X

This review might contain spoilers. You may proceed if you can handle the truth...

X/1999, directed by Rintaro, is an adaptation of the commercial successful manga series X by the all-female group CLAMP. As the manga had not concluded when writing for the script started, a CLAMP member helped Rintaro develop an alternative story with a proper ending. (At the point of writing this review, the manga has not ended since its hiatus in March 2003.) The director decided to cut almost all subplots from the original story because he wanted the focus on the central plot and the protagonist's conflict.

By trimming the subplots of the manga, the director has done an excellent job delivering the message that it is impossible to protect your loved ones from dangers despite your intentions and powers. The dark, malicious and gloomy atmosphere is the pinnacle of the fan-desired screen adaptation. Throughout its runtime, the protagonist and the viewer submerge in an unprecedented feverish nightmare. In particular, a few scenes are impossible to look away from because of their gorgeous and dreadful style. Overall the visuals and the art style are astounding, and the music choice is decent.

Sadly, the other aspects of the flick are preposterous. Numerous unique elements in the post-apocalyptic world do not receive the time to be explained. Even the features covered by the story are discussed very late into the movie and mostly only brief. Speaking of the plot, it is a regular rescue the woman in danger story with a supernatural twist. Besides, the film neither does offer many unique ideas to enhance the traditional concept nor endeavours to tell it skillfully. Another issue is that the pacing of the movie is often unbalanced.

As a result of cutting almost all subplots, all side characters are only blank shells. Eventually, they die one after another without leaving any significant impact on the story or any emotional relation to the viewer. Furthermore, the protagonist is uninspiring because the number of scenes focusing on his persona is insufficient to establish a meaningful connection with the viewer. The lazy flashbacks do not focus enough on the relationships with his loved ones to explain why he wants to protect them so desperately. Equally uninteresting is his generic antagonist, who has an unfathomable motive. His transformation from a good to a bad guy seems to happen spontaneously without logical reasons.

To summarise, X/1999 has some marvellous moments but fails to deliver an experience suitable for many people. Without a doubt, I can recommend this movie to its manga fans and to people who do not care for modest characters and world-building. Everyone else could spend 90 minutes of their life better.