Samurai X - Trust [1999]

All in all however,you really need to see both DVDs (the second not released in England ,just yet)To truely understand and get the best out of the series.


Amazing   February 19, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is a great anime, for those of you that dont know is like a pre story too a series called Rurouni Kenshin (unreleased in uk) it is split in four episodes 2 on this dvd 2 on samurai x betreyal (not released here yet) In my opinion this is great especially being able to watch it in its original japanese.

And just to clear this up for you declan, manga entertainment just publishes videos this is just as much of an anime as akira or guyver, it was just published under a different company.

The main reason i posted this review is that i dont want people put off by the previous review because this is an amazing dvd.

Although one thing is the special features are mainly just text which is kind of dull.


Atmospheric, well plotted and touching   December 7, 2002
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Samurai X is the ova (or prequel) to the Rurouni Kenshin series, and where the series is often light hearted and action orientated, this is a lot more gritty and harsh.

The story is about a boy called Shinta who is saved from death at the hands of a bandit group by a great swordsman, named Hiko Seijuro (master of the powerful Hiten-mitsurugi ryu style). Later, Hiko stumbles across the boy toilling to bury not only the victims of the bandit raid but also the bandits themselves. He is touched by the boy and decides to take him on as a pupil, so he may survive to carry the dreams of those who have been slain. H e is given the name Kenshin (Boy with sword in his heart) because Shinta (boy with a heart) is not considered apropriate.

Years later with the outbreak of the Tokugawa Revolution Kenshin wishes to join the struggle and aid those who can't protect themselves. His master, however, realizes that one man with a sword can't change the world for the better by slaying people and forbids him to go. He does not heed his masters advice and leaves anyway. Embroiled in the struggle he quickly becomes a deadly killer on the side of the Ishin Shishi (under Lord Kogaro Katsura (a historical figure). He locks away his emotions, justifying his killing by believing that he can cleanse the world of the corrupt old regime and replace it with a time of peace. But how long can he justify the killing...?

The animation in the film is detailed, dark and morose, reflecting the story told. There's no bright colours here...

There are a number of fight scenes interspersed within the story and, although they are bloody they are not glorified. The action is swift and deadly, battles are not prolonged here ala DBZ.

The musical score is classical and well suited to the atmosphere of the film.

Samurai X is a thoughtful and well told story. It offers and interesting take on the struggle of a human being for a dream, and how far will one go far that dream? What can one justify doing to achieve a dream of a better world. Although it is not as action orientated as many other animes, the story and insight in Kenshin turmoiled feelings more than make up for this. This trancends the normal stereotypes about animation and can be considered a great film. Its up ther with Princess Mononoke and Naussica of the Valley of the Wind (The best Miyazake film)


Samurai X   October 31, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

These episodes are fantastic. They ARE violent-but the violence for me was always a side line to the emotional journey that Kenshin is going on-the story makes perfect sense and is indepth, betrayal, romance, inner conflict, its all here. The fact that Kenshin is so effective and swordsman and killer, yet he really does not like to kill people, this shows that he is a good person, but fights for what he belives is right.

This is an all round great anime production, and I would strongly recommend it to any and everyone.


A GREAT FILM!!!   December 12, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This film is great.. I am not the type that like animations so much, but this one just blew me off!! It has a great storyline, exciting fighting sequence and its just great to watch. The picture is really good, that you feel as though it's real.. What more can I say, except..A GREAT FILM!!!