"Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning" is a live-action adaptation of the same story that the OVA"Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal" adapts, that being the backstory of the protagonist Himura Kenshin. This film has a much darker tone than the rest of the series, completely ditching the shounen staples and instead telling a fantastical historical drama set during the Bakumatsu period in Japan. Themes such as meaning, loss, romance, and guilt tell the humanity present in the characters' tales

The fight scenes here are stunning and the bloodiest they have ever been in this film series. Kenshin is a beast in the story that follows, but it's insane to see just how powerful he is when he had given himself free reign to kill. My favourite scene would be the first, which I'll leave for you to see yourself.

The sets are beautiful and build the fictional realisation of the time period with a great atmosphere. Many details adorn the environments. The music is fantastic as always.

Acting is phenomenal. Takeru Satoh (Kenshin) keeps things subtle, doing great to express the inner torment of his character. I would state the same for Kasumi Arimura (Tomoe).

My only criticism might be that the movie can linger a little too long on some of the sadder moments. It's not a major issue however.

I loved "Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning" and have a hard time truly expressing my love for the film. It's a little rough to recommend for no other reason than its chronological place and the release date. I'd say watch it after the first three films (meaning after The Legend Ends) and before The Final, the latter was produced alongside this one. The Beginning is a beautiful, poetic tragedy that will bring its viewers closer to their inner humanity.