A Great Story...sniff....
jdangerous | Camden, NJ USA | 08/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Saber Marionette J is one of my fav anime titles. In this final part of the story the truth behind the maiden circuits is at last revealed. We learn the truth behind the creation Of Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry as well as the Saber Dolls. We also see Otaru's desperate struggle as he tries preserve everything he knows and loves without giving up what is most dear to him. What drives SMJ is the emotional bond between Otaru and is Marionettes. It's this bond that is put to the test in this final collection as the Marionettes are torn between doing what's needed and obeying Otaru. The final scenes are some of the most emotional scenes in all of anime. I'm not the type of guy that gets all teary eyed, but I admit a tear fell from my eye during these final episodes. SMJ is a beautiful series that proves that it takes more then flesh and blood to make someone human. The story deals with heavy subject matter and really gets to root of what it means to "be alive". If you loved anime titles like Oh My Goddess, Hand Maid May, and Tenchi Muyo you'll love SMJ. A truly beautiful series."
Pretty good--not perfect
kfs1068 | Marysville, California United States | 07/14/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First off, I must admit that I really like the Saber Marionette concept, and all three DVD's in this series are top quality and well-produced. That being said, I felt the conclusion to this series was a bit rushed and the dialogue failed to fully explain what was happening. I believe the "big message" of this series is that love can be either obsessive and destructive, or healthy and liberating; if you watch the conclusion of the series with that in mind (and boy, I wish it was better expressed in the show!), I think it's a lot more satisfying. I think the only thing that really bugged me about the conclusion was that Otaru--who learns that he is effectively the innocent pawn of an elaborate scheme concocted by Faust, his own shogun and the mysterious Lorelei--does not react with more shock and rage when his relationship with Lime, Cherry and Bloodberry is threatened. But it's a minor point; if you liked the rest of the series, you'll probably like the conclusion."