Utena vs. Kino

So I guess I really am obtuse when it comes to "Revolutionary Girl Utena". And I'm probably not the first guy to admit it. I mean, really, I sort of appreciate what's going on, but as far as "getting it", I'm as clueless as I am when I'm totally sober.

An interesting sidenote that I haven't mentioned before -- Utena looks a lot like a woman I've known for a number of years (she's even worked for me), so I have that little bit of "OMG, it's her" going on; particularly during that damned repetitive stair-climbing sequence...

Anyway, the Utena style just doesn't catch me. I can deal with the fact that it's really quite unique in the anime (let alone anything else) universe, but that doesn't mean I have to be able to get into it. But, alas, I will still rent it until the end to find out just WTF is going on. Not that I expect any answers...

As for my other viewing of the evening, I had a "Master Keaton" disc available, but I decided instead to go for the last disc of "Kino's Journey", which I've seen a couple of times already. And I've got to say, "getting it" or not, I'm completely taken away by these episodes. Particularly the tragic circumstances of the last episode, but all of them are very much excellent. Lil' Sakura in the last episode is so adorable that it makes the overall conclusion that much more emotional and involving.

Overall, it's rather simple, straitforward. Which is probably why I can sync up with it much more than I can with Utena. I really can't say that I've claimed to be a particularly sophisticated viewer, despite my overall snobbery. But I still stick with the things that click with me, and "Kino" clicks with me far more than "Utena" could ever hope to...