At the end of the series DVD contains some interesting statements as part of ending. It is obvious that some statements have to be considered in the context of the story line, but some are quite remarkable without any underlying context.

1. Zero... He was a fool. No matter how you strike back or resist, the world never changes.
2. I'll tell you. In the adult world, what's "right" has no value.
3. Do the powerless have no choice but to bear it? Event when they're right?
4. STOP! I'LL LIVE MY LIFE!
5. If it's wrong to be powerless, does having power make you right?
6. It wasn't me who was wrong! It's the world!

I’d love to write a small review, but since I have seen this story over a period of several months I cannot be sure I remember it correctly. It is interesting to note that series definitely make me think along the lines presented in the enumerated statements above. However, there is a lot more the show than 6 lines can cover.

I have started watching the series almost a year ago. In fact I have watched first 2 DVDs and had to stop. I really liked the series at that time, but it was too much of just about everything… suspense, horror, confusion, technology, physiology. So, I decided to take a break from the story. After all, a wise Russian man from the golden era said something like “If you have a fountain then shut it off. Even the fountain needs a rest.” It took me almost a year to come back to the final 2 DVDs.

I was stunned by Serial Experiments Lain a year ago. I have not changed my high opinion of the series since that time. However, this is definitely not the show for the mainstream public accustomed to standard Hollywood stories. It is not for people with short attention span or religious nuts who cannot even imagine an alternative.

The concepts presented in the series are not knew or groundbreaking. The fact that Serial Experiments Lain immerses its viewers in those concepts is what makes the series so good. Like any good story the series takes its time to prepare the viewer in its own way. The story definitely starts from the disk 1. Depending on your point of view you may think it is a slow series, but some may find it very intense.

The visuals are not absolutely stunning by the standards of  today, but are very good nevertheless. The images and the soundtrack play a big role. All image sequences are quite intuitive, but they certainly gain another level of clarity and meaning by the end of the story.

This is an incredibly complicated story that uses symbolism and philosophy. It is the one that surpasses expectations, leaves you speechless, confused and completely engrossed in the storyline.

…but it is not for everyone… It is not easy, not a comedy, not a love story, not an action. There is simply no standard definition for the story and that is what makes it great.

I gave it 5 stars on Netflix and it is not something I do lightly.

If you like considering alternative points of view you may enjoy Serial Experiments Lain show. It is perhaps too original to the point of getting me lost and confused and don’t forget about weird. Should I say bizarre?

I have not finished watching the series, so I can’t really review it yet.

Humanity is quickly approaching that day when we are no longer bound by limitations of original human body. It may not happen in tomorrow, but it is coming. There are a couple stories set in the environment that has no restrictions of human body. That results in a number of conflicts that make stories unique and interesting.

The first one is on my movies list and it is Ghost in the Shell. The second story was just recently recommended to me and it is Kadath in the Cold Waste.

Here is a quick summary about Kadath in the Cold Waste from edkeys website

One of the main questions which this utopia asks that the others we have studied have not is: if we have the option, do we want the dominant species on Earth to remain human? Within a hundred years, it is a virtual certainty that the most intelligent being on the planet will not be human, or even organic. How will we deal with this moment when it arrives? Will we subjugate intelligent machines to retain our superiority? Or will we make way gracefully for the 'next stage' of life? For that matter, will we even have a choice in the matter at all?

As of this moment Ghost in the Shell consists of a movie that started several seasons of anime series. I was not that impressed with the movie, but I thought that season 1 of Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex series beats any CSI style show without any doubt. Watching movie first is still a nice introduction to the series.

The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し, Neko no ongaeshi^?, lit. The Cat's Repayment of Favors) is a Japanese animated film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Studio Ghibli and released to Japanese cinemas in 2002.

It received an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival.

Good points of the movie:

• It is an original fantasy story.
• It is easy to watch. It does not belong to horror or heavy action category.
• Promotes character development.
• It does not rely on heavy cliché themes and phrases.
• Kids friendly.

My only complaint is that some character changes at the end of the story are a bit of a logical stretch, but are still acceptable.

It is 4.5 out of 5 stars.