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DVDs in Collection: 382

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Ran - Criterion Collection
Foreign Criterion Collection R
As critic Roger Ebert observed in his original review of "Ran", this epic tragedy might have been attempted by a younger director, but only the Japanese master Akira Kurosawa, who made the film at age 75, could bring the requisite experience and maturity to this stunning interpretation of Shakespeare's "King Lear". It's a film for the ages--one of the few genuine screen masterpieces--and arguably serves as an artistic summation of the great director's career. In this version of the Shakespeare tragedy, the king is a 16th-century warlord (Tatsuya Nakadai as Lord Hidetora) who decides to retire and divide his kingdom evenly among his three sons. When one son defiantly objects out of loyalty to his father and warns of inevitable sibling rivalry, he is banished and the kingdom is awarded to his compliant siblings. The loyal son's fears are valid: a duplicitous power struggle ensues and the aging warlord witnesses a maelstrom of horrifying death and destruction. Although the film is slow to establish its story, it's clear that Kurosawa, who planned and painstakingly designed the production for 10 years before filming began, was charting a meticulous and tightly formalized dramatic strategy. As familial tensions rise and betrayal sends Lord Hidetora into the throes of escalating madness, "Ran" (the title is the Japanese character for "chaos" or "rebellion") reaches a fever pitch through epic battles and a fortress assault that is simply one of the most amazing sequences on film. "--Jeff Shannon"

Rashomon - Criterion Collection
Art House & International Criterion Unrated
Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, "Rashomon" is perhaps the finest film ever to investigate the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife. Toshiro Mifune gives another commanding performance in the eloquent masterwork that revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema to the world.

Record of Lodoss War - The Complete Series
Anime Us Manga Corps Video NR
Since the first chapters debuted as a direct-to-video release in 1990, this sprawling sword-and-sorcery epic has delighted fantasy fans with its ancient prophecies, lost kingdoms, enchanted swords, dragons, and wizards. The tangled story line borrows heavily from "The Lord of the Rings", the "Star Wars" films, and numerous other fantasy works. Six mismatched characters find themselves thrown together to protect the land of Lodoss from imminent destruction: Parn is the impetuous young warrior with heroic potential who typifies the genre; in place of the usual spunky girl, there's Deedlit, an elf with magical powers. They're joined by Etoh, a young priest and healer; Ghim, a dwarf-warrior with a heavy heart; Slayn, a wizard in training; and the rascally thief Woodchuck. Their allies include the dashing lord of a desert realm, a mercenary and her Berserker companion, and a benevolent, Arthurian king. They're pitted against an array of villains that includes human warriors, an evil sorcerer, dragons, kobolds, zombies, and Karla, the mysterious "Gray Witch" [sic]. An elegant art nouveau sensibility runs through the designs of "Lodoss War", especially the extravagant armor of the warriors. But the film lacks a coherent plot, probably the result of producing so much animation in a short time with multiple directors. Characters are forever dropping in and out of the story: the initial villain, the evil emperor Beld, is replaced by his henchman, Ashram, who is superseded by the dark sorcerer, Wagnard. The last three episodes build to a titanic climax that leaves a lot of plot points unresolved. Hard-core fantasy fans will love "Lodoss War"; but other viewers are likely to tire of its drawn-out and needlessly complicated story. Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up; considerable violence and an extremely complicated plot. "--Charles Solomon"

Red Dwarf Complete Collection
Television BBC Warner NR
I have long been a fan of Red Dwarf and would reccomend this box set. It is certainly not a show for everyone but for those who enjoy a very quirky sense of humour I suggest you purchase the first season at the very least. The visuals and effects may not blow you away but if you see through it to the witty content im sure you will be a 'dwarfer' for life!

Red Sonja
Science Fiction & Fantasy Warner Home Video PG-13
Brigitte Nielsen, as "Conan" creator Robert E. Howard's female warrior Red Sonja, gets an assist from Arnold Schwarzenegger in this enjoyably campy, Italian-lensed sword & sorcery adventure. Nielsen's thespian skills may be a bit stiff, but she certainly fills out the physical demands of the role, which asks her to look impressive with a sword as she avenges the death of her priestess sister and the theft of a sacred orb by an evil queen (Sandahl Bergman, also from the '82 theatrical "Conan" and a match for Nielsen's acting ability). Schwarzenegger ("not" playing Howard's barbarian king) lends some star power in a supporting role as a warrior assisting Sonja, and if the film stumbles in the acting, scripting, and special-effects departments, Richard Fleischer's direction and cinematography Giuseppe Rotunno are appropriately action-heavy and comic-book colorful (Fleischer also directed "Conan the Destroyer" and "The Vikings"); Ennio Morricone's bombastic score is another plus. "--Paul Gaita"

Ren & Stimpy - The Complete First and Second Seasons
Television Paramount NR
The delirious animated series "Ren and Stimpy" makes its DVD debut in a three-disc set that features seasons 1 and 2, as well as a handful of extras to please its devoted fan base. The surreal adventures of short-tempered Chihuahua Ren and good-natured but simple cat Stimpson J. Cat caught on like a house afire with teen and college audiences during its 1991-96 run on Nickelodeon, despite regular battles between the network and creator John Kricfalusi (who also voiced Ren and several other characters) over allegedly objectionable content in certain episodes. The conflict eventually led to several episodes suffering edits, much to the chagrin of the show's creators and audience alike; the unedited versions of these episodes have become much sought-after and traded items among collectors. And while this set attempts to rectify that situation by presenting the show in its uncut form, die-hard fans should know that several episodes retain minor cuts; however, many others, most notably the pilot, "Big House Blues," and "Powdered Toastman" are presented in their original, uncut versions. Extras include commentaries on seven episodes by Kricfalusi and the show's creators, storyboard galleries, a featurette, and the "banned" episode "Man's Best Friend." "--Paul Gaita"

Ren & Stimpy - The Lost Episodes
Television Paramount Home Video NR
I grew up watching ren and stimpy on nickelodeon and I loved the show. I just recently bought the lost episodes and I think that it is the best work that spumco has done. The creators had no boundaries and got to make the shows the way they wanted to. This dvd is well worth the money.

The Ren & Stimpy Show - Season Five and Some More of Four
Television Paramount NR
The animated misadventures of Ren and Stimpy on Nickelodeon came to a close with its fifth season, the entire controversial collection of which is bundled together with the second half of season 4. Some fans of the series seem less than enthralled by the shows that are compiled here (as series creator John Kricfalusi and his Spumco team had been replaced by Games Animation), but there's still plenty of inspired insanity to be found; season 4 offers "My Shiny Friend" (Ren takes some extreme measures to cure Stimpy's TV addiction) and "Cheese Rush Days" (the boys head to the Blue Cheese Mountains to mine), while season 5 features "Stupid Sidekick Union" (Stimpy learns that his union is striking); "Reverend Jack Cheese" (the late Frank Gorshin lends his voice to a minister with a thing for meats and cheeses); "Wilderness Adventure," which includes the much-maligned George Liquor; and "Space Dogged" (a Russian cat/dog team--Ren and Stimpy lookalikes, natch-–are being sent into space).
As with previous "R&S" DVD sets, the supplemental features are somewhat spare--Kricfalusi and members of Spumco and Games contribute commentaries, and there's a featurette on the show--and the episodes are indeed the edited versions, but the comments by the show's creative team are both entertaining and informative. And no matter what your opinion of these final episodes (before the show's revival as an Adult Party Cartoon on Spike TV), there's still plenty of stinky laughs to be had. "--Paul Gaita"

The Ren and Stimpy Show - Seasons Three and a Half-ish
Television Paramount NR
Though the third season of John Kricfalusi's much-loved "Ren and Stimpy" animated series has been the subject of much controversy among devotees of the show and its creator, there is still enough cat/dog insanity to warrant viewing. Some fans' problems with the season revolve around the fact that Nickelodeon, which was airing the program, removed Kricfalusi and his Spumco team from the show's production and replaced them with Games Animation, which reproduced "Ren and Stimpy"'s signature artwork, but without the absurd spark of the first and second seasons (at least by those fans' estimation). However, a perusal of the 29 episodes compiled on this three-disc set (which offers the entire third season and a smattering of the fourth, which concludes on the "Season Five and Some More of Four" set) does turn up some worthwhile episodes, most notably "Ren's Pecs" (Ren develops a rippling physique after injecting fat from Stimpy's posteior), "Jimminy Lummox" (Stimpy's conscience takes the form of a monstrous singing lout), "Powdered Toast Man vs. Waffle Woman" (no explanation needed there...), and the surreal "House of Next Tuesday" (R & S visit the title domicile to escape giant ants). All this, plus several visits to "Untamed World," appearances by the irascible Wilbur Cobb, Jerry the Bellybutton Elf (who resides inside Stimpy's navel)--and scads of commentary tracks, including eleven from Kricfalusi and his Spumco team, and two from Ren and Stimpy themselves. Though the loyal may be divided on these seasons, completists will want to add this round of lunacy to their DVD animation collections. "-- Paul Gaita"

The Return of the Living Dead
Horror MGM (Video & DVD) R
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cemetery'those brain-eating zombies are back and hungry for more tasty mortals. A fiendish mix of outrageous humor and heart-stopping terror, The Return of the Living Dead is a veritable smorgasbord of fun filled with skin-crawling jolts, eye-popping visuals and relentless surprise! On his first day on the job at an army surplus store, poor Freddy unwittingly releases nerve gas from a secret U.S. military canister, unleashing an unbelievable terror. The gas re-animates a corps of corpses, who arise from their graves with a ravenous hunger for human brains! And luckily for those carnivorous cadavers, there is a group of partying teens nearby, just waiting to be eaten!

Revelations
Television Mca Home Video NR
"Revelations" is a spooky, classy thriller depicting the world as a battleground between satanists and those who adhere to miracles revealing God's divine plan for humanity. Bill Pullman stars as Harvard scientist Bill Massey, whose successful quest to bring his daughter's seemingly demon-possessed serial killer to justice turns him into a well-known debunker of others who claim to speak for the Beastmaster. Problem is, the man who killed Massey's girl appears to be the real thing, endowed with prophetic powers and a second sight that comes in handy when it's time to go after the grieving hero's other child.
Enter Sister Josepha (Natascha McElhone), a miracles investigator whose work is financially supported by a famous billionaire but disowned by the Vatican. Josepha has been led to Massey through a brain-dead girl who, though medically impossible, quotes scripture and has drawn a map to his office. Despite his skepticism, Massey teams with the nun in search of a kidnapped baby who may very well be the Christ-child in His just-in-time-for-Armageddon second coming. Written by David Seltzer ("Dragonfly"), and directed by occasional "Buffy" helmer David Semel and Lili Fini Zanuck ("Rush"), "Revelations" has an appealing vitality (especially when Massey and Sister Josepha become targets for assassins), a nice Hollywood gloss, and an unsettling air of mystery, as if angels and demons really are duking it out for dominion of the Earth right under our noses. "--Tom Keogh"

Road to Perdition
Drama Dreamworks Video R
In "Road to Perdition", Tom Hanks plays a hit man who finds his heart. Michael Sullivan (Hanks) is the right-hand man of crime boss John Rooney (Paul Newman), but when Sullivan's son accidentally witnesses one of his hits, he must choose between his crime family and his real one. The movie has a slow pace, largely because director Sam Mendes ("American Beauty") seems to be in love with the gorgeous period locations. Hanks gives a deceptively battened-down performance at first, only opening up toward the very end of the film, making his character's personal transformation all the more convincing. Newman turns in a masterful piece of work, revealing Rooney's advancing age but at the same time, his terrifying power. Jude Law is also a standout, playing a hit man-photographer with chilling creepiness. This movie requires a little patience, but the beautiful cinematography and moving ending make it well worth the wait. "--Ali Davis"

The Road Warrior
Action & Adventure Warner Home Video R
A strong candidate for the designation of most thrilling action movie ever made (the turbo-charged exhilaration of its full-throttle highway chases has never been equaled), the second part of George Miller's post-apocalyptic trilogy is also a magnificently imagined movie myth. Like the "Star Wars" trilogy (by that other George) the "Mad Max" films draw their inspiration from the works of mythologist Joseph Campbell. In the 1979 original, Max (Mel Gibson) is a policeman, the last guardian of civilization and order in a devastated world reduced to chaos. But when a leather-clad gang of sadomasochistic speed demons mows down Max's family, his remaining connections to humanity are also permanently severed. After brutally exacting his revenge, Max wanders off into the wasteland alone, "a burned out shell of a man" who (to paraphrase "The Searchers") is destined to wander forever between the winds. In "The Road Warrior", Max rediscovers a sliver of his shattered humanity, and a spark of redemption, when he helps an embattled colony of pioneers fight off the savages who are after that most precious of all commodities: "guzzline." Max is transformed into a legendary hero, just as Mel Gibson was catapulted to international movie stardom. With its final stirring images, "The Road Warrior" transcends its genre (whatever that may be--science fiction? Western? action adventure?) and becomes something timeless. It's a great movie. "--Jim Emerson"

Roar - The Complete Series
Television Universal Studios NR
This series is a total delight with no disappointment for me. Being a fan of medieval and movies about old Roman and Greek times, this one is another welcome addition to my library of "fun to watch" series. The cast was well chosen and each new character seems to add to the series. The Celtic type music score is no disappointment either. Even better, so far no "flying dragons" or hyped up ideas such as many other series of this type so often have. Beautiful filmography. This series plays in good clarity and sound as well has subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. This is something often missing even in higher priced series and is very essential for someone over 62 such as myself. I wish I had to money to buy this set for for many persons on my Christmas list this year. The main star being Heath Ledger doesn't hurt either. He is very talented

Robot Chicken, Vol. 1
Television Turner Home Ent NR
Take the stop-motion animated toy action of "Kablam!" and the pell-mell-paced gag barrage of, say, "Laugh-In" and you've got the fast and furiously funny "Robot Chicken", the addictive addition to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim late-night lineup. Co-created by geek-God Seth Green and filmmaker Matthew Senreich, "Robot Chicken" episodes run a scant 12 minutes or so, which invites repeat viewings to catch what you missed during the channel-flipping mayhem through TV, movie, and commercial parodies, and non-sequitur blackouts, all acted out by dolls and action figures. To truly appreciate this series, it helps to have a "Family Guy" grasp on pop-culture trivia, although you need not remember the failed TV series "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place" to enjoy "Two Kirks (Admiral James T. and Cameron), a Khan and a Pizza Place." Suffice to say, if you grew up with the Transformers, Voltron, He-Man, and the Care Bears, you'll cackle loudly at "Robot Chicken". Each episode is hit and miss, with moments that border on mad genius, such as "The Diary of Anne Frank" re-imagined as a vehicle for Hilary Duff, or a sketch involving the Tooth Fairy and a little boy whose happiness is short-lived as his parents brutally bicker off camera. It may just live up to its billing as "the darkest sketch in television history."
Other moments to remember: actress Rachael Leigh Cook (voiced by herself) gets carried away during a "This is your brain on heroin" PSA; the shape-shifting superhero adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen; a popsicle-stick adaptation of "Debbie Does Dallas"; and a "Behind the Music" devoted to Muppet house band the Electric Mayhem. "Robot Chicken"'s coolness cache extends to its voice cast, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, "Family Guy" creator Seth McFarlane, Mark Hamill, and Macauley Culkin. This two-disc set hatches a wealth of archival goodies, including deleted scenes and "animatics," behind-the-scenes footage of animation meetings, and alternate audio takes. "Robot Chicken" is a fowl ball! "--Donald Liebenson"

Robot Chicken, Vol. 2
Television Turner Home Ent R
Old-school stop-motion animation and fast-paced satire are the hallmarks of this eclectic show created by Seth Green and Matt Senreich. Action figures find new life as players in frenetic sketch-comedy vignettes that skewer TV, movies, music and celebrity. It's television especially formulated for the Attention Deficit Disorder generation.

Rocky
Drama MGM (Video & DVD) PG
The only remaining evidence that Sylvester Stallone might have had a respectable career, this 1976 Oscar winner (for Best Picture, Director, and Editing) is still the quintessential ode to an underdog and one of the best boxing movies ever made. After writing the script about a two-bit boxer who gets a "million-to-one shot" against the world heavyweight champion, Stallone insisted that he star in the title role, and his equally unknown status helped to catapult him (and this rousing film) to overnight success. The story is familiar, but it has been handled with such vitality and emotional honesty that you can't help but leap and cheer for Rocky Balboa, the chump turned champ (despite his valiant defeat in the ring) who stuns the boxing world with the support of his timid girlfriend, Adrian (Talia Shire), and grizzled trainer, Gus (Burgess Meredith). Oscar nominations went to all the lead actors (including Burt Young as Adrian's hot-tempered brother), but four sequels could never top the universal appeal of this low-budget crowd pleaser. "--Jeff Shannon"

Rollerball
Action & Adventure MGM (Video & DVD) R
In the year 2018, violence and crime have been totally eliminated from society and given outlet in the brutal blood sport of rollerball, a high-velocity blend of football, hockey, and motor-cross racing sponsored by the multinational corporations that now control the world following the collapse of traditional politics. James Caan plays Jonathan E., the reigning superstar of rollerball, whose corporate controllers fear that Jonathan's popularity has endowed him with too much power. They begin to pressure him according to their own ruthless set of rules, but Jonathan has rules of his own--the rules of a man determined to retain his soul in a world gone mad. As directed by Norman Jewison (who was enjoying a peak of success during the early and mid-1970s), "Rollerball" creates a believable society that's been rendered passive and compliant by the homogenization of corporate dictatorships, where the control and flow of information is the only currency of any importance. It's a world in which natural human aggressions have been sublimated and vented through the religious fervor toward rollerball and its players. "Rollerball" now looks like one of those 1970s science fiction films (another example being "Logan's Run") that seems a bit dated and quaint, but its ideas are still provocative and fascinating, and the production is visually impressive. The DVD includes full-screen and widescreen versions of the film, audio commentary by director Norman Jewison, a behind-the-scenes featurette, an interactive "rollergame," trivia, and production notes. "--Jeff Shannon"

Roughnecks - The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Complete Campaigns
Science Fiction & Fantasy Sony Pictures PG
"The Complete Campaigns" is a four-disc compilation of the "Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles" series that was originally released on eight DVDs: "The Pluto Campaign", "The Hydora Campaign", "The Tophet Campaign", "The Tesca Campaign", "The Zephyr Campaign", "The Klendathu Campaign", "Trackers" (including the four bonus episodes), and "The Homefront Campaign". While Paul Verhoeven's dark, satirical adaptation of Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" seriously strayed from the novel, this Verhoeven-produced TV series--part sequel, part remake, all CGI animated--hews closer to the spirit of the novel, a space-age twist on a World War II battle adventure. "Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles" is a series of military skirmishes and assignments on a variety of fronts, such as Bug City, water-dominated Hydora, the desert planet Tophet, the jungle planet Tesca, fiery Klendathu, and good old Earth.
The episodic nature works perfectly within this framework, and the mix of Marine grit ("No retreat, no surrender!"), military jargon, and understated melodrama give a feel somewhere between the steely seriousness of an old-fashioned war comic book and the spectacle and romance of a Japanese anime space opera. The CGI animation is less ambitious than in such feature films as "Toy Story", but it's one of the most impressive examples of the animation made for TV. The detailed designs, rich textures, 3-D modeling, and awesome sense of scale (not to mention the pumped-up action and whiplash speed of the bug army) give it the look of an impossibly sophisticated video game, with the rat-a-tat editing and soaring camerawork of a Hollywood movie. The budgetary shortcuts are evident in moments of blurring and jerking, but overall it's startlingly effective. The PG-level violence may not be appropriate for younger viewers, but it's aimed at an older crowd and has won a loyal adult following.

The Royal Tenenbaums
Comedy Walt Disney Video R
In a fitting follow-up to "Rushmore", writer-director Wes Anderson and cowriter-actor Owen Wilson have crafted another comedic masterwork that ripples with inventive, richly emotional substance. Because of the all-star cast, hilarious dialogue, and oddball characters existing in their own, wholly original universe, it's easy to miss the depth and complexity of Anderson's brand of comedy. Here, it revolves around Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the errant patriarch of a dysfunctional family of geniuses, including precocious playwright Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), boyish financier and grieving widower Chas (Ben Stiller), and has-been tennis pro Richie (Luke Wilson). All were raised with supportive detachment by mother Etheline (Anjelica Huston), and all ache profoundly for a togetherness they never really had. The Tenenbaums reconcile somehow, but only after Anderson and Wilson (who costars as a loopy literary celebrity) put them through a compassionate series of quirky confrontations and rekindled affections. Not for every taste, but this is brilliant work from any perspective. "--Jeff Shannon"

The Royal Tramp Collection
Action & Adventure Weinstein Company R
A double-talking, fast-moving con-man stumbles into a conspiracy that could destroy the Ming Dynasty. In hilarious fashion, he fights to save the day, cheating death, charming the ladies, and kicking royal butt along the way.

Run Lola Run
Art House & International Sony Pictures R
It's difficult to create a film that's fast paced, exciting, and aesthetically appealing without diluting its dialogue. "Run Lola Run", directed and written by Tom Tykwer, is an enchanting balance of pace and narrative, creating a universal parable that leaps over cultural barriers. This is the story of young Lola (Franka Potente) and her boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). In the space of 20 minutes, they must come up with 100,000 deutsche marks to pay back a seedy gangster, who will be less than forgiving when he finds out that Manni incompetently lost his cash to an opportunistic vagrant. Lola, confronted with one obstacle after another, rides an emotional roller coaster in her high-speed efforts to help the hapless Manni--attempting to extract the cash first from her double-dealing father (appropriately a bank manager), and then by any means necessary. From this point nothing goes right for either protagonist, but just when you think you've figured out the movie, the director introduces a series of brilliant existential twists that boggle the mind. Tykwer uses rapid camera movements and innovative pauses to explore the theme of cause and effect. Accompanied by a pulse-pounding soundtrack, we follow Lola through every turn and every heartbreak as she and Manni rush forward on a collision course with fate. There were a variety of original and intelligent films released in 1999, but perhaps none were as witty and clever as this little gem--one of the best foreign films of the year. "--Jeremy Storey"

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season One
Anime Anime Works NR
These episodes make up the first ("Tokyo") story arc of the popular comedy-adventure set in 1878, 10 years after the Meiji Restoration ended the Tokugawa Shogunate and reordered feudal Japanese society. Although they provide plenty of flashy battle scenes and belly laughs, the filmmakers use these adventures to introduce their cast of engaging misfits, each of whom is haunted by an unhappy past. "Miss Kaoru" inherited the impoverished Kamiya Dojo when her father was murdered; Yahiko had to work as a pickpocket after he was orphaned; mighty Sanosuke saw his comrades betrayed by Imperial agents. During the revolution, Kenshin Himura was Battousai the Manslayer, a deadly assassin working for the Imperialists. Although he's vowed never to kill again, Kenshin remains a swordsman of unmatched ability. He's also an agreeable klutz, the butt of much of the slapstick humor, and his character owes a great deal of its charm to the nuanced performance of voice actor Richard Hayworth. Viewers may find that Kenshin reminds them of Vash in Trigun. But Vash neither controls nor understands his destructive powers; Kenshin's murderous skill is the result of rigorous training, and an icy discipline underlies his happy-go-lucky demeanor.
The unconventional quartet battles counter-revolutionaries, gangsters, and opium smugglers, although the tone is considerably lighter than the later Samurai X feature and four-part OVA. The Rurouni Kenshin broadcast series remains one of the most popular anime continuities of all time--with good reason. (Rated 13 and older: violence, minor profanity, brief nudity, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two
Anime Anime Works NR
The 34 episodes in this eight-disc set make up the "Kyoto" arc of the popular martial arts adventure-comedy. The tone of the narrative has darkened since the introductory story ("Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai"). When the forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate were defeated by the Imperialists 10 years earlier, Kenshin Himura abandoned his identity as Battousai the Manslayer. Makoto Shishio succeeded him as the country's deadliest assassin. Government agents captured Shishio, and although he survived a botched execution, an attempt to incinerate his body left him hideously scarred. Shishio has assembled a private army to overthrow the Meiji government and make himself ruler of Japan. Can Kenshin keep his oath never to kill again, or must he once again become a murderer to prevent a civil war? Kenshin's internal struggle is complicated by Seiko, his arrogant former "sensei"; Aoshi, the ex-commander of the Oniwaban; and Saito, a police officer who may be a friend, rival, and/or enemy. The drama and violence are played against the broad comedy of the cast of friends Kenshin made in Tokyo in the previous continuity: Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Megumi. Yahiko tries to emulate Kenshin, clobbering an opponent as he shouts, ""Hiten Mitsurugi" style--or close to it, anyway!"
Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi stages the sword fights and martial arts duels with panache, using rapid cutting, split-screen, and reversed colors to heighten the excitement. But the filmmakers stress that the spiritual aspects of the samurai tradition of "bushido" outweigh mere physical skills. Kenshin's inner nobility triumphs over Shishio's commitment to a misguided social Darwinism. The emphasis on internal conflict demands nuanced performances from the vocal cast. As Kenshin, Richard Hayworth finds subtle transitions between the warm, slightly goofy Kenshin and the implacable warrior who once terrified Kyoto. This depth and complexity of characterization gives "Rurouni Kenshin" a resonance lacking in animation that pits blandly virtuous heroes against cackling villains. The "Legend of Kyoto" set makes it clear why "Rurouni Kenshin" remains one of the best-loved anime continuities of all time. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use) "--Charles Solomon"""


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