Description

"Weird Al" Yankovic, Kevin McCarthy (Innerspace), Michael Richards ("Seinfeld"), David Bowie (The Cable Guy), Victoria Jackson ("Saturday Night Live") and Fran Drescher ("The Nanny") star in this inspired comedy about an offbeat guy who turns a deadbeat TV station into a raging success! Broadcasting Weird Al's uniquely strange brand of humor, UHF's Channel 62 is a place you'll want to visit...with increasing frequency!George Newman (Weird Al) is a daydreamer whose hyperactive imagination keeps him from holding a steady job...until his uncle hires him as manager of Channel 62, a TV station that's losing money and viewers fast. But when George replaces the station's reruns with bizarre programs like "Wheel of Fish," "The Wonderful World Of Phlegm" and "Raul's Wild Kingdom" (where poodles fly from third-story windows), ratings begin to soar! But as the ratings rise, so does the wrath of TV mogul R.J. Fletcher (McCarthy), who wants to turn the station into a parking lot. Can George find the money he needs to stay on the air? Stay tuned! ... Read more

Reviews (283)

"Complainers? We don't need no stinkin' complainers!"
How can you resist a movie where they throw poodles out of windows, let kids drink from fire hoses, where Conan hacks people apart because some people turned a book in late? The movie does have its slow parts, but the spoofs and skits are absolutely hilarious. I won't tell you all of them because then you won't go and rent or buy this great movie. This movie is really good if you are a Weird Al fan, like REALLY off-the-wall humor, parodies, something that can make you laugh. Some people hate this movie, but I think it's because they're trying to see it as a movie. UHF is not really trying to be a movie, it's trying to be more of a collage of parodies. Anyway, see it for yourself. There's no telling how many stomach muscles you'll burst watching this hilarious film.

OK?? What's the point?
~80's music and movies always scare me but this movie has a SMALL exception. This movie is about when George Newman, a teenager with no job, ("Weird Al" Yankovic) gets permission from his uncle Harvey (Stanley Brock) to run a television station with his friend Bob (David Bowe), the really weird janitor Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards), the television reporter wannabe Pamela Finkelstein (Fran Drescher), and a laboratory scientist from another planet named Phllo (Anthony Geary) while trying to avoid another television company owner (Kevin McCarthy) from taking over his company U-62, and turning it in to a parking lot . This movie is what I like to call a "slapstick movie" which is a move with nothing but mere jokes and gags. Many of the zany programs on the station that George runs are called "Wheel of Fish" (A cross between "Lets Make a Deal" and "Wheel of Fortune"), Raul's Wild Kingdom", "Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse", "Fun with Dirt", "Ghandi II" and "Strip Solitare". A lot of these things just don't make sense! This movie is rated PG-13 and has Language, Adult Content, and Rude Remarks. It's kind of weird but kind of funny in an odd kind of way. Raul's Wild Kingdom was hillarious when Raul (Cliff Stephens) shakes up an ant farm and says "OHHH! They're really mad now!" and when he throws a poodle out of a three-story window because he thinks he can teach it to fly. Ghandi II was also quite funny along with "Conan the Librarian" and "Spatula City". This movie is overall in my opinion, ALRIGHT but next time MGM/UA makes a movie, don't put Weird Al in it!~

Cult Classic
If you are a fan of Weird Al's parodies, this is the DVD for you. I know some people don't get it (a.k.a: Roger Ebert and some other critics). Yeah, the plot is a tad weak, but the main focus of this project was to give Al an outlet into doing parodies of movies and TV. There are many priceless gags in the movie ("Raul's Wild Kingdom" and "Ghandi II" come to mind). There is also a fabulous performance by Michael Richards (a.k.a.: Kramer from "Seinfeld") as the station's janitor turned TV star. There are also appearances by Victoria Jackson (SNL) and Fran Drescher (The Nanny).
The audio commentary is fantastic. You get to hear about what inspired some of the scenes and also what was not included in the movie. You also get to find out why the DVD wasn't released until June 4, 2002! There are deleted scenes on the DVD in the bonus material including a fantastic one of Michael Richards ad-libbing an entire scene!

weird al
if you liked weird als music,youll like this movie.its very silly but loads of fun.the kids will like it.if you are worried about how cool you are all the time and cant relax then dont watch this because its a movie for people who likewhat they want.individuals and dreamers.the bad guy is this old man from a tv station who is als rival when he has to run a tv station.this movie is very very funny.the bad guy is a real pain in the ass.its definately worth watching!

THE BEST of random humor!
I think this has to be one of the funniest movies i have seen in my life! just all the random shows in between the plot of the movie just make it like a family guy/futurama show mixed in with a healthy dose of random al. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

PRINCESS BLADE IS NOT KING!
Tough this movie was pretty good, alongside such awesome epics such as HERO,(with Jet Li), Azumi, and Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon, this movie paled by comparison.

But in and of itself, it is much better then a lot of the more cheesier Asian films being pumped out. The action sequences were very dynamic and exciting to watch, and the set and tone of the futuristic Samurai was different. And different is good!

But the storyline was lacking, and sometimes plodded along way too slow for this American. But overall, I can see what people see and like in this film. But the storyline could have been so much stronger and better. A good basic idea, with good action, but seemingly nothing else.

If you want to see a much faster-paced movie, with bigger budget and better acted, and awesome action sequences - then MUSA, THE WARRIOR is the best!

Fresh take on martial arts movies
I bought Princess Blade as a blind buy, and overall I really liked it. I think what really made it feel original to me was the way they showed the futuristic setting. There weren't a lot of dumb costumes or cheesy touches to overemphasize the fact that the characters are in "the future". There was one amazing shot of a super high-speed train speeding by the construction of a huge Orwellian statue of some kind of "supreme leader", and there were a couple of radio broadcasts giving us similar hints of a dystopian future setting, but it was all very subtle. Also, I liked the fact that although it was a futuristic setting, most of the fight scenes took place out in the forest. The action choreography (almost completely consisting of swordfights) is quite well done and not as fantastical as a lot of 90's Hong Kong wire-fu movies---there's very little use of wires or undercranking. The story, casting and acting are quite good, although the film suffers somewhat from an obviously limited budget. Also, although there is some blood, the movie is not excessively gory. Unfortunately, the ADV DVD picture quality is not very good for such a recent movie---it's non-anamorphic, and there are some compression artifacts evident.

Overall though, I thought the swordfight scenes were very good, the performances and story were touching, and the setting was unique and subtle. A very enjoyable, fresh and stylized take on martial arts movies.

Wasted potential thy name is Princess Blade.
This modern remake of The Lady Snowblade is very thin. If you want an entertaining movie with quirky characters, lot's of jokes and a deep enthrauling storyline...well look at Versus or Samurai Fiction because I had been looking forward to PB for a while now and it really dissapointed. The movie has some amazing action set pieces for ten minutes in the begining and for ten minutes at the end. The action is thin and so are the characters, the love story was to weak for me and I'm a guy! I really wish it was better because it really could have been. I truly believe the japanese have the leg over the hong kong film industry in there ability to appease American audiences. But still, there are much more entertaining alternatives to this film. Now if you still want to see this despite my warnings, the film is not entirely without it's merits. It is beautifully shot, if not a little drab and depressing, and the action and the acting when it's put to work it works.

Boring beyond belief
Boredom...boredom..boredom. Some Japanese movies move to slow and are filled with nonsensical dialogue. This is one of those movies. The brief swordplay is interesting, yet the movie itself just couldn't keep my attention.

SO CLOSE, AND YET SO FAR........
This film could have been so much more than it was. A fantasy film in which a future Japanese police state utilizes assassins who use swords, despite having 21st century technology. The patriarch of the assassins is scary looking, the heroine is very sexy in that school-girl innocent look that Japanese men love (what is it with Japanese men and their desire for very young girls in sailor-suit school uniforms?-a dread of comparison?), and it does have a tangible combination of visual texture and depth. But the actions scenes, despite Donnie Yen's guiding hand, are silly looking and bad to the point of laughable. Granted, he didn't have much to work with, and the actors involved didn't look as bad as spindly and stiff Keanu Reeves or Fat Larry Fishburne in the Matrix franchise, but there was just very little there to hold your attention. Try it if you're bored, but otherwise, you could do better in this genre, with something like Equilibrium with Christian Bale; better acting, better fights, and better directing. ... Read more

Description

Raised by assassins, Yuki is the last of the Takemikazuchi royal bloodline.A deadly weapon in her own right, she learns the gruesome truth about the death of her beloved mother.Turning her back on the assassins that betrayed her, she joins forces with a mysterious rebel leader and discovers compassion; still, she is driven only by revenge. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

PRINCESS BLADE IS NOT KING!
Tough this movie was pretty good, alongside such awesome epics such as HERO,(with Jet Li), Azumi, and Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon, this movie paled by comparison.

But in and of itself, it is much better then a lot of the more cheesier Asian films being pumped out. The action sequences were very dynamic and exciting to watch, and the set and tone of the futuristic Samurai was different. And different is good!

But the storyline was lacking, and sometimes plodded along way too slow for this American. But overall, I can see what people see and like in this film. But the storyline could have been so much stronger and better. A good basic idea, with good action, but seemingly nothing else.

If you want to see a much faster-paced movie, with bigger budget and better acted, and awesome action sequences - then MUSA, THE WARRIOR is the best!

Fresh take on martial arts movies
I bought Princess Blade as a blind buy, and overall I really liked it. I think what really made it feel original to me was the way they showed the futuristic setting. There weren't a lot of dumb costumes or cheesy touches to overemphasize the fact that the characters are in "the future". There was one amazing shot of a super high-speed train speeding by the construction of a huge Orwellian statue of some kind of "supreme leader", and there were a couple of radio broadcasts giving us similar hints of a dystopian future setting, but it was all very subtle. Also, I liked the fact that although it was a futuristic setting, most of the fight scenes took place out in the forest. The action choreography (almost completely consisting of swordfights) is quite well done and not as fantastical as a lot of 90's Hong Kong wire-fu movies---there's very little use of wires or undercranking. The story, casting and acting are quite good, although the film suffers somewhat from an obviously limited budget. Also, although there is some blood, the movie is not excessively gory. Unfortunately, the ADV DVD picture quality is not very good for such a recent movie---it's non-anamorphic, and there are some compression artifacts evident.

Overall though, I thought the swordfight scenes were very good, the performances and story were touching, and the setting was unique and subtle. A very enjoyable, fresh and stylized take on martial arts movies.

Wasted potential thy name is Princess Blade.
This modern remake of The Lady Snowblade is very thin. If you want an entertaining movie with quirky characters, lot's of jokes and a deep enthrauling storyline...well look at Versus or Samurai Fiction because I had been looking forward to PB for a while now and it really dissapointed. The movie has some amazing action set pieces for ten minutes in the begining and for ten minutes at the end. The action is thin and so are the characters, the love story was to weak for me and I'm a guy! I really wish it was better because it really could have been. I truly believe the japanese have the leg over the hong kong film industry in there ability to appease American audiences. But still, there are much more entertaining alternatives to this film. Now if you still want to see this despite my warnings, the film is not entirely without it's merits. It is beautifully shot, if not a little drab and depressing, and the action and the acting when it's put to work it works.

Boring beyond belief
Boredom...boredom..boredom. Some Japanese movies move to slow and are filled with nonsensical dialogue. This is one of those movies. The brief swordplay is interesting, yet the movie itself just couldn't keep my attention.

SO CLOSE, AND YET SO FAR........
This film could have been so much more than it was. A fantasy film in which a future Japanese police state utilizes assassins who use swords, despite having 21st century technology. The patriarch of the assassins is scary looking, the heroine is very sexy in that school-girl innocent look that Japanese men love (what is it with Japanese men and their desire for very young girls in sailor-suit school uniforms?-a dread of comparison?), and it does have a tangible combination of visual texture and depth. But the actions scenes, despite Donnie Yen's guiding hand, are silly looking and bad to the point of laughable. Granted, he didn't have much to work with, and the actors involved didn't look as bad as spindly and stiff Keanu Reeves or Fat Larry Fishburne in the Matrix franchise, but there was just very little there to hold your attention. Try it if you're bored, but otherwise, you could do better in this genre, with something like Equilibrium with Christian Bale; better acting, better fights, and better directing. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Cheesy, Fun, And Entertaining...
Final Fantasy Unlimited has great qualities one may look for in an animated series. First of all, the story is pretty decent and captivating. It starts off a little slow, but once things pick up, it really is hard to be pulled from.
The story is basically about two children looking for their parents who have mysteriously disappeared in the world of Wonderland. The two find their way into Wonderland, beginning their adventure of mystery and exotic lands.
There is a combination of animations. One animation type looks hand drawn and simplistic. The artwork is not very detailed, but still done nice. The second type of animation is 3D computer generated. It sounds like the two and two wouldn't work together, but they blend well nicely.
It's a great series to watch for a Final Fantasy fan because it has qualities from the games.
1.) There are summons such as Phoenix.
2.) Fanfare Victory music is played: just like the games. (maybe cheesy, but it's there)
3.) There are chocobos. (chocobo music is even played)
4.) In all Final Fantasy games, there's a man named Cid. In FF: Unlimited, there is also a man named Cid.

For a start, FF: Unlimited (Phase 1) is well done. The first episode may be a little slow, but it's great when it picks up. The lead characters have great personalities. However, I find the little girl a little obnoxious at times. The chocobo is cute, as it likes to yank on the little girl's hair and yell out, "KWEH!" from time to time. The enemies in this series are a little corny, but all in all not bad.

I give Phase 1 a 4 stars because of the slow start. I also didn't like feeling like FF: Unlimited was a rip from Alice in Wonderland. I wish they would've named the world something a little more creative, but that's just me being picky.

Best Final Fantasy Animation so far
Rather than review all the phases, I figure it's best to do the first since you'll be starting off with this one anyway :)

The 'Final Fantasy' direct game series (meaning 1-11) has always been the basis and the best. The spin-off games have always been recieved with mixed opinions, since they can be quite different.

However, the Final Fantasy Animation have always been recieved very poorly. The first anime called "Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals" was in 4 parts and took place after the FF5 video game...the translation of names was inconsistance w/ the later released US video game, needless to say it was pretty bad. We all remeber Sony's attempt to show off the PS2 CG movie...which was terrible.

However, FFU is actually the 3rd and best atempt for an animated FF series. As the games it is a completely new story, but with classic FF elements (Chocobos, Summon Spells, Charcters leave & join the party) so in this aspect it is pretty good.

The English dubbing is also pretty good, though Yu's voice actor always sounds like he reading his lines and they should have used someone else in my opinion (that's quite annoying!).

The story will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys the games, I would base the character types (like Fungus and other weird one) on a FF6 & 9 level = NOT for everyone as some are silly, I do not believe Amano created them, but that's the overall flavor.

This is somewhat like Xenogears animation (mix of CG & Cartoon) but overall not quite that much...but again you get the idea. 90% is animated with only a few scenes and small fractions with some CG special effects like Kaze's Demon Gun (AKA Magun in US).

Overall don't expect this to be based directly on a FF game. I reccomend it for die-hard Squaresoft/FF fans.

The Japanese version would fir nicely in the "Teen" rating, but sadly the US version is slightly toned down and thus younger children would enjoy it :(

Different but good
The animation is odd... the hand-drawn is good, the computer animation is mostly good, but together it's not so good. So be prepared.

It's also not entirely for kids... the Magun is so blatantly phallic it's funny.

But you have all the things that make Final Fantasy: chocobos, summoning, a huge plot, and Cid. The four episodes on disc 1 make you wanting more, just to learn what you don't know yet.

Could've done better
In episode 22 they could've made a little more sense otherwise this one is excellent! This one is a must-have although there's some sad parts.

Best so far...
Perfectly in synch with the rest of this series, FFU Phase 5 still leaves some questions unanswered, but are not meant to be answered until later. An awesome series. If your a FF fan, there is no reason not to get this series. ... Read more

Description

As ES Force Members, Éclair and Lumiere are used to tracking and arresting the intergalactic criminal element.Their latest assignments are no exception.A high speed reactor capable of turning an ordinary human into a super being has been stolen.To make matters worse, the two heroes get caught up in a terrible battle for supremacy between rival gangs that threaten the lives of innocent children.The only chance for survival may be through help of their greatest rivals…and fellow ES Force comrades. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great
Kiddy Grade volume 2 is so good I love it the episodes are so good especially episode 5 where Lumiere and Eclair get a day off. Lumiere is so scary in that episode where she is in a pink dress shooting these guys. I love this show, and anyone else that like anime would too. If you don't buy this DVD you are weird.

Good Veiwing
The kiddy grade saga keeps getting better and better. this was one of the best anime i've ever seen i suggest it to anyone wanting a good veiwing.

Charlie's Angels in outer space!
I'm just in the beginning stages of watching Kiddy Grade. I've only seen up to episode 6 and I'm VERY pleased with it. It mixes a "Charlie's Angels" mentality with an outer space theme. Many people have said that they didn't really care for the show all that much until episode 8. I'm guessing 1-7 are just individual episodes and the main storyline kicks in at 8. Regardless, I'm having a blast watching it! The English voice acting really brings home the whole essence and feel of the show. It's serious but it doesn't take itself seriously. The whole show at this point is very "tongue-in-cheek" and the English voice actors pulled off the amazing task of doing a better job than their Japanese predecessors. If you don't speak or understand Japanese, you'll probably have a VERY hard time picking up on sarcasm and voice inflections in order to understand if something is humorous or not. Thank goodness the English version hits a home run with this part.

The animation is stellar. It is all done digitally by one of the world's top animation studios - Gonzo - located in Japan. There is a seamless blend of regular animated effects and CG effects. All of the music is orchestrated and sounds just spectacular. It's cinematic and pulls you right into the show. It's very James Bond-ish with a little bit of the grandeur of John Williams (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jaws, & Jurassic Park).

All in all, it's a fantastic show and almost everyone will like it. I made my friends sit down and watch it. Even though they hate Anime like it killed their family, they were begging me to try to find the next episodes because they couldn't wait.

Getting there...not quite yet
As I said in the Kiddy Grade volume 1 review, this anime hasnt quite yet gotten off the ground yet in volume 2 either. In this volume, the formula continues, with a triple helping of action filled bad guy of the day episodes again, and again Eclair and Lumiere do their thing (with entertaining results). This is the last time the plot stays static however, because in volume 3, Kiddy grade decides to kick it into gear. Once past this volume, it really gets good. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I loved Bell of Innocence
I found Bell of Innocence to be a wonderful movie. I could relate to the actor that lost his child and lost his way. I made it a point to show the movie with others. I found it to be a movie that could cause a person to think about where they are in their salvation. I am in the proccess of trying to buy the movie to add to my collection. I highly recommend this movie!!!!!

Hmmm...
The acting wasn't very good. Chuck's son can act a little better. The story is pretty strange. It seemed like a mess to me. 3/4 thru the movie I wondered how they came up with some of the story---it seems so bizarre. As the story plays out it's pretty predictable. It's easy to tell that Matthew (Chuck) is an angel. The fact that the lead would fall for the little girl wasn't very convincing to me. The villian in the film is a great actor, but the bad acting and the obvious really make this film lose its luster. The part where the three of them walk through the town like they're going to the OK Corral for a fight was weak and so cliche. I realized shortly after I started watching it that it wasn't going to be very spectacular. I guess I hoped for something better and ended up disappointed. On a good note, the music and special effects were pretty darn good (3 stars). If you like Chuck Norris' acting then you might enjoy this film. Otherwise, I don't see much to like here. The film is a very strange way to get across a christian message.

An interesting story
Bells of Innocence is about 3 men who find themselves trapped in a bizarre Texas town. The people all act strange, and only one woman and a mysterious stranger(Chuck Norris) will help them. A powerful immortal controls the town with his demonic horde. Good and evil battle for the town and its children, and the 3 men will help decide the outcome. Their only weapon is their faith, but will even it be enough to save them?

BOI is a good film. The actors aren't that great, but the storyline is good and the special effects work for a budget film. It's slow in parts and could have used some serious trimming, but for the most part the story moves along. There are some action sequences with Chuck's son, Mike, doing most of the fighting (Chuck doesn't throw a single punch). Don't be mistaken though, this is a plot-driven story, not a fighting one. Even though this is touted as a Christian film, profanity is used twice in it (though I have no idea why you'd do that in a church film).

An interesting concept, and I guess it works. Imagine a Christian episode of the X-Files. The climax of the film is the payoff for watching it. It's just a shame that it takes so long to reach the really good part. But hey, it's definitely better than the Left Behind films. Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A bit of a let down, but no matter
Kiddy Grade has its ups and downs. There's a sort of general consensus that the first eight episodes are kind of pointless and fan-servicey but there's a vague explanation to each of mini-story later, though you have to think about some of them before you see the connection. Then ending, as other reviewers have said, is not so hot either. There are these gigantic plot holes left right and center - as Eclair puts it, "I'm the ES Member who never dies, remember?" - and you may have to watch it a couple of times to keep track of what happened when (but hey, that's why you got the DVD right?).

On the other hand, you've got this fantastic ensemble of characters, a decent conflict with a character based plot and some fast-paced animation that is gripping to watch. Who cares if you can't keep track of who's still alive and who isn't? The characters are irresistible; you get a feeling about what each of them is like without a whole lot of time being spent on character development. They all have a history, and in the end, this is what comes back to haunt them every time.

There are funny moments, there are serious moments, there are sad moments. The voice acting is impecable - I agree with the people who say the English version is more enjoyable than the Japanese, even though it's almost always the other way around. Colleen Clinkerbeard is wonderfully expressive as Eclair. The soundtrack is also great in evoking the mood of whatever situation our heroes happen to be in. A great series, despite plot misgivings and a not quite satisifying ending.

Decent Conclusion to a Great Series
As one other reviewer pointed out, the ending to this series wasn't stellar.However, I don't think he's giving it enough credit.While it could've been better, I can say the same for literally hundreds of other anime, and this one was not the worst, not even by a long shot.So, while I agree that the ending was a bit lacking, the series as a whole was great and definitely worth watching.

I gave this DVD a 4-star rating because of the ending, but all in all I would have to rate the series at somewhere around 4.5 stars.It's that good.It's a great blend of action, comedy, and drama.Sure it contains a mix of a lot of things you'll find in other anime, but so what?It's still fun.The only thing missing is romance (one thing I happen to like in anime) but it's doesn't really detract from how good Kiddy Grade is.Yes there are the occasional plot-holes, as well as the fact that it's a bit fan-servicy in the beginning, but otherwise it's very enjoyable.Take the time to watch it; it's worth it.

Series couldn't maintain momentum
I'll try and not include any spoilers....But if you don't want any surprises spoiled please skip...


The Kiddy Grade series started off interesting enough, but ended somewhat rushed. It almost seemed like the producers were planning on making this a 50 episode series but had to cut short because money problems or something. I really liked the 1st 12 episodes.. character developement was good and they seemed like the were taking their time trying to develop the characters. The second half is a mixed bag. It seemed like the the producers were trying to do the plot twist every episode thing (like in gundam Wing) but it just wasn't working. Toward the end I really didn't feel much for the main characters..

1st time I watched this last DVD disk it really didn't leave any impression on me.. a week later I tried to remeber the plot and I couldn't recall anything. I forced myself to watch it again and I remeber the plot now but it was a major let down. Its like they tried to build up the last episode extremely (Earth in danger, doomsday weapon in madman's hands, secrete organization operating in background pulling string..etc) but "Ja Jan!" (eclair's favorite phrase) they just used their mystical "G" class powers and solved all problems... what kind of series ending is that!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best disk yet
Kiddy Grade volume 3 is the best disc yet it has some of the best episodes. Some of the coolest ES members appear in these episodes also like Viola and Cesario,and Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The show just keeps getting better and better. If you liked the first two discs then you'll love this one. Anyone who has not watched this show is weird it is so good. If you have not seen it give it a try you will not be let down I promise. If you havent boughten this disc yet then go to the store and get it.

Kiddy Grade Case 3 Almost There....
This third installment of the Kiddy Grade series promises of something deeper than just a story of good versus evil. It still uses the same simple themes of 'saving the day,' as the previous two dvds, however, 'Lies Beneath' sets us up for what I believe to be the best episodes on the 4th installment of the series 'The Present Future.' So why is this dvd worth getting? Well, the 7th episode introduces us to a new pair of GOTT Members: Viola and Cesario; and the 8th episode introduces us to: Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Viola is a cute little girl who has this yellow creature-like doll, which supposedly shows off Viola's true emotions. Cesario is the silent type, who only communicates to his partner when necessary, however we never hear him speak until the end of the series. Just like Eclair and Lumiere, those two are also C-class members. Tweedledee and Tweedledum are brother and sister, who are S-class members (the highest ranking among ES Members). Episodes 8 + 9 are the ones that will set us up for the exciting and yet serious tone for the rest of the series. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Cheesy, Fun, And Entertaining...
Final Fantasy Unlimited has great qualities one may look for in an animated series. First of all, the story is pretty decent and captivating. It starts off a little slow, but once things pick up, it really is hard to be pulled from.
The story is basically about two children looking for their parents who have mysteriously disappeared in the world of Wonderland. The two find their way into Wonderland, beginning their adventure of mystery and exotic lands.
There is a combination of animations. One animation type looks hand drawn and simplistic. The artwork is not very detailed, but still done nice. The second type of animation is 3D computer generated. It sounds like the two and two wouldn't work together, but they blend well nicely.
It's a great series to watch for a Final Fantasy fan because it has qualities from the games.
1.) There are summons such as Phoenix.
2.) Fanfare Victory music is played: just like the games. (maybe cheesy, but it's there)
3.) There are chocobos. (chocobo music is even played)
4.) In all Final Fantasy games, there's a man named Cid. In FF: Unlimited, there is also a man named Cid.

For a start, FF: Unlimited (Phase 1) is well done. The first episode may be a little slow, but it's great when it picks up. The lead characters have great personalities. However, I find the little girl a little obnoxious at times. The chocobo is cute, as it likes to yank on the little girl's hair and yell out, "KWEH!" from time to time. The enemies in this series are a little corny, but all in all not bad.

I give Phase 1 a 4 stars because of the slow start. I also didn't like feeling like FF: Unlimited was a rip from Alice in Wonderland. I wish they would've named the world something a little more creative, but that's just me being picky.

A Highly Under Rated Anime
I've seen this series already and what I must say about it is although Final Fantasy: Unlimited has some flaws, the strong points by far make up for them. The soundtrack to this series is masterfully done, the character designs range from Simple to bizarre but always have character, and the plot is full of mysteries that really keep you pretty well engrossed.

I don't know why a previous reviewer said the focus was on saving the world, because for the most part the focus is on finding the Twins Parents and uncovering the little mysteries about the world in which this anime takes place. The only glaring flaw is that the battle scenes could be better, they tend to resemble the magical girl fight scenes, many people will not mind that but I do and for that reason I cannot give it a perfect score.

Still, it's a fantastic anime that's very much worth the time and money.

Different but good
The animation is odd... the hand-drawn is good, the computer animation is mostly good, but together it's not so good. So be prepared.

It's also not entirely for kids... the Magun is so blatantly phallic it's funny.

But you have all the things that make Final Fantasy: chocobos, summoning, a huge plot, and Cid. The four episodes on disc 1 make you wanting more, just to learn what you don't know yet.

Could've done better
In episode 22 they could've made a little more sense otherwise this one is excellent! This one is a must-have although there's some sad parts.

Best Final Fantasy Animation so far
Rather than review all the phases, I figure it's best to do the first since you'll be starting off with this one anyway :)

The 'Final Fantasy' direct game series (meaning 1-11) has always been the basis and the best. The spin-off games have always been recieved with mixed opinions, since they can be quite different.

However, the Final Fantasy Animation have always been recieved very poorly. The first anime called "Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals" was in 4 parts and took place after the FF5 video game...the translation of names was inconsistance w/ the later released US video game, needless to say it was pretty bad. We all remeber Sony's attempt to show off the PS2 CG movie...which was terrible.

However, FFU is actually the 3rd and best atempt for an animated FF series. As the games it is a completely new story, but with classic FF elements (Chocobos, Summon Spells, Charcters leave & join the party) so in this aspect it is pretty good.

The English dubbing is also pretty good, though Yu's voice actor always sounds like he reading his lines and they should have used someone else in my opinion (that's quite annoying!).

The story will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys the games, I would base the character types (like Fungus and other weird one) on a FF6 & 9 level = NOT for everyone as some are silly, I do not believe Amano created them, but that's the overall flavor.

This is somewhat like Xenogears animation (mix of CG & Cartoon) but overall not quite that much...but again you get the idea. 90% is animated with only a few scenes and small fractions with some CG special effects like Kaze's Demon Gun (AKA Magun in US).

Overall don't expect this to be based directly on a FF game. I reccomend it for die-hard Squaresoft/FF fans.

The Japanese version would fir nicely in the "Teen" rating, but sadly the US version is slightly toned down and thus younger children would enjoy it :( ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The worst of the 4 DVD's.
I start this review by saying, that out of the 4 DVD's this one is the worst of them. Out of the 3 episodes on it only one of them is actually good.

The first episode is "Don't drop the Porvora". In this episode Jing and Kir are searching for the Sunstone which is said to be in the land of Sungria. On their way to Sungria they are given an offer to take 2 creatures called Porvora's to Sungria. These are creatures than can explode if their irritated and are often used as explosives. Jing accepts the offer, despite Izarra's (The girl in this story.) attempts to change his mind.
This single episode was also in the manga, and it was a much longer more drawn out story than in the anime. Which could have easily been a 2 part story here. That would've been much better than including the next episode that was on here. Because as it is packing everything into one episode, things felt WAY too rushed.

The next episode "The Musical Island of Coco Oco" is another original episode and is the worst episode on this DVD. (And in my opinion the worst in the series.) Jing & Kir visit the musical Island of Coco Oco, a place where the people really love music. They are in search of a legendary Ocarina that is said to be found there, but upon there arrival Kir gets irritated with Jing, who doesn't even seem interested in finding the treasure and splits up to search on his own.(And to find some beautiful girls.) And in turn ends up bumping into this episodes girl.
We see a lot of Kir by himself and trying to help this girl out.
While at first this episode does seem kind of promising with the introduction to the musical island as we see virtually everything on the island making some kind of musical sound. But even that ends up falling short, because besides at the end we don't see it epxand upon that at all.

The last episode on here totally took me by surprise. (I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it.) This is the last of the original episodes, and as the previous 2 weren't very good, I wasn't expecting much out of this one.
In this story Jing and Kir accidentally get off at the wrong stop on there way to Zaza (This is the only time you every see any sign of continuity in the series.) and in turn end up discovering Bluwari, the land of the Porvora. Which is watched over by the lovely Elixir ( I wound up really liking her a lot for some reason.) who takes care of the Porvora. But while Jing and Kir are being shown around the place there are thieves at work trying to bust in because they believe there is some great teasure hidden there.
I really liked this episode because it had a lot of mystery to it, and the land of the Porvoras was a much cooler place than I thought it would be.

As with the last DVD this one has a few spelling errors in it. The only major one was getting Izarra's last name totally wrong. It says it Danbura, but it's actually Tumbler.
In that respect though this DVD wasn't really that bad, but be prepared, because it gets really bad in the last DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The confrontations and revelations pile up as Lost Universe reaches its finale. Several of the last episodes feel padded, as Kain Blueriver and his Lost Ship the Swordbreaker battle Kali and other secondary villains. Despite a plethora of computer effects, there's little suspense in these fights, because it's clear that Kain and the Swordbreaker have to survive to take on the icily murderous "Yami o Makumono" ("Spreader of Darkness") and his space fortress, the Dark Star. Kali blowing up the planet Carmel is copied a little too closely from Darth Vader destroying Alderan in Star Wars to play effectively. Not surprisingly, the final battle requires Kain, Millie, Canal, and Rail to work together to defeat the Spreader of Darkness and Nightmare's vast machinery. Kain somehow finds the courage to face his adversary, declaring that he fights not out of hatred or anger, but to defend the people he loves. Even as he battles the foe who caused his grandmother's death, Kain remains a mystery. Why he's the Luke Skywalker of this universe is never explained, but he's more entertaining in the early episodes as a somewhat goofy Trouble Contractor than as a Mark Hamill substitute. Contains these episodes: 22. "Destiny Spins," 23. "Ashura Comes," 24. "The Maiden Returns," 25. "Angelic Demon Strikes," 26. "And Then a Blade of Light Shines." Unrated; suitable for ages 10 and up; grotesque imagery and violence. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cliche
As the story goes toward the end, it becomes less interesting. If anything surprise me, it's how these people dare to use so much cliche here without annoying their customers; And I RECOMMEND it to some of my friends for this reason - you won't believe that anime of this quality can be so famous! (since it's created by the Slayers' author.)

Lost universe
The last five episodes of Lost Universe were amazing. The series does a complete 180 changing from a light hearted action/comedy to an action packed, and emotionally jarring last five episodes. I felt the show really did not come together until these episodes. If you are a fan of Lost Universe you owe it to yourself to buy this DVD.

Surprisingly sweet for an ending.
Having sat through and watched a multitude of anime series get short-changed in the end, it's nice to be surprised once in a while. The ending of Lost Universe closed out on a very good note. Each of the 5 remaining episodes weren't fillers and kept up the momentum up to the end. The comedy that was so prevalent at the beginning/middle was downplayed to highlight the dramatic turn of events. I have recommended this show before to friends who have purchased the Slayers series, and would do so again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Twelve-year-old twins Ai and Yu Hayakawa take a mysterious subway toWonderland to look for their missing scientist-parents. Wonderland is a hostile place,ruled by the petulant Earl Tyrant and his assorted hench-creatures. Ai and Yuare attacked by monsters and saved first by Lisa, a practitioner of the"Kigen Arts," then repeatedly by the taciturn, gun-totting Kaze. The first episodesare cluttered with characters who appear briefly then vanish. Although Ai, Yu,and Lisa do a lot of traveling, the series doesn't really go anywhere: thefilmmakers seem more interested in showcasing the elaborate CG effects at theirdisposal than in coherent storytelling. The effects are very flashy, but theynever meld satisfactorily with the drawn animation. Based on the popular videogame franchise, Unlimited borrows from Matsumoto's GalaxyExpress and Miyazawa's Galactic Railroad, but offers none of their mysteryand magic. (Rated 12 and older: violence, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Cheesy, Fun, And Entertaining...
Final Fantasy Unlimited has great qualities one may look for in an animated series. First of all, the story is pretty decent and captivating. It starts off a little slow, but once things pick up, it really is hard to be pulled from.
The story is basically about two children looking for their parents who have mysteriously disappeared in the world of Wonderland. The two find their way into Wonderland, beginning their adventure of mystery and exotic lands.
There is a combination of animations. One animation type looks hand drawn and simplistic. The artwork is not very detailed, but still done nice. The second type of animation is 3D computer generated. It sounds like the two and two wouldn't work together, but they blend well nicely.
It's a great series to watch for a Final Fantasy fan because it has qualities from the games.
1.) There are summons such as Phoenix.
2.) Fanfare Victory music is played: just like the games. (maybe cheesy, but it's there)
3.) There are chocobos. (chocobo music is even played)
4.) In all Final Fantasy games, there's a man named Cid. In FF: Unlimited, there is also a man named Cid.

For a start, FF: Unlimited (Phase 1) is well done. The first episode may be a little slow, but it's great when it picks up. The lead characters have great personalities. However, I find the little girl a little obnoxious at times. The chocobo is cute, as it likes to yank on the little girl's hair and yell out, "KWEH!" from time to time. The enemies in this series are a little corny, but all in all not bad.

I give Phase 1 a 4 stars because of the slow start. I also didn't like feeling like FF: Unlimited was a rip from Alice in Wonderland. I wish they would've named the world something a little more creative, but that's just me being picky.

Best Final Fantasy Animation so far
Rather than review all the phases, I figure it's best to do the first since you'll be starting off with this one anyway :)

The 'Final Fantasy' direct game series (meaning 1-11) has always been the basis and the best. The spin-off games have always been recieved with mixed opinions, since they can be quite different.

However, the Final Fantasy Animation have always been recieved very poorly. The first anime called "Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals" was in 4 parts and took place after the FF5 video game...the translation of names was inconsistance w/ the later released US video game, needless to say it was pretty bad. We all remeber Sony's attempt to show off the PS2 CG movie...which was terrible.

However, FFU is actually the 3rd and best atempt for an animated FF series. As the games it is a completely new story, but with classic FF elements (Chocobos, Summon Spells, Charcters leave & join the party) so in this aspect it is pretty good.

The English dubbing is also pretty good, though Yu's voice actor always sounds like he reading his lines and they should have used someone else in my opinion (that's quite annoying!).

The story will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys the games, I would base the character types (like Fungus and other weird one) on a FF6 & 9 level = NOT for everyone as some are silly, I do not believe Amano created them, but that's the overall flavor.

This is somewhat like Xenogears animation (mix of CG & Cartoon) but overall not quite that much...but again you get the idea. 90% is animated with only a few scenes and small fractions with some CG special effects like Kaze's Demon Gun (AKA Magun in US).

Overall don't expect this to be based directly on a FF game. I reccomend it for die-hard Squaresoft/FF fans.

The Japanese version would fir nicely in the "Teen" rating, but sadly the US version is slightly toned down and thus younger children would enjoy it :(

Different but good
The animation is odd... the hand-drawn is good, the computer animation is mostly good, but together it's not so good. So be prepared.

It's also not entirely for kids... the Magun is so blatantly phallic it's funny.

But you have all the things that make Final Fantasy: chocobos, summoning, a huge plot, and Cid. The four episodes on disc 1 make you wanting more, just to learn what you don't know yet.

Could've done better
In episode 22 they could've made a little more sense otherwise this one is excellent! This one is a must-have although there's some sad parts.

Best so far...
Perfectly in synch with the rest of this series, FFU Phase 5 still leaves some questions unanswered, but are not meant to be answered until later. An awesome series. If your a FF fan, there is no reason not to get this series. ... Read more

Description

In Star century Zero-One-Sixty-Five, the Global Union was born.To provide an impartial mediator to the various planetary governments of the G.U., the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs, or G.O.T.T. was simultaneously formed to settle economic disputes amongst the member planets.Existing in the shadows of the G.O.T.T., the ES Force serves as the G.O.T.T.’s primarily law enforcement organization.ES Force members Éclair and Lumiere are on the front line, pursuing all manner of criminals and bringing them to justice.This is their story. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Kiddy Grade = Perfecto!
Episodes one through three don't seem to be related at all, however, the story and the characters are engaging. The story sounds simple enough, a group or organization called the GOTT is used to combat and eliminate all terroristic threats to world peace. The two members in which the story mainly revolves around are both Eclair and Lumiere. Eclair is a hands-on-combat-fighter, whereas Lumiere uses her technological powers to take complete control over any type of machinery. Yes, there is fan service for something that is titled "Kiddy Grade," however the artwork rivals that of Full Metal Alchemist (another great anime). The humor, the action, and the story-telling promises us a great series far into the near future. I would highly recommend giving this product a shot!

Kiddy Grade AWESOME just wait...
For this first DVD, you will just have to sit back and enjoy the battles, humor, and fan service. The plot does not pick up until the next disk. But dont dismiss this anime because of its slow start!!!! I PROMISE you that it will totally blow you away as you get into it! Just when you think there will never be a plot, it hits you in the face. AND IT IS GREAT! Eclair and her partner and their friends make this anime incredible both for its action and its artwork. I def reccomend it!

***just wanted to edit this to say that I originally thought this release was 7 disks of 4 eps or so...since then I have found this disk only has 3 eps on it. So, basically I have to correct myself and say that the plot will pick up on the 3rd disk. But dont be discouraged!! Its awesome, plus, the eps in the beginning introduce characters and situations that will become very important at the end!

Another Galactic Union?
No, this series is set in the Global Union. The characters, most of them anyway, work for the ES, a branch of the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs. The ES deals with big time criminals, protecting trade missions and general law enforcement. Eclair, a 16 year old armed with a superhuman speed and a dangerous tube of lipstick, and Lumiere, a even younger girl who is linked to the ship and can link with almost any machine, is her partner. Together, with the other agents, they work to help the planetary governments of the Union keep the peace.
I took away a point because the first DVD only has three episodes and, even with all the extras, I couldn't give it five points. Some of it was fun, even interesting (like the launching scenes - is that a type of space elevator?), but Eclair's powers and skills seemed to rely on her TUBE of LIPSTICK. Now, that's plain silly. Extras include character files, trailers, a image gallery and even the original commercials. 75 minutes total.
In other words, the show is OK, but the DVD value stinks.
I DID enjoy hearing Lumiere's English voice, that of Monica Rial, who is also in "Noir" and "Najica: Blitz Tactics". She always sounds SO cute!

Starts out as eye candy, becomes much more
Despite its strange name and the initial fluffiness of the first few episodes, Kiddy Grade is a show worth taking a look at. While, like most Gonzo shows (e.g., Vandread, Full Metal Panic), it is nothing revolutionary, it is well-executed, with generally high quality animation and wonderful character designs. For those watching the English dub, a great performance by the actress for the heroine, Eclair, really carries the show through these first episodes.

The setting is simple enough: two young elite agents try to maintain order in a galactic federation. There is a lot of silliness in these first episodes--Eclair likes to wear disguises, and the camera seems enamored of her underwear as she's fighting; her partner is the seemingly-demure Lumiere, but she doesn't wear much in the way of clothes either. This silliness is part of the show, but there's something deeper here, and the payoff is worth some of the problems in the setup.

This first disc, and to some extent the next, are really an investment in something better. Fortunately, Eclair is really a likeable heroine, and carries Kiddy Grade through a bit of fumbling in these first episodes. If you want an immediate payoff, Kiddy Grade is not going to give it to you, but if you can enjoy a bit of fluff to start with the knowledge that it becomes much more than fluff, Kiddy Grade is worth getting into.

GONZO does it again!
From the studio that brought you Hellsing,Blue Submarine No.6,Vandred,Gatekeepers,Gatekeepers 21,The beautiful 10th aniversary piece Last Exile,and the upcoming Gadguard,Saikano,and Kaledio Star comes Kiddy Grade!Unlike alot of GONZO's anime,this one doesn't use alot of CGI.But it makes up for it in story,characters and how colorful it is!(Hehe,that last part is just me talking)Mind you,I've only seen the first 6 episodes,but Its already sucked me in to keep watching.I thank god FUNimation isn't doing the bimonthy release schedule that Geneon is doing with Last Exile.If you like anime (...)and take names or that take place in space,I highly reccomend this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the Sakura Wars TV series continues, two absent members rejoin TheImperial Flower Combat Troupe: karate champion Kanna Kirishima and klutzyengineer Kohran Ri. Kohran teaches Sakura to synchronize her heart with the heartof the mecha in which she fights; Lt. Ohgami builds team spirit among hisfractious charges by insisting they cook and eat their meals together. Theseunorthodox methods pay off as women of the Troupe learn to put aside personaldifferences and work as a unit, which they must do to fight the rapidly multiplyingvillains. In addition to Crimson Miroku, Setsuna, a sadistic littlemind-reader appears, accompanied by the gigantic Rasetsu. Even more threatening is asinister swordsman who cleaves a stone in two. How these heavies relate to thedestructive Wakiji mecha will undoubtedly be revealed as the plotthickens. (Rated 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon ... Read more