Rahxephon - The Motion Picture

After finishing the series just recently and having watched the movie quite some time ago, I think that honestly this film is only good in the sense of how well it ruins the series.

Haruka Mishima from this movie is totally given away from the beginning and nothing in this film ever explained Mishima's role and what she represents, the major plot twist in the end that explains who she is was totally expected by the time they built up to it, and the ending failed to close alot of plot holes.

They twist the whole series by clipping away the parts that make the story intriguing and make the relationships that are built in the series important to the overall story.

I for one was disappointed to recall the movie and how it played out akin to series order but without explaining crucial elements of the story like the where and how of what was really going on, they leave out very key elements about the story overall, such as the implications of the Foundation's involvement, the Bahbem Group, explaining how the Mu control dolems and where dolems and instrumentalists come from. The TERRA Commander's heartwarming story about his daughter's death and his struggle to atone for his inability to save his daughter in the great mu war.

This entire series is built around the premise of how relationships evolve and connect people by events, people, places, and things. Such as the squad leader's handkercheif, the picture of the Commander's daughter, Haruka's gloves, Buchi, etc. All these things connected one person to another even if only for an episode, and the emotional transcription is way more profound in this way...

The movie made me feel as though I lost part of that by knowing what happens before it happens, especially with Asahina.

If you have a burning need to own this film, please watch the series first, this is not a good introduction movie to the series and will ruin the story for you.

I imagine I must first explain that emotional content and emotional affect have a great deal to do with how I rate Rah-Xephon: Pluralitas Concentio. This movie rates high in both categories. I viewed the series in total a few years ago on DVD and was left feeling confused and unsure of what had actually happened. I'm in the process of rewatching the series, but only after having viewed the movie. In doing so, I now have better insight into the world and characters of Rah-Xephon.

The movie is emotionally charged. There really is no other way to put it. I must agree with some of the other reviews in that it skips from here-to-there in a number of places and that character development is lacking (for most of the players) when compared to the series. The exception would have to be Ayato Kamina's "other" female friend from school, Hiroko Asahina. Her death in the series was tragic. In the movie it is even more so because we have a better understanding of her feelings for Ayato. We learn that her love for him is as long-lived and every bit as deep as the shared love between Ayato and Haruka. That Hiroko's love is unrequited until just before her death makes it all the more tragic.

Recommendation: This is a hard one to recommend. Mostly because it is so different from the series. If you've seen the series and were left confused then Rah-Xephon: Pluralitas Concentio should be on your "must buy" list.

One last point: The end title song for the movie, Tune the Rainbow is a wonderful piece of music. My understanding is that it is unique to the film and did not appear in the series.

** Spoilers **

RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio is not a traditional anime movie in the sense that it precedes, follows from, or slightly strays from the series. For the amount of rehashing of old scenes the movie does, it is not a series rehash episode to help fill the audience in either.

RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio is the retelling of Ayato Kamina life before, during and after the incidents that transpire in RahXephon the series. While many of the scenes are recaps of what occurred during the series, to those that haven't seen the series in its entirety they probably won't make too much sense. Despite ridicules claims that the movie does not follow the storylines presented in the series, this reviewer can only find one instance in which this occurs: where Quon during the movie remains asleep and should be awake and present during Ayato's life outside Tokyo Jupiter.

For the full impact of the series one should most certainly see RahXephon the series (the purchase over the movie is recommended... essentially that's the only thing that is a requirement in the world of RahXephon). However those looking for a companion that introduces their favorite characters and experiences through different perspectives, feel free to pick up the movie after seeing the series. For those that know how things turn out in the series, the RahXephon team carefully introduces new scenes and segments which show what was going on behind the scenes from the series.

The "behind the scenes" material isn't earth shaking new material; instead it confirms what many fans knew to have occurred during the course of the series. That is to say that Terra's motives for their actions did not reflect Ayato's emotional well-being - they, in fact, used him as many fans gathered by the end of the series. Again, while nothing earth shaking, the new content is a condensed version of the series which comes across nicely.

Some of the finer aspects of the movie come across in the beginning segments of the film as well as the end segments. In the beginning we see Ayato's life with his childhood love and can sympathize with him more (we also see how frequently he thinks of his childhood love and how later, in time, his childhood love still thinks of him). The ending of the movie simply confirms the end of the series while showing you something akin to "where are they now" segments. Truly beautiful but short and in and of themselves do not constitute "earth shaking" new material.

One of the greatest scenes found only in Pluralitas Concentio is a scene in which Ayato meets up with Haruka shortly after she intercepts the union (or conflict) between Quon and Ayato (essentially a union which will decide how the world is tuned and which forces will prevail victorious). During this scene an almost-stoic Ayato stands before Haruka and explains just what is happening to the world, a world which is filled with dissonant sounds which needs to be retuned. In addition to that those that enjoyed philosophical and religious references found within the series will like how Ayato explains at great length how he, now, stands apart from past and future (essentially becoming almost Buddha-like figure), and will essentially live in all things.

RahXephon is a beautiful series and I highly recommend you see it. I would rent RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio before purchasing it just to ensure that you'll enjoy it. Not a fan of "recap" episodes in anime series, I have to admit I enjoyed Pluralitas Concentio quite a bit. The DVD scores a 4.5 out of 5 while the series itself scores a 5.

I'm writing this review as a person who found out about the series through this film. The film is beautifully done, the animation is out of this world and the story is unforgettable and amazing. I love this movie but having seen this first I don't have an attachment to the series and therefore I can give a review just for this movie. I watched some of the series after and I have to say that trying to do that will confuse the hell out of you so I understand why the reviewers who have seen the series first rated it the way they did. Still as a retelling in some ways it is done poorly. For one scenes in the film make it seem like an Evangellion Death & Rebirth styleized DVD. It can switch from one point in time to another within minutes but all in all its animation can take your mind off those things. It's a 5 star movie but if you've seen the series it's pointless and dumb.

This is one of the best anime movies ever. Even tough it is not as good as the series it is pretty good on its own. Enough said.