Description

The Genomex Corporation conducted radical genetic experiments on humans, which gave them powerful abilities.Genomex now ruthlessly hunts them down in an attempt to cover up its blunder.And only Mutant X can stop them! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed series
A treat for all anime fans! Gundam seed is a deep and exciting series that all Gundam Wing and robot fans will love! Buy the series! Gundam Seed is great!

A great finale to a good series
Gundam Seed at first seemed to me an affront to the Gundam series. That completely changed about a third of the way through the series. This is not a kiddie Gundam. The majority of deaths that occur involve young pilots in a manner unlike anything I've seen in any other Gundam series. The last five episodes are especially characterized by this. The setup is familiar to every Gundam series, something big is supposed to attack the earth and a big fight erupts in orbit. But Seed concentrates more on what the pilots are doing than the overall threat to earth. The emotional aspect makes this series' end great. Ultimately I liked the music (no annoying bits of techno or drum machines), the characters, the non-cg gundams, and the bittersweet end. The final frame left me wanting more because it is very open ended, but that of course is why this year we'll probably be seeing Destiny in one form or another. I've been a long time Gundam fan and rate this one with the Original, 0083, and Gundam Wing. But I would best describe Seed as the opposite of Wing with a steadfastly emotional anti-war feeling throughout and then a reluctant acceptance that sometimes fighting is the only rationale way to save something. Hail Zeon.

A fitting finale
Those of you who stayed up late to watch it on TV, rejoice! The final part of Gundam SEED is almost here, uncut and commercial-free. Now we can all get some rest while we wait for "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Destiny" to arrive on our shores...

The last stand
This last (possibly) last episode of gundam seed in my opion it was the best one yet the last stand with the Earth Fedaration and Zaft forces. if you haven't seen this yet i strongly suggest you order it what about Kira and Authrn only one way to find out
Get that DVD!!!! And watch the last stand It's a date with destiney!

havent seen it but now it will be great...
This dvd will be truly awesome because not only its the end of a great epic but it will feature some really great fights and off course the music will be jaw dropping (big music fan here lol), can't wait for this dvd, obviously buy the 9 dvd's before this.

The day of destiny: May 10th\m/ ^_^ \m/ ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The skillful blending of drawn animation and computer-generated imagery excited anime fans when this science fiction mystery was released in 1995: many enthusiasts believe Ghost suggests what the future of anime will be, at least in the short term. The film is set in the not-too-distant future, when an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs or "enhanced" humans for undercover work. One of the key cyborgs is The Major, Motoko Kusanagi, who resembles a cross between The Terminator and a Playboy centerfold. She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of espionage and counterespionage as she searches for the mysterious superhacker known as "The Puppet Master."

Mamoru Oshii directs with a staccato rhythm, alternating sequences of rapid-fire action (car chases, gun battles, explosions) with static dialogue scenes that allow the characters to sort out the vaguely mystical and rather convoluted plot. Kusanagi's final quote from I Corinthians suggests that electronic evolution may compliment and eventually supplant organic evolution. The minor nudity, profanity, and considerable violence would earn Ghost in the Shell at least a PG rating. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (373)

Storyline is extensively borrowed, but good A/V
When Ghost in the Shell was released, it was hailed as "the future of anime." A fair claim, as more recent works blending drawn artwork and CG have demonstrated. In this respect, it's an interesting piece of work. Note that Macross Plus experimented with this visual technique 3 years earlier, but not to the extent of Ghost.

Unfortunately, Ghost in the Shell borrows heavily from "Blade Runner", "The Terminator", and even "La Femme Nikita" to creative an unoriginal storyline. American movie fans will undoubtedly see the similarities here. I don't think Mamoru Oshii was racking his brain to create something absolutely original from a script perspective. He probably had a "look" in his head of how the film should have appeared, and filled in the narrative gaps to include as many special effects as possible. Hardcore Ghost fans will undoubtedly disagree with me on this.

The anamorphic format is great, picture quality is great. The sound quality is good, except it's too bad that there wasn't a DD5.1 Japanese audio track available on the disk. The English version dub was fair, at best. Overall, the film is definately worth watching, but isn't quite the classic it's hailed to be.

Best anime next to Akira!!
This anime was revolutionary, well drawn, well animated, and highly philisophocal. I love how GITS intrigues the mind with how technology has created highly sophisticated robots with human brains to make them the best replication of humans. Also, it teaches how science will never be able to define life. Lots of action, some violence, bare female robot flesh, and sophisticated thought have created a masterpiece. This not only challenged minds, but was the first animation to combine celluloid and computer animation. By the way, Paul Duet outta be beaten to death with a mace for saying Akira and GITS suck and saying that Trigun and Tenchi Muyo rule!! I also think genner outta be shot in the face with a 20-gage shotgun loaded with phosphor shells. Watch this, it's alot better than Princess Mononoke and Trigun combined!!

Matrix like anime
Ghost in the Shell is by far the most intellectual anime I have seen so far. The story deals with a group of cyborgs running after a new sort of being, the Puppetmaster.

The animations are of course superb and even realistic. Try the Japanse voices, I heard the American and they are sometimes lacking in emotional depth and range. A little flat sometimes and that did not do good to this otherwise great movie.

If you like the Matrix, it looks a little like it. People who can hook up to the net etc.

One of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.
Ghost in the Shell is simply my favorite science fiction film second only to Blade Runner- Director's Cut. Which, not surprisingly, influenced this movie a great deal. I remember back in 1996.....already a full blown anime aficionado, I had followed the production of this film since the first Japanese press release and was eagerly awaiting its indefinate arrival on American shores. Having read Masamune Shirow's graphic novel that inspired the film, this became the first anime title that I ever pre-ordered and counted the days upon its release.

But the movie wasn't what I had expected. The entense action was toned down a bit. The humor in the graphic novel was entirely non-existent in the film. What was left were the deep philosophical ovetones. And I commend Mamoru Oshii for making the risky decision to focus mainly on this aspect of the story. The movie, in fact, was BETTER than I could have ever hoped.

The story seems simple even typical when described, but it's the underlining philosophical themes that make this film such a treasure.

Our protagonist is Motoko Kusanagi, an officer of a military division known as Section 9. On the trail of a Notorious hacker dubbed The Puppet Master, Kusunagi begins to question her own consciousness or "ghost" as she unravels the case.

Deep in 'noir' territory, Ghost in the Shell is definately not for the viewer who likes to check their brain at the door. You will be challenged to discover the existential nature of the characters as they discover it themselves. This is not bad filmaking rather than a forced empathy with Kusunagi that will hopefully get you contemplating some of the philosophical issues presented here.

An instant classic.
intellectually and visually stimulating. great shots, action, and dialogue. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

bizarre metaphor for family life
wow. this movie really got to me. the first scene in the film establishes the depths of immoral and distastefulness that follows. opening with an intense scene where a man makes love to a young prostitute, then finding out who the prostitute is really strikes a nerve in you. the plot follows with almost no sense and no taste but presented with great acting and great direction. it's basically revolves around a family that each member has their own sick and twisted problems. normally in any other hollywood/american film you'd encounter only one of these problems [or some problems not at all] but all wrapped up together brings it together to produce a very interesting family. a visitor [i'm assuming 'visitor q'] enters into the situation. although i felt his actions weren't as impactful and uplifting as it should've been he still brought the whole family together in a well... less than wholesome way. with his violent and bizarre and intimate solutions, he teaches the lesson that "families should stick together under any circumstance". and trust me, some circumstances are incredibly messed up. this movie is one of those movies where you'll find yourself saying after many scenes "wow, i didn't think i'd ever see something like that in a movie" but then you'll be found laughing over it. it is disturbing, but really if you're like me and you watch a lot of these over-the-top movies it'll still shock you but not in a 'irreversible-rape-scene' kind of way.

great flick, way more enjoyable and stimulating than 'happiness of the kitakuris'. takashi miike is awesome.

The horrors of family dysfunction
When the outside world fails us, whether it's dealing with a crap job day after day or a love life that goes nowhere or rejection in various forms we often turn to our family. For many of us the family is a safety nest, a sanctuary of saneness where we can escape the pressures of every day life. That's why films dealing with the disintegration of the family unit have been so shocking and unfathomable to me. What happens when even our family nest is destroyed and all that we thought was dear is shattered to pieces? I have seen some pretty disturbing cinematic examples in the past, most notably "Cutting Moments" and "Combat Shock" that had me asking the question what if, could this ever happen to me and my family? Takashi Miike takes the concept of family dysfunction to new extremes with Visitor Q.

Visitor Q examines a Japanese family with more problems than you could shake a stick at. The movie opens up with a young prostitute and a middle-aged man engaging in intercourse in front of a home-video camera. Throughout the act, the man keeps expressing remorse and doubt about what he is doing. Remorse for what, cheating on his wife? Nope, turns out the prostitute is actually his daughter. After this disturbing act that lasts not long, the lady taunts her own father with cries of "early bird!" and charges him 100 000Yen for the act, way more then he can afford. No problem, the girl says just give the rest of the sum to mom once you have it. Incest is the first of many atrocious acts committed by this family. Throughout the course of the movie the viewer is submitted to various scenes of necrophilia and domestic violence. Most bizarre is the young teenaged boy who continuously whips and beats up his mom, a crack addict and herself a prostitute. Mom doesn't seem to mind too much though and even encourages the boy to beat her up even harder as long as it's not on her face.

Visitor Q has a cheap Snuff-film kind of look to it and I wouldn't be surprised if Miike had filmed this with an 8mm camera, it certainly looks that way. If Miike's sole intent with Visitor Q was to shock the viewer with as many outlandish images as possible than this can be considered a success. However, I found this film to be quite lacking on an emotional level. The family and their disturbing actions are presented in such a hollow way that the viewer doesn't even feel any sympathy towards them. The family members themselves seem to be quite satisfied with their current lifestyles. There is only one exception in the form of a scene where the young woman who works as a prostitute sits on her bed in her room and holds a stuffed animal in her hands. There is a glimmer in her eyes that suggests that better days used to exist for her. It would have been nice to see fragments of the family's past so that we could answer the following questions: Has this family always been this screwed up? If not then what led them to become this way? What is the purpose of them holding a video camera and wanting to tape all of their atrocities? Miike never bothers offering any answers.

Visitor Q works well as long as it's taken strictly for what it is intended to be: a piece of exploitation filmmaking. It doesn't challenge on any emotional level the way Audition does, it's just a forum to throw as many shocking scenes in the viewer's way. Or is it perhaps meant as a social commentary on the ever-increasing absurdities of reality TV? Or a portrait of the changing dynamics of a Japanese society that has over the last couple of decades increasingly become attuned to the ways of the American models of entertainment and capitalism? It's open to our own interpretation but one thing's for sure, Miike never fails to shock or to challenge.

Takashi Miike AT HIS WORST
This movie was Garbage...I though Vistor Q was going to be great but instead I got garbage...Its stupid and yet disturbing...Trash....

Very bad...THis movies plot was just as stupid as the film...DO NOT GET THIS FILM!!!

-0000000/5 stars

The Worst movie I've ever seen
I must say, Takashi Miike; the director of this film is a very disturbed individual. I feel like this was made only to shock and disgust people. other than that, there's absolutely nothing to it. From a Japanese female point of view, I was very offended and disgusted by the story. This film is SICK - I would not recommend it.

jap cult classic
Beginning scene OK but annoying. First hour, not that impressed. Then, the last 45 minutes is F***in crasy. The director seems to put necrophilia, rape, murder, drug use, incest, and lactation all in the grand finale. This is a must have for Jap Cult Classic collectors if for anything, to watch people look at you funny, when you tell them about this Import movie you saw. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A bit tame, but all good
First and foremost, I'm a HUGE fan of the series. I've seen LaBlue Girl 1-6, and let me tell you, this is where it's at. Some say it's for wankers. Damn skippy. It's nothing more than a porno in anime. But no porno I've seen is this spectacularly engrossing, this dramatically staged, and this, uhem, effective, as LaBlue Girl. If you are looking for something for the family, don't even think of getting this. If you don't like any cartoon erotica, pass this by. But if you are looking to have some serious adult anime fun, get the box set, you will not be dissapointed. Oh, and don't even think about getting the dubbed version, it does not do it justice at all! Get the subtitled version and get ready to fly>

So bad its excellent!!
I only saw one episode of this at my friend's house and I think its the best hentai. I almost fainted because pizza and hentai are a bad mixture, alot of blood goes to your stomach and d*ck. It's about Miko Mido, a sex-ninja, who kill sex-monsters and fights rival sex-ninjas. She's one hot gal, I'd do her if she were real!! She would kill Vash from Trigun, she wouldn't do him because Vash is gay. This is one messed up hentai. Aside from the obvious tentacle monsters raping young women, there were other parts that were screwed up. One being that Nin-Nin, Miko's sidekick, sounds like a perverted Elmo wearing a ninja cape. An other being this part where these girls in a locker room were pulling up each other's shirts and grabbing each other's hooters. The other being this part where Miko asked her sister, Miyu, to help her masturbate. Remember, don't eat while watching this!!

Heads up this is not anime
this is not anime this is a live action virsion of La Blue Girl i was very disappointed that amazon.com didn't lable this dvd correctly be careful if you order this dvd that you understand it is not anime.

just plain awful
I'm having a hard time figuring out who the makers of this film think its audience is. I have no objection to x-rated anime, would like to see more, in fact, but the constant rape and rabid misogyny of this turned me way off. Not only that, but the animation is so cheap and stilted and the dubbing so atrocious I can't imagine folks who want to see this sort of stuff enjoying it either. Best to avoid this awful pile of feces.

The best hentai ever
This is one of the movies that you shouldn`t just get the fansubs of, you should definitely buy it. Made for the American nerd anime fan who loves to mastrubate. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great animation but borderline disgusting
Sometimes I prefer to watch hentai over normal porn. At least in hentai you've got a decent story, music and in some cases, plot twists. Plus I never feel guilty about watching hentai ... unlike real porn, where the chick you're watching is someone's daughter or mother.

I only own maybe 5 or 6 hentai DVDs, but I've got another dozen on CD. The most brutal one by far is "Princess 69" ... probably the best looking hentai (animation quality), but too much rape and torture. It borders on disgusting.

Animated Kiddie Porn
I love anime.I even enjoy anime with an adult theme.However this so-called Hentai is too much. Within five minutes of viewing this DVD I was sick to my stomach.I was so disgusted I even destroyed the DVD.This is animated child pornography.Although no actual children were used in its creation, the characters it depicts are obviously underage. I can't understand how anyone could possibly enjoy this DVD.

This is hentai!
I'm not agree with the reviews saying this is not good material. This is the kind of hentai too much people it was looking for. At first it is tender and then become more "adult". If you are someone to who Dragon Pink seems not enough, you have to buy it. I'm going to acquire the next lessons surely.

Not "evil" at all.
Princess 69 is a mini-series that spans two DVDs, and is definitely an aquired taste. However, it's certainly not as evil and deranged as previous reviewers seem to intimate.

The story is about a secret Gymnastics club, which is headed by a former pro athlete (a middle aged, not terribly attractive, definitely overweight) turned teacher who is a classic pervert. He often spends his days sitting in on a girl's gymnastics class, fantasizing about the girls who are working their bodies so hard.

Everyone thinks that Niku is a pervert, except one girl in the class, who is kind to him and resolves to "be on his side" no matter what. A very sweet character, she is targeted to be the first introduced to the special Gymnastics course.

A google search will tell you about this; however, what it won't tell you is the kind of sex that is shown in the dvd.

If you're into non-con, excellent animation, girls going down on girls... you might like this. I don't much care for the enema or watersports parts of this film, but the facial expressions are priceless and lovely. These girls have the most wonderful "I am shocked, my mind has cracked by what is being done to me" expresions, they cry tears, they are bound, taped, mildly electrocuted, made to "initiate" new members, and brutally given sex.

Unlike a lot of hentai, each character looks very different, from a sexy tomboyish look to a cutey-pie girl, these characters also progress from episode one until the final scene.

I strongly suggest anyone who buys the first dvd to also buy the second dvd. The first time I watched this, I did not WANT to finish watching it. It seemed cruel and immoral. However, I've got one comment for the lady or man who broke their dvd in two: This series has a happy ending.

Everything is forgiven in a series with a happy ending, and this firlm is no exception. Better than Isaku Respect, more hardcore than Behind Closed Doors, characters with expressions as lovely as in Fake and Yami no Matsuei, and a better storyline than Bible Black, if you like hardcore, do give Princess 69 a try.

And watch the whole thing! It'll leave a better impression on you than wimping out halfway through.

Like my kid sister who refused to finish watching Fushigi Yuugi when Tamahome turned "bad"... do yourself a favour, ne? Otherwise, you miss the happy ending scenes.

Have fun!

Disgusting .....
I didn't scroll down and look at the other review and bought the DVD thinking it would be a lighter movie and now looking at the other review hes absolutly right, unlike him though i did watch the entire thing and it gets worse, this film is completly sadistic and disgusting do not buy this , unless your into that kind of thing .... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The sixth broadcast season of Ranma 1/2 includes some of the silliestentries in a continuity known for its silliness: a seaside resort isterrorized by a ceramic octopus trap, and upperclassman/school gasbag Kuno is strickenwith amnesia after a watermelon gets stuck on his head. But at times, thepremises feel decidedly thin. When Akane is kidnapped by a Minotaur-like monster (the adult version of ababy Happosai bathed in the most accursed spring at Jusenkyo--the one in which aYeti riding an ox carrying a crane carrying an eel drowned), Ranma and thegang discover there are worse fates than turning into a girl--or a monster.Director Junji Nishimura spoofs Japanese monster movies in "Scribbled Panda," as aKabuki-style spider and demon emerge from a Chinese scroll to attack acarnival. But the most horrible beast is an icky-cute little drawing who develops acrush on Ranma: it's like Hello Kitty on a rampage. Ranma's furiouswhen a newcomer who practices Martial Arts Calligraphy won't accept a challengebecause Ranma's handwriting is so atrocious. The filmmakers balance the slapstick by making kindness an element inthe way Ranma, Akane, and Ryoga defeat a Snow-Woman (Yuki-onna) and abizarre Abominable Snowman who threaten to turn Furinkan into an outdoor icebox.Telepathic boy Satori sums up the series when he visits the Tendo-Saotomihousehold and screams, "The people in this house are weird!" (Rated 13 and older: brief nudity, slapstick violence) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Ranma 1/2 is still going strong as ever!
I got Ranma 1/2 season 6 for Christmas and I was definitely not disappointed at all with this season. The animation was great and the voice acting was still good (I mostly hear the english dub). When I had bought the comics of Ranma 1/2, there were a lot of funny stories that I was hoping would get animated, and to my pleasure, I heard that the sixth season had the stories in my comics animated; so I was super excited about seeing my favoirte manga stories animated in front of my eyes. One of my favorites was "Gosunkugi's Paper Dolls of Love", it was hiliarious, at least to me it was. Still the season starts out slow and then really kicks it into high gear. Here are my reviews for each episode on a scale of 1-10.

Dear Daddy...Love Kodachi - 5
Enter Gosunkugi, The New Rival - 10
Ranma's Caligraphy Challenge - 4
The Secret Don of Furinkan High - 4
Back to the Way We Were Please - 6
Ryoga Inherits the Saotome School!? - 7
Tendo Family Goes to the Amusement Park! - 8

Case of the Furinkan Stalker - 9
The Date-Monster of Watermelon Island - 10
The Demon from Jusenkyo, Part 1 - 10
The Demon from Jusenkyo, Part 2 - 10
The Missing Matriach of Martial Arts Tea! - 7
A Xmas without Ranma - 9
A Cold Day in Furinkan - 10
Akane Goes to the Hospital! - 7
Curse of the Scribbling Panda - 10
Legend of the Lucky Panda - 9
Mystery of the Marauding Octopus Pot! - 8
Ukyo's Secret Sauce, Part 1 - 9
Ukyo's Secret Sauce, Part 2 - 9
A Teenage Ghost Story - 7

Gosunkugi's Paper Dolls of Love - 10
Akane's Unfathomable Heart - 6
Master and Student...Forever!? - 10

I named my Kool-aid after this series!
Unlike the other episodes in this series, this was the first season I saw where Akane and Ranma actually got along...for the most part. The episodes in this are definitely random. There are two, 2-part episodes, but the rest are clearly undefined amoungst one another.

The episodes are more based upon Akane and Ranma, as Ryoga, Ukyo, and Shampoo really didn't have much screen time (and I was hoping for Ryoga and Ukyo!). Of course, this isn't a bad thing. Some of the episodes are great, while others are "okay, that was dumb." But even those "dumb" ones are funny.

Akane and Ranma actually get along in a few episodes, something I was waiting SOOO long to see! Kuno makes more appearences than usual, being in about every other episode....but he is quite the character when he does! Definitely not eh serious Blue Thunder of FH as he was in the first season!

The last disk is the only one with special features, and they aren't too amazing. Just similar features other DVDs would have.

Some episodes are funny, while a few are just beautiful (cry). I recommend this for any fan. It isn't the most cohesive season, but it is definitely entertaining!

(Oh, and th eKool-aid we drank while watching it was an orange powder that turned green in water and tasted like strawberries. We call it Random Rhapsody now. Yeah!)

And more!
Hilariously funny! The beginning seemed a bit dry at first but it really kicked up bringing out more goofy episodes to laugh over! It's a great box set for all Ranma Lovers, but of course there will aways be a couple episodes where "ok, kind of stupid" but they always end up great anyway. The last episode leaves you hanging for more!

Good season for all Ranma lovers!
Although this season doesn't quite come close to the first season, it is a very funny one. It is way better than season 5 because of taro and hikaru, characters from the manga, coming in.

This season is perfect for all ranma collectors, although the newer peoplewill want to start from the beginning and work your way up here. Although there isn't as much character development as in the manga, ranma 1/2 season six will make you laugh again and again.

hilarious
ranma is still funny not as good as the 1 first but its worth the money get this box set if ur looking four laughs its the best ... Read more

Amazon.com

If the fifth broadcast season of Ranma 1/2 doesn't quite match theconsistent inspiration of the third (Hard Battle), it's much better thanthe fourth (Outta Control), with more imaginative writing and fewer weakepisodes. A spoof of American Westerns, with Ryoga as the wandering hero whoconfronts the villain in a saloon-cum-ramen parlor, is simply hilarious, as isa spoof of Japanese historical dramas with Ranma in formal hakama. Anaphrodisiac-impregnated band-aid turns Ranma into a suave ladies' man; thecord binding his trademark pigtail turns out to be a charm that grows hair,something Happosai, Genma, and four characters with heads like bao rollsdesperately want. The entire cast brings the Anything Goes School of Martial Artsstyle to such improbable activities as men's rhythmic gymnastics,Japanese chess, Okonomiyaki cooking, Bath House-Fu, and the "Gourmet deFoie Gras" technique of fine dining. Ryoga sets new records for geographicalconfusion, getting lost in a three-legged race and inside a log cabin. Even moreimprobable is Sasuke's suggestion that Furinken High's pidgin-speakingPrincipal may be the long-lost father of Kuno and Kodachi.

A few gentle momentsprovide the needed balance to the insanity: Ranma apologizes--sincerely--to Akane in"Hot Springs Battle Royal" and admits he thinks she's cute in "Ranma theLady-Killer." Richard Cox, the voice of boy-type Ranma (and Inu-Yasha), has grownmore comfortable in the part, effectively conveying the sullen and likeablesides of Ranma's personality. (Rated 13 and older: slapstick violence, nudity,mildly risqué humor) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

dbz_sayen@hotmail.com
ranma 5th season is hilarias the episodes are so funny i watched the whole series 4 times this is a must buy four anime fans

Ranma 1/2 Forever Please
I don't know how anyone says everything went downhill with these episodes. I don't even know how anyone can stand to watch the English episodes, for starters they aren't very good voice actors. They lack something. I don't know, just my opinion. I love this anime so much, it has romance and humor. That's my 2 favorite things. And great twists, people turning into animals or in Ranma's case, a different gender, when hit with cold water. This is one anime I'll never evern tire of watching.

A surprisingly good followup
The fourth season was a step down, and I didn't have high hopes for this set, but I was pleasantly surprised and well-pleased with the purchase.

First, technical notes: the animation quality is much better than the previous season, more on par with the 1st/2nd season in quality and detail, although the evolution towards the OAV-style is obvious (and welcome). Copious line art is available on the fifth disc, along with the ever-present "naked" opening/closing, and good on-disc notes. Some new and playful incidental music appears in this season from Kenji Kawai that perhaps Viz will release on CD one day????

These are certainly some of the more bizarre and original offerings, including a Dragon's Whisker (holding Ranma's pigtail together) with strange effects on men pursued by murderous bean, curry, pizza and pork buns; the ghost cat from season 4 returns to possess Ryoga; a weird martial arts school with impossibly huge mouths gets their clutches on girl-Ranma; and the Principal's relationship to Kuno is revealed. Some are clinkers (the Tea Ceremony School is tedious at best), but they're definitely unlike anything you've seen before.

English notes: Richard Cox (boy-Ranma) has improved greatly since season 4, although in the first few episodes the English voices seem to have trouble with their lines flowing well (might be a dubbing artifact). Unfortunately, Teryl Rothery has been replaced as Kodachi, and her replacement sounds too much like Ukyo (lacking the shrill quality that made Rothery's voice perfect for the character). Also, while Nabiki is still Angela Costain, some of her later voice work is rather deep-sounding as if like she had a cold. Miriam Sirois is still fabulous as Akane, and Venus Terzo continues to be a superb girl-Ranma as well.

Quibbles aside, this box set does much to drag the series back on positive territory, and the episodes are in general good fun. Recommended for fans and even those just starting their journey to Ju-sen-kyo.

Ranma 1/2 Martial Mayhem
Yes, finally the last season of Ranma 1/2 to be released on DVD is in America. Now people say that when it hit the 4th season, everything went to hell, but they're wrong about that. In my opinion, Ranma 1/2 gets better and better. The season had me in stitches in almost every episode. Others just kept me interested enough to finish seeing them. Anyways, this box set is a true jewel. One problem I found with it was that on most of the episodes the opening credit title would be in Japanese instead of an English title. Towards the last two discs this problem is fixed, but I think it's like this because technically the fifth season is the rarest season and from what I've heard, not even all of the volumes (VHS) weren't even dubbed to begin with, so this can explain why the earlier episodes of this season are still in Japanese and the later ones were later fixed like all the other seasons. Also I noticed that Viz Video changed their logo now, it's now just Viz, I don't get why even in this picture it still has Viz Video; but that picture at the top of the screen is wrong. I own it and the logo is different, I even checked their web site and it's different. Anyway, here's my episode reviews.

Episode reviews (these are on a scale of 1-10):

"Gimme That Pigtail" - 6
"When a Guy's Pride and Joy is Gone" - 6
"Ryoga's Proposal" - 10
"Genma Takes a Walk" - 5
"The Gentle Art of Martial Tea Ceremony" - 5
"And the Challenger is...A Girl?! - 5
"Hot Springs Battle Royale!" - 8
"Me is Kuno's Daddy, Me is..." - 7
"The Matriarch Takes a Stand" - 4
"A Leotard is a Girl's Burden" - 6
"The Mixed-Bath Horror!" - 5
"The Frogman's Curse!" - 4
"Revenge! Raging Okonomiyaki!" - 4
"Ranma the Lady-Killer" - 10
"Shogi Showdown" - 6
"Sasuke's Mission Improbable" - 9
"Bonjour, Furinkan!" - 3
"Dinner at Ringside!" - 4
"Swimming with Psychos" - 5
"Ryoga, Run Into the Sunset" - 7
"Into the Darkness" - 8
"Nabiki, Ranma's New Fiancee!" - 9
"Case of the Missing Takoyaki!" - 7
"Ranma Versus Shadow Ranma!" - 10 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Record of Lodoss War began as a serialized role-playing game in Comptique magazine in 1986. The story was adapted to novelizations, audio books, and video games, followed by a 13-part OAV (original animation video) series, which was released in two parts in 1990 and 1991. Five years later, the 27-part broadcast series was completed. Although some characters, settings, and incidents appear in both continuities, the OAV and broadcast versions of Lodoss War were made independently, and the discrepancies in their sword-and-sorcery narratives can't be reconciled.

The broadcast series is divided into two linked adventures involving the supernatural treasures hidden by the last rulers of the Kingdom of Sorcerers 500 years earlier. The first tale (eight chapters) centers on Parn, the honorable Free Knight, and his High Elf companion Deedlit, the heroes of the OAV series. With some help from an assortment of allies that includes King Kashue of Flaim, an annoying grass sprite, and a berserker mercenary, Parn defeats the megalomaniacal knight Ashram, who seeks to rule a united Lodoss with the Scepter of Domination. The second adventure takes place 10 years later and focuses on Spark, a young Knight-in-Training at the court of King Kashue, who idolizes Parn. Spark and a veritable army of secondary characters battle the evil sorcerer Wagnard, who plots to resurrect the destroyer-goddess Kardis. Kardis will destroy every other living thing in Lodoss, leaving Wagnard to rule an eternal Kingdom of the Dead. From these adventures and Parn's counsel, Spark learns what it means to be a true knight; he wins the respect of his men and the love of his lady. Unfortunately, the story line breaks down in the later episodes, when writer Katsumi Hasegawa seems to lose track of the plot and many of the characters. Ashram returns--despite having fallen into a lava pit in episode 8--but as a noble and prudent ruler. Karla, the ancient gray witch, opposes Wagnard, then allies with him. Several "dei ex machinae" appear at the last minute to save situations. The lapses in the storytelling may help to explain why many fans prefer the shorter OAV series, although both versions offer plenty of ancient prophecies, spells, dragons, duels, star-crossed romances, and apocalyptic threats. The individual episodes are separated by "Trailers," odd little segments in which child versions of the main characters make fun of each other and the story. Unrated. Suitable for ages 13 and up: minor nudity and profanity, considerable violence and grotesque imagery. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Best Fantasy Anime Ever
In terms of fantasy anime, you cant beat this. The music is good, the characters are well developed, the story is awesome, and once you get caught up in the story, upon series end you'll become depressed over the fact that there are no more episodes to watch. This anime also features one of the best endings in any anime/movie Ive seen in quite some time. As a bonus, the extras are also well worth the purchase, not to mention the Lodoss Island comedy skits that air after each episode will having you laughing for hours, while still providing and entertaining story of their own. All this, plus Ashram, one of the coolest characters in the history of mankind, makes this dvd set a must own for any fan of anime, Lord of the Rings fan, or anyone looking for a good and very entertaining storyline.

Wonderful Series, An Anime Must
This is one of two Lodoss War boxed sets. This is the TV series, which consists of 27 episodes. Story wise, the two Lodoss series are wonderful (though I can't say as much for the odd Crystania offshoot series). If you like Final Fantasy, Lord of the Rings, or Dragon Warrior and the like, I'm sure you'll enjoy this series, with it's incorporation of magic, elves, dwarves, humans, dragons, and other fantasy elements. This story picks up where the OVA left off (for the most part, there are a few story discrepancies that can be traced to the comic series.) Although very long, this is one of the best anime series I've seen. If you're familiar with the OVA, this picks up with the story of Parn, and continues to a new hero. If you liked this set, check out the 2 DVD OVA series, but most who see the TV series have already seen the OVA.

One of the best animes I've seen
I first saw this series on the cartoon network website. However, right before I saw the ending episodes, they took it off their website. I was very distressed by this because I had gotten hooked the series and really wanted to see how it ended. So I decided to get the DVD (it's better to see it on TV than on your computer anyways). It's a 3-disc set, each disc containing around 10 episodes on it. There are no extras (most animes don't have extras anyways, so it's not that big a setback).

This is definitely one of my favorite animes (I'd put it at #1 if it weren't for Cowboy Bebop).
The characters are all very intriguing and interesting. They all have their own little history to learn about. The plot is compelling and it's always interesting to learn about the history of Lodoss. I haven't seen the OVA so I sometimes feel like I'm missing out on parts of things. However, this never really affects the plot. I do like the first section of the series better (with Parn and Deedlit) better than the second one (with Spark and Neese), but they're both really amazing. The animation quality is quite high and the music is compelling.
This is overall a great series. So if you're a fan of fantasy and anime, then this is definitely the series for you.

Not as good as the OVA, but fine fare for LODOSS fans.
No, this isn't a sequel to the fabulous OVA series, but rather a remake of the events that occured after the death of Ghim (and the disappearance of Woodchuck). It is also more accurate to the novels that inspired this wonderful series, which is why characters (namely Orson and Shiris) are reintroduced, and why the story may seem slightly different to those used to the OVA. (The booklet included in the set provides excellent answers to such questions, as do various online sites.) The first eight episodes of this 27-part TV series focus on the fateful battle at Demon Dragon Mountain. The remaining 19 episodes introduce us to Spark, a blue-haired knight wannabe who identifies with Parn, and his ragtag team of misfits as they attempt to stop the Dark Wizard Wagnard from resurrecting Kardis the Destroyer.

While it isn't quite the equivalent of the original LODOSS WAR (we all love the finale where Parn saves Deedlit from Wagnard, don't we?), this TV follow-up is still great fun for fantasy fans. Even if the animation is limited (and a step down from the artistic streak of the first LODOSS), this 27-part series has much to offer. Irresistable characters, engaging storyline, magic, romance, and a superb fantasy soundtrack scored by Kaoru Wada of NINJA SCROLL, make this an enjoyable experience.

This 4-DVD set by Central Park Media has a disappointingly mediocre visual transfer -- the picture is rather jumpy, and there are moments where it almost looks like a videotape with a hole in it - that is, I saw a few static lines every now and then. It's not a terrible transfer by any means - the picture still looks pretty good in spite of its shortcomings - but I've seen far better transfers than this, particularly on the PRINCESS MONONOKE DVD. But what the video quality may lack in clarity, this DVD set certainly makes up for on every other level. The audio quality on the English language track (which I listen to a lot of the time) sounds every bit as good as the Japanese language track (which I only heard bits and pieces of), despite occasional static pops. The sound mix is very big and boomy, and a solid experience of truly experiencing the magical atmosphere of LODOSS. There are also plenty of DVD-ROM features, including the dub script and cast credits.

The English dub, made in 1999-2000, has a lot of the same qualities that made the OAV dub so memorable, but is less polished than its predecessor. It was great to hear the old cast return, but it took me a while to get used to Billy Regan's take on a more mature sounding Parn. His voice came off as a bit grating for the first eight episodes (and some anti-dub fans immediately dissed the dub because of it), but by the time Spark and company take the stage, I found his voice better matched when he gets "older". Also, not everyone from the OAV dub returns. Jayce Reeves only voices Wagnard (terrifically) for one episode; he's replaced by Pete Zarustica for the whole show, who gives a gravel-voiced, but still over-the-top and malevolent performance. Anthony Cruise as Kashue, on the other hand, sounds a little too old and out of it for the first episodes, but he gets better after about five episodes or so. Oliver Gregory is probably the most effective as Orson.

I found a lot of my favorites in the new cast of characters, including Crispin Freeman (Spark, Maar, Garrack -episodes 16-27-), Roxanne Beck (Little Neese), Meg Frances (who voices Pirotess in the OAV but also voices Ryna -- excellently -- as well as Karla) and especially Angora Deb (who rocks as Leaf the Half-Elf). The rest of the cast isn't terrible by any means, but a little more uneven than the OAV dub. Some voices are OK (Hobb, Aldonova, Greevus) while others are lackluster (the guards, etc.) and few were awful (Rabido and Astar). In fact the lack of aural continuity (some cast members get new voices for some unexplained reason by the time we get to some of the later episodes) is one of the problems of the dub. Others include less memorable and more awkward sounding dialogue, uneven synchronization, and finally (I apologize in advance to the fans of this) the LODOSS ISLAND segments. These offbeat, super-deformed interludes at the end of each episode will either amuse or drive you batty. Admittingly, I at first found them to be a major nuisance, but they sorta grew on me after a while. (Besides, there are some showstoppingly hilarious lines such as "I'm King Kashue, and this is my CASHEW! I'm REALLY quite a nut!") These flaws do hamper an otherwise decent English dub, ranking it a notch just below the OVA dub.

If you're wondering if the Japanese language track is better than the English on CHRONICLES, well, guess what? The Japanese language track has its good points and bad points, too. While some voices are less annoying than the English language track, I found others to be less appealing than the English equivalents. Plus, I should mention that the Japanese cast is NOT THE SAME AS THE OVA. Because the series was made seven years after the original, all but one (Sho Hayami) of the cast members are replaced by new ones. Although they do a respectably good job, it may be a major annoyance for those who were used to the Japanese OVA cast. Shows that not everything in Japanese is better than English, eh?

Despite its flaws, CHRONICLES OF THE HEROIC KNIGHT is still a fine series which deserves to hold its own ground. Even if there are some occasionally rough spots, there are enough good points to counter the bad.

Not without faults, but lives up to the Lodoss fame!!
A quick note to those of you who have previously watched the excellent Lodoss OVA series (or for those of you who are giving this TV series a "try" by renting the first disc somewhere).... DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY THE POOR QUALITY OF THE ANIMATION ON THE FIRST DISC!

The art direction and the overall quality of animation of the first six episodes (which comprise the first disc of four) are rather sub-par even for a TV series, especially when you consider the Lodoss name and the fact that it was made in 1998. However, starting from the seventh episode (on the second disc), the art quality picks up drastically. And although the art quality fluctuates a bit from episode to episode (due to the fact that different episodes are subcontracted out to different animation houses), you can rest assured that the rest of the episodes will look much better than the dismal-looking first six. So even if you are disappointed by the look of the first disc, be patient and continue onward to the second disc. Personally, I found episode # 7, 20, and 27 to be the best-looking of the bunch, near-OVA quality. Too bad that the series couldn't have the look and quality of the opening and ending sequences, which are jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Speaking of which, the opening and ending songs are quite awesome too. (The opening theme is written by Yoko KANNO, of Cowboy Bebop and Escaflowne fame.) It's amazing how theme songs to an anime series can be harmonically and rhythmically more creative and interesting than most of the pop stuff out there.

As for the story, it's a kind of a retelling of the story from the original OVA series. (Actually, the DVD says that this TV series is a more faithful rendition of the original Lodoss novel.) So while the continuity may seem weird at first to those of you who've watched the OVA series, it doesn't really detract from the enjoyment of the series. In fact, I felt that this TV series had a much better ending than the OVA series. For fans of Lodoss and the fantasy genre, Chronicles of the Heroic Knights series is easily worth watching.

My couple of very minor gripes: I really couldn't care less about the cutesy, super-deformed comedic sequences at the end of each episodes. I didn't find them to be funny most of the time, and they took me out of enjoying the main storyline. But then again, I guess some people enjoyed it, and the advantage of DVD is that I can easily skip them.

Which brings me to my second gripe: the chapter divides are done quite poorly. Instead of the opening sequence, the first and second halves of the story, the ending theme, the preview, etc each getting their own chapters like usual, one episode is divided by only two chapters. The first contains the opening theme and the whole episode. Then the second clumps the above-mentioned comedic sequence, the ending theme, the preview, and the American credit roll together. It's still functional, but it's not very convenient. I have no idea why the Central Park Media chose to do it this way. But, like I said, these are all very minor gripes. I just thought I'd mention it. :)

In any case, to many anime fans who came to revere the Lodoss name, this series will not disappoint. People have, and will continue to argue whether the original OVA or this TV series is better. I'll take both. Highly recommended. (^_^)b ... Read more

Description

Deep within the mysterious Forest of Resurrection, a spectacular battle between good and evil has gone on since the dawn of time.When Prisoner KSC2-303 escapes from a maximum security facility, he enters the forest, believing it will lead him to safe haven.Instead, he finds himself a pawn in an endless struggle played out across multiple temporal planes of existence.His opponent: a mysterious man who seemingly cannot be killed. The battle to be waged: Good versus Evil in the pursuit of a beautiful woman who holds the key to eternal life. What Prisoner KSC2-303 cannot remember is whether or not he is the personification of good or the very essence of darkness ... Read more

Reviews (61)

what if Yuen Wo-Ping did this movie??? hmmmmmm
Prisoner KSC2-303 escapes with a fellow inmate and flees to an anonymous forest to a rendezvous with a group of men who will lead them to a safer place. When the men ultimately arrive with a female hostage in tow and with fueled by more sinister intentions, they kill his partner and KSC2-303 flees with the girl into the woods, which turn out to be the legendary "Forest Of Resurrection", one of 666 portals to "the other side". It's then a non-stop battle against the living dead and cunning assassins to simply stay alive, let alone find freedom.

Although this movie showed about 20 or so minutes of zombie action (if you're expecting this to be a zombie film), it is still a very awsome movie. A very good plot, great effects, tight gore, great fight scenes and, everything you expect from a movie. Better than any Hollywood movie in my fact. Get it on DVD. This movie is a cross between EVIL DEAD and BLADE. BUY IT NOW!

(some zombies)

most entertaining part: THE COMBAT

Pulp Fiction meets Night of the Living Dead with swords
This movie is one part Pulp Fiction, one part Blair Witch Project, one part Jackie Chan styled kung-fu funny movie, one part Night of the Living Dead, one part Dead Alive, one part Seven Samurais, one part anime and one part cheese. What does all this add up to? A totally unique movie.
Versus is all of the above mentioned rolled up into one twisted movie. The action scenes are good. They have an anime feel to them but the actors execute them with a Pulp Fiction sense of cool. Lots of gun play, there had to be over 1000 rounds fired in the first half. The sword fighting is really good. Very fast paced and gory.
At times the acting is a little cheesy. The director is really fond of long dramatic pauses. A little too long for me. He must have gone to the William Shatner School of Film.
The plot is weird and kind of hard to explain. Guy busts out of prison. Meets up with the Yakuza who have kidnapped some random girl. While waiting for "The Boss" to show up, the guy gets angry with the Yakuza, kills one of them. Guy grabs girl and the chase is on. And once "The Boss" (a 500 hundred year old mystic that kicks serious butt) shows up, the action really gets going.
This movie is worth buying. But buy the Director's cut. The Special Edition doesn't really offer enough to warrant the extra $10 dollars.

Don't turn it off when you really want to...
I basically bought this movie 'cause I thought the front cover was pretty cool (I even have a T-shirt with that logo on it). I read the reviews here, and figured I'd give it a shot.

First thing "Versus" started up, I was already groaning. The film quality was retro "my neighbor's camcorder", the acting was REALLY bad and it wasn't really living up to anything special. The music was okay, but I have a history of liking some strange music... also, sometimes the music is loud enough to where it's kind of hard to hear what is being said clearly.

About twenty minutes in (do try to last that long), the mood changes and it becomes more bearable, and then the story kind of comes together. It starts becoming interesting (which until then, I felt I had just wasted thirty bucks to see this movie).

The main character emerges (first twenty minutes will leave you going "uhh... who am I suppose to be rooting for here?") and they begin to develop what personality he has.

I really feel that this movie would have been better left in Japanese with subtitles. The voice-overs, where-as they match up okay were fairly annoying in general (the bad guy and the good guy were done pretty well, but everyone else sounds like the old Hong Kong flicks from the 70s with the whiny voices)

What I had envisioned was kind of a dark-souled samurai fighting the undead... What it ended up being was more of good/evil battle with the zombies being more of an excuse to fire off a bunch of bullets and to explain later events. Also, don't hold your breath for the sword-fighting, it comes kind of late in the film.

The ending was fairly thought provoking, and aside from the fact blood is applied with a fire-hose, and none of the zombies are really "zombie-ish" (they're live people with a lot of blood on 'em and it shows) Versus really wasn't that bad.

I'd probably suggest renting it, if you can find it at your local video store. This film is more for your die-hard martial arts/horror B-movie fan...

Not very good
The story is good but the way they filmed it sucked. Starts off in the past and is very cool with costuming and plot then...well basically after that it's slap stick humor and a bunch of fighting in the woods which is not very good, especially after you see the same fight over and over again with 3 different charachters...booorrring...

Embarrassingly awful.
I rented this, based on the quote on the front cover from Moriarty of Ain't it Cool News. This "film" is unbelievably bad. There's no plot, and it looks like the efforts of a couple of teenagers with a video camera trying to shoot a "cool, violent" movie. The characters posture pathetically, and it's about as stylistically interesting as...a bunch of teenagers shooting a home movie. The dubbing is atrocious (and like everything else, sounds like the efforts of...a bunch of teenagers shooting a home movie), but subtitles wouldn't have saved it.

After watching it I thought there was no way Moriarty could have liked it, so I searched Ain't it Cool News for that quote. It turns out the quote was from someone writing in to the site. Moriarty prefaced the comment by basically saying he couldn't stand the movie. It might be great as a Mystery Science Theater 3000 film, were that still around, but aside from that, stay away. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beastmaster:The master of all shows!!
Beastmaster is one of the best tv shows I've ever seen(following Andromeda and Mutant X)in my life.This is what every show would have:A great masterpiece!!!!

Excellent! Party Time!
I am writing this review mainly to counteract another reviewer who gave the dvd 1 star because it did not have English subtitles. That's wrong!!

Anyway, season two of Beastmaster is good, not as good as the first I think, but it's pretty good. In the end of season one, Tao decides to travel to his home in the Middle of the World. So, in this season they travel there, and they finally get there in episode 5 or 6 or somewhere in there. Before that they meet Arina, portrayed by Marjean Holden. I don't know where they found her, but she is amazing, exotic, and looks like a true warrior, not like that wannabe Lucy Lawless from New Zeland or something. She has some hidden agenda, and the Sorceress gets suspicious. Well that hidden agenda is to help a dude with really white hair to overthrow Zed, because she wants revenge for Zed's past transgressions. When they finally get to Xinca (it is the city in the Middle of the World, Tao's home), Tao raves how it is civilized. Well Dar does not want anything to do with civilization after they leave. Some monks try to kill them and stuff. They pay a few more visits to Xinca later on, however and I think this is where the finale takes place, if I am not mistaken.

The dude with the white hair, by the name of Voden, is the king of the Nords, and he is to replace Zed as the ruler of the Territories and nearby regions. He wants the Beastmaster for some reason. The Sorceress helps Zed escape, and he vows to come back, with better weapons, in the season finale.

While Zed builds up an army, the Beastmaster has to deal with Voden, who is really annoying in that he wants the Beastmaster to command and army of animals for him. Voden is portrayed with exceptional intelligence (as opposed to Zed's brute force, not that Zed was not intelligent ...) and I don't know why he keeps insisting on this ridiculous idea, especially after the Beastmaster explains to him that he cannot control the animals, just ask for their help. It is the animal's choice whether to cooperate. Well Voden is stubborn, and in the end I am still unclear on his motivations.

The budget for the show isn't exactly "through da roof" if you know what I mean, so if you have never seen the show, don't expect a lot in terms of special effects, but the show still looks very nice. It is just that getting an elephant to storm a wall of a city (in the finale) was a huge thing for them. It looked ridiculous, but still inpressive. I don't think they have ever had an elephant on the show before that, well maybe once. Also the show's trade mark "morphing effect" is really annoying. If you can overlook these minor annoyances, however, and come to appreciate its simplicity, you will immerse yourself ... aah forget it, just buy the DVDs.

Stinks!
It does not have English subtitles! It is not even closed-captioned. Not recommended.

Great Series never a dull moment. Trekkies: try this out :-)
I was very sceptical when I bought the first series thinking I would hate a series based on a muscle bound Tarzan like man. I am an avid Trekkie and have watched every Star Trek episode made, up to and including the 2nd season of Enterprise. What could I possibly see in a Jungle based series with no scientific implements or space exploration.
The very first episode blew my mind with it fabulous cinematography and excellent sound effects. Once I got into the series it started to look very similar to the original Star trek. With Dar replacing Captain Kirk and Tao as his right hand man the thinker (Spok without the Vulcan ears). They are out to explore the world and right its wrongs. Amusingly the sourcerers even have their own version of the "Prime Directive" which prohibits them from interfering in human affairs.
The special effects are great, the costumes are wonderful and the setting absolutely spectacular.
I found season 2 to be even better than season 1. I can't wait to get my hands on season 3. ... Read more

Description

It's Full Metal Pandemonium! Sousuke and Kaname are back in action! And this time, the battleground is the school ground! High-yield explosives and hilarity come together with a bang, as the somber soldier and his unwitting target brave everything from lovesick "terrorists" to an unforgiving teacher who is bent on revenge. But as good as he is with guns, Sousuke is one clueless commando when it comes to girls - especially Kaname! A day at the beach turns sour after Sousuke misses the point one too many times (and even fails to notice Kaname's new bikini). Then, when Kaname is suddenly kidnapped, it's up to our dense hero to devise a daring rescue! Don't miss the hilarious antics of everyone's favorite military maniac - and Jin High's most fiery female - as the full-throttle action begins! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fumoffu! Forever
This anime series is a wonderful production featuring the characters from Full Metal Panic in a completely independent storyline. I recommend seeing this series even if you have never seen the original. The general idea of the show is Sosuke is works in a special operations branch that is currently interested in protecting Kaname. However, for all of Sosuke's training, his skills in warfare and gun use will not solve every social problem he encounters. This does not stop Sosuke in the least. Definately the best love comedy ever.

Furthermore, the authors of this Dvd's have included 2 of the unaired episodes in this dvd, but they have appeneded them to episodes 1 and 2.

The hilarious side of FMP!
This show cracks me up. It is much more hilarious and lighter than the original Full Metal Panic series. If you are a FMP fan, you own it to yourself to get the FMP Fumoffu!

must see for full metal panic fans
This series is a must see for fans of the original full metal panic series.If you enjoyed gundam wing, rurouni kenshi, great teacher onizuka or nadeisco then you will like this anime.

GREAT STUFF, beats the first on a funny level
This series is funny and even makes fun of other anime, volume makes fun of "You're Under Arrest", a poke at Indiana Jones (guy swings blade around, Sousuke just shoots him), bullet-time dodging, and brilliant use of military gear (episode 1, Ghillie Suit, for those of you who know what it is). I heard that this series had focused on the school comedy, and I thought it wouldn't be that great, as I enjoyed the first for it's combat, but I was wrong. Hilariously wrong. The directors chose the stories in the manga that used the explosives, running from police, grenade launchers, and Sousuke's favorite Glock 26.

Fumoffu, can actually be placed early in between in the original series, as both were taken from the manga. One focuses on the serious action plot, while fumoffu shows "daily" life in school. The directors wanted to focus on the comedic romance, rather than only the action (which made the first one convoluted as soon as they introduced the Lambda driver). I'd recommend both, and the manga itself, to see where it came from. This series has the destruction, comedy, but sadly no Armed Slave, but one funky lookin' mascot.

After you see this series, you will ask for MORE...
I have seen both full metal panic and FMP fomoffu.Let me tell you this second season has nothing to do with the first series, but it has also A LOT of new stuff and if you like humor situations you won't like to miss this one.
Althougt i found this 15 episodes series too funny, i don't recomended for children, because it has some minor nudity and sexual situations.It is not hentai, but some people may find disturbing some of the scenes.
If you haven't seen full metal panic, what are you waiting for??, and if you already did, you won't like to miss this one.
Trust me!!.

PD.- This DVD obviosly doesn't have all 15 episodes.
... Read more

Amazon.com

Entertaining, fast paced, and suspenseful, Generator Gawl combines elements of Evangelion and the Terminator movies with a brash good humor all its own. During a furious storm, three young men materialize in Tokyo in 2007: friendly, blond Ryo; aloof, intelligent Koji; and offbeat, irrepressible Gawl. They've come from the future to prevent biologist Takuma Nakasa from making the discoveries that will enable scientists to turn humans into metamorphic "Generators." Posing as students at prestigious Oju Academy, the trio take a room in the home of fellow student Masami. The eternally curious Masami drags her gentle friend Natsume into her investigation of the attractive lodgers. But they don't want to be investigated: they need to keep anyone from learning Gawl is a Generator who transforms into a fantastic monster to destroy the creatures protecting Nakasa. Director Seiji Mizushima skillfully balances the comic arguments between Gawl and Masami with philosophical discussions and hard-hitting action sequences. Koji, Ryo, Masami, and Gawl are ultimately pitted against the megalomaniacal Ryuko Saito in a conflict that determines the fate of humanity. The filmmakers never really resolve the paradoxes inherent in characters from the future attempting to change the past, but they make the story so engaging, it seems churlish to cavil over mere problems of logic and physics. Voice actors Monica Rial (Natsume) and Vic Mignogna (Gawl) offer exceptional performances, taking their characters from farce to tragedy in believable arcs. Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up: Brief nudity, minor profanity, grotesque imagery, risqué humor, violence. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not well known but it needs to be!
This Anime has a good mix of action and comedy. The plot is decent, those of you who like Termanator will like this anime. The music is good, aswell as the english dubbing.
I was in aw when I first saw Gawl Generate. The fights are good, and you kind of get attached to the characters a little. It's one of those 12 episode animes that needs more to it! This should be a very popular anime, but from some reason it isn't. I liked it, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied with it if you buy it.

Very Very Good!
It's really a shame this anime isn't more well-known, because it is probably my second favorite next to Cowboy Bebop. Everything is done so well in this series- the art, music, characters... and the English dub is pretty good too.

The three main characters are Ryo, Koji, and Gawl. They come from the future to prevent a type of cell from being discovered. In any show with time travel, you can expect plenty of twists and plot turns- Gawl is no exception. All of the surprises fit together very nicely, though, and you won't be disappointed with them.

The characters don't develop quite as much as I would like to see, but this anime only has 12 episodes in which to tell a very complex story, so this can almost be overlooked. This anime is definitely worth the money, and I highly recommend it!

Two Words: Absolutely Amazing!
I'd have to say this is one of the greatest animes I have ever laid eyes upon, and it's truely a pity that not everyone knows about it. I got the perfect collection for Christmas and I absolutely adore it! The characters are believeable (except for Natsume's hair, but what can you do?) and the plot, I must say, is astounding!
Some of the perks: Excellent (and funny) English dub, amazing animation, humor, awesome storyline, nifty bad guys, unexpected plot twists, and they don't use the same transformation scene every episode!
Bad things: Way too short, Natsume's hair (it's a pet peeve).
I recommend this anime to anyone and everyone who enjoys anime. It's most definately one of my very favs. Check it out, you won't be sorry! =^.^=

Wonderful Wonderfulness!!!
Generator Gawl is my absolute, favorite anime of all time. Not because it's horribly original, but because it takes the classic aspects of good sci-fi animes, and warps it into something new and different, yet still familiar. I believe it's that sense of familitarity that you feel while you're watching it, that makes it so great. Not to mention the great characters, plot, and even the english dub is excellent. If you're looking for a good anime, deffinitely grab this one.

Let's do the time warp again!
Timetravel has never been so out of whack as in this series. Borrowing elements from Terminator and Guyver, GENERATOR GAWL is about 3 handsome brothers from a possible future who are responsible for the advancement of a certain type of medical genetic research. But they find out that someone has used their research for military purposes, causing a third World War faught between humans and mutated creatures. So the brothers decide to travel back in time to 2007 to stop the initial creation of this brand of research. They pose as students at an elite academy which is supposed to be the site where this scientific discover takes place. The main character, Gawl, is a Generator who can change into a genocyber lifeform, and battles some of the monsters created in the academy's labs. All while maintaining a low profile, the brothers seek to correct history, but come to some horrible realizations by the end of the show. This 13-episode TV series is a very gripping and gutsy anime with lots of brilliant fight sequence and some suprisingly funny dialouge. Definately a keeper! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Performing a Much-Needed Duty in the City of Amnesia
If you were at all familiar with Cartoon Network's Toonami block or its late night Adult Swim in the past few years, it's likely that you have at least heard of The Big O. This Japanese anime series flopped in Japan but was quite well recieved stateside. So after its first 13 episode edited run on Toonami a few years back, fans were left hungry for more, and the cliffhanger ending didn't help either. Enter Cartoon Network Japan. U.S. fan response was so great that the cable network entered into a co-production deal with Sunrise Inc and Bandai visual. So now Big O has returned for a second uncut run on Adult Swim, in addition, the new season is airing Sundays at 11 pm starting August 3rd.

This DVD set is a compilatiion of all 13 first-season episodes, which was brought fourth due the show's new beginning. Big O tells the story of Roger Smith, also known as "The Negotiator." He lives in a large mansion accompanied by his butler Norman, who aids not only in housekeeping, but also in keeping Roger prepared for action. He resides in the mysterious Paradigm City, a city where all of its citizens lost their memories 40 years ago. In addition to being Paradigm's best negotiator, he is the owner of the Big O, a gigantic robot, which he uses the protect the city from various threats. However, through his adventures, Roger is digging ever deeper into Paradigm's dark history.

The Big O is a stylish show which mixes noir style and mecha action, with a Batman-like hero all while presenting a mystery into human existance that resembles the Matrix in some ways. The Big O has a visual style that is more American in nature, but is well animated. The voice acting is excellent, coming from the people who dubbed Cowboy Bebop. The music is good, accompanying the noir slyle and action scenes well. The mech fight scenes are not particularly amazing, but they still manage to excite you and hold interest well. Big O is a modern work of art that will interest you to no end with an exciting story and style to match.

Big O = Big Robots + Great Story
Every one in Paradigm city lost their memories. Some try to let the past go, but others try to fight for answers. Roger, the negotiator, along with his Mega Deus, Big O, try to find the answers to the lost memories of paradigm without destroying the future. The setting of this series is unknown making it even more of a mystery. Overall this series has accomplished both an excellent story and one of the best robot action animes ever created. This is an anime that will make you think and the action will have you on the edge of your seat.

This is a highly recommended anime that is a great addition to your collection. If you want a preview check the listings on Cartoon Network.
This is recommended for a more mature audience, not because of content but because of the overall story.

Part Batman, Part Bond, Part Giant City-Smashing Robot...
That quote from the previews on Cartoon Network pretty much sums it up, but really there's much more to it than that. Whereas other cartoo