InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002) Poster

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8/10
Wonderful, but too short
Auryn-45 September 2003
The movie starts with the supposed killing of Naraku and then introduces a new enemy: Kaguya, who used Naraku's helpers Kanna and Kagura to free herself from her 1000-year prison. Her coming will mean an eternal darkness. She is supposedly the tennyo from the old legend of the angel who lost her feathered robe and was unable to return to her home in heaven.

Inuyasha and the gang gets drawn into all of it when Kagura and Kanna appear to steal a part of the Fire Rat Robe that Inuyasha wears (wouldn't it have been safer just to slay a Fire Rat and rent a seamstress to make a robe of it, I wonder... doesn't Kagura and Kanna fear Inuyasha now that he has supposedly killed their old boss?). Anyway, Inuyasha and the gang also meet an ancestor of Houjou-kun, who posesses the tennyo's robe that Kaguya desires. They figure out what's going on and decide to prevent Kaguya from being unleashed.

The basic plot is sound, but the movie suffers slightly from involving too many of the IY-characters. Kikyou's scenes are completely unnecessary - the only thing they accomplish is remind us that she is wierd. The Kohaku-story was slightly far-fetched, but given it's final developement, it passes for accetable. At this point, I'm just thankful they didn't try and squeeze Sesshoumaru into the story as well.

The problem with the movie is that it's slightly too short. Another 5-10 minutes would have been enough to let the plot sink in and allow the viewer to understand what is going on. For instance, the quick 2-line explanation given as to why Kanna and Kagura starts serving Kaguya doesn't make any sense at all.

This movie is, despite its flaws, excellent. It has the regular nice IY-humor, the characters feel deep and real and the Kagome/Inuyasha-relationship is warmer than ever (*sweeet*). The badguy is somewhat shallow and single-minded, but she makes up for it in style. She feels even more powerful than Naraku.

This movie is a must-see for anyone who whatches the tv-series. It contains some really longed-for moments and the action is superb.

Don't miss it!
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6/10
Mediocre, a real Inuyasha fan tells the truth
thebren018 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Wait, Before i start this review let's see if i can read your mind... if you're an Inuyasha your thinking "how can this guy be a real fan if he dosen't love this movie? well fellow anime fan, i come bearing the grim unforgiving truth, are you ready? half-assed that's what this movie was, i own season box sets, have seen the first movie and seen every episode, i love Inuyasha but when your neighbor's contractor forgets to pour cement for your new house someone's gotta have the balls to tell Joe his contractor's messing up. That's who I am ,the neighbor with balls. now that i got that over with let's start with the negative...

1. Laughable plot (is Rumiko Takahashi getting this from cereal boxes?)

2. stupid Kagura fetch quests

3. anticlimactic villain, a chick with a mirror? Give her something cool like a gun

4. overall sub-par acting, if you strip down the "aw man I'm watchin' Inuyasha" you realize how dumb everyone sounds

okay i'm-a-gonna end on a couple of good notes

1. good animation and CG

2. spiced-up fighting camera angles. Bam!

3.funny Hojo sub-plot

so to summarize this, if you HAVE to get your Inuyasha fix roll up your sleeves and inject yourself with more of the legal heroin, if your a semi-fan you might wanna give it a shot though i recommend FLCL if you have a 100 bucks, and finally if your not a fan, why the hell are you reading this? watch something cool like Terminator.
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7/10
neverending story
another_zen7 September 2003
its a neverending story, and thank everything holy for that :)

This movie continues under and after the destruction of Naraku. There is a new villain introduced, and has some nice twists.

How they accualy can create such a good movie after 123 episodes (+ the ones to come) and the first movie, i can not say, but it is interesting, very nicely drawn and some nicely placed CG effects. The characters are drawn in more detail and it really looks good. The music and sound fx are great and it really has this Inuyasha feel to it.

The downside is that Sesshômaru isnt in this one, and Kikyou has only a small role.

The upside is that it does not end the Inuyasha saga, so there may be more Inuyasha series after this movie, i hope :)

i give it an 7/10
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10/10
One of the finest pieces of Anime movies there are!
First of all, the movie is definitely not a summarized version of the series!!! ahem... The movie deals with a completely new enemy (Kaguya)and how Inuyasha, Kagome and the gang deal with this... However, it isn't just another story where the good guys fight the bad guys. It has a plot! And a most beautiful one! This is certainly a movie to recommend! It is awesome! The animation is beautiful! The songs are awesome! and well... Inuyasha & Kagome are just the cutest thing ever! This movie isn't necessarily for Anime fans, or even Inuyasha fans! If you're looking for a fun, interesting, romantic, action-packed movie... then look no further! I am fortunate enough to watch the anime series and am a great fan! It is just so incredible!And the character development is amazing! This of course, keeps throughout the movie! Just when you thought you'd seen the best part, it gets BETTER!! Please do not hesitate to watch this movie!! AND IT IS NOT A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF THE SERIES!! AND EVEN IF IT IS 167 EPISODES LONG!! IT IS WORTH IT!!
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10/10
It just doesnt get any better than this.
Aldo-920 March 2004
The movie opens with the be all end all battle between Inuyusha and the gang, and Naraku. After Naraku's apparent death, the gang more or less split up and go there seperate ways. But when Kagura (the wind demon that has those cool fans) and Kanna (the little girl with the mirror that steals souls) conspire to raise a demon who plans to stop time. Inuyasha, Kagome and all the rest must come together to stop her.

Any more would be giving away things, and I don't want to do that But I'll just say this, a lot more happens than ever happend in the show, and Kagome and Inuyasha even share a kiss. This is the second movie in the series of movies and it's worth finding, though I don't doubt it will be released here in the states soon by the same company who's distributing the series.

I cannot stress enough how awesome this movie is, easily bests any american action movie made in the last ten years.

Oh yeah, I'm also obsessed with Anime, so my review is a little biased
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9/10
Wonderful
aroomwithamoose426 April 2006
A great way to add to the television series, this movie is shocking yet adorable. When I first saw it I had to watch it over and over due to the laughter and such that it caused.

Being a follower of the InuYasha series, I found this movie an amazing example of anime at its best.

Some parts contain things that most people wouldn't believe could ever be in the show, and some you know and love like the back of your hand. Some parts would never fit into the series such as they did in the movie, although they were a huge success to those on some character's sides.

The beginning is awesome. It is beyond belief. The slap mark on Miroku's face was so entirely funny and if you pay close attention to the voices, you may recognize them from (believe it or not) the Barbie movies. I actually hadn't noticed this because I have never seen a "Barbie" movie in my life, but my friend pointed it out.

The English subtitles had some misspellings, but everyone could easily tell what they meant by it.

Excellent.
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10/10
InuYasha and his friends are back for another adventure to keep the peace
squirrelywrath9 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
InuYasha and his friends go on another adventure to stop Kaugya from sending Feudal Japan into Eternal Night. Princess Kaugya is released from a mirror that Monk Miatsu put her in. Now she has kidnapped Kagome. Kaugya is after the Celestale Robe so she can have immortality.InuYasha needs to save Kagome from that witch. But what about when Kaugya tries to make him into a full demon by capturing his human heart inside a mirror. Can Kagome save him before it's to late for any of them? What about this mysterious boy who calls Sango sister? Will Kagome have enough strength to save InuYasha while fighting Kaugya and Naraku at the same time? Find out by seeing InuYasha: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass. Otherwise known as InuYasha-Kagmi no naka no mugenjou.
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Better then the first one
eternal_chibi1 February 2004
You could say that the movie is just a really long epi, but i havent found a moive to a series that wasn't. it starts off with the team killing naraku, hows that for the begining? then kanna and kagura are off to find there 'true' freedom, eventually freeing a trapped imposter nymph. another character is intorduced, akitoki houjo (houjo's anscestor), kagome is kidnapped (suprise)and there are about 3-4 big battles!! all in all everything goes back to normal so how did they surpast the kiss... :D watch to see all in all if u like the series, of corse ull love this movie, if u love sangoxmiroku and kagomexinuyasha you love this movie, no kikyoxinu moments i promise!!
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9/10
A Great Improvement Over the First Movie
Klee1524 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
When I first saw the first movie, I was great disappointed by what I saw, especially for a series as good as Inu-Yasha. My expectations first watching Castle Beyond the Looking Glass were not as high, but I was in for a surprise. In every single way I can think of, Castle Beyond the Looking Glass is a vast improvement over Affections Touching Across Time.

For the most part, the second movie's story is as stock quality as the first movie. It does however try to go into the realm of alternate universe (though it still really takes place in the canon storyline) by posing the question "What would it be like if Naraku died right now?" And, in my opinion, the interpretation is pretty good. Castle Beyond the Looking Glass does something however that really makes it just like many other Japanese animated movies by incorporating story elements from the fairy tale, Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. While it does so in a tasteful way, it kind of gave me the impression of "overused" just as the first movie's story felt. Getting past that though, the villain Kaguya is far superior to Menomaru, if only because she was less corny. So the story, which features all our favorite characters rather evenly (meaning there is something for everybody to enjoy), is actually more compelling.

The animation and music is about the same level as the first movie. Actually, I say the music was better for this movie because the first movie sounded as though it ripped a lot of tracks right off the television show. In contrast, I'm pretty sure most, if not all the music used for Castle Beyond the Looking Glass, was original (using the same melodies possibly, but at least played in a different way).

I thoroughly enjoyed Castle Beyond the Looking Glass much more than Affections Touching Across Time. The DVD also has some nice features that you shouldn't miss.
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10/10
This movies awesome!!!!!
holly321beagle4 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is 100% Awesome!!! It even gets interesting the minute you start to watch it! The beginning starts out with them, trying to kill niraku. And this woman (i forget her name) then thinks shes free. Then this other woman, grants her in her kingdom. And she has to get her these items.

But, i don't wanna ruin the whole movie. So make sure, you watch it! This movie contains fighting, romance,comedy, adventure and suspense. And a lil bit of nudity, (there in a hot-spring, but they don't show there whole body and stuff) Everything, you could ever want! I think its awesome. The only thing i don't like, is just its too short. They should make it longer. =D

Also, this movie doesn't have an age rating. Personally, i would rate it pg 13. Just cause it says curse words, a lil bit of nudity, and violence.
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A Condensed Movie version of the great Series!!!
MovieCriticMarvelfan12 August 2003
Inuyasha is without a doubt the sharpest and most action packed anime to date about a half demon half man warrior named Inuyasha who is befriended by Kagome, the reincarnation of a princess who once sealed Inuyasha because he was evil. This movie version of the series (about 90 to 2hrs long) starts off with the first eps, but ends differently.

Differently cool to watch if you dont want to sit through the 120 eps of Inuyasha that have been made so far.

Check it out.
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