XXXholic: The Movie: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Reviewed By: Carla Land

FUNimation Entertainment DVD

Review based on one disk of two

Rating TV-PG

What it’s (basically) all about: In this mini-movie Watanuki and his employer, the time traveling witch Yuko, are trying to solve a mystery. A haunted mansion, missing collectors, and a young woman unable to get into her house all intertwine in this gothic story that takes place in the CLAMP universe.

Nitty Gritty:

Special features-

The disk opens with a preview for Fullmetal Alchemist season 2 part 2 that is appropriate for all ages. Other special features include Opening Day at Shinjuku Cinema Milano (subtitled, Japanese voice actors/ director discussing the movie at the Japanese premiere), a recording session montage (with the Japanese actors), Japanese Staff and Cast Commentary for whole movie (subtitled and inset), Character Design Slides, Background plates, and Original trailers (Japanese with subtitles.)

FUNimation Trailers included are for xxxHolic (the TV series), Dragon Ball Z (season 4, A), Mushi-shi (T), Kiddy Grade (T), Blue Gender (T), Solty Rei (T), Glass Fleet (A), Z-Store (www.zstore.com)

Language is very mild. "Damn" is used in the subtitles. There is some brief stylized nudity at the very beginning, some pipe smoking and sake drinking, but overall there is little objectionable content. The characterizations are a little odd- characters have elongated bodies and arms and look slightly less than human, but this stylization works for the gothic nature of the show.

This movie was released as a double feature with Tsubasa Chronicles, another CLAMP property that crosses over with xxxHolic from time to time. Tsubasa Chronicles has not yet been reviewed.

Survey says: Appropriate for YA collections, especially in places where the xxxHolic TV series and manga are popular.

Personal Ad: Every time I read xxxholic or see it I enjoy it. Though I don’t follow it as closely as some of my teen patrons, I think it’s a pretty good series. The movie doesn’t necessarily require knowing the characters’ histories, but it helps.