Zone of the Enders - Idolo OAV 2002 Horror Movie Review

Usually referred to as Zone of the Enders 2167, this 2001 video was released simultaneously with the related TV series Zone of the Enders Dolores and the PlayStation2 game on which they’re based. In 2167 the human inhabitants of Mars are oppressed by sadistic Earthlings. A cadre of scientists has launched a secret project to develop a new super-mobile suit that will enable the Martians to win their freedom. Ace mecha pilot 2nd Lt. Radium Lavans is assigned to the prototype, “Idolo,” which is made from the mysterious element “metatron.” The brief story mixes the Martian quest for freedom with Lavans’s ill-starred romance with the scientist Dolores. The video, which serves as a sort of prequel to the game, feels like a minor Gundam adventure and will appeal primarily to gamers who are already familiar with this world. Rated 15 Up: Considerable violence, alcohol use. —Charles Solomon