Eien no Hou

What a dogmatic story!!!

The film is actually a vehicle for the teachings of Ryuho Okawa, head of the quasi-religious sect 'The Institute for Research in Human Happiness'.

It is technically quite well made, but the characters are without interest, as is the story.

To reveal it is to make you avoid watching it. there will be a massive amount of spoilers, so be warned!


First, if you are a non believer in a religion of any kind, be assured that, according to this anime, you will rot in hell, with the likes of Hitler and...Nietzche!
Yes! They place Nietzsche on the same level as Hitler! Unbelievable!

Rest assured that some angels will try to teach you the errors of your ways. Phew! that was close!

As we can see in this film, paradise is filled with people who are very pure of heart. A single bad thought and you are sent to hell.
That must be quite fearsome, to live in paradise!

Finally, paradise is divided between several "realms" (nine actually) and the most you strive for humanity, as Hellen Keller, Mother Theresa or Thomas Edison (yes, the fearsome businessman that stole the works of one Nikola Tesla), the upper you will be placed in heaven. There, you will have several incarnations in order to help humanity again, as you will be able to travel to the past, present and future.

All this under the guidance of religious figures (mostly christian and buddhist) that respond to a kind of conglomerate of five wise, almost godlike (or is this aspects of God?) men, such as Hermes trismegist, Thot or "Ophealis" (who the hell is that?).

You will be happy to learn that Mu and Atlantis were historical realities and ancient but largely superior civilisations than ours.

And that we are DESTINED to fulfill a role since ou birth.
And that science without religion is an errance (not to compare with the whole "science without conscience is the soul's perdition" from Pascal, a genuine philosopher, not the like of the crap from this anime)

Technically speaking, the art is nice, the special effects are cool and the songs are awful.

As for the general interest of the thing, it's like watching Michael Bay having a remake of "battlefield Earth", the scientology brain-washing film with John Travolta.

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Think 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', throw a medley of religious, mythological, historic, and scientific personalities, mix it with themes of time travel, inter dimensions, reincarnation, and romance, add a few drops of morals and dogma, and a dash of New Age spiritualism, and you'll get the fantasy soup that is "The Law of Eternity"

Story 9: I found 'The Laws of Eternity' to be quite enjoyable and amusing. However, if you have any strong religious or ideological preferences, this film may rub you the wrong way. A definite plot that leads you through a series of adventures and different worlds that ends in an aroma of timeless romance that leaves you feeling warm.
I could have gone with out the few drops of morals and dogma. Though it wasn't much, it held my scoring from being a perfect 10. Their interpretations of historical characters like Einstein, Edison, Nietzsche, and Hitler made me LOL. It's a rather unique flavor that may not appeal to all. Think "fantasy", don't take it too seriously (as with all anime).

Art 10: In a word: fantastic! The art and animation in this film is top notch, I would say comparable to Miyazaki's work.

Sound 8: I'm not that much into chorus singing. It reminded me a bit of earlier Disney movies like Cinderella or Snow White. But other that that it's not bad.

Character 8: The main characters are like-able and there is development as they journey up into different dimensions and learn more about the nature of reality and themselves. You will either love or hate their portrayal of historical characters.

Overall: You'll either find it hilarious or disturbing, but fantastic none the less.




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