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Guess since I'm here, I'd like to start off with some open discussion about Revolutionary Girl Utena. I haven't read any of the manga series, only watched the movie and series. I'm not entirely familiar with the series, but I'd like to try this anyways.

One of the interpretations I read while reading through some of the comments on Youtube was that there is no prince, castle, or fairy tale. In the movie, and I guess in the anime?, you can see this in the result of various relationships (Anthy and Akio/Dios, Utena and Touga, Shiori and Touga). Their prince's died and the end of the movie could be seen that they've finally gotten on with their lives, stepping out of fantasy and into reality.

While that's one of the interpretation's I read, I don't really agree with it so much. I think Utena could be seen as Anthy's prince, saying once that Utena is the prince of the school (after defeating Juri who is "The Prince") and Utena invokes Dios which could symbolize Utena being Anthy's prince.

One thing I'm still unsure of is the scene where Shiori becomes a butterfly and Touga is I guess...molested by his dad. Anyone would like to share their interpretation of this, or any part of the series, movie, or manga? There are a lot of symbolism and the interpretation of the anime, manga, and movie is open for discussion.

That still has me confused too, but here's the explanation I gave myself for now:
I think it's a visual combination of Touga and Shiori's thoughts in the scene. Shiori is talking about how much she hates Juri while Touga is remembering his experience of being sold to his new father. While Shiori rants, the sheets are wrapping around like a cocoon and at the height of her hatred, they violently turn into her wings and she becomes part of Touga's scene as it worsens and peaks. They're both in pain at that moment and it's their connection.

That's not a great explanation of what I mean, but it'll have to do.
Also, do you know if Shiori is dead? I know Touga is, but was Shiori the girl he drowned trying to save?

I think the whole butterfly thing in the movie was to show how Shiori had matured to herself but she still holds onto her childish ideals about making Juri play the prince forever. In other words the whole butterfly thing to me was showing after the boy (Who I tthink was Touga) drowned she had changed just like the butterfly.

I say this because of Shiori at the end when she was saying she ws the only one who deserved to leave. I think this one actually might make uis want to believe Shiori was a good person before Touga's death in order to save Juri.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I believe Shiori had the same complex in the anime. I am not sure because i haven't seen all the anime yet.

The way I look no one in Utena has only one layer of depth, Just as in real life.

Yeah, the movie was pretty confusing. It was abstract and had a lot of symbolism.

That would make sense, since I believe there was one part in the movie (or the anime series, I'm not quite sure) where Akio said he was just playing the prince. And since Akio and Dios are the same person essentially, you could see Dios as a manipulator (Akio at the end of the movie was dressed in the same attire as Dios).

Anyone notice Miki's sister's name on one of the cars in the movie? I can't remember her name at the moment. There was one part, where Juri and Miki were alone in the parking lot, talking about why they became duelist. Before Shiori arrived, you could see a car with the license plate of Miki's sister's name. Anyone like to give their thoughts on that?

Isn't there commentary rom the director on the movie? Has anyone tried watching that or am I just confused? It's been such a long time since I've seen it I need to go back and watch it again. Man I remember when there were only the first two DVDs of the series talk about confusion!

I watched the movie with the commentary. There -is- subtitles. (there should be a button on the remote labeled something like "sub-t" just press that.)

I should watch that again...