Two Years Later.
The peace that Lelouch Vi Britannia died to bring about is
thriving. That is until a sneak attack
by an unknown group in the county of Zilkhistan results in the kidnapping of
Represenetive Nunnally Vi Britannia and her protector, Zero, secretly Suzaku Kururugi. The world is desperate for answers to this
attack, unaware that the leaders of Zilkhistan have their own plans for its
domination. In their time of greatest
need, those who have believed in Lelouch pray for a miracle…and that miracle
has come. Lelouch Vi Britannia returns
once more to rescue his beloved sister.
But is even his brilliant mind enough to deal with a threat so powerful
it can predict his plans down to the smallest detail? The Resurrection has come at last.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Code Geass:
Lelouch of the Rebellion has one of the greatest Anime Series Finales of all
time. It’s brilliant, it makes sense and
it still hits the right spots every time I watch it. It’s an ending worthy of applause, especially
given the rough road to get there with Code Geass R2. It was fine when it ended and it didn’t need
more. We did get more in the form of the
occasional spin off Manga or OVA (most notably 2012’s Akito the Exiled). But an actual sequel? Nope, we didn’t need it. But someone apparently wanted it. For reasons I still don’t understand, three
compilation films were commissioned to get viewers back up to speed which not
only retold the series --story but made some changes to the plot as well,
including changing the tragic fate of Lelouch love interest Shirley. Which FINALLY brings us to Code Geass:
Lelouch of the Re;surrection. Love it or
hate it, we have it, so how was it?
It’s…not bad, not excellent but not bad. I thing Re;surrection is ultimately an
unnecessary victory lap and the changes made in the compilation movies didn’t
really matter in the end. But I still
find it hard to say I absolutely hated the movie. I think the movie works best when we’re
seeing just how everyones gotten along in the year following the Zero
Requiem. At one point, Suzaku shows
Lelouch a video of Oghi and Villeta’s wedding reception and everyone: friends,
family and enemies now friends, is having an absolute blast. “This is the world you saved,” Suzaku
says. We’re basically watching an
extended happy ending sequence for characters who had worked hard to get to it
and see how Lelouch reacts to the world he helped make happen. I cant help but feel happy I did get to see
that. It goes further in the movie
itself seeing characters like Jeremiah, Cornelia, Oghi and Lloyd amongst many
others working together again (anyone who survived the end of the compilation
trilogy gets a second of screen time at minimum). We even get to see Kallen and Suzaku riding
in their sweet custom Knightmare Frames against some pretty powerful foes. Basically, this is a fans wish list come
true.
And that definitely goes for the epic return of
Lelouch. Ignoring how he survived his
own demise, his return doesn’t feel less than it should and I wont lie, I got
shivers when he started talking like his old self again and doing just what he
always does when he first gets his powers back.
Thankfully, unlike restoring him in R2, Lelouch is actually a changed man
for a couple of reasons. This Lelouch
is plenty exhausted from everything he’s been through but is ok with jumping
back into the role of mastermind to save his sister. He’s a bit more open to everyone around him
and content to slip back into the shadows of history. Plus, as mentioned above, he gets to see the
world he literally died to create…I’d say Lelouch has earned that more than
anyone. It’s good to have you back
buddy.
But for all the grandeur of Lelouch coming back and
seeing the new world society, Lelouch of the Re;surrection overall feels like a
movie with a Shonen Jump villain of the week/movie plot rather than anything
truly substantial that would require Lelouch coming back. Sinister siblings Shamna and Shalio are ok
villains but hardly on the same level as Schnizel or Charles Vi Britannia. Shalio’s craziness and wishes to become as
good as Suzaku are “meh”. At least
Shamna gave Lelouch a bit of a run for his money with her own secret abilities
that did make me wonder how the last hour of the movie was going to go. And yet…I don’t know the whole “Nunally must
be saved” event didn’t feel as grand or epic as The Black Rebellion or the
Battle of the Damocles. Even the country
that was good at war being lost in a world of permanent peace felt like it was
lifted from Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz.
And, ive got to gripe about this, for all the importance of keeping her
alive again, SHIRLEY DOESN’T DO SQUAT!!!
Nope, nothing. It’s said she
plays an important role off screen prior to the movie but what she does is a
job that could have gone to anyone else.
Was making sure she made it through a new story just a way to show her
getting the same happy ending everyone else does in the new era? It feels cheap and a waste of precious time
for the project that led into this movie.
Also, I could forgive the Compilation Trilogy keeping much of the TV
animation intact. But the fact that
Re;surrection looks like an extended episode OVA more than an actual movie, I’m
not ok with that. That’s a gripe I have
with most Anime films based off of a TV Series: they should look different and
upgraded while feeling like their TV Counterparts.
Critical analysis of flaws aside, I really didn’t hate
this movie like I thought I would. Code
Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection doesn’t reach the heights of the TV Series
by a long shot and at times feels more like an extended TV Series epilogue
rather than a movie level event, complete with the same animation style that
makes me wonder why they didn’t just make a full on Season 3. That said, it’s still a fun epilogue with
familiar faces and great action to boot.
It’s good to see Lelouch and the gang again and see them fighting
together one more time for a common goal.
Best of all, Re;ssurection gifts to fans the ability to see that for all
the hell Lelouch went through as Zero to fulfill his dream…it was all worth it…and
ultimately Lelouch gets to join in on the fun too.
8/10
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