Reviews

Back in 2011 Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica shattered the anime world. Winning multiple award, and being the most successful and well known deconstruction of the magical girl genera to date. It has created some divide in the anime community as hyped shows usually do (Ie, SAO). Yet, not nearly as divided or as flawed as the former. Madoka Magica has become the epitome of greatness to some, good to most, and an object of scorn to a select few. Well here we are in August 2013. The long awaited Madoka Magica movie re-works are now available for streaming. These Recap Movies which originally released October of 2012 took nearly a whole year to be available on (not so legal) streaming. As the vast majority of people watching this movie have already watched the series I shall allude and compare the movie and series. Thus the review will contain major spoilers for the series. Now if you are here wondering weather or not to watch the movie or the series I would say watch the 2nd movie for episodes 9-12. Watch the DvD HD version on Crunchy Roll (with better art and scenes than the TV Ver.) for episodes 1-8. This is because certain scenes are stripped from movie1 that in my opinion are paramount to the plot. No such scenes are stripped from movie 2, and small scenes are also added as in movie one. Now starts the review of Madoka movie 2.(for those who have not seen the series or both movies yet, spoilers ahoy.)



SPOILERS*********


Madoka Magica 2: Eien no Monogatari is a HD recap, with "bonus content" of episodes 9-12. Movie 2 is a much more masterful recap than in movie one. This because no important moments are taken out. It also has the advantages of having some of the finest episodes in anime to work with. Movie 2 Starts off where movie 1 left off just after the Fall of Sayaka our bue haired ally of justice. Then the Oktavia Fights 1 and 2 re-scored and the death of Kyouko's and Oktavia. It then leads into the first timeline episodes of Hommura's back story and episode 10. Which if you only watched the movies DOESN'T feel to come full circle. As the symbolic epic opening sequence of Madoka is cut for luminous and check rubs in movie 1 :[ . Yet, if you know what happens the recap of movie 2 is a treat to behold and flawless story wise, Nothing seems to have changed from the execution of the last 4 episodes of Madoka and their is not much to say else to say but.....
10/10 story

Art:
Well the majority of the movie had a quality job. With many extra backdrops and shaft style symbolic add on's planned for the TV and Latter the DvD, but never added due to time, and budget constrains. Yet, with all the pretty pennies Madoka made all the money, and time in the world was at their disposal. SHAFT the proceeded to go to town with something they had never had before Madoka..... a LARGE budget. This allowed Akimbo to go full wild with all symbolic backdrops he could handle. This in turn gives a certain creepiness and wonder that I haven't felt since my first view of Madoka. The most prevalent art bonus was to the Kyouko vs Octavia fight. Which had a more up close view for the phantasmal violinists, added movements to the fight, and more detailed injures on Kyouko. The most lack luster work was the Homura vs Walpurgisnacht fight. which I expected to be even more done up, but alas is basically the same as the DvD Ver. The only saving grace was the Transformations which were done over the top and epic. Yet, the art has one flaw. This is with the moments, when things go from an already existing scene, to a new Movie only scene. You can sense a faint flicker. Something just seems off. The new scene is a little more HD than the old prettied up scene. It is most noticeable in fights were it flickers to an extra Movie only movement and almost disrupted the moment. Its This flaw the brings down some of Akimbo's greatest work. But, the art truly by all standards is top notch.
9/10


Sound:
you ever felt that no one could make an amazing sound track better? such as how could you make Tanked from Cowboy Beebop any better? That's what I thought going into the Madoka reworks. How could Yuki Kajurai possibly out do what is considers some of her finest work? I don't know what she did, but she made new songs that fit certain parts so well I I can't even see the scene's now without them. The Ost "shes a witch" is so Hauntingly gorgeous that it left me in stunned silence at first hearing the tune. I almost was distracted from the transformation of Sayaka (almost is the keyword) a Ost worthy of being along side Sis Puella Magica and Magi. Slow Violins start it off, then Choirs kick in, then half way a pause. The realization dawns on Kyouko. everything kicks into high gear A bell is added, chimes In tune adding suspense (transformation) solemn silent finish ( my personal new Ost choice). Another amazing addition is adding opera to Dectretum in the Form of "Witch world #2". The addition of extra Violins to Magia is also a nice touch. With music better that I thought couldn't get better its no surprise music is.
10/10


Character: all the same from series, Mami got no development early so shes even more paper thin in episode 10 than in series. Each girl still represents the same concept and dies accordingly. Though it is even more highlighted this time around by the extra art symbolism by Akimbo. The recap no extra development of personality and thus the same as old score of series. 8/10


I enjoyed the 2nd movie much more than the first movie, which to me was just "good". Yet, the addition of extra art and music set the tone great for movie two. Greater even than that of the series, there is simply not a level of enjoyment I can give above this movie 2 recap. Which truly, unlike movie 1 felt like watching Madoka Magica for the first time all over again. Yet,due to certain flaws in art and Madoka Magica's flaws in character Madoka MAgica Movie 2 cannot have a perfect score. It though is a recap truly worth the watch and admiration of its fans.(though skip movie 1... hopefully movie 3 doesn't kills the series :[ )
Overall:9/10
-Raptor