Customer Reviews

Serial Experiments - Lain: Knights (Layers 5-7) (Geneon Signature Series)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ok, wrong movie-- but regardless whether she is bothered by neck dwelling prickly things or not, after "Navi," Lain is begging to be unraveled. In "Knights," it's seems that we'll finally see Lain's ball of truths untwine. Instead we discover it's loops and knots, all through an unceasing collage of imagery and sound that leaves our senses bruised and us meandering with Lain and her world. Ever get a cut or bruise and wonder how they got there? The answers lie within the layers of the Serial Experiments: Lain series. Not for the attention-challenged.

Technically, there really isn't anything to add that hasn't already been said. Like volume 1, the quality of the transfer, both in video and sound (even if it's only 2.0 DD), once again hold up beautifully. This series is truly a reference piece for Anime on DVD. As before, there are Japanese and English audio tracks as well as English subtitles available. I don't know if it's just my copy, but I picked up two obvious errors (not a translation nit-picking) in the subs that seems to have slipped passed the editors. One is clearly a complete thought in dialogue left incomplete in the subs. The other is completely technical, where the english subtitle falls on top of a sub/caption thats there when sub is off. Oh well, I guess you've seen it all, no big deal.

As for supplements, it may seem lacking, but what _is_ there just makes the great, greater. It might not seem like a big deal but I really appreciate the option to watch the opening intro without the credit text! Also, I haven't watched much anime in a while, but I'm glad to see there are still people who preserve the original work when it makes it overseas. Specifically concerning the soundtrack, wherein some U.S. Anime distributors, who originally have nothing to do with the work itself, decide to take it upon themselves to change this and that, because "it's better this and that way." Since when did idiocy take precedence over the artists original work? 3!

If you approach this series expecting the ordinary, or even a somewhat imaginative approach to the theme of where the line between real and virtual are you are in for a shock. There is little about this story that is comfortable, and much that is deeply disquieting. Ryutaro Nakamura is intent in placing the viewer in Lain's experiences, intentionally creating the same perceptual and intellectual confusion.

The question probed in this DVD continued to be who or what is the real Lain. These episodes fracture the appearance of waif-like innocence that Lain wore in the first DVD. Not completely, though. Only enough so that it is clear that a much brasher and more forward young woman exists in the same mind. Even this simplifies her personality boundaries, as her sister is also consumed by the changes within Lain.

Sharing the 'wired' with her are desperate geeks trying to gain admission to the 'Knights,' a closed hacker society that is driven by secret, and perhaps deadly purposes. And in the 'real' world men in dark suits follow her and question her very existence. While her Navi grows into a water-cooled monster that swallows her entire room. Time and again, we have to wonder whose perceptions are we following, as our vision fragments and then heals in kaleidoscopic patterns. Into this strangeness step parents, strangers and friends who seem to only stop by to pronounce philosophically and then vanish back into the surfaces.

The artwork continues to be remarkable. This isn't so much an animated series as it is a designed film. By which I mean that rather than a flow of action, we are presented with images and symbols that glue themselves like wallpaper on the inside of our minds, returning repeatedly to haunt us. This is creative, experimental work, which draws the viewer forward despite forebodings of a final bleak vision that will never leave. This is a demonstration of anime's real potential as an art form, rather than simple entertainment.

If you buy only one tape of Serial Experiments Lain(Which is a really bad idea), make this the one. Not only does this raise the most interesting questions, but some of the best plot twists occur here, including what happens to Lain's sister, Mika.

If you want an anime to keep you up at night, either with thought or with chills, make this it.

Serial experiment Lain is perhaps the best anime i have seen on the year. However, in order to really hope to understand it you will need a lot of patience and go through the four discs. On the Knights disc the plot thickens and a lot of weird things keep happening to Lain, there are three layers on this DVD (distortion, kids and society), all three fit into the story in a strange kind of way leaving more questions open than revealed. If you really want to understand what is really going on wait for the fourth disc (Deus) and the stunning conclusion (Reset). As far as the quality of the anime goes, the image is crisp and the sound great, the voice acting is very good and i liked both the english and the japanese versions. Try it and be amazed!

Serial Experiments Lain never ceases to both amaze me and make me think. I love anime that does that. It tops Evangelion, which I thought, for a while, impossible. But beware, those of you who are otaku just looking for cute girls in sailor suits. This anime is intelligent and addictive.

This 2nd installment of the Lain series lives up to the first. Still spooky, but now some of the questions get answered, especially is the final episode which is a real mind-bender.

I did sorta want to have more answers. Lain gives up her secrets reluctantly.

The 2nd lain disk just adds to the confusion. But it draws you so, bits and pieces of the overall story are hinted at but as a whole you're left with a strangely hollow feeling. I know that sounds like a terrible review, strangely its meant to be the exact opposite. After watching this I went straight back to amazon to order the next disk.

Lain is one of the best experiences with movies I have ever had. It is also my best experience with the subclass of anime cyberpunk and the entire class of anime. It's a superb story giving science fiction one more excuse to frighten us an excite us at the same time. What is the difference between the human mind and a computer? What is the difference between a running program and a personality? What is the difference between an application and a soul? What is the difference between the internet and god? This tempts you to believe the impossible is happening and the possible is all just an illusion. In English trippier than Alice in Wonderland. An amazing exciting epic where finding yourself isn't as easy as it may seem and finding yourself is much more dangerous than trying to kill yourself. If you love good anime, good science fiction, good cyberpunk, or just movies that will twist, strecth, and break your mind, you will LOVE Lain:serial experiment. By the way the best part: no nudity, very little offensive language, unfortunately there is some gore, but not throughout the whole thing just in specific episodes, and only one mention of the idea, it's only implied, of sex. (but note I only watched the subtitled version so I don't know if the english made for America version is any different.) Great Buy!!

First of all, to those people who give poor rating on this episode, I just want to say something. How can you assume that the story is not good if you start watching the second Disc. My suggestion for you is to get the first disc before commenting on the show.

Now, to my review of the story, I still give this disc a 5 star rating because even though the plot has thickened, there are still some unanswered questions, and better still, there were new confusion added (like what happened to her sis?, Was Lain on the wired or was she in wherever she was?, etc).They began to tell us who or what is "Knight", what they do and what is their plan. Overall, I still think it's a very good disc. I didn't, I don't and I won't regret owning this DVD.

In this second volume Lain becomes aware of the strange reality of the wired network, which seems to have an existence on its own. As soon as some questions from the first volume are answered, others rise, as we get inside Lain's double life in the real and wired worlds. At the end, you will be longing for the third volume.