When it needs to get serious, the film delivers a shift in tone via a diverting subplot which essentially introduces a whole new set of characters. Kenshin puts his famous back-blade to good use in a series of highly kinetic action sequences which make clever use of camera positioning and wire-gags, while maintaining – for the most part – an anti-violence message. Now, as an embittered, vengeful samurai, he has formed his own army with a plan to overthrow the government and wreak havoc across the country. Like Kenshin, he too fought at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, but was attacked, burned and left for dead by the very anti-shogunate forces he was working alongside.
It’s pretty obvious their idyllic life in post-shogunate Japan won’t last, and soon enough, the newly established police come knocking, recruiting Kenshin to stop a mad ronin from blowing up Kyoto. Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and his unholy gang, known as the ‘Ten Swords’, have jumped directly from the pages of a comic book: one of Shishio’s fighters has an outlandish blonde quiff, like Billy Idol they live on a pirate ship and Shishio himself is a ghoulish, mummified figure with burns all over his face and body. Following the events of the first film, Kenshin (Takeru Satoh) – the pacifist samurai continuing his vow not to kill – is now living a utopian existence helping Kaoru (Emi Takei) to run her dojo, hanging out with tempestuous street-brawler Sanosuke – played by Munetaka Aoki, very much enjoying his comedic foil role – who might have a thing for their doctor neighbour, Megumi (Yū Aoi). Solid if ambling sequel filmed back-to-back with part three, The Legend Ends, which delivers more spirited sword-fighting and zany characters from the world of popular manga, Rurouni Kenshin.
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