Animatrix ~ Review

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

I know this was reviewed over half a year ago, but I just rented it yesterday, and I must say, I was enthralled. I wanted to buy it today, but I really don't know if I can justify buying it with the two heinous eps in there, even though they are easily skipped. I may end up getting it sooner or later, but I still haven't found a justification for buying it because of the 2nd Ren.

Aside from that though, all the other episodes were amazing. I loved all of them. Out of the seven appropriate eps., I think my least favorite was "Matriculated," and only because it kind of tripped me out with the robot and the girl. I didn't really understand what they were trying to portray by that, but the animation was beautiful. It was phenomenal on the whole series.

Anyway, I still haven't decided if I will buy it or not. Are the seven great episodes worth the garbage in the remaining two?

[Straylight]

Well, the other two episodes are definately very disturbing -- I haven't seen violence like that in any other anime I've watched, period. However I do think its worth buying because the rest of the eps are awesome.

Perhaps if you're used to violent films, you might wanna watch the "Second Renaissance", however do be warned that the violence is highly creative, and that it's designed to shock ANYONE who sees it.

[Haibane Shadsie]

Love your review on "Beyond"...

TOTALLY DISSAGREE with you on "The Second Renaissance". That set of the anime, parts one and two, were my favorites. Sure, it was bloody. Sure it was disturbing. Was it necessary? I think so. It shows just where the hate the machines have for the humans come from, and in a masterful way. I think the brutal war scenes were necessary... and.. well, I personally rather liked them. (Then again, I kinda like gore). I think Ren 2 has much more redeeming value than you give it credit for.

As for as Ren 2... I find much more disturbing things in the live-action Matrix films. As distrubing as the episodes were, there were no "rave scenes" ala "Reloaded", for instance, nor any lesbian-groping scenes ala "Revolutions"...

Yes, Ren 2 is shocking. I think it needs to be. It shows human cruelty - and is rather a comment on human history and geneocide in general (though here, it is genocide against the robots, not genocide against other humans). I think it is important, therefore, as metaphor. Human beings HAVE done violent, disturbing, brutal things throughout history, in wars against each other. The epidoes are just metaphor for this, in potrayal of the human vs. machine war. I liked it because it made me THINK.

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is horribly squeamish. I think I would agree with recommending most Christian anime-fans away from it, but please, PLEASE, don't totally discount the episodes as "trash" just because you are personally squeamish. I, for one, thought they were brilliant. I think... anyone who is a fan of the Matrix films should get the anime - that there really isn't anything in it, even in Ren 2, that's going to be "bad" for someone who already is a fan of the R rated live action films.

Ren 2 is just... a bit gorey and generally shocking, but it's not like it's hentai or total splatterpunk or anything. There are reasons for the shocking scenes. I certainly found it better than "Matriculated", which was just... trippy.

However, I think, overall, probably the best done Animatrix segment was "A Detecive Story". It has a very unique and artistic style of animation, a cool plot, and was just "cool" all around.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote]she said you

[Keely]

Well, 2nd Ren IS very violent, and graphic, and not for the faint of heart. But, from a strictly film critics stance, it is pure genious. Very rarely have I seen any film, animated or otherwise, that give you such a sense of the true emotions behind the story...the real question is, do you want to the feel the specific emotions that it gives? It is a very depressing anime, and kind of gives that whole, humanity is sub-human vibe. It is, once again, one of those things that YOU need to decide for yourself if you're able to view it. I think the warnings here and very well justified, but I also think that the quality of the film is very good. It's such a hard decision!

All-in-all, it was kind of like Saving Private Ryan with how gory it was...you understood the point, and could respect WHY they had all that violence, but you still wished it wasn't there..and could have been just as good without SOME of it. Really, I just liked the symbolism and the way that they used actualy human history and kind of "re-played" it against the robots..a sense of it all coming full-circle. That was the best, but it could have been better handeled by just incinuating the violence and using more cut-scenes. But, it is what it is.

I only hope that the idea of "including violence to show the true intensity of the situation" is used better in The Passion of the Christ, as I have heard that that is a main problem that many people have with that film as well. If there is ANY film that the true amount of violence SHOULD be shown, it would be that. I just hope it works to that film's advantage (ie: making ppl realize the terrible lengths that Jesus went through for our salvation) unlike it did in 2nd ren (where it totally could have done without the excessiveness of it).

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

I watched 2nd Ren. The first one was a lot more disturbing to me than the second one. You all know which part I had the serious problem with on the first one. I must say though, that the art was beautiful in both of them. Makes it kinda hard. I bet I'll end up buying it. It's some great anime. I was alright with part 2 of the 2nd Ren, but I didn't like part 1 because of the one scene, and yes, it was quite graphically violent.

[DrNic]

Anyway, I still haven't decided if I will buy it or not. Are the seven great episodes worth the garbage in the remaining two?

That is harsh, really harsh.

I bought the DVD before I watched it (because its a 15 and Im usually alright with most stuff on 15s) and watched it all through. Personally (like with NGE), I was quite suprised at all the negative comments said about it. Im one of the less squeemish christians and although I wouldn't recommend this to anyone young or squeemish, I would NOT say it was garbage.

Once I watched it all through I watched the commentry on the 2nd renissance part 1 and 2 and I was really impressed. I noticed all this imagery (graphic and non-graphic ) through-out both episodes but had not really understood it until I heard the commentry. I was quite stunned by the thought put into it. Apart from the head being ripped apart, I thought EVERYTHING was nessisary to the meaning and story of the two episodes (but to be totally honest the head bit didn't really bother me, its only as bad as Akira).

They aren't my favourite episodes (Kid's Story, Beyond and Program were) but I like them for what they are. I'm just saying that you can't say something is 'garbage' just because you don't personally like it. Its just a very biased opinion.

But no-more arguing from my side. I'll just say this:

2nd Ren part 1 and 2 are dark and graphic so I wouldn't recommend to people who are bothered by this. On the other hand, it is beautifully animated, uses a lot of meaningfull imagery (like the robot riding on the metallic horse, I love that bit!) and shows the war of the robots and humans in its full glory. Not episodes that you will want to watch over and over again but probably ones that will get you thinking and spread some light on the situation in the Matrix. Thank you fellow CAA members and goodnight!!

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

Sorry if I appeared harsh. I wasn't calling both the eps. garbage. I was saying that there was garbage (unclean content) in the eps. I did say in my lastest post that I thought the art was beautiful in both Ren eps., but I still have a problem with the robot girl thing. That's just my personal conviction. As I said, the second part didn't bother me nearly as much as the first, but I'm still bothered by the content. I understand that different people have different tolerance levels, and I'm leaving it at that. For me, I would have a hard time watching and justifying the watching of the 2nd Renaissance, part 1 because of the content. No animosity or anything past that.

[Inferno]

one of my friend said " There's A ton of nudidy in the animatrix, and tons of sex scenes" is this true?

[shooraijin]

No. SL's review is pretty much dead on accurate.

[Fsiphskilm]

It isn't hentai Quality but t

[shooraijin]

I'm not going to turn this into a rehash of what SL already said, but some of the scenes in Second Renaissance *were* upsetting to quite a few people. Again, I refer anyone interested to SL's review at the top.

For the record, I thought the majority of the Animatrix was impressive, and I own it and the soundtrack CD (which was boring), but for my money, I pretty much agree with the vast majority of his review as far as content.

[rocklobster]

Sorry to dig up an old thread here, but I think that pastor should watch Millennium Actress and Spirited Away. Maybe then he'll change his tune.