Rating: 
Summary: Be Careful What You Wish For¿
Review: These are the last stanzas in what is one of the monuments of Japanese anime, a rich fantasy story as memorable as any other notable series. Hitomi, after fleeing Gaea back to earth finds that her experiences have left her with many unresolved feelings. When Van flies Escaflowne across the gap between the worlds to retrieve her she joins him, even though it is to return to the middle of an horrific war. Hitomi realizes that she can run no longer - that if Gaea is to heal, she must do her part.By this DVD it is clear to the viewer that fate, and its changing, is the underlying theme of this series. Isaac Newton attempts to manipulate it so that the Zaibach Empire will rule the world, nearly repeating the mistake of the Atlantean forebearers of the Gaeans. Tarot cards reveal futures that seem inevitable. And the intertwining of the characters defies the rules of coincidence. Into this apparent march to cataclysmic disaster and tragedy enters Hitomi, the most atypical of anime heroines. Thin and athletic rather than lush, cute rather than pretty, it is her inner nature rather than any physical ability that gives her the power to challenge the inevitable. Hitomi's special skill is the power to believe. And in doing so, she reveals that fate is far from ineluctable, that simply humans can change outcomes with their minds and hearts. Hitomi's confusion about her feelings towards Van and Alan Schezar, her hatred of the continuous stream of violence that mars life on Gaea, and the struggle she has to accept what she can do make her a warm and accessible character to the viewer. This is true of all the protagonists of Escaflowne, making what would otherwise be a pompous fantasy concoction into a compelling, life affirming drama. As endings go, this one starts a bit too slowly and ends too soon. I would have liked to see a stronger focus on the dynamics between Hitomi and Van as they realize their love for each other and must confront the roadblocks in their way. There is room for an entire additional episode, although the movie version of Escaflowne fills in much of this touching connection between two people separated by worlds. Even so, this is a fitting end to what has been a delightful series - one which I will always recommend without question.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing less than 5 stars but...
Review: To all those who did not see the whole series, please be prepared to be slightly disappointed with the ending.
Despite all the love Hitomi and Van have for each other, they both return to their own worlds...permamently. Yes. Sad but true: from what I've read in interviews and such, the intention is that they are separate forever now. Hitomi has given up the means to travel from one world to another by relinquishing her pendant and entrusting it to Van. Van also decommisioned the Escaflowne, let's not forget that. Besides, the Escaflowne movie too has the same ending. Let's just face it, Van and Hitomi will never be together again. For viewers like me, a character who's thinking of someone he/she loves isn't just enough. It would have been such a sweeter ending if Hitomi stayed on Fenalia, but no, Van sends her back and they are left living their lives separately. Don't get me wrong, this is my personal favorite Anime series. I'll still recommend this to everyone! I can still use my imagine and pretend that the real ending is from episode 24, where Van travels to Earth on the Escaflowne, whisks Hitomi off her feet, and says "Hitomi, I'll never let you....."GO BACK TO EARTH AGAIN!
Rating:
Summary: A lesson to be learn. Deep story
Review: To those who watched Escaflowne on FOX (SUPER EDITED VERSION! that really [effected] the plot and dug gaps on this wonderful masterpiece!) would not intend to watch it cut or no cut version because of their first impression. THose who would of been fans of Escaflowne are all lost. I am glad I didn't watch Escaflowne on fox because I didn't have time or else if I did see it I wouldn't even want to bother watching the uncut. After hearing that it [wasn't good] from many of my friends I just didn't bother even thinking about it. But it's confusing why it's so heavily popular talked about on the internet. I decided to give it a chance, ( I was leaning more into "it must be a bad anime" feeling when I rent it). But watching the first volume from my local anime store, I was shocked. Many things that I can tell why are cut. But those cuts are needed to patch up the connnection of the story. That's why fox did a bad job by killing Escflowne reputation and fans. Brief Plot (not summary! dont want to spoil!...) : Hitomi, a high school girl whose hobby is telling fortune and everyone always want her to do a card reading on them because it's always true. Hitomi is on a track team at school and she has a crush on Amano, the boy's team captain. When she found out that Amano is leaving for another country, she was sadden. She never done a card reading for herself, but when she did, the card reveal a seperation symbol. She don't understand, so what she did was met up with Amano late afterschool, she asked him to give her her first kiss if she can run the track within 13 second just for the hell of it. But when she did, she visioned a warrior on her track (POWERFUL MUSIC COMES !) blah blah blah.... (dont want to let you know) and later the warrior and Hitomi went to another world in the sky. Hitomi's help to this world is to use her vision power to predict outcomes.... but there is something that is unexplainable by using predictions that you must watch and learn. The story is gripping, you will never feel so close to each character in the story, each character has such good connection and background. THE MUSIC IS a master piece. You will feel the anger, sadness, happiness, confusion, etc of each character, you'll feel like you are in their shoes. I am a proud owner of vol 1 - 6 right now and preordered 8 and 7 dvd. You better get yours before someone does, and speaking of supplies, collect 1-8 vol dvds, you will get a mail in Tarot cards offer (it's a set, exactly like the cards that Hitomi uses in the series). RARE! I haven't seen 7 and 8, I can if I want from the anime rental store nearby, but I dont want to spoil myself early and I know it's so wonderful. Why am I doing a review on volume 8? I dont know but I know it's going to be good, the last part where everything comes in place, I got to get tissue because I know something so great is about to happen. BE THERE WITH ME! I am never a fan of super cut up anime...
Rating:
Summary: One of the best series
Review: Warning: possible spoilers
Let me start off by saying that I have seen a lot of anime, and that anime of Escaflowne's caliber is a rare find, indeed. It holds the highest rank on my favorites list, along with the widely acclaimed Rurouni Kenshin.
The reason I was compelled to write a review was because I disagree with Charles Solomon when he says " a more powerful resolution is needed than a chat about the nature of human desire with Hitomi." "A more powerful resolution" would have contrasted directly with one of Hitomi's main (and basically accomplished) goals in the entire series: stopping a war and the feelings that provoked it. "A more powerful resolution" would have showed that the elimination of the destructive feelings which had caused the war still ran rampant. But it didn't have such an ending as, for example, Van destroying Dornkirk completely, for Van had learned form Hitomi that revenge (and especially killing) is not a good thing, and should not be done unless absolutely neccesary. Dornkirk had already been proven wrong,after all.
On a final note, the ending was also very appropriate, for if one thinks about it, the series could not have reasonably ended any other way. All in all, Escaflowne is one of the most creative, intricate, and satisfying anime one will ever see. Plus, Dilandau is one of THE most awesome characters in the history of anime, but that's just my opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but disappointing
Review: While I greatly enjoyed the series on a whole, I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. I waited patiently for this volume to come out only to feel that the creators said - ok theres going to be 26 episodes and thats it - and came to a quick, if somewhat incomplete conclusion. I felt that so much more could have been done and there could have been at least 10 more episodes. The animation is still great and the battle scene between Van and Alan was excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Escaflowne Escaflowne Escaflowne!!!!
Review: WHOA!! I know i'm REALLY late on finishing this series, but i really wanted to wait until i had all 8 DVDs before diving in. I can't really say anything that hasn't been said already. This series was so incredibly fantastic. It really is a masterpiece. My favorite aspect of this series, besides the terrific artwork, and wonderful music was to be so unoriginal - the character studies. Cowboy bebop was the first anime series i had seen that did an excellent job of really studying a character, giving the Viewer insight into a characters past and how it affects his or her future. It's Sooo hard for me to say this, but The Vision of Escaflowne may & probably has done it better. Not only did the immediate cast of protagonists get lots of spotlight for character development, but MOST if not all of the villians encountered were given a "Reading" by Hitomi. Excellent comment by the way... using her psyic abilities to illustrate a characers history. Falken, Naria and Aria.. even the Shape shifting doppelganger had serious art and camera time (which some could consider unnecessary) dedicated to their own personal Study. WOW!!!!
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