Movie:
X was originally released overseas in 1996 and was released in a limited theatrical run here in the US in 2000. Based on the manga of the same name, X was directed by Rintaro, who has also directed other anime features like Neo-Tokyo, Blade of Kamui, and Galaxy Express 999.

When Kamui returns to Tokyo to protect his childhood friends, Kotori and Fuma, he soon learns from Hinoto, a dreamwatcher, that he is destined to battle for and protect the Earth from impending destruction. Hinoto tells Kamui that the Seven Dragons of Earth are planning to wipe out mankind, and to prevent this, Kamui must ally himself with the Seven Dragons of Heaven. However, Hinoto's sister, Kanoe, is also a dreamwatcher, and is directing the Seven Dragons of Earth. She also discovers the "other" Kamui, the one predestined to oppose him in the final battle…and it is Fuma. Now Kamui must battle his childhood friend, with the fate of mankind hanging in the balance.

It's hard to recall a movie that is initially more confusing than X, and while it does become clearer later on, it is not the most satisfying of anime films. Part of this might be due to the fact that its based on a manga series that wasn't finished when the film was made, or that the large cast of seventeen characters that appear throughout the film are barely developed. However, that's not to say X is necessarily bad, as it does have some great moments, but it is certainly not as good as it could have been.

Picture:
X is presented in 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen. The transfer's biggest fault is a lot of edge enhancement that is rather distracting. There are also some small specks that appear infrequently. Colors are vibrant with accurate flesh tones, though blacks throughout are too light.

Sound:
X is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English and Dolby 2.0 Surround in English and Japanese. The 5.1 track, while a slight improvement over the 2.0 tracks, really doesn't offer much extra, other than supplying ambient noise and effects to the rear channels. Dialogue throughout is crisp and clean; however, on the English tracks, about two lines of dialogue are omitted in Chapter 3 that are on the Japanese track. Optional English subtitles are included.

Extras:
Extras on the disc include: a lengthy twenty-three page text interview with Rintaro by Animerica, a tarot card section, a photo gallery of twenty-seven pictures, the film's trailer, the Manga Video trailer, the Manga text catalogue, a list of website links, and a few trailer ads for, among other things, www.sputnik7.com.

The tarot cards are divided up in three categories: Seven Dragons of Heaven, Seven Dragons of Earth, and Dreamwatchers. There are seventeen cards in all. Each card is really a character biography of one of the seventeen characters in the film, and in reading them over, some of my confusion about the plot was cleared up.

Summary:
Though the presentation is slightly disappointing, fans of the film or the manga should definitely give X a look. However, newcomers will want to rent before purchasing, as X won't appeal to everyone. Rent it.