There is a lot to say about the presentation, the plot twists varying from implausible to completely absurd, but other reviews say those better.
What is difficult to unsee once you realize it is that the entire plot is the plot of Dune, by Frank Herbert. Starring Lelouch vi Brittania as Paul Atreides, Nunnaly as Alia and so forth. Japan (or as the casually and contemptuously racist Empire calls it "area 11") is Arakis, being the main source of an all-vital resource (co-starring sakuradite as the spice melange), which the empire rules with an iron fist, until Paul, er, Lelouch leads the locals in rebellion using his superior mental and psychic abilities, and then riding that rebellion into rulership of the entire Empire.
Also starring: CC as the Bene Gesserit (or possibly as the time traveling cyborg guy) manipulating things towards an obscure and mystical goal. Cornelia as Rabban Harkonen , Euphemia as Feyd-Reutha, or at least the Feyd-Reuth that would be publicly presented as part of Baron Harkonen's plan for Arakis. Etc.
It is not a perfect match of course. In particular no words are spent on the idea that harsh living primitives would be more militarily effective than trained soldiers with superior weaponry, some characters are more significant than their counterparts, or don't exist at all, and it rather blatantly lacks Dune's technological stasis.
Overall an entertaining ride if you shut off your brain about the war crimes and more ridiculous plot twists.
Frank Herbert's estate should sue. Spoilers for Dune.
There is a lot to say about the presentation, the plot twists varying from implausible to completely absurd, but other reviews say those better.
What is difficult to unsee once you realize it is that the entire plot is the plot of Dune, by Frank Herbert. Starring Lelouch vi Brittania as Paul Atreides, Nunnaly as Alia and so forth. Japan (or as the casually and contemptuously racist Empire calls it "area 11") is Arakis, being the main source of an all-vital resource (co-starring sakuradite as the spice melange), which the empire rules with an iron fist, until Paul, er, Lelouch leads the locals in rebellion using his superior mental and psychic abilities, and then riding that rebellion into rulership of the entire Empire.
Also starring: CC as the Bene Gesserit (or possibly as the time traveling cyborg guy) manipulating things towards an obscure and mystical goal. Cornelia as Rabban Harkonen , Euphemia as Feyd-Reutha, or at least the Feyd-Reuth that would be publicly presented as part of Baron Harkonen's plan for Arakis. Etc.
It is not a perfect match of course. In particular no words are spent on the idea that harsh living primitives would be more militarily effective than trained soldiers with superior weaponry, some characters are more significant than their counterparts, or don't exist at all, and it rather blatantly lacks Dune's technological stasis.
Overall an entertaining ride if you shut off your brain about the war crimes and more ridiculous plot twists.