Who are you really?” lain delves deeper into the Wired World, and is confronted by the men in dark suits. They know something about the Knights and the rash of kids who seem to be committing suicide, yet they ask lain “Are those people who you live with really your parents?” and “Are you lain of the Wired?” As Lain’s story continues to unfold, she–and the viewer–becomes increasingly unsure of what is real and what exists in the cyber-realm of The Wired. The cyber-Lain grows bolder and more unpleasant, spying on her friends and spreading rumors, while her real-world counterpart seems to be fading out of existence. Does she need a body any longer? Does she still possess one? Her father departs, announcing that her family has never been anything but a group of actors. The Knights, who seemed omnipotent within The Wired, lose a critical power struggle: its members are executed by agents of Tachibana Laboratory. Lain greets these revelations and questions with her usual fixed stare and little indrawn breaths. Chiaki Konaka clutters his already fragmented screenplay with references to alien contacts and some odd theology. Lain debates the nature of God and free will with the Masami Eiri, who researched the idea that human minds are linked like electronic circuits on a subliminal level–before he was found murdered. Director Ryutaro Nakamura doggedly reuses the same close-ups of Lain’s eyes, the shots of power wires, the simple computer graphics, etc. Viewers will love or hate Lain; no one will watch it with indifference. Rated 16 and up for violence, implied sexual situations, and an abstruse story line. –Charles Solomon
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May 3, 2010
#1
Weird masquerading as profound
May 4, 2010
#2
This series, about a girl on the ‘wired’ (internet of sorts) finding intrigue and danger, is far from intriguing or dangerous. The animation is minimal and choice of shots inadequate to maximize storytelling without animation. Perhaps one of the greatest problems is the limited story carries on for far too many episodes. The coloring is too bright too often which makes the different animation levels pop out against each other in an awkward way. All the drawings are crisp and well constructed, and the designs are decently pleasing. For this price, I wouldn’t recommend ‘Lain’…perhaps if twice as many episodes were per DVD it would be a favorable purchase. The DVD edition is acceptable, but, as with some translated versions using no english speaking natives, there are some embarrasing grammar errors on the packaging.
May 4, 2010
#3
But oh, so much more interesting than those films. Keeps you guessing and thinking. I like this kind of anime so much…I can not wait until I get Deus and Reset on DVD. This series is great!!!
May 4, 2010
#4
This is the kind of intelligent, incredible, totally thought provoking series you will never see on American TV. I had to watch all the episodes twice to take it all in, and I need to watch it a few more times. I admit I like the subs better than the dubs (that’s the beauty of DVD, you get both). The dubbing is good, and being an “anime purist” since the 80′s, that is high praise. I don’t remember feeling this way about an Anime since I saw Video Girl Ai the first time, another excellent series I had to watch over and over to take it all in. They both have an instant grip that gets you involved with the characters. I can’t wait for the next volume (Lain:Deus already pre-ordered here!!)
May 4, 2010
#5
A freaky dark sci-fi series. It has a unique art style that I haven’t seen before. The voice acting was excellent as well. It earned a 16+ rating due to its dark nature, and earned it justly. It’s not a series small children would understand and enjoy. I loved it, though and I highly recommend it