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Description: The war in the sky that occupies most of the final episodes of Last Exile showcases director Kouichi Chigira's skill at choreographing aerial dogfights. Like the X-wing fighters in Star Wars, the small, mobile Vanships bedevil the airborne fortresses of the Guild. Claus and LaVie keep the promise they made to their dead fathers: they successfully fly through the turbulent Grand Stream. Their skills enable them to bring Al to a place where she can transform the Exile from a warship to a vessel of peace. Although the series ends with the triumph of the freedom fighters, the filmmakers avoid wrapping everything up too neatly. Defeating the repressive forces of the Guild required sacrifices, and the surviving members of the cast learn that every victory has its price. Although it begins very slowly, Last Exile builds into a genuinely noteworthy adventure series. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon
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Review Summary: Huge Disappointment |
Date: 2005-05-22 |
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Details: A warning beforehand... there are spoilers in this review, so beware.
In short... this finale was exceedingly anti-climatic. Which was exceptionally disappointing as the rest of the series up until this point had been done so incredibly well. The hatred of Alex Row for the Maestro along with his mysterious past, Dio's intriguing and enigmatic character, Claus and Lavie's relationship and history, the relationship between the two empires, the escalating conflict between the guild and... well... everyone else... all these items had been developed so gradually, thoroughly, creatively and intelligently that I couldn't have imagined this last DVD was going to be such a disappointment. But it was.
You end the previous DVD so spectacularly with Dio's slave Luciola sacrificing himself to save Dio... with incredible fight scenes, beautiful dialogue and well executed flash backs in order to obtain the full impact of what's being done and why... I have to admit that it was very emotionally intense and climactic... especially when he finally bows before the Maestro. Simply put... coupled with all that had taken place in the past 5 DVDs, the end of Vol. 6 solidified my opinion that this series was absolutely ingenious... then Vol. 7 came out. Where is the emotion? Where is the development? They didn't even provide a grand finale as far as a battle is concerned... Alex wakes up and chokes the Maestro? Wow... if that wasn't totally predictable and utterly uninspired... and the great secret of the Exile is that it's a huge ship that's going to change everything... apparently. I waited all this time for that? They developed all those characters, all those concepts of hope and love and strife and sacrifice and reliance and everything else... and we end with Alex choking the Maestro and a giant ship that tranforms everything into a paradise... UMMMM. The only thing I can commend about this final Volume is the moment when Lavie and Claus find their fathers' remains. And those five minutes surely didn't redeem everything else. I can't help but feel that the grand finale was a total copout... and the Exile nothing more than a quick, easy fix. To have an incredible story involving so much tragedy yet leaving so much room for hope and redemption to end with a spaceship leading the inhabitants of the world into a lush, carefree world. Sorry, but it just didn't cut it with me. It didn't reveal anything profound to me... didn't leave me feeling moved or inspired in any way whatsoever... and that's not always a bad thing, but this series certainly had that potential and failed to provide. Without Vol. 7, I would say this series is definitely an artistic success in its ability to create a vivid world steeped in history and lore... its concepts and themes unquestionably worthy of their merits to engage the viewer and have them questioning values and motives. Vol. 7 was simply a creative flop that pretty much ignored anything significant it had established before.
See Vol. 7... but definitely be prepared for a let down... as it certainly doesn't live up to its previous installments. I didn't even think the animation was all that stellar... especially seeing as how you'd expect the creators to save the best for last. |
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Review Summary: last exile 7!!!!!! |
Date: 2005-02-28 |
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Details: Ever since I had seen the preview for Last Exile, I've always wanted to see it. Even though I don't like buying DVD's that have many volumes (because of the cost), this was well worth the exception! This series offers beautiful 2D/3D graphics, and the plot is just amazing!- it really leaves you in suspense till the last episode. Everyone, you don't know what you're missing! |
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Review Summary: Checkmate |
Date: 2005-02-08 |
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Details: Our story continues with Alvis and Dio being saved from Maestro Delphine by Luciola and Claus. Alex Rowe is continuing his torture sessions with Delphine in which she tries to extract the remaining mysterions in order to control exile which is a ship that turns the land of prestar into an earthlike environment. The tide is turning for our evil despot as Sophie and the head of the dossis people work together and attack the guild to finally end their reign of terror. You'll laugh, you'll cry,and be confused in certain parts but its all worthwhile. There are definately some issues with the story that were not developed enough but even so..I love the series and the finale is mindblowing...its definately checkmate for the guild. |
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Review Summary: A lot more resolved than commonly thought |
Date: 2005-01-19 |
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Details: I've already said exactly why I loved Last Exile in exhaustive detail, and all the things I loved are there in the ending in even greater intensity.
There are many things left unresolved at the end of Last Exile, but they are all character relationship issues (and one or two characters' surprise return). For the rest: you are given all the necessary pieces in the course of the series, but be warned that this show assumes you will be intelligent, attentive, and enjoy working things out for yourself. If you prefer to have the solutions to the various mysteries handed to you mroe directly the ending will probably frustrate you. Look around online; a fair number of websites will help you piece it together.
The lack of closure around a lot of the sexual and romantic tension does mar the ending slightly, but otherwise it's a gorgeous capstone on a wonderful show. It is so rich that I frankly don't see how they could have stuffed any more in, and perhaps it's just as well they didn't try. As I said, it takes some unraveling - but it's worth it for an episode that packs even more punch the second time through.
I should mention, in response to a previous reviewer's spoiler: check through the postcards that came with the DVD again. And Last Exile is not based on any other "written work," so you're getting exactly what every other viewer is getting.
As for the characters and how they ultimately play out... well, Range Murata has said he's leaving the door open to a sequel. Let's hope it happens. |
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Review Summary: That was the end? |
Date: 2004-12-31 |
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Details: Now, I LOVE this series. The animation is gorgeous, the story is great. But this ending left me cold. After all the build up, after everything leading up to this, the story really lets you down. It's like the writers just rushed it to a conclusion, any conclusion.
There's a lot left unexplained, which is typical of anime if there's any sort of print story involved. They just assume you know details from it (I'm not sure if there's a manga of Last Exile). For instance, nothing is ever really explained about Exile. The only way you'll know anything about it is to read the DVD insert with the specs of Exile.
It all started with the fate of Dio. We all knew he wouldn't come to a good end... but it was bizarre to say the least, and his actual ending seemed like it was an after thought.
And after all the fighting, suddenly Claus, Lavie, and Al fly in and save the save in about a minute and a half. After the artistry of the rest of the series, it's a shame that they marred it with an overly rushed, ambiguous ending.
The series as a whole gets 5 stars up to the last episode, which rates about a 2. This DVD on the whole gets 3... the ending is just so disappointing. I was expecting a lot from this series, and the rushed end really mars things. Although the series still ranks up there with my favorites of all time. However, what was once my favorite series, now ranks lower. |
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out of 8 Reviews
