Forum - View topicUtena movie question
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caulfield
 Posts: 80 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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I once asked on usenet for recommendations of anime to watch whilst in a mindset deep in the throes of chemical decadence, emphasizing specifically on psychedelics and hallucinogens. Amid the myriad of postings telling me to re-evaluate my personal interests and lifestyle choices, three of the suggestions were movies which delt with a universe which had already been established in a series:
-The first Tenchi Muyo Movie -The Utena Movie -The second Urusei Yatsura movie I have seen 2 of these, the Tenchi movie and the UY film (Beautiful Dreamer). They were fantastic and I now own them both on DVD. I have yet to see the Utena film but I have some concerns. I saw the Tenchi movie first and it was a bit underwhelming. I had not ever seen a single episode of any of the various Tenchi Muyo animated series however (neither had I read any of the manga). I was about ready to curse the infuriating ignorance of what is the usenet populace when I rented Beautiful Dreamer. I absolutely loved it, but... I had already seen much of the UY series beforehand. On a whim I borrowed the 2 Tenchi Muyo series (television and OAV releases by Pioneer) and sat through them. THEN, I rented the first Tenchi Muyo movie again and watched that. It was amazing and I now own a copy on DVD. Knowing what I had already endured, before picking up a copy of the Utena movie I sought out the series first. I recieved the first and second DVDs totalling 14 episodes for my birthday and sat thru them one weekend. The thing is, I honestly don't care for the Utena series at all from what I have seen. I can't find the Utena movie at any of my local rentals and none of my friends has it, so if I want to see it, I will likely have to purchase it. People seem to rave about this film and I have yet to find one bad review online. I was only mildly interested in the Tenchi series (it was funny and all), but I ended up really enjoying the movie. What are the chances though that I will enjoy the Utena movie about as much as the other two films? Is it worth buying or should I just save my money given my already established dislike of the series? Thanks in advance. |
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ANN_Bamboo
ANN Contributor
 Posts: 3906 Location: CO |
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I say go for the Utena movie. It's nothing like the series, and it's very beautifully done. Many people don't like it because it's confusing, but it seems like something you'd enjoy while in a state of chemical trancedom.
While I myself don't avail myself of mind-altering substances, I do have a few suggestions of what to watch during those states, as they're trippy enough under any mindset: -Serial Experiments Lain -Boogiepop Phantom - it's not so much trippy as just... really screwed up. You might like it. -End of Evangelion (Yeah, yeah, over-recommended, but the ending is.... cool) -While it may not be worth it to watch the entire series for, the ending of Gasaraki is funky. |
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caulfield
Posts: 80 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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Actually...
The network name of my PC at work is "NAVI" and my wallpaper is of Ritsuko. Incidentally, I work tech-support. |
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Shale
Posts: 337 Location: The Middle of Nowhere, DE |
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The Utena movie is meant to simulate the effects of psychoactive drugs, not to be watched under their influence. If you're a fan of ****ed-up anime I'd give it a shot even if you don't like the series, otherwise it's probably not worth your while.
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Mangareader
Posts: 24 |
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The Utena Movie was a trip. I brought the movie when it first came out. I watched it. And I wondered what in the world was going on. Before this I had never knew anything about Utena. I was so confused that I watched it again in english. That did not help in the least. So then I watched it again with the directors commentary on. It made a little more sense the third time around after I realized that what was going on the screen after the director explained a few things. I wonder why I did watch it so many times. I really did enjoy it even if it left me scracthing my head.
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Aaron White
Old Regular
Posts: 1365 Location: Birmingham, Alabama |
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The Utena movie is different from the series, largely in that it takes the basic elements of the show and retells them is a concise, streamlined and nonlinear form. The repetitive linearity of the show is gone.
Personally I think all the first Tenchi movie has going for it is good art direction, but the other two films actually go somewhere. Other two films in question being UY2 and Utena, that is, not the other two Tenchi films, which were also tepid. |
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Aya Reiko
 Posts: 166 Location: Nowhere and Somewhere |
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Don't get the movie. If you didn't like the TV series, there is no way you'll like the movie.
In order to enjoy the movie, you need two things; You've seen the TV series and you enjoy David Lynch films. If you lack either one of these things, don't even bother. The Utena movie can be descirbed as: Don't let the plot get in the way of the scenery. Great to look at, totally incomprehensable story. I liked it, but mainly for the visual factor and not for the movie itself. |
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Dan42
Chief Encyclopedist
 Posts: 3817 Location: Montreal |
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I absolutely don't agree, Aya. The TV series didn't really manage to hold my interest, but I loved the movie for it's extravagance and it's weirdness. The movie is a true feast for the eyes (and for whatever part of the brain is stimulated by LSD). And you don't need to know the series to appreciate that.
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mrgazpacho
Posts: 316 Location: Australia |
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I'm half-and-half.
I saw both the Beautiful Dreamer and the Utena movies without having seen any of either series. While the UY universe slowly started to make sense within BD, the Utena movie suddenly lurched off the tracks with the car wash. I was actually enjoying it up until then... From what I gather, the movie's symbolic re-interpretation of some of the Utena series confused many of the series fans. It made no sense to this viewer. Strangely enough, I had no problems with the Oh! My Goddess movie either. Perhaps I just take harem scenarios for granted 
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caulfield
Posts: 80 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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But I love David Lynch...
Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet are among my favorite films. But yes, I really dislike the series. The characters and ideas seem okay... The idea of a mysterious revolution triggered by duels over a single woman who stands as the prize with everything linked to an upside down floating castle, an unseen prince, and the end of the world are all very nifty. But to me, the execution is just kinda lame. Matter of personal taste though. |
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Aya Reiko
Posts: 166 Location: Nowhere and Somewhere |
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That said, then definitely no. It's good that you said that Mulholland Drive is one of you favorite films, since both MD and RGU have a rather schizophrenic plot (if you call it that). But your dislike of the series pretty much seals the deal. If you didn't like the series, there is really little point in getting the movie. |
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Shale
Posts: 337 Location: The Middle of Nowhere, DE |
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Gotta disagree there. The Utena movie is more about the style than the substance, especially if you don't have a lot of background in the series. If you like Lynch, go for it.
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