Dealing with a wide variety of themes--young love, music, alternate realities, mysterious invaders, and the fluidity of time and space--RahXephon: The Motion Picture focuses on middle school sweethearts Kamina Ayato and Mishima Haruka, who are separated by a cataclysmic event that leaves Tokyo trapped in its own bubble of time while the rest of the world moves forward faster. For Haruka, 15 years pass outside the city fighting an invading force while inside, for Ayato, only three years go by in a city kept oblivious to the struggle for the control of Earth and the universe. The overarching science fiction plot involving the invading Mu aliens and the humans' struggle to "re-tune" the world using the singing RahXephon (giant robots) gets a bit murky at times. In the end, however, the plausibility of the science or politics makes little difference--the key is the relationship between the two star-crossed lovers, Ayato and Haruka, and their story is both sweet and heart-wrenching. Related to the RahXephon television series, but following its own compressed path, this film is a fine achievement, boasting topnotch animation and an excellent soundtrack. Rated 15-up, this dual-language disc is accompanied by a better than average booklet filled with character profiles, story discussions, and translation notes. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Brenner)
RahXephon: The Motion Picture
(2003) 120 min. DVD: $29.98. ADV Films (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 1-57813-933-3. Volume 19, Issue 6
RahXephon: The Motion Picture
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