Review of Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie (1999) by Joachim L — 20 Nov 2017

An unexpected blend of shoujou kitsch and surreal allegory, "Utena - The Movie" plays out like a CLAMP adaptation of David Lynch. It is stylistically impeccable and enthralling, but narratively clicheed and predictable.

Its surreal edge manages to offset these trappings somewhat as the movie progresses, but never quite enough; the fact that the climax consists of a tiresomely drawn-out car chase sequence does not help.

Additionally, problems established narratively are generally hard to solve allegorically (although Evangelion and the aforementioned David Lynch arguably proved that it CAN be done), and Utena mostly relies on this kind of solution - making it feel like a switch-and-bait which effectively deflates the value of such "solutions".

All things considered, Utena makes for a beautiful and interesting viewing experience, but also for the most predictable surreal movie I have ever seen.