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Revolutionary Girl Utena - The Movie Director: Kunihiko Ikuhara Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, Animated, Widescreen Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 87 minutes Studio: CENTRAL PARK MEDIA Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2001-11-13 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 97 Average rating: 4.5 "A huge disappointment" First of all, I loved, loved LOVED the series. What this movie has going for it has gorgeous imagery and the same caliber of voice talent of the series, but otherwise it fails in all the ways the series was intriguing and, well, likeable. Anthy's character is, instead of the tortured creature of the series, a flirtacious, giggly schoolgirl who practically forces herself on Utena and evokes little sympathy to carry us through to the ending. Much of the dialogue, heck, entire scenes are utterly incoherent to those who haven't seen the entire series. The seductive manipulation of Akio- gone. The well-developed modern mythology? Gone. The deep backstories and character insights? Gone. In a word, this movie, as a condensed storyline, managed to suck the wonderful aspects of the show out, which leaves a pretty but feeble creature of a movie behind. "A new perspective on Utena" I have watched this movie three times since I purchased it. I watched it once in English the same day I bought it, then again in Japanese. It completely confused me. However, after watching the entire series so far and then viewing it again I can now understand and appreciate it. It is a marvelously animated and depicted RETELLING of the anime series. Certain characters change personalities but the essence of the Utena series remains, Revolution. One thing to keep in mind when viewing Japanese anime and cinema is that you most likely prescribe to the western idea of symbolism. So if for example you see Utena turn into a car you may think that it must be symbol of power or speed but feel uncertain, when in fact all it is is transportation. Get it. I highly suggest buying this movie after you have watch most of the series (through entire black rose saga) and then you may be able to grasp some of what it going on. It's nice to see a movie that isn't afraid of stepping outside the boundries of the series because when you hold yourself to that mold you can only go so far. This movie is an exploration into many lingering ideas in the series. That is why it's a must see for Utena's fans, dubbed and subtitled alike. "Confusing? Yes. Disappointing? No." I loved Shoujo Kakumei Utena (best known as Revolutionary Girl Utena) ever since I first watched it...renting a dubbed tape from Blockbuster. Utena is a wonderful series, and it puzzles us again and again with new twists and turns that make it enjoyable to watch over and over again to try and figure it out, and this is also a good reason to watch it with a close friend. The same goes for the movie, I believe. It is...confusing, to say the least, if you haven't seen at *least* to the Black Rose Saga. I, myself, bought the dubbed tape of this movie when I had only seen the first four episodes from Blockbuster. This was a mistake. However, I enjoyed the movie anyway, and also ending up buying the DVD later on (which has the better Japanese subbed version). Most people give this movie a 2 or 3 star rating. The art alone is enough to give it a 3, I think. It's wonderful, and even if you don't understand it, it's just plain beautiful to watch over and over again. True, there are some images in there that I'd rather not see, but all in all, it's worth it. My most favorite scene (which seems to be everyone else's as well) is the rose garden scene, where Utena and Anshi dance. It's worth buying this just to see the scene. The music is wonderful, which is why I have the soundtrack to this as well. This is *not* a movie to watch if you either haven't got a clue what Utena is, or haven't had someone explain it to you with some depth. I will not lie, Utena is a very complicated story. As I stated before, there are many levels of this movie that I still haven't gotten, even after watching it over and over again. However, some of the movie ties together, although it does so loosely--you must pay attention to every detail or you'll miss it. I also think that the characters were a little...strange, namely Anshi. But this didn't stop me from liking it. I discarded trying to figure it out watching it the first time and just let it flow over me, enjoying the astounding graphics and flowing music. Save trying to understand it for the second time you view it. I suggest this DVD to anyone who has a slight interest in Utena who has seen it before. Even though you might not have seen all of it, I'm sure it will come together once you have seen all of the series. It might come off as a very shoujo-like series (i.e. Salior Moon), but it can appeal to males as well as females. I hope you'll take the time to let it soak in before you sell it to somebody two days after you buy it. 'Cause that's just wasted time, you know? "...To Revolutionize the World!" Hi, I own a copy of this movie now. I haven't seen the tv series so I can't compare them really, but i can give an honest opinion about this film. This is one of the most interesting Anime films I have ever seen. The movie itself is visually stunning, and the characters have many layers to them. Also, the cover design could be better...the cover doesn't represent the film that well (the cover image and lettering is a bit cheezie). Utena is very memorable as a character and inspirational, and the film challenges both femininity and masculinity in a new way. I perhaps interpret the film differently than most and it is ok because the film is very open to interpretations. That, in my opinion, is true art. This film includes a sequence in which Utena turns into a race car. I will not give away what happens but it blew my mind. I feel that Utena is more sophisticated as a person than the Sailor Moon character. The film gives a lot of information about the characters at once, but it is not impossible to figure out what is going on. This is definitely worth seeing. "Power of the Revolution" I was immensley pleased when I heard that the Utena movie was coming out in America, being a very big fan of the original series and manga. At first seeing the movie, I was not dissapointed one little bit. The animation in this movie is supurb. Beautiful, rich, crisp images captivate your eyes throughout the entire movie. The graphic qaulity of this movie is in the same leauge as any Miyazaki movie, which is very good indeed. Even now, several years after the first release the movie visual capasity of this movie is better than most anime movies and series. In no way was the animation flawed at all. I especialy loved the dance scene between Utena and Anshii, which in my view is one of the most graphicly beautiful in all of anime, and certainly the highlight of the movie. The plot of the movie is based losely on the anime and manga series Shojo Kakumei Utena, or Revolutionary Girl Utena in English. The major theme of the plot is the same, Utena getting involved in the duels to keep possesion of the Rose Bride, Himemiya Anshii (in Japanese, last name then first name). And soon Utena and Anshii develope a very close friendship. That is one thing that the series has over the movie, it is that the relationship in the movie is lesbian, unlike in the series when the two are always trying to keep their feelings to themselves. Also unlike in the series which the movie is superior to it, is that Utena is clearly in love with Anshii, and she isn't being torn between either Touga or Anshii. That part of the series really bugged me, and the movie dosen't do that. However one flaw in the plot is that the movie presents Saionji as some insane woman beater. Although he has that outward apperence, it dosen't give his rather sad story like it dose in the show that shows exactly why Saionji is the way he is. Even the part at the end when Utena is morphed into a car for her and Anshii to escape in is wonderfully original and creative. Each of the characters is wonderful and has their own original personality. Utena's personality is kept pretty much the same in the anime and in the movie, which was fine with me. However, Anshii lost her 'gone with the wind' type of attitude that she held in the manga and series. After a while you get used to the personality change, and learn to like her new character. Touga and Shiori's character are kept pretty much the same, in which I can't stand Shiori. Although I don't remember Touga taking much of an interest in Shiori as he dose in the movie. Juri and Miki aren't really mentioned much so there really isn't a whole lot that changed in their character, and for some odd reason Miki still has that blasted stopwatch. Sound wise, the Japanese version was suberb while the English dub had some problems. Okay maybe more than some problems. Alright, the English version had A LOT of problems. While the dubbers kept the music the same, all of the voices made me want to chringe. Utena's voice was okay, there was a lot of room for improvment, but I delt with it. I could of pee'ed my self when I heard Anshii, Saionji, and Touga's English voice. They were AWFUL. The only good thing about the English dubb is that Miki for once, sounds like a guy. I never got why in the original he sounds like a girl. Not neccicarily a good voice that matched his character, but it was a masculine voice anyway. Overall, The Shojo Kakumei Utena movie, or The Adolesence of Utena was a wonderful movie. For any Utena fans out there it is a must see. I would not recomend that you watch this unless you have seen at least all the way through the Black Rose Arc and the Akio Arc in the series Shojo Kakumei Utena. If not you WILL be lost and confused. When I showed this to my friend, who had not seen the show Utena but knew the basic plot information, she was VERY lost in the movie plot. Also, THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES. PLEASE HEED THE PG-13 RATING. Like I said, this movie is a must see for any Utena fan, weither you like the manga version of anime, The Adolesence of Utena is a wonderful movie, with a lovely images, a creative plot, and awsome characters.