Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion" is a movie sequel for popular "Madoka Magica" anime series. It is preceded by two movies which retell the events of the anime. "Rebellion" is a first proper sequel with new story.

All sequels following a successful work of art are automatically suspicious of being blatant attempt on cashing in on the previous achievements. The creators may run out of ideas, get lazy or just lose interest in continuing story at original level of creativity. This is absolutely not the case with "Madoka Magica 3". I'm still surprised how good this sequel actually was.

Everything what TV anime series was praised for is present in the sequel. Soundtrack is equally good and animation style is even better - while equally imaginative it's even more psychedelic, more detailed and more stunning. The storytelling is as brilliant as it was in original series. It gradually reveals the new mysteries of the (now slightly different) world and is meant to surprise the viewers and to shatter their expectations. And yes it does shatter them! At least one of major plot twists (there are many) is of the category "Absolutely didn't see that coming!". And yet it isn't some random event pulled out of thin air - immediately after re-watching one will definitely see why it made perfect sense.

This particular plot twist is a reason why not everyone liked the movie, there were even accusations of "ruining the franchise". I can't delve into details why I find these accusations unfounded. If you like the original series you must watch the sequel to see for yourself.

While its predecessor had as main point the subversion of a genre, this subverts what had already been established by the anime. Focused on the character Homura, this film studies the psychological and personality of the character through symbolism and subliminal messages, while giving us a tragic continuation of the previous story that, although melancholic, reached a minimally happy ending.

The anime that had worked out mixed feelings in the midst of a chaotic situation is no different from this one, which decided to focus entirely on negative but natural feelings of most people, what is evident with this is what had already been shown in the background in the series, that Homura is the main character of Madoka Magica, everything that happened previously was only because of her actions, that is, Madoka was only capable of her achievements in the previous one because of this.

The film majestically works on selfishness and desire, that even in a world that was balanced and healthy there are still those who do not accept it, who can still suffer even with the guarantee of a "happy ending".

In addition to expanding the fantasy universe, he also masterfully studies the philosophy between good and bad, which when they are unbalanced are nothing more than pure chaos, Homura who until then had not noticed this "flaw" in Madoka's plan at the end of the anime , decides to take the lead, until he realizes that regardless of the fear of becoming a witch, he disappeared, that would not necessarily cease the negative feelings and apprehension that we feel daily, causing the character to take drastic measures in the face of the situation.

Rebellion is responsible for creating one of the greatest antagonists of anime, not because of its psychopathy and supposed malice, but because it is something so close to us and our actions that it makes us reflect; "What if I was in this situation? It would probably do worse! ".

I first watched this film in theaters and after receiving the bluray yesterday and after watching it a second time, I feel like I can say that this is an exceptional film. Same with before, the music is excellent and the animation is dazzling. It's avant-garde style make it really look unique, almost like an a bad LSD trip. The production values are high to say the least.

What I really like about this movie is how the main focus is on the most interesting of the magical girls in the series, Akemi Homura. I can't go into any real detail about the story other than this. It starts out in a world that is too good to be true. Then Homura starts getting suspicious of it. This movie really explores her character and never feels forced. Given her past actions and her mental state, everything she does feels organic and like a natural continuation of the series. Granted, some say the series didn't need a continuation, and in some respects they are right, but it doesn't take away from this at all.

It may not be the story you want, but at the very least, it makes perfect sense and is a great exploration into the tragic character that is Homura. It also opens the door to more entries in this series and as long as the quality stays consistent, that's not bad at all in my book.

My Favorite Thing In The World So Excellent And Breathtaking

Madoka Magica was, and still is, one of my favorite Anime series. The show had amazing animation, great soundtracks, action, emotion, and a great amount of character development.

Knowing the first two movies were a review of the show, I was intrigued to see what the third movie would have to offer, given the ending from the original series/duo-logy was one of the most powerful of any show I had ever seen.

This movie in my opinion was a huge letdown. The beginning had many aspects I enjoyed from the original series, but as the movie progressed I could sense it struggling to keep the balance of its characters, and flowing as the first two movies did. The movie seemed choppy and I struggled to connect in the same way as I did with the original series.

If you are content with giving up on the touching experience from the first two movies, feel free to ride a less emotional, confusing, and character altering experience. This movie lacked many of the qualities that kept me watching the original series, and overall left a sour taste in my mouth. Besides a scene here and there, I contemplated turning it of numerous times.

As a huge fan, the artwork is still wonderful, the music is great, and the action scenes are thrilling. however, if the emotional ride, the characters, and the story are what compelled you to watch Madoka Magica, I highly recommend you stick to the series, as you will be disappointed with this movie.