The war in the sky that occupies most of the final episodes of "Last Exile" showcases director Kouichi Chigira's skill at choreographing aerial dogfights. Like the X-wing fighters in "Star Wars", the small, mobile Vanships bedevil the airborne fortresses of the Guild. Claus and LaVie keep the promise they made to their dead fathers: they successfully fly through the turbulent Grand Stream. Their skills enable them to bring Al to a place where she can transform the "Exile" from a warship to a vessel of peace. Although the series ends with the triumph of the freedom fighters, the filmmakers avoid wrapping everything up too neatly. Defeating the repressive forces of the Guild required sacrifices, and the surviving members of the cast learn that every victory has its price. Although it begins very slowly, "Last Exile" builds into a genuinely noteworthy adventure series. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol use) "--Charles Solomon"