CODE GEASS: LELOUCH OF THE REBELLION R2 (VOLUME 5)
July 15th 2010 22:22
Category: Videos, Television
Original story by: Ichirou Ohkouchi & Goro Taniguchi
Director: Goro Taniguchi
Script by: Ichirou Ohkouchi
Character Design Concepts: CLAMP
Producers: Hiroshi Morotomi, Yoshitaka Kawaguchi, Takuo Minegishi & Atsushi Yukawa
Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch (Lelouch), Yuri Lowenthal (Suzaku), Kate Higgins (C.C), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Cornelia), Michael McConnohie (Emperor Charles), Liam O’Brien (Lloyd Asplund), Deborah Sale Butler (Cecile Croomy), Karen Strassman (Kallen Stadtfeld), Rebecca Forstadt (Nunally), Julie Ann Taylor (Milly Ashford), Brian Beacock (Rivalz), Steve Blum (Colonel Tohdoh), Jamieson Price (Diethard Reid) Megan Hollingshead (Villetta Nu), Kirk Thornton (Ohgi), Laura Bailey (Rakshata Chawla), Kim Mai Guest (Nina Einstein/Sayoko), Stephanie Sheh (Kaguya Sumeragi/Anya Alstreim), Jessica Strauss (Tianzi), Spike Spencer (Rolo Lamperouge), Troy Baker (Prince Schneizel) Lex Lang (Bismarck Waldstein) & David Vincent (Li Xingke)
English Version produced by: Bandai Visual in association with ZRO Limit
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 100 minutes Rating: M
The struggle against the Holy Empire of Britannia continues in this second instalment of the Code Geass saga logically called Code Geass: LOTR R2, Lelouch aka Zero aka Prince Lelouch of the Britannian royalty is firmly ensconced in his struggle against both his father, Emperor Charles and his brother Prince Schneizel. Unlike in the first season where Lelouch in his guise as the consummate rebel; Zero, was effectively fighting only with members of various beleaguered Japanese resistance groups now he is at the head of a vast array of forces backed up by the United Federation of Nations. In his essence his Black Knights have now become the standing military of a coalition of states arrayed against the empire. One would expect that the stage would be set for an epic confrontation that will shatter the very foundations of the world as it exists.
Attacking the Britannian territory of Area 11, or Japan as it was once known, along the Kagoshima coastline it seems as the Black Knights are risking everything on the single throw of the dice. Gambling that they will have the means and courage to carry themselves through against their foe, of course the leader of the opposing forces Prince Schneizel feels otherwise. His man on the front line, Bismarck Waldstein, the Knight of One, feels that everything is falling into place for the Britannians, that this strike will enable the other forces of the empire to conduct a thorough cleansing of enemy forces throughout the world. What they both haven’t taken into account is that their enemies are playing a three card Monte, the strike on Kagoshima is a diversion, the real attack is about to be launched somewhere else, somewhere more vital.
But this is a grand game of deceptions layered upon deceptions; Lelouch feels that he is in the controlling seat, that he is able to orchestrate events towards his desired objective. But in reality he isn’t operating on omniscient knowledge, he is making assumptions and that can prove to be fatal as is swiftly proven. Striking against Tokyo from the deeps of Tokyo Bay the Black Knights strike against the heart of Britannian power in Japan, seeking to liberate Lelouch’s sister Nunally from the government headquarters. What they’re unprepared for is the FLEIJA, a weapon of mass destruction the likes of which has never been seen before. In essence FLEIJA is Code Geass: LOTR R2 answer to a hydrogen bomb, it completely destroys a sizable area although it leaves only behind a massive crater and no harmful radioactive poison, still its results are chillingly frightening.
FLEIJA changes the whole situation and from its sudden destructive deployment the whole scheme of Lelouch begins to unravel and he himself loses a fair degree of his usual unflappable composure. Worse his followers and allies begin to question his motivation when certain facts become revealed. In the end the once valiant Zero finds himself not only fleeing his enemies but his former comrades, a fugitive wanted by both the Britannians and the Black Knights. And it is then that the true plot of the Britannian Empire’s machinations becomes unveiled, the true intents of its Emperor, Charles, is brought into the light. Once I had finished watching this entire DVD I just knew that I couldn’t let it hang, I had to see the next instalment. Which is good in one way as it just goes to show that Code Geass: LOTR R2 is as compelling in its story and action as its predecessor; and that is a definite plus when you’re creating an anime series.
There is a lot of pathos in this particular instalment, very few happy moments abound and you wonder at what stage is the world going to break, certainly the key character Lelouch looks as if he’s finally cracked near the end. And when you consider the fact that his beloved sister may have suffered a truly tragic fate as a consequence of the course he has been constantly charting for himself. If you like an anime full of intrigue, drama, suspense and loads, and I do mean loads of mecha combat then Code Geass: LOTR R2 Volume 5 is definitely the one for you…zero hour is close at hand?
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