What is the origin of a "hero" in modern film? The character Zorro, penned well over a century ago, is often credited, by film historians, as being the prototype superhero, in that he had a secret identity, great skill. and fought evil while wearing a disguise. Note however that Zorro was a mere mortal with great skill but lacked super powers or mutant blood. An important point. This writer has more than once said the greatest hero in American fiction is a character named Bob Lee Swagger. Swagger appeared in a series of novels by Stephen Hunter, some merely good, some simply staggering in their ability to weave a good tale. (Hunter had a love/hate relationship with his own character and in different novels, tried alternatively to kill him; age him to the point of uselessness; and. finally, replace him with his own son. Hollywood took one shot at bringing Bob Lee to the screen - in a film suitably named Shooter -- and botched it. The actor they cast did not resemble the fictional character at all, and the movie, while well received, had none of the flair of the hardcover novel). Which brings us to Rurouni Kenshin. In Japan, one could argue, this is their prototype hero. An ordinary man with a great skill -- the sword -- who used his skills as a killing machine in battle; and, the moment the war ended, swore he would never kill again. (But he does tend to get into fights. He carries a "reverse blade" sword, great for whacking an opponent, but not for cutting.) This is a VERY popular series in Japan, based on a manga, turned into a TV series, two live action films, and, for all I know, maybe a breakfast cereal. This is the more recent of the two live action films and, while true to the story, lacks even a pretence of charisma which, ironically, is that what one would expect from such a work. My advice to the Japanese -- the next try -- and there will be one -- find an adaptation that makes the character as interesting as he was originally drawn. Sometimes just repeating the original creates an echo -- and nothing more.
