Rurouni Kenshin - Fall From Grace (Episodes 75-78) [DVD]

This DVD skips all over the place, it's hard to watch the episodes because of the pauses and when it plays it skips.

Better than expected. A+

"Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 18: Fall From Grace" provides the final episodes of the story arc focusing on the persecution of Christians in Japan and Shougo Amakusa, who believes himself to be a god and is well versed in the Hiten Mitsurugi fighting style. Sanosuke had fallen for Shougo's sister, the devou`t Magdaria, but the battle has cost the young Christian girl her life. Meanwhile, Himura Kenshin, the former Hitokiri Battousai, is eager to match swords again with Shoguo despite now being blind.The first two episode included on "Fall From Grace" provide the end of the Christian saga: Episode 75, "The Last Crusade: The Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki Crash!," which has the climactic sword fight between the wounded Shoguo and the blind Himura; Episode 76, "Bon Voyage: Hope Overcome the Melancholy Waves," is the epilogue to this particular story arc as the Christians are ordered to leave Japan. As we have come to expect after the completion of these longer story arcs, the next couple of episodes are pretty much comic relief: Episode 76, "There's a Himura Dojo in Shimonoseki? Another Battousi Appears" has the gang amazed to discover that some guy has shown up in town claiming to be the legendary manslayer. Kenshin is willing to let the fake have his way, since he is not doing any one any harm, but the man's boasts have attracted someone who wants to make their reputation by killing the Battousi. Episode 77, "The Artist's Crush: A Romantic Spree at the Hakone Hot Spring," has the gang going back to Hakone for a little rest and relaxation, which is complicated first by a lack of money and then by a young artist who draws Kaoru and then falls in love with her.After the epic Kyoto story line the "Tales of the Meiji" stories tend to strike fans of "Rurouni Kenshin" as being of lesser quality, but pretty much anything they came up with was going to be disappointing in comparison. The take on the persecution of Christian in Meiji Japan is certainly interesting, especially from this side of the Pacific, and if Kenshin and Kaoru are not going to go anywhere with their feelings than having Sanosuke's tragic romance with Magdaria at least showed some movement on the emotional side of the story.

Kenshin Himura was an assassin for the imperialist army during the revolution. At the turning point something happened and he just vanished. 11 years later he encounters a girl named Kaoru while wandering through Tokyo. He saves her life just before she is killed trying to fight a notorious murderer. He begins living with her at her dojo. They gain new friends and have many adventures, but one day ghosts from Kenshin's murderous past come back to haunt him. His gentle nature gives way to a murderous side and Kaoru must stand by him to keep him from changing forever.The rebellion is underway. Kenshin must fight Shogo to put an end to the battle between the Christians, and the government. Kenshin is blind and the fight will not be easy.Rurouni Kenshin is an amazing anime series. Maybe even one of the best ever made. It has everything. Action, comedy, drama, suspense, romance, and mystery are all common themes in this anime. The amazing part is that it is based loosely on actual historical characters. The animation, voice acting, soundtrack, and plot are all very well done. There are dozens of great and unforgettable characters. This anime is a legend, and is a must see for any anime fan. It's also pretty family friendly. It has violence, but it's pretty conservative. All in all this show owns.

This disc and arc is already hard to swallow if you know the direction the comic book creators took immediately after the Kyoto Arc (Enishi, of "Trust & Betrayal" and "Reflections" fame, returns with his own gang). And while the Amakusa Shougo storyline was interesting, it comes to a preachy, unfulfilling end on this disc.As they return to Tokyo, the group encounters a man protecting a town from gangsters using Kenshin's Hitokiri Battousai name, with more valiant intentions to be revealed later. This series is only slightly entertaining; a quick maybe three minute fight sequence with one semi-skilled swordsman ensues.Further on is a more slapstick-type comedy episode in the goofy spirit of the Tenchi Muyo series. An art student falls madly in love with Kaoru and the rest of the gang convinces him they will help him win her love if he can just touch Kenshin with his shinai or wooden sword. It's comedic, with no real fighting scenes, and Kenshin using his skill for a few seconds to ward off some insects. It's Tenchi meets Kenshin for one episode.Is it necessary for your Kenshin collection? No, save for the conclusion of the Shougo saga. Will it satisfy your cravings for more episodes in the series? Yes. Not really recommended if you appreciated this story for its intensity and well-played sword battles (even the Kenshin-Shougo fight is extremely short...it comes down to one test of their Ougis, or final techniques).By this point you should consider reading the Manga and discovering what every other long-time Kenshin fan has: the moment the comics and the cartoon went separate ways was a bad one for the series.

This is the fourth dvd in the Rurouni Kenshin : Tales of the Meiji saga. In this dvd the conflict of the christians is finally resolved. There is a final showdown between Shogo Amaksa and Kenshin who fight to decide the outcome of the peoples lives. Kenshin is still blind from Shogo's Rairyu-Sen from the previous fight. After the resolve Kenshin moves on headed for Tokyo. On the way he meets a man that claims to be the one and only Battaousi the Manslayer. Kenshin and his friends investigate and find out the real secret behind this man. Finally Kenshin makes his last stop at a hot springs before going to Tokyo. Here Kenshin's group meet an artist that falls madly in love with Karou. The artist claims that he will do anything to go out with Miss Karou. Sano thinks up a clever plan and then the madness begins! Overall this was a pretty fun filled Kenshin DVD!