012 Japanese live-action film based on the Tokyo arc of the ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' manga series by Nobuhiro Watsuki, [[AdaptationDistillation despite some slight adjustments to the story]]. It was released in Japanese cinemas on August 25th, 2012, and serves as the first installment in the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' film series.
12
13	On the last day of the Bakumatsu, former assassin, Himura Kenshin ([[Series/KamenRiderDenO Takeru Satoh]]), made one simple vow: to never take a human life again. Wandering for ten years afterwards allows him to stay true to his word, while all of Japan breaks away from shogunate rule to modernize. One day, Kenshin meets a Kendo teacher, Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), who not only runs her father's dojo, but also shares the same peaceful interests as him. But when an uncaring businessman (Teruyuki Kagawa) and a blood-thirsty murderer ([[Series/KamenRiderDouble Koji Kikkawa]]) attempt to make their own marks on the country, Kenshin must step up and fight for this new world that he cherishes.
14
15	This film is followed by ''Film/RurouniKenshinKyotoInferno''.
16	----
17	!!''Rurouni Kenshin'' contains examples of:
18	* AdaptedOut:
19	** Okita is nowhere to be seen during the prologue.
20	** Sano's backstory was neither shown nor discussed.
21	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Except for Gein (who went from being an old, short-statured puppeteer becomes [[spoiler: a young, pretty good-looking blond {{ninja}} in leather whose worst deformity is a facial burn]]), and Jin-e who play this trope straight, the film [[AvertedTrope averts this]]. They actually went out of their way to make everyone look like their manga/anime counterparts with regards to realism (Sanosuke is more beefy out of necessity, and Megumi's eyebrows resemble those of Heian-era noblewomen, [[NoblewomansLaugh befitting her quirks]]). Others who don't, like General Yamagata, look more similar to their RealLife counterparts.
22	* AdaptationalBadass: While Kenshin in the manga/anime has always been badass, he's usually far less effective without a sword. The movie more or less drops that weakness, showing him doing very well in unarmed combat against armed mooks.
23	* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance: Saitou wasn't supposed to be introduced until the Kyoto Arc. Likewise, Gein and Banjin are supposed to be introduced in the Jinchuu arc but were [[CompositeCharacter fused]] with the Oniwabanshuu.
24	* AdaptationDistillation: [[JustifiedTrope Understandable]], given how long the anime ran. It's essentially the first eleven episodes condensed into two hours, with a sprinkling of Tsuiokuhen[[note]]notably Kenshin readily laying out the story of his scar to Megumi freely, instead of having been forced to reveal the whole of the story to the Kenshin-gumi due to Enishi's impending attack[[/note]] and Saitou arriving way too early in the series. Considering how disparate the source episodes are, they are wonderfully meshed into one coherent story.
25	* AFatherToHisMen: Despite not outwardly showing it, Saitou values the lives of his fellow policemen and subordinates. [[spoiler: When he sees Kenshin looking on at the dead bodies of policemen and thugs killed by Jin-e, he goes straight to Kenshin and reproaches him for his non-killing oath]].
26	--> '''Saitou''': ''If you just killed one of these scum, [[spoiler: my policemen would still be alive]].''
27	%%* ArcWords: "The new world."
28	%%* TheAtoner: Kenshin.
29	* BackToBackBadasses: Kenshin and Sanosuke: 1. Kanryu's two-hundred and fifty men: ZERO.
30	%%* BadassAdorable: Kenshin.
31	* BarehandedBladeBlock: Kenshin opens his first present day fight with one. More realistic than most in that he doesn't block the blade so much as he blocks the hands holding the blade.
32	* {{BFG}}: Takeda Kanryu has one and it [[GatlingGood revolves a lot]]!
33	%%* {{BFS}}: Sagara Sanoskue's "Zanbatou" (Horse-Cleaving Sword). It's scaled down from the anime version and ''still'' manages to be awesome.
34	* BottomlessMagazines: Gein puts up a ridiculous volume of fire for a pair of 4-shot pistols. A reasonable amount, however, for the 12-shooters that were invented around that time, which is probably what he has.
35	* BookEnds: Spoken as Saitou as a cynical rebuke to Kenshin's pacifistic idealism ([[AdaptationDistillation which were originally the swordsmith Arai Shakku's]] ArmorPiercingQuestion to Kenshin/Battousai just before he set out on his 10-year journey in the manga/anime).
36	--> '''Saito:''' We live by the sword and we die by the sword. There is no other path for men such as us.\
37	'''Arai Shakku:''' Live by the sword, and die by the sword... There shouldn't be any other path for you, right?
38	* CallingYourAttacks: Notably averted. Technique names are only used twice in the entire trilogy, and both times Kenshin names the technique ''after'' he has finished using it to win the fight.
39	* TheCameo: Tsubame briefly shows up as one of the children who suffered from Kanryu's water poisoning.
40	* ChekhovsGun:
41	** Jin-e finds the SwordPlant Kenshin left in the flashback and [[spoiler:uses it on him in the final battle.]]
42	** Sano's love for eggs finds application in a pivotal battle.
43	%%* ColonelBadass: Saitou.
44	* CompositeCharacter:
45	** Udo Jin-e takes on Hiruma Gohei's role as the fake Battousai.
46	** The initial gang of thugs sent by Kanryu (and led by siblings) evoke the mooks led by Hiruma Gohei and Kihei, while wearing the outfits of the Hishimanji (another gang prominently featured in the manga and the Fake Faith Healer [[{{Filler}} arc]]).
47	** Standing in for the Tokyo Oniwabanshuu are two of Enishi's Six Comrades: Gein and Inui Banjin. Additionally, Gein himself seems to be a composite of both Han'nya and Aoshi's kodachi-wielding skills, as well as his canon manga outfit. Banjin, for his part, looks and acts more like Shikijo, down to being a FriendlyEnemy.
48	* TheCon: Kanryu wants to turn Kaoru's village into a port he controls so that he can ship drugs and weapons out more freely, so he hires Jin-E to be the false Battousai to scare people into wanting to sell their land and move out.
49	* ConservationOfNinjutsu: Mooks by the hundreds can barely slow any of the named heroes down, much less touch them.
50	* CultureChopSuey: Reflecting late 19th Century Japan, the overall atmosphere is a peculiar (if at times jarring) blend of Victorian and traditional Japanese motifs.
51	* CurbStompBattle: Kenshin participates in several of them.
52	* DamselInDistress: Kaoru on occasion.
53	* DawnOfAnEra:
54	** Japan in general is undergoing this, 10 years on from the Meiji Restoration. See EndOfAnAge below.
55	* DragonTheirFeet: Kanryu is defeated before Jin-e.
56	* DramaPreservingHandicap: Kenshin has usually been fighting long enough by the final boss that he can't just stomp them like everyone else.
57	* EndOfAnAge: Much of the film takes place in 1878, during the twilight years of the Samurai and 10 years since the Meiji Restoration. Many signs of modernization are beginning to make themselves felt, some more subtle than others. The Battle of Toba-Fushimi in the prologue, set about a decade earlier shows this in action with swordfights going on amidst artillery and gunfire.
58	* ExactTimeToFailure: Jin-e coldly sneers that Kaoru ''has 2 minutes '''at most''' '' until she dies of asphyxiation caused by his ultimate ''Shin No Ippo'' technique; averted in that she held her breath from beginning to end for exactly ''five minutes '''and''' one second'' onscreen.
59	* TheFaceless: [[spoiler:Tomoe makes a cameo appearance, but we never get a clear shot of her face.]]
60	* FallingChandelierOfDoom: Saito defeats Kanryu by slashing a chandelier to make it fall on his gatling gun.
61	* FantasyGunControl: Played with. By the time the main plot takes place, wearing and owning swords in public is being banned, with Kenshin exempt by virtue of his blade being a reverse-edge. In real-life Japan, this was TruthInTelevision.
62	* AFatherToHisMen: Saito is a jerk, but clearly affected by losing men. [[spoiler: When he shows up to help fight Shishio, he [[ItsPersonal specifically says it's to avenge the men he lost]].]]
63	* FlashStep: How Kenshin defeats Gein.
64	* FlamingSword: Shishio wields one that lights intermittently. [[ConfusionFu Not knowing when it will spark makes it uniquely unbalancing.]]
65	* ForegoneConclusion: Those familiar with Japanese history (Or played ''[[VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2 Fall of the Samurai]]'') know that the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in the opening sequence was crucial in ushering in the Meiji Restoration.
66	* FriendlyEnemy: Despite being no less of a culprit than Kanryu's other men, the film incarnation of Banjin distinguishes himself with the fact that [[spoiler: he has no problems at all sharing a time-out meal with Sanosuke, [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments graciously accepting a swig of wine before resuming their ferocious battle]]. He didn't accept the chicken though [[EvilVegetarian because he's vegan]], and [[PetTheDog prays for ''the poor thing'']] after Sano passes it to him for a bite.]].
67	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: There's something to be said for Inui Banjin just standing in the back, doing his KubrickStare and neck-cricks anytime he doesn't get lines... [[ActorAllusion just like Genki Sudo is known for.]]
68	* GoodCopBadCop: Played straight with Yamagata and Saitou respectively when they try to win Kenshin over. It doesn't take.
69	* AHandfulForAnEye: When Kanryu threatens Kenshin and Sanosuke with his gatling gun, Sanosuke throws an egg at his face, which distracts him long enough for the two to get to cover.
70	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Saitou does this to Kenshin during their duel where he uses his superior strength to make the latter cut himself with his reverse-edge sword.
71	* HowMuchMoreCanHeTake: Sano takes a beating for most of his duel with Banjin.
72	* HypocriticalHumor: During the final confrontation, Kanryu chews out Kenshin and Sano for tearing apart his lovely home...and Sano [[LampshadeHanging responds]] that Kanryu's the one using the ''[[GatlingGood hand-cranked Gatling gun]]''.
73	* IaijutsuPractitioner: Kenshin comes true to form not only with his practice of ''battoujutsu'', but also uses backhands with his sakabatou whenever necessary, as witness his match-in-the-rain with Saitou.
74	* InspectorJavert: True to his manga/anime incarnation, Saitou still has his unwavering grudge towards Battousai, and very appalled at his current pacifistic stance.
75	* KneelBeforeZod: When Kanryu has his gatling gun pointed at Kenshin and Sanosuke, he orders them to strip, kneel, and beg for their lives. Instead, Sanosuke distracts him by throwing an egg at him.
76	* LargeHam: Kanryu, full stop. Sano, being who he is, gives him a run for his money.
77	** Kanryu is notable, however, in that his hamminess only makes him more terrifying rather than funny.
78	* {{Leitmotif}}: Kanryu gets one (entitled ''Kanryu Teikoku ~ Gasshuu no Take~''), which crosses into SoundtrackDissonance as it's a jaunty tune that frames [[EstablishingCharacterMoment his asshole moments]].
79	* LeParkour: Frequently done by Kenshin.
80	* LickingTheBlade: Jin-e does it just to emphasize to the policemen he's massacring what a sick bastard he is.
81	* LiveActionAdaptation: Obviously.
82	* MadeOfIron: Sano.
83	* MidBattleTeaBreak: After Sano's fight with Banjin ends up crashing through Kanryu's kitchen, the two fighters take a quick break to grab a snack and share a bottle of wine before going back to pounding on each other.
84	* MoneyIsNotPower: Kenshin's ReasonYouSuckSpeech about this subject to Kanryu is made far more chilling than in the original manga and anime, due to a slightly changed line and the fact that it technically isn't Kenshin giving it.
85	--> '''Hitokiri Battousai''': Do you know what money ''can't'' buy, Kanryu? It's what you're begging for right now. Your life.
86	* MythologyGag
87	** Kenshin's first outfit is the one he wore during the ''Trust and Betrayal'' OVA.
88	** Kenshin is seen riding a canoe during the OBB, an obvious reference to the [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VvtPnxeKGxo anime's first opening]].
89	** Sano is first introduced in the prison. This is likely a reference to what happened to him during the manga/anime's Kyoto arc.
90	** Kenshin's battle with Gein happens in a library, which is also were Kenshin fought Aoshi the second time. Gein is also wearing Aoshi's manga outfit.
91	** Kanryu's speech at Akabeko about how the Samurai are a fallen breed is copied almost word for word from a speech made by the head of the gang Yahiko used to run with in his introductory story in the manga/anime.
92	** Kenshin's first move against the ruffians attacking the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu dojo is the signature BarehandedBladeBlock technique... of the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu.
93	* NeverTrustATitle: The DVD release calls the movie ''Rurouni Kenshin: Origins'', despite the fact that this story is not the OriginsEpisode film, that would be ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheBeginning''. Somewhat justified by the fact that the decision to make the fourth and fifth films of the series wasn't made until after the first three were released on DVD, so the distribution company didn't know that a film with a better claim to that title would be coming out later.
94	* NobleBigotWithABadge: Saitou, full stop. The ''bigot'' part stems from the fact that despite working for the Meiji government, he still imposes his rigid and brutal sense of justice as a former UsefulNotes/{{Shinsengumi}} squad leader on his enemies. The ''noble'' part comes into play when 1) despite having it in for Kenshin and his enemies, he never goes beyond due process, and 2) he maintains his dignity and self-possession as a {{samurai}}, unlike the sell-swords serving under Kanryu.
95	* NoSell: Jin-e doesn't even flinch from being hit by Kaoru's wooden sword, before disarming her and breaking it over his knee.
96	* OhCrap: Kanyru has a magnificent one when he sees Saito preparing his Gatotsu.
97	* OneManArmy: Kanryu's two-hundred-and-fifty men already had ''no'' chance against Himura Kenshin; it was a REALLY bad day that they ''also'' had to face Sanosuke on the same day as well.
98	* OneWomanWail: In that one BGM they use for the important bits, becoming Kenshin's "asskicking {{leitmotif}}". (This specific portion is in two tracks of the OST: ''Seiseiruten ~ Shin Jidai He'' and the appropriately-named ''Hiten''.)
99	* OnlyAFleshWound: Kenshin was cornered into being wounded by his own sword by Saitou. Jin-e's face was split to bleeding by Kenshin (angered into being Battousai). Both of them keep up like nothing happened.
100	** Subverted with [[spoiler: Kiyosato Akira, the young to-be-married samurai Battousai assassinated in one of his outings. Kiyosato's repeated attempts to stand and fight despite being heavily hacked to bits by Battousai are faithful to his manga/OVA counterpart, and [[{{Determinator}} are heroic on their own]]. His wailing and flailing, however, is just ridiculously pathetic and too similar to the TropeNamer, [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail the Black Knight]], it's leaning too close to {{Narm}}.]]
101	* OutOfFocus: Yahiko in TheMovie gets reduced to the PluckyComicRelief.
102	* ThePowerOfLove: Jin-e freezes Kaoru's lungs with Ken-ki (Sword Spirit) so strong that she will suffocate unless Kenshin kills him first. Kaoru eventually shatters the technique through ''sheer force of will'' [[Heartwarming/RurouniKenshin to stop Kenshin from becoming a murderer once more to save her life.]]
103	* ProfessionalKiller: A big theme of the movie is how former samurai and mercenaries have to discard their pride and become these while those who don't end up starving on the streets and die.
104	* RawEggsMakeYouStronger: Sanosuke, just prior to challenging Kenshin, picks up a dish with one as a warm-up snack. He also gets one in the break between his fight with Banjin. And grabs another for later that he throws in Kanryu's face to temporarily blind him in the gatling gun scene.
105	* RealIsBrown: Invoked. Kenshin is covered in somber, dark blue tones (accurate of the manga and ''Tsuiokuhen'' Battousai outfit he had) in a flashback and the start of the movie - until Kaoru gets him a change of clothes that fits his anime appearance quite closely. In fact, most characters tend to wear dark or muted clothing. No bright red hair for anyone, though.
106	** The exceptions tend to either be wealthy individuals or characters with customized outfits, much like how it would realistically be for the period.
107	* RightHandCat: Kanryu has these borzois that he clearly adores, but closer to this trope, a white rabbit is seen on his desk. In a subversion, the ''only'' feline appearing in the film is [[CuteKitten a stray kitten which got]] [[KindheartedCatLover Kaoru's fawning attention]].
108	* SceneryPorn: The production team [[ShownTheirWork went out of its way to properly replicate significant events/places]] in the manga/anime, such as the chaos and destruction of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi (Kenshin and Saitou's last battle as samurai in the prologue), the streets and ditches of Edo-era Kyoto, down to the gate of Kanryu's mansion.
109	* SequelHook: This film purposefully doesn't depict the ''exact'' circumstances to which Kenshin got his second scar [[spoiler:and avoids showing Tomoe's face, leaving the casting wide open]], which will neatly allow the ''Tsuiokuhen (Remembrance)'' and the ''Revenge'' arc of the manga to be adapted should it be successful enough to warrant future sequels.
110	* ShipperOnDeck: Yahiko suggests that Kaoru should improve her cooking skills, as men prefer women who are good cooks, then glance at Kenshin and tells her that someone might take him away.
111	* ShownTheirWork: In addition to the source material, the film does a reasonable effort in depicting late 19th Century Japan.
112	* SmokingIsCool: Saitou and Kanryu. Even Megumi indulges with a pipe, just one time.
113	** GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Saitou rocks that plain old cigarette like a badass, and Megumi's pipe is of a very elegant design, while Kanryu smokes these obscenely huge cigars like he's CompensatingForSomething.
114	* SnowMeansDeath: Aside from the aftermath of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi (see WarIsHell below), there are also flashbacks of Kenshin's assassinations where snow (or sakura petals looking eerily like snowflakes) fall at the dead bodies.
115	* SparedByTheAdaptation:
116	** The unfortunately merciful punishment of Takeda Kanryu.
117	** Unlike the manga and anime, Sanosuke's {{BFS}} wasn't destroyed during his battle against Kenshin. He does seem to have left it with the {{mooks}} [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse after wiping the field with their asses though]]. Considering they were entering a mansion with corridors and small rooms, Sano probably figured he wouldn't be able to swing around his {{BFS}} like crazy and just left it outside. Also, it also let us see Sano fistfight, which he is more well-known for.
118	* StormingTheCastle: Kenshin and Sanosuke storming Kanryu's mansion to punish him for his crimes.
119	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Sanosuke's {{BFS}} falls squarely into AwesomeButImpractical territory. It certainly looks cool enough, but the damn thing is so big and cumbersome that Kenshin easily evades each of Sanosuke's strokes with little effort.
120	* SuspectIsHatless: The sketch of the Battousai is completely featureless, with the eyes entirely obscured by the same conical hat that most characters and extras are wearing. Still, it's rather accurate of Jin-e's entire outfit.
121	* SwordPlant: Himura Battousai responds this way to Saitou when the Battle of Toba-Fushimi ended in the prologue, his way of saying he will not kill again.
122	* SwordSparks: Subtly done in the fight between Kenshin and Jin-e.
123	* [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath Talking the Brawler to Disengage]]: Kenshin convinces Sanosuke to stop fighting him, merely by [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asking him if he really wants to work for a guy like Kanryuu.]]
124	* TeamPowerWalk: The whole scene with Kenshin and Sanosuke droppin' punks left and right sets this up for our heroes, as they enter the Takeda building proper.
125	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Sano is quite fond of raw eggs and will often down one before a fight. [[WordOfGod Director Ohtomo]] stated at the LA Eiga Festival that Sano's fondness for raw eggs became his character tic because having a fish bone in his mouth, like his manga/anime counterpart, would look too silly in real life.
126	* WarIsHell: Done quite subtly-yet-beautifully in showing the aftermath of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in the prologue. Seeing the dead bodies of all combatants, friend and foe piled up together in the field while being [[SnowMeansDeath slowly buried in snow]], drives home how many lives and personal futures have been sacrificed just to bring a new era. It's [[ShoutOut comparable to]] Creator/AkiraKurosawa's staging of post-combat deaths in his latter-year big-budget films such as ''Film/{{Kagemusha}}'' and ''Film/{{Ran}}''.
127	* WaterSourceTampering: Kanryu's men flush Megumi out of hiding by pouring rat poison into the village well. She is able to treat everybody who drank the tainted water, but she decides to stop hiding and return to Kanryu's mansion, fearing more attacks on the people.
128	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In the first film, Gein and Banji are both knocked out but still very much alive (Gein even shouting a variation of WeWillMeetAgain). But when we later see Saitou aprehending Kanryu's gang, they're nowhere to be seen, leaving ambiguous if they fled the scene or were simply arrested off-screen.
129	* WrestlerInAllOfUs: In addition to punching, kicking, and using his zanbato, Sanosuke also pulls off a couple suplexes and a drop kick.
130	%%* XMarksTheHero: Kenshin again!
131	* YesMan: Kanryu has a group of them, dressed in white and absolutely obedient to him. They are also just as spineless.
132	* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: After they've finished perfecting the Spider's Web opium formula, Kanryu decides that he doesn't need an entire team of doctors who know how to make it, so he has his men kill all of them except for Megumi. This quickly backfires, as this inspires Megumi to run away, leaving him without anyone capable of refining his opium.
133	----
134	->''[[Music/OneOKRock ♫ Just give me a reason\
135	To keep my heart beating\
136	Don't worry, it's safe right here in my arms\
137	As the world falls apart around us\

Context Film / RurouniKenshin