In June 2011, Warner Brothers Japan and Studio Swan announced that a live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga series had been green-lit and had begun pre-production.
Overview[]
The film stars Takeru Satō as Himura Kenshin and Emi Takei as Kamiya Kaoru. The film runs for 134 minutes Keishi Ōtomo directed the live-action film and premiered in Japanese theaters on August 25th, 2012. The film did exceptionally well in box office grosses, earning over 300 million yen (over 5 million USD) on its opening weekend, beating out summer blockbusters including "The Avengers".
On September 1st, 2012, director Keishi Otomo and Takeru Satō announced that Rurouni Kenshin had been licensed for international distribution in over 60 countries with 17 more still in negotiation.
Cast[]
Differences from the Manga[]
- In the manga, Saitō Hajime meets Kenshin again by going to Kaoru's Dōjō to warn him about Shishio. In the film, Saitō meets Kenshin in the prison while investigating about the assassinations assumed by Battōsai.
- In the manga, Takeda hires the Oniwabanshū as bodyguards. In the film, the Oniwabanshū is absent, and instead Takeda hires Gein and Banjin as bodyguards and Udō Jin-e as agent.
- In the manga, the character behind the assassinations assumed by Battōsai is Hiruma Gohei. In the film, Udō Jin-e is the one behind the assassinations.
- In the manga, Sagara Sanosuke meets Kenshin after making a deal with the Hiruma brothers, has his Zanbatō cut by Kenshin and is defeated by him, before Kenshin even met Udō Jin-e and Takeda Kanryū. In the film, Sanosuke meets Kenshin in the prison, when Kenshin had already met Udō Jin-e, and after been released makes an offer to Takeda Kanryū but ultimately drops, and he's not defeated by Kenshin, neither does Kenshin cut his Zanbatō.
- In the manga, Kenshin beats Takeda with the help of Oniwabanshū. In the film, Kenshin defeats Takeda with the help of Sanosuke and Hajime Saitō.
- In the manga, the battle against Udō Jin-e happens before Kenshin met Megumi. In the film, Kenshin fights Udo after Megumi is rescued from Takeda.
- In the manga (and anime adaptions) Udō Jin-e uses the Nikaidō Heihō on himself to increase his strength as the final attempt to defeat Kenshin. In the film he does not use this method.
Gallery[]
Making Of - Behind the Scenes of Kenshin Live Action[]
