Rating: 
Summary: High-quality shoujo insanity for the whole family.
Review:
This is one weird show. For characters, we have a high-school elite dedicated to total world revolution, a young girl who somehow embodies the magical power to bring about that revolution, a round purple thing about six inches high named Chu-Chu, and our hero, Tenjou Utena, who dresses like a boy as part of her ambition to become a prince and save damsels in distress. For a setting, we have the Ohtori Academy, an exclusive private school which looks a bit like the Tuileries crossed with the Vatican. The giant upside-down castle hidden in the forest on the back lawn bears mentioning as well. For plots, we have a whole lot of different stuff. The story lurches back and forth from fencing duels over the end of the world to Saved-By-The-Bell-esque teenage hijinks to absurdist comedy and back 'round again. Just when you think you've gotten an idea of what Utena is about, it takes off in another direction again. This is probably the most interesting element of a show which already has plenty to recommend it. The animation, done in a shoujo style somewhat reminiscent of SAILOR MOON (hocch! ptui!) is above average for a television series. The music, from the fast pop opening theme to the bizarre choral background music, is addictive. The characters are engaging and intriguing, in particular Utena herself. But above all what recommends this series is the entrancing weirdness of it all. I doubt you'll have seen anything like this before.
Rating:
Summary: Why you should see Utena
Review: Serously, I love Utena. Created by a 5-person team "Be-PaPas", directed by Kunhiko Ikuhara (He directed Sailor Moon for a few years), and with a manga by Saito Chiho, this series can't be missed. Even if you don't like shoujo anime in general, it's great. Listen for famous voices with Aya "Sailor mercury" Hisagawa as Miki and Mitsuishi "Sailor Moon" Kotono as Juri. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me .
Rating:
Summary: It's a must see anime
Review: Based on the manga written by Cibo Sato, The Revolutionary Girl Utena is a very intense story of a girl destined to revoltionize the world. The main character Tenjou Utena is a young princess that wants to be a prince and protect a princess. The idea came from a Prince on a White Horse that came and rescued her from her sorrow. He gave her a ring with a rose crest on it, saying that they would meet again if she stayed noble. If you have any questions, just ask me!! Saiyonara!! ^.-
Rating:
Summary: Utena Is Amazing...
Review: I have all the Utena DVD's; all 39 episdoes and let me just say, this anime is AMAZING!! It is by-far my favorite anime... If you were debating over wheter to get this anime or not, get it. It's fabulous!! BUY IT NOW!!
Rating: 
Summary: An Good Start to an Intriguing Series
Review: Revolutionary Girl Utena is an anime that's both empowering and intriguing. It takes place in a boarding school where the students hold power over their teachers, the entire female population has a crush on a girl, and the school has a dueling arena with and upside-down floating castle. In the first collection, we're introduced to this world, as well as to Utena, an unlikely shojo heroine. Unlike the ditzy, lazy Sailor Moon, Utena has aspirations to become a heroine, and to save others like she has once been saved. We also meet the "princess" Anthy Himemiya, the Rose Bride, and the student council.
I haven't seen the whole series, but I like Utena for tantalyzing its viewers - for giving hints of a deeper story beneath the "duel-of-the-day" formula. Also, the villains of Utena are three-dimensional. Saionji is an abusive [...], but at times he shows genuine love for Anthy. Miki would be the "nice one" in the group, but one can see that he also duels for his own self-interest.
For breaking the mold and its tantalizing plotlines, I highly recommend Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Rating:
Summary: an add-on to Sailor Moon's popularity
Review: The first reason I got this DVD was because of the director. Otherwise, Utena stands on its own and is very different from Sailor Moon. The animation is a little older than Sailor Moon, but it deals with more mature issues than Sailor Moon. Utena fights bloodless duels where the loser has his/her rose knocked off their breastpocket. It's a confusing story that entwines romance, sensationalism, duels, and magic. All I have to say is don't really think too much but pay attention when you are watching this. There are seven episodes on this disc and four duels.
Rating:
Summary: Charles Solomon, I Challenge You to A Duel
Review: Dear Mr. Solomon,
I must admit that when I first started watching anime, I was a little cautious about it. The Japanese culture seemed so far fetched to me, that I wasn't able to fully grasp it's delicacies at first. However, after watching several VERY impressive anime series, including His and Her Circumstances, Love Hina, Fruits Basket, Steel Angel Kurumi, and Please Teacher, I have found that anime is something more than just a cute cartoon.
Anime is an adult movie, not for children unless they are very mature. It explores mature themes, such as, in Utena at least, homoeroticism (not homosexuality, homoeroticism is feeling romantic love for someone of the same sex), incestuous love and its dangers, criticism of those who would beat someone faithful to them, and the threat of an impending Apocalypse.
If you show Utena to young children, I suggest you rethink it. But Utena as an adult movie is fantastic. Beautiful animation, beautiful characters, and a look at life as it really is, not closed behind doors as in Hollywood. Sure, most of the characters are barbie-doll figures, and unrealistically proportioned, but the trials they go through are reflective of the human condition in a way that cartoon series in the US are not.
Watch anime for the culture, the art, the deeper message behind the cute and bouncy exterior, Charles Solomon. Stop watching anime as though you're a little kid.
Sincerely,
A Literature and Philosophy University Student
Rating:
Summary: To tell you the truth..
Review: I had heard about this show alot, especially about the movie version and it was precicely that fact that made me stear clear from it for a while. I am a huge fan of Sailor Moon, and it was the beauty and purity in my mind of that show and that world that I didn't want to pollute with something that was supposedly more "edgy" but just dirty and gratuitous. Luckly, when I got sick in Japan this winter and had to stay home in bed, my boyfriend and I went to get videos at the video store. One piece and Inuyasha were being rented, so we went with the DVD's of Utena. They were GOOD! Way better than I thought they would be! The setting (kind of a bizarre non existant place highly influenced by gothic french architecture) is gorgeous and kinda makes you wish you were there, and the characters are memorable. The only one I can say kindof annoys me is Anthy but I think that's kind of supposed to be the intention of the author. Anyway, I was really impressed though I thought I would dislike this show.
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