I wish I spoke Japanese...

Rating: Null/10 (29 April 2001)

Or at least maybe saw the subtitled version of this movie. I can't help but think that something was lost in the translation. I've always been a casual anime fan, feeling that as in all things, there are some great examples and some real crummy ones. Visually, this film will knock you on your butt. I actually made little gasping noises at some points because of the sheer beauty and inventiveness of what I was seeing on screen. As for the actual story, I couldn't help but feel that something really important was going on behind all that nonsensical and bland dubbed dialog that I was just missing. I really couldn't tell you a thing that happened in the entire second half of the movie. People were screaming, many things' heads were being chopped off, there was a lot of blood and a half-assed love story while everyone switched sides about nine times and then the confrontation dissolved in some sort of quasi-truce that really seemed to leave everyone right back where they started. Oh. And conserve the Earth everyone! There is a possibility that I am just an idiot. But many of the other reviews indicated that the dubbed version attempted to dumb down Japanese mythology so that we Americans can understand. I think they should have left well enough alone because the current translation is a mess. I am not willing to count out the film just yet. But I think I would recommend viewing the subtitled version to those who haven't seen it yet, if it is even available. Those are usually a little more literal in the translation. Worth a viewing for animation fans no matter what, though. Visually amazing stuff.