Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion
Review Date:
Reviewed by: Priss
Released by: Manga Entertainment UK
Age Rating: 18
Region: 2 - UK
Volume 2 of 3
Length: 65 minutes
Subtitles: English
Audio: Japanese Dolby Digital Stereo
Affilate Links:
Summary
Balot and a severely injured Oeufcoque seem to be at the mercy of an obsessed Boiled. Dr. Easter comes to the rescue and the group escapes to Paradise where many secrets of Mardock lie and where Balot will need to come to a decision herself about what she will and can do. Contains both the Director s Cut and Theatrical Cut.
Review
In Rune Ballot’s human life she was thrust her into a deep, dark and unsettling world. Reborn as a fighter and a killer in the first arc, Rune still suffers from the pain of a fractured existence but this time she is not alone and no longer a victim.
Desperate to repair her partnership with the gravely injured Oeufcoque, Rune seeks to understand how to serve their connection better by observing the relationships of others.
A more methodical and reflective film which explores the characters’ histories, their motivations and connections to each other. The structure is notably different to the first film, which started in darkness and escalated to a bloody and gruesome carnival. The Second Combustion will satisfy those who wanted to see where the cliff-hanger would land the characters but may not please action seekers. This is a philosophical continuation, a bridge between chapters and a foundation for the conclusion.
Much of the film is played out in the seemingly unlikely setting of a casino as Rune hones her mental skills. She pits her wits against the enigmatic master of the roulette table, a mature woman called Bell Wing. Their scenes are electric and certainly present Rune as an empowered entity beyond her call to violence.
The scenes which give a history to Oeufcoque's former partner Boiled adds further dimension to the narrative as his cold demeanour is pierced by a backstory revealing his human past. Nothing in Mardock Scramble is ever clear cut, not least its antagonists.
It is equally strange, savage and surreal but do not expect an unrelenting action epic from this hour of anime. The Second Combustion is an accomplished film and may interest fans of the directorial style of Mamoru Oshii for its beautiful animation and psychological storytelling.
Personally, I am very excited to see the conclusion to this strange epic of anime cinema.
Rating: 8/10
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