X

Publisher
Manga Entertainment
Director
Rintaro
Production
Madhouse
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Running time
100 mins
Year
1996

X

By Lyndonimus
23rd May 04

X is set on the eve of the millenium, where powerful clans meet once again for a fianl battle between good and evil. Kamui's destiny is set as he returns to Tokyo to face his ultimate challenge. The Dragon of heaven (goodies) meet to defend the world from the Dragon of Earth (baddies) who embrace the worlds end as a purification.

Kamui, has to choose which side he shall stand for and against even though the thought of the worlds future resting wholly on his shoulders unappealing. Only until his childhood friends (Fuma and Kotori) become endangered does he step into the fray in the Year of Destiny, 1999.

X, is an oddball of a film, it has a begining, a middle and an end. Unfortunately we do not see everything as the begining and middle are not packaged with the film. We are thrown in at the end, the climax. Me and the few firends that have seen it have dubbed the film 'Bleak X'. The reason for this is that, its not a happy-go-lucky film. It's dark and somewhat depressing. At the end, you'll want to cry, because it's not the ending you want from the film. Even though it has depressing overtones, the animations holds itself throughout and the battle scene are mythically awesome!

Character developent is almost non-existant, as you are thrown in at the end, everyone is developed and you meet them (or thrown at you), then they die, its a sad truth to X that the goodies get their asses whooped so easily that one wonders why they even tried to fight in the first place. That being said you'll pick your favourite character and root for him, sadly, he or she *will* die, and you'll be upset. There is so much more I wish to write about plot/subplot and twists (which are both bloody awesome and tear jerking!) but alas I'd rather you found out for yourself >.< because we all know 6th sense was pants when you knew the plot before hand.

I liked this Anime, even though at the end my jaw was open and I cried myself to sleep. The animation is slick and the battles are cool, character design is ace, so it's a pitty they are not more 3D. X is based on the Manga comic series by CLAMP. If you suffer from manic depression please do not even contemplate watching this film, but with a theme tune by X Japan hey, it might be worth owning for the OST ^_^.

6/10

-- Lyndonimus 23rd May 04

X Images