Rating: 
Summary: If the chick.....
Review: "The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God's name is Abraxas." Does this speech sound familiar? Most Utena fans will recognize it as similar to the speech the Duelists speak as they ride up the elevator. Actaully, it is a passage from Hermann Hesse's novella, "Demian", which is about a boy coming to terms with his sexuality and God as he grows up. The novella was one of the series' inspiration, along with Rose of Versallies. In fact, the music as the Duelists ride in the elevator is called "A Prayer to Abraxas", demonstrating the depth to which the series was influnced by this classical literary work. Growing up and sheading the psyhcological shells and needs of childhood is one of the major themes of the series. Dealing with the psychological wounds of children who were injured when no one was there to protect them is another. These are only two of the themes expressed in this immensely complex series. Anyone who sees it as a melodramatic girlie anime first of all has not seen the entire series and secondly is only viewing it on the most narrow and surface level. Having said that, this volume is an introduction to the Black Rose Arc, and like all things in Utena it takes a little bit to get into it, and the comedy episode in this volume is particularly weird. But the episode that follows is very rewarding to the plot line once you get past the cow episode. Do stick with it, the series and the arc are well worth it as the story unfolds. The symbolism and the themes already touched on in the first arc deepen in the Black Rose. The end of this arc is particularly mind bending and symbolically complex.
Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: And why is homosexuality being placed as a warning
Review: alongside INCEST for godssakes?? that's just insulting and weird! also, is charles solomon even an anime fan??
Rating:
Summary: Anger about the editorial review
Review: Charles Solomon's review (the one under the product) for this edition of Utena is insulting to the people who would buy this item and I think you should take it off and replace it with another "Editorial review" because he clearly has no true appreciation of Utena and will not inspire *anyone* to buy it with his tactless, misinformed ideas about it. True Utena lovers will discard his review as nonsensical and a great heaping load of BS from an outsider who we should pity because he will never fully understand the compelling, scintillating and undeniable genius of Chiho Saito's Shoujo Kakumei Utena. I doubt he even watched this anime all the way through. He probably watched this edition only and didn't even bother with the other tapes in which case he is not qualified to write a proper review. Otaku's and anime enthusiasts pay no heed to his misinformed review. This next Utena is just as amazing as the rest and you MUST see the rest in order to fully appreciate this. As for the EDITORIAL REVIEW - SHOUJO means it's targeted for girls... young girls... How the heck would that 'guy' know what we think about this (Masterpiece of an) anime or what we feel about it?... because it's not Shakespeare doesn't mean it isn't a rich tapestry of emotions and drama. Hmph. Kiss my Revolution! Girls 13 and up - this anime is great but true it is not for everyone as I'm sure many other reviewers as have mentioned...
The characters are complex, the story is NOTHING like the movie, the graphic novels are awesome, but watch Utena in sequence if you want to get the most enjoyment out of it. The 'hokiness' of it is the best part about Utena. When Touga and Miki and Juri go onto the elevator and start to recite their end of the world theme it brings a smile to my face everytime I get on an elavator cause I just wanna recite his "We are the chick!" speech. Utena is not as bad as Sailor Moon. She's not ditzy, loud or obnoxious. She's actually a likeable and a STRONG female character.... obviously this editorial reviewer just couldn't handle the idea of a strong woman.
Rating:
Summary: ummm charles solomon...
Review: congratulations, you are stupid. because hokey, romantic, world-crisis love is the glue that holds the universe together, and the tone you used in your 'review' was patronizing and almost cruel.
i don't dig it, i don't think anyone here (aka planet earth) digs it, and above all...it was uncool. what you see is what you get sir. good day. ps. 5 stars to Shoujo Kakumei Utena. to heaven, to hell, to the core of every world crisis... and out again.
Rating: 
Summary: A tiny nitpick.
Review: I hate to be a nag, but I have to admit that this editorial (and the one for volume 5) are rather insulting. I'm just a little annoyed by the stereotype that all girls are histronic, emotional wrecks. I think that's one bias we could stand to do without, and I think these two reviews can only be off-putting to the show's "target audience". Secondly, I think it does over-simplify the show to make it sound like a glorification of pre-adolescent life. Some of the characters do have real problems, and there are larger issues being explored (Anthy is really a case-in-point). Also, I think many viewers who are past their middle school years (and not of the female persuasion) do find enjoyment and interest in this particular series. In any case, I will mention here that while the Black Rose Saga does not advance the metaplot as much as some would like, I find it to be a very nicely done exploration of the cast of characters. The Black Rose Duellists, and through them the Student Council, are explored in more depth than many shows ever bother to attempt, and for that, I think it's something rather special, albeit not as impressive overall as Arc 3.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, finally.
Review: It is beyond comprehension that CPM is dragging its heals so much in its release of the complete Utena. Of course, after the Black Rose there are still two entire story arcs to go, so don't get TOO excited. But this'll do for now, I suppose. These episodes introduce a number of new characters, the most important of these being Anthy's brother Akio, who may or may not be Utena's 'prince;' and the enigmatic Mikage, who is the force behind the duels that take place throughout. Said episodes can at times feel a little formulaic--and it doesn't help that each duel ends with exactly the same choreography--but it's still exeptional, riveting stuff, with perhaps even more emotional cruelty that the first set (the episode that spotlights one of Namani's hangers-on, especially--augh). Not to mention even less thinly-veiled incest subtexts. It's not all dark, though; there's also 'Cowbell of Happiness,' the best comedy episode of anything ever. Plus: the return of Saionji! It's also necessary to note that the last few episodes are...confusing. Not obnoxious-confusing, like the final episodes of Evangelion, but definitely not to be fully understood right away, and the real purpose of them--as well as the whole story arc--does not become clear until one had had a chance to see the rest of the show. Like the first series, the Black Rose arc feels more like part of an extended introduction than anything else; though there are plenty of hints and veilled allusions here, the real 'story' doesn't kick into gear until after this series. Which means it'll likely be years before it'll become available in the US. Bummer. Still, if you're not willing to ferret out the fansubs of the remainder, it'll have to do for the time being.
Rating:
Summary: Et in Arcadia ego
Review: It is not here the place to "review" the series Shoujo Kakumei Utena, for such a writ would be more aptly an esoteric eschatology and alchemical equation than a discussion of the points of such obtuse and overemphasized elements as "plot", "story", and "character". Suffice it to say, only those with eyes to see and ears to hear may begin to walk the hermetic path which would allow the unveiling of what Shoujo Kakumei Utena actually is and what it actually means for oneself and for reality. Ergo, a more appropriate summation of this particular segment of the 39 episodes would be in its American execution of release. Central Park Media has not succeeded in a great many things over the years. However, beginning with their Boetian furor of excitement vis-a-vis the American release of Adolescence Mokushiroku (a title, which indeed, was astonishingly absent from all press and packaging, opting for a more banal and easily digestible ridiculous epithet of "Utena: The Movie"; this nomenclature begs the ponderment of: do the individuals at Central Park Media so label all of their items? Is there a "Central Park Media's Office: The Stapler"? If you go to said office, have they "Central Park Media's Office's Building: The Fire Escape"? These questions must, alas, await another more suitable occasion), the New Yorkers in question began to craft Utena product much more carefully- truly, their effort has been more painstaking than any other DVD release that has been heretofore seen. Unfortunately, even the most rudimentary, infantly logical elements of DVD release have been exercised in favor of redudancy. The menus take a ridiculous amount of time to load, and always there is loud, obnoxious samples from the insipid dub version being blared in accompaniment. There are, however, no hard-subs, the picture quality is (if such a thing is possible) above perfect, and time and care were clearly put into each release from this, Volume 3, onward. Though The Fool immediately preceds The Magician, the latter shall always be out of reach.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps a song, if you're of a mind to think so.
Review: It's like someone playing a song off key and much to fast, you recognize the song they're playing but the feeling's just not there. It leaves you kind of wanting... I'd enthusiastically recommend the first 2 volumes, to me they are a rare masterpiece. This third volume I do not think I would recommend. This is not to say that you should or should not watch it, I really can't say much on that subject.
Rating:
Summary: Bull....
Review: Okay look. Its painfully appearant that Mr. Charles has not seen a lick of good anime in his life and hence failed to recognize one staring him straight in the face. This series *is* in fact more than silly teenage girls 'elevating their crushes to world catastrophe' or whatever he said. In fact the entire underlying meaning of the series is about that...revolutionizing the world and helping oneself and others to break free of what holds them back. One has to see behind what the chracters are saying to what the truth of the story is. And there is in fact *very* good reason that Utena dresses in the boys school uniform and why Mamiya 'tries to be a Rose Bride...' (<snickers> He reallly missed the point of that one). Bascially, my recommendation is this: if you haven't seen the first 13 episodes then you will be utterly lost (where as those who have would only be nearly completely lost hehe) and you *will* hate it much as he did. However if you like the first episodes then this starts in a new round of duelists. Now I must admit that the Black Rose season is the cheesiest season of them all. As a matter of fact the only ones worth much are the Nanami cow episode (for comic relief) and the Wakaba duel episode (yes, Utena must face her best friend!) Many of the episodes are very repetative in this season, but some of the episodes are key to what happens later in the Akio Car and Revolution Arcs...so if all else fails at least do yourself the favor and watch the fansubs of this season if you can and save the money for the last 2 sets. ^^;;
Rating:
Summary: Not for young children, but still something very special
Review: Okay, first a brief warning: This is NOT Sailor Moon. Despite the marketing on the first arc, and the subject matter, this series can get into some adult issues. While it's all handled very tastefully, I would suggest that you not get this one for the kids because here is where it starts to show its real colors.
It's been two years since the last volume was released, and in that time this series has developed quite a loyal following. .... Still, the best is yet to come. ... It's wonderful, wacky, and deep all at the same time. Unfortunately, I don't want to give any more of the plot away than they have, because there are already some minor spoilers for later (though nothing you couldn't have figured out on your own.)
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