Welcome to Astral Animations, where we'll examine the imports of Japanese animation currently available in the United States.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the movie.
That said, on to the review!
Only three people remain of the Borgman project: Chuck Sweager, Ryo Hibiki, and Anice Farm. The adjustment to a moderately normal, everyday existence is not necessarily easy, not haunted as they are by the deaths of those near and dear to their hearts, like Memory, whose scientific genius gave them--successfully--operational cybernetic enhancements. But no one is haunted more than Ryo, who had a more personal role in Memory's death than he can cope with.
The weather pattern over Japan has deteriorated into a long, continuous downpour of rain. And in the midst of that rain Ryo struggles hard to forget his role in Memory's death and the death of others of the Borgman project, such as Dust Geed. But it is not easy, for the memory (pun not intended) haunts him nightly, plaguing his dreams until he awakens, sweating and gasping. Not even long motorcycle rides through the rain help to clear his head, nor the long restless nights he struggles through. And as a result he lashes out at the two people who are the closest things he has to family that he has: Chuck and Anice, the one who is as close as a brother and the other who loves him as much as he loves her. But burdened with guilt over Memory's death, he raises thick walls to keep them away.
But now there is something else happening. For some reason, his right hand refuses to function properly. He can move it and use it, but no longer with the same ease or manuverability it had before. Chuck warns him that their physical health and the proper functioning of their cybernetically enhanced bodies depends greatly upon their psychological health and frame of mind. Ryo, wallowing in guilt and depression and unable to enjoy a good night's sleep, is in grave danger of losing control of his entire body, but before that happens he'll likely lose his mind. And what could possibly be worse than a mad cyborg? How about the force behind Ryo's depression, that invades his dreams and feeds like a vampire upon his pain and suffering? How about an enemy Ryo and the others fought before--seemingly to the absolute end--who is determined to crush Ryo's spirit? Can Ryo shrug off the malaise that drains him of strength, or will those he cares about more than life itself pay the price for his weakness of spirit?
Sonic Soldier Borgman: Lover's Rain is a 45-minute anime feature, but it packs a lot of story into that relatively short span. Let me assure you, though: the story is definitely worth enjoying! Imagine for yourself what it would be like to pit the forces of a technology-based future against the supernatural evils of undeath. Well, that's what you have in the Ryo and his enemy: high-tech mechanized humans versus the undead!
I won't pretend to understand everything that happened in this anime. For one thing, this piece apparently follows the Borgman series, which hasn't been released on video-cassette in America. So everything involving Memory, Reminisce, Dust Geed, and anybody else from the past is all done in flashbacks with little to fully account for the conflict that arose that resulted in Memory's death. But the action that takes place in the anime and the torment that Ryo undergoes is splendid in sustaining a plot that would otherwise be over the head of any American viewer unfamiliar with the series (which would be most).
At one point in the anime Anice remarks to Ryo that she wonders what Memory would do in the situation they're in, namely, the heroine (Anice) being forced to watch as the hero (Ryo) suffers. This is a good summation of the situation. I can say without discomfort that Ryo is everything you'd expect a hero to be: young, handsome, strong, honorable, noble, and selfless. Ultimately, it is the honorable, noble, and selfless part that is causing him so much torment, which is what you'd expect from a hero forced to do something that goes against everything he believes in. And I can say honestly that Anice, despite her supporting role in this anime, is every bit the heroine that Ryo is the hero: she has the courage and determination to defend herself and Ryo (who, in the beginning at least and almost to the end, is sorely in need of defending) as well as the vulnerability and devotion that causes her to hurt when Ryo hurts. Together they are a formidable combination.
Now, I'll be honest. Sonic Soldier Borgman: The Last Battle is listed by the American distributor, A.D.V. Films, as number VHSSO/001S while Lover's Rain is listed as VHSSO/002S, which makes sense since The Last Battle was released before Lover's Rain. Chronologically speaking, though, events in Lover's Rain occur before events in The Last Battle. In this anime, Ryo is tormented by Memory's death. It makes sense that he'd be reconciled to it in The Last Battle, but you'd think the writers would do this story first, then do the three-years-later story second. But in the end, it doesn't matter: both volumes are great, so enjoy!
You can likely purchase Sonic Soldier Borgman: Lover's Rain on videotape at any video store that sells Japanese anime. You can also contact A.D.V. Films directly to find out how to order it from them.
Interested in buying this video? You can! Just follow the link to order the English subtitled VHS version. You can also visit the Stellar Video Store for other titles.
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