Movie Review: Rurouni Kenshin

It was a set date today, December 8, 2012, as I watched one of the movies I was very excited about: Rurouni Kenshin. I went with my bestfriend, Megan, and our partners. Before it was released in the Philippines, we decided to watch it together since the anime adaptation of this movie was the reason why we met way back our high school days.

Credits: SM Cinema

The movie revolved around Himura Kenshin, a wanderer who is looking for a peaceful life with a vow to never kill again. Before, Kenshin is the heartless assassin called Hitokiri Battousai. In his wandering, he meets Kamiya Kaoru, the head of Kamiya dojo, whom he saved a couple of times. She was aware of Kenshin's previous life yet supports him in his new outlook. Yahiko, a trainee at Kamiya dojo, brought along Takani Megumi, a doctor who ran away from the smuggler, Takeda Kanryu, who asked her to create opium. Sagara Sanosuke joined them when Kenshin decided to rescue Megumi who decided to return to Kanryu when the lives of the village people were endangered as they look for her. Upon fighting Kanryu's subordinates with the police, Hajime Saito, the killer who calls himself Battousai, Udo Jine, kidnapped Kaoru. Kenshin rushes to save Kaoru and decides to kill Jine for her. Kaoru asked him to stop as she told him that he shouldn't go back to killing again. The movie ends with Kenshin saying he's home with Kaoru and the others in the dojo.

I should say that the movie is a very good adaptation of the anime series. If you have no idea what Rurouni Kenshin is, the movie summarizes what it is about. But as for me, who is a fan of the anime series, I should point out that the sequence of the movie is pretty mixed up. Some characters in the anime didn't show up, like my bias, Shinomori Aoshi who should appear with Hannya, as Kanryu's subordinates. Also, I expected that Kaoru's kidnapping will be a dramatic like the one in the anime with Jine on a boat.

Since the movie is all about samurais and action, the movie showcased superb fight scenes. The part where Kenshin saved Kaoru from Kanryu's men as they take over the dojo was amazing. The stunts were smoothly executed and the sound effects complimented their moves. As for the movie's soundtrack, "The Beginning" by One OK Rock is a perfect fit the story's aura.

Whether you are an anime fan or not, Rurouni Kenshin is a must-see. It is not just about killing and bloodshed, but it is also about moving forward to change to a more meaningful and peaceful life.

The Gadget Story

I don't know if it's because I'm in a technology-oriented career that I have gained so much interest in gadgets. Back then, it was my mobile phone which I consider as the only gadget I own. It was not much back then since it is only used for calling, texting and free internet surfing via GPRS. But when I had my hands on an iPod Video last 2007 to which I call Ivysaur, my interest grew bigger.

Since Ivysaur, I convinced my dad to buy me a netbook, Aspire (because it is an Acer Aspire One), for my programming class in which I tweaked and optimized to my preferences. Thanks to my major, Information Technology. I am always into games so I bought a second-hand PSP to which I named NeoN-G as my Christmas present last 2010. Well, hello to PSP modding, I was able to play arcade and role-playing games even I'm in the van to the office where I had my on-the-job training. Then as a present for my graduation last 2011, I was given an iPod Touch 4G. By August of the same year, I bought an Olympus E-PL2 camera which I named Olee.

Now the yearning doesn't seem to fade. I wanted the apps, so I learned jailbreaking for RAIJIN, my iPod. I downloaded all the apps that suited my tastes like productivity, social, photography and of course, games. I also bought a new phone in December 2011, a Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini to experience the Android platform. The camera was superb. But my gadgets don't seem to last. Aspire died (the display malfunctioned), NeoN-G had a power failure and my Xperia Mini was having touch problems. So it was just RAIJIN and me. To make up for Aspire's loss, I bought Phoenix last April; an AMD-based desktop computer. I brought NeoN-G to a repair service but after a few weeks it malfunctioned again. Up to this time, it's still dead. As for my Xperia Mini, I sold it since I can't keep up with its problems and replaced it with a basic Nokia phone. For now, it is me, RAIJIN, Olee and Phoenix.

I still have needs though. I want to take pictures but I can't bring Olee along all the time. I want internet on the go but RAIJIN doesn't have a cellular capability for mobile internet. I want to update my social media accounts, but my phone is so basic. I found the answer for the internet and social media dilemmas with my Blackberry 9320. It was a plan under Globe Telecom and it has unlimited internet and a wifi hotspot. Undeniably, it sustained my needs. There's only one dilemma left: the camera. There's no solution up to now, but I guess I just have to bear bringing Olee along all the time.

The desire for new gadgets is still on fire. Especially now, when there are new releases that catch my eye. I guess I need to settle the budget and the need now since the list of wants is piling up fast. I plan on upgrading RAIJIN with the new Ipod Touch 5th Generation, buying a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for reading e-books, NFC and camera and getting a new Aspire One for a handy PC. I'm also having thoughts on an Asus Nexus 7 or an iPad Mini.

Oh well. These are all plans anyway. Let the budget talk!