Reviews (8)

Very Good
Very good, its not as good as the book but movies based on books hardly ever are, its still a great show and they twisted it uh bit from what the book is like so people who read the book can still injoy it and find something new and different when they watch it. To make things simple if you are uh fan of the book or you just injoy uh good anime show this is uh great set of DVD's to add to your collection. :)

Good, but..
All in all these 3 movies were good, but in my own opinion the drawing style for the three movies was just lacking a bit. Also, the story line wasn't as detailed as the manga series. The final movie, Love Hina Again, really got me irriated a bit. I thought it would, in a way, follow suit with the end of the manga, but the ending just leaves you hanging, which is irriating. I suspect that there probably is going to be another Love Hina tv movie, but I am not fully sure. I openly buy it, but I rather suggest to you all to buy all the 14 manga series. They are a hell alot better and you get to see more..you know..the stuff that Keitaro keeps getting hit by when peeking in the Spring Bath..

Three great movies in one collection...
The Love Hina Christmas Movie DVD is the first you should watch. Not only does it have Episode 25 as one of the extras, but the movie itself is very touching, as Keitaro finally tells Naru he loves her. But her reaction, which is to run away, is not the one he wanted. Does she love him or is she still in love with somebody else?
The Love Hina Spring Movie DVD is the next one you should watch. Naru, Keitaro and Mutsumi have taken their entrance exam for Tokyo U BUT before the results can come in Keitaro disappears. Naru pretends not to care, but in the end she runs off to rescue him.
The story goes nuts, as we end up on a tropical island with a secret civilization, lots of flying turtles, missiles and a girl named Nyamo. Pretty normal for Love Hina when you think about it.
The third DVD, Love Hina Again, is three episodes. We learn Keitaro and Naru have begun college life. Yet Naru has still not told Keitaro she loves him (not to his face anyway). And now he's gone off on another archaelogical dig with Naru's old flame Seta!
THEN Keitaro's little step-sister shows up and things really get weird, even for Love Hina. Talking cats, love magic and lots of new rules to live by. This DVD also has cool outtakes!
If you love Love Hina, you should try to get all the DVDs, used or new.

A Great Love Story
I own the whole DVD box set, both Movies and Series. And I have also read entire manga or comic books of Love Hina.

The manga version include BOTH Series and Movie version of Love Hina. But it is very different from the Series. I guess the manga is more detailed and fun to read. Also the storyline is very different. DVD and manga are telling the same story, but DVD is kinda like director's cut edition.

There are many stories shown in manga which have not shown in the DVD. There are also many stories shown in DVD that have not shown in manga.

Some people say that manga version is better than the DVD version. I do not totally agree with it. I enjoy watching and read this great masterpiece. I think BOTH are very good and are worth to collect. Some people also say that Spring Movie is very BAD. Well, Over all, I think Spring Movie is not that good compare to the other two movies.

Over all, I give this product 4.5/5 STARS! It is a great anime! But none of the anime is PERFECT, just like us human *^_^*

If you like love story which is VERY VERY SAD. I highly recommend <>. I just bought <> recently, I think it is also one of the greatest anime ever made!

Thank you for reading my review!!!

Manga is way better
Love Hina Again is better than the anime series. Christmas Movie, Spring Movie, and Again were my favorite of all of the animed series, but the Comic series, is better.
The comics run for a while longer than the anime. Things are explained in more detail and I'd consider the manga's story much better than that of the anime.

I'd say they swayed a little too far away from the original work while adapting this. But it's still pretty good. (So long as they didn't try to translate the word "tanuki") ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A magnificent series.
The DVDs faithfully reproduce the videotapes; I see complaints about the quality of the transfer as unjustified. One would think from reading the other reviews that the DVDs are somehow technically defective; this isn't the case. They don't improve on the original footage, but who reasonably expects them to do that?

This is a fascinating documentary series, covering a retracement of the Silk Road from east to west, as recorded by NHK over the course of several years, beginning in 1979. This set contains the first dozen episodes, part I of the series (Boxed Set 1 and Boxed Set 2, which is not to be confused with Silk Road II, the final 18 episodes). It begins in Chang-An and ends in the Pamirs. Part II, alas, doesn't seem to have made it to DVD; that covers the journey from Central Asia to Rome.

Titles of the episodes in this set are:
The Glories of Ancient Chang-An
A Thousand Kilometers Beyond the Yellow River
The Art Gallery in the Desert
The Dark Castle
In Search of the Kingdom of Lou-Lan
Across the Taklamakan Desert
Khotan -- Oasis of Silk and Jade
A Heat Wave Called Turfan
Through the Tian Shan Mountains by Rail
Journey into Music -- South Through the Tian Shan Mountains
Where Horses Fly Like the Wind
Two Roads to the Pamirs

TOO BAD
We have watched the series on VHS--also a very poor transfer but fascinating film. I had hoped the DVD would be a good transfer but sounds as if that is not the case.

Outstanding documentary
The content of this documentary is outstanding. Though the video deficiency is not as bad as previous reviews suggest, the content more than makes up for it. I give it a 4-star rating because of the technical deficiency. If not, this is definitely 5-star material.

Content 5 stars--video 3 stars
Having watched this entire set, I can say that the quality of the content outweighs any qualms about sound or video quality. Yes, the picture looks more like an old VHS tape than a new DVD, but it's not THAT bad. I found it it didn't get in the way of enjoying one of the best documentaries ever made. Bottom line: if you're picky--make that super picky--about video quality, avoid this. If, however, you are really interested in an excellent documentary on the Silk Road, then take the plunge. You won't be disappointed.

thanks for the helpful review
After reading the one star review, I was really glad to have checked reviews before buying it. As a doctor, I really have no problems spending thousands of dollars per month on dvds. But once you get a lemon, you are very very annoyed. I must thank the reviewer for pointing out the poor transfer to dvd. As for myself, I am a Kitaro fan. Hey, how can you do justice to Kitaro with a MONO soundtrack. Joke, right? ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this 1998 television series, four bishonen (beautiful boys) work asflorists to cover their activities as the vigilante posse Weiß Kreuz,the Knights of the White Cross. Ex-soccer pro Ken fights with a ninja claw;self-styled ladies' man Yoji uses nooses; computer ace Omi fires poison dartsand crossbow bolts; sullen, taciturn Aya wields a traditional samurai sword.The Knights assassinate murderers, kidnappers, and sexual predators when theirhidden superiors tell them, "Hunters of the Night, Deny these Dark Beaststheir tomorrows."

Knight Hunters begins as a sort of male version of BubblegumCrisis, with the dedicated quartet squabbling among themselves beforethey fight as a unit. But after the first few episodes, it turns into anelaborate and bloody soap opera of vengeance, hidden identities, and oldfamily wrongs that must be righted. Their main target in the first adventureis the evil Masafumi Takatori, who tries to assume dictatorial powers whenhe's elected Prime Minister. After Takatori's murder, the series grows increasingly bizarre withsupernatural and satanic elements. The Knights have to take out a musicianwhose songs induce insanity, a serial kidnapper, a trio of cult leaders, andthe still-active agents of Takatori. The last episodes are heavily padded,and the ending is a classic cliffhanger, leaving open the possibility ofadditional adventures--should anyone be interested. (Rated 13 and older, butmore appropriate for 16 and older: violence, violence against women, briefnudity, sexual situations, grotesque imagery, torture, alcohol and tobaccouse) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Flawed But Worthwhile
The idea of Weiss Kreuz is rather better than its execution. The series doesn't make the most of its material, either in plot or in character development, and between that and the distinctly lackluster animation it gives the impression of not quite living up to its potential.

That said, it's still worth watching, and I give it four stars for a good try and a great idea. Although they could have been explored more fully, the characters are intriguing, in part because although they are assassins who hunt and kill evildoers, they do not consider themselves particularly righteous men - they call themselves a necessary evil and expect to be held accountable for the lives they've taken. Each of the four main characters has his own reason for being in Weiss; each one suffers over the course of the series, and each one at least considers the possibility of quitting and has to choose whether or not to stay.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it... doesn't quite. Yoji's first spotlight episode leaves one with the impression that he's not nearly as competent as the Weiss boys are supposed to be - but in a much later episode, he dishes up one of the most gutwrenching moments of the series in his final encounter with villainess Neu. And any episode featuring Aya is bound to be fascinating.

Where the series fails to plumb the full depths of its main characters, it makes up for the lack by doing surprisingly well by its supporting characters. In particular, Weiss handlers Manx and Birman and the mysterious Persia acquit themselves better then you might expect from this kind of series.

With a few exceptions, Weiss always get their man - or woman - but the series largely refrains from being repetetive. Plot points crop up for a few episodes, subside, and then pop up again to be developed a little further. The series is also, as will be made clear by the opening of the first episode, not afraid to kill people. Sometimes the heroes arrive in time to save the day, but just as often they can only enact bloody vengeance after the damage has been done. Even supporting characters who've appeared in several previous episodes are not sacred.

The first season, aside from the episodes dealing directly with Schreient and their leader Masafumi Takatori, is mostly superior to the second; the Takatori clan makes for a more effective source of antagonists and evil plots than the second season's villain organization, which has a more supernatural bent.

The DVDs include outtakes from the English dubbing sessions. The dub itself is typically bad and should be skipped if possible, but the outtakes are hysterical and nearly worth the price of the collection on their own.

Then there's Gluhen. Weiss Kreuz: Gluhen is either the third season or the second series of Weiss Kreuz, depending on how you want to look at it. It isn't currently available in the US, but it looks as though it will be released starting in July as Knight Hunters: Eternity File. The animation is greatly improved from the original; however, because of legal issues, the designs of the four main characters were changed. Aya and Ken fared all right, but Yoji looks as though he had a fight with a weedwhacker and lost, and wears an awful hat to boot. Gluhen also introduces two new members of Weiss, who take up a lot of the focus of the series, to the point that Ken and Yoji don't even appear for about seven episodes.

The story is also improved - sort of. In the first two seasons, the main villains have various operations which Weiss foil, so there's something of a sense of progress and there are distinct character arcs. In Gluhen, there are simply events which occur and which Weiss must face, and which frequently pass without much resolution. It's a better depiction of the covert-ops sort of organization Weiss is supposed to be - in the earlier seasons, the team was usually just given a target and sent out to kill them, with the intelligence work already done - but can give viewers the impression that they're missing a big chunk of the story, particularly when the other two members of Weiss finally show up and are just finishing a related mission. The first two seasons sometimes seem a bit rushed - Gluhen is the opposite.

All told, Weiss Kreuz is worth watching. Don't go into it with high expectations; it's not perfect. But if you can accept it for what it is, it's solid entertainment.

Hunters of the Night, hunt the evils of tomorrow
Besides the non-direct translation of Weiß Kreuz (white cross) I totally recommend the DVDs. The storyline is angsty in some aspects and having mainly bishounen's as the main characters are a plus. 4 guys: Aya (Ran), Ken, Omi (Mamoru Takatori), and Yohji who work in a flower shop in the day and are assassins at night, each with a sad past and reason for being Weiß. Toss in their wicked rivals: Schwarz (male group of assasins with powers: Brad, Schuldig, Farfarello, and Nagi) and Shrient (group of female baddies:Hell, Schoen, Neu, and Tot) makes this anime a must watch.
Having watched the series before it's release on DVD in the US. And watching the U.S. DVDs myself, the translations and conversion is great. Now if only they brought over the OVAs and Glühen. The manga is also a must get, with details on how Aya joined the Weiß group.

Starts off strong, ends weak
I'm so disappointed that the animation changes halfway through the series. I love discs 1-3 but there are obvious changes in discs 4-5. The animation gets very choppy and the storyline no longer has any heart. The creators of this series need to fire the animators of discs 4 & 5 and bring back the original group. Only 1-3 are worth watching, 4-5 bored me to tears. Before you invest your money, rent it first (netflix).

Great series, great DVD edition
I don't know where all those reviewers have been coming up with the notion that Cheesiness, Angst, & Extreme High Melodrama are *surprising*-- or *unwanted*-- in a shojo anime. Come on! Really. This is for us. We want our angst and family tragedies and long-lost siblings and haunted pasts and Good Vs. Evil and unrequited love and knee-weakeningly beautiful boys... we want it all, and we want it bloody.

That said, the Weiss Kreuz collection is one of the best things that you could possibly take home & watch on the sofa with your box of chocolates & your pink tissues. Four pretty young things, each one with a worse revenge-complex than the next, all with clashing personalities; an expansion on the buddy-cop concept, only better... four pretty young vicious bloodthirsty international assassin boys who run a flower-shop. And of course they're all straight. If you don't love an idea like that right away, then you shouldn't be renting this in the first place. But if you have to keep hitting Rewind because you drown out the dialogue with your own squeals, then you're one of us, and you should buy this DVD set.

The DVD edition is fabulous, easy to navigate, crammed with features, sketches, interviews, you name it. I was especially (pleasantly) surprised by the outtakes. Recording all that drama had to be taxing-- so it must've been a great release to make that mutant-monster croon "Till There Was You" at Aya while smashing him repeatedly against a piano.

I personally like the animation well enough; it's not groundbreaking, but it does not look like 1987, either. The dubs and subs are equally good here, in my opinion. They put a nice amount of effort into the setup. I think the English translation was pretty great, very natural-sounding; people's opinions on these tend to run hot & cold, but I can say that at least the English doesn't sound stilted, and the subtitles at least follow pretty much what the dub says. Bold yellow subtitles were easy to read, for when you're in the mood to follow in Japanese for awhile.

The voice actors were often lackluster, I agree with everyone on that point. I privately think Aya could be even b*tchier, Omi even squeakier, and Farfarello even crazier... in both languages. Schuldig's erotically snide baritone is definitely the brightest point of the English dub, however. You may find yourself listening to him purr "ruined lives taste like honey" repeatedly until your Rewind button sticks.

You can watch many of these stories independently of each other without worrying about the overarching plot, which is nice for those who don't want the full collection. The boys get a mission, they go out and find the bad guys, and much fighting & bickering ensues. Most episodes have at least some brokenhearted weeping, and they all have bloodshed (although the pedestrian fight-sequence style in this anime doesn't do much for me). If you're lucky, you'll get to see the gang of psychic/psychotic villain boys, who are even more interesting than the heroes. You can start watching to just absorb the cheesy missions, but soon be hooked on the tangled interpersonal relationships and vendettas. Which is, after all, the point in a bishonen anime. So addictive!

Ah
This is a great series, worthy to soon be a classic. The art is kind of messy sometimes with the fire and stuff (well, I do respect its all done the old good way, all hand drawn, and I guess if I had to draw about 10 different frames per second for an entire series, I would do the same). The characters are all pimp as well as the story. The ending episodes are the great ones. Well worth buying and watching over and over. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although Toshihiro Hirano (Magic Knight Rayearth) directed these broadcast episodes, they lack the panache of the earlier OAVs; both were based on the manga created by his wife, Narumi Kakinouchi. This version of Miyu is less aloof; she enrolls in a Tokyo school and makes a few friends. Larva is more of a companion than a servant, and his mask conceals the face of a bishonen (beautiful boy). He and Miyu are joined by Shina, a spirit who resembles a cross between a rabbit and a Pokémon Clefairy. As the Protector, Miyu battles Shinma, evil spirits that attack humans, but the many episodes suggest she isn't particularly effective at the job she's destined to fulfill. In one episode, a Shinma uses a thug as an assassin; Miyu calmly remarks, "It's not really my concern how many people you have him kill." In "Your House," she destroys a cat-Shinma only after it's caused four deaths, and she gives several victims a fatal eternal happiness with her bite.

Two extended storylines frame the shorter stories. One pits Miyu against the snow demon-Shinma Reiha and her obnoxious talking doll Matzukaze; the second involves the evil bird-demons who are determined to destroy Miyu. Although Miyu's childhood experiences link the two plots, neither achieves a coherent resolution. The limited-edition boxed set includes a soundtrack CD and a charm like the ones Miyu and her friend Chisato carry. (Unrated but suitable for ages 16 and older: considerable violence, nudity, grotesque imagery, suggested lesbianism and incest) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Average
This is an average anime in terms of plot, animation and character development. It does have an excellent character design for Miyu. If you get a chance to rent it, do so. If you have to buy it in order to watch it, don't. Save your money for something more worthwhile.

Many of the episodes have a monster-of-the-week favor. The story usually revolves around the theme of obsession, but it is usually not too inspired. The animation quality is that which you can expect from made-for-TV animations. In other words, they are nothing to write home about. The only thing good about the series is a very alluring character design for Miyu, which is quiet, enigmatic, seductive and dangerous. In a word - vampiric!

Awesome Anime for vampire anime fans
This is quite good and to be honest I kinda liked Miyu and Reiha but this anime was one of the best with breathtaking music , I would recommend this to someone with good tastes in anime especially those new to anime you might get more than you wanted

A GENTLE VAMPIRE ? MAYBE
This is one of most interesting anime series ever.
Its about a girl from an unsealed bloodline of vampire demons whos job is to protect earth from any demon that might escape from the sealed abyss.
This series isnt really horror,its more like dark drama-action.
She would drink blood in order to live and grant them eternal life.
A must see for all vampire movies fans.

Different from the OAV, but very good
In this series, unlike the original, Miyu is more of a schoolgirl than a menace, but the series overall is still engaging. Just when the plot started to become predictable (mysterious happening leads Miyu to the Shinma, then a battle), the episodes started to focus on the victims of the demons. The two-part Light of the Sea was also a winner.

Great attention was paid to the details of costumes and creatures, and the DVD inserts about the monster designs are a welcome extra. The music CD is heaven itself - what a great combination of moods and styles! I've listened to it dozens of times and still enjoy it.

The addition of pretty-boy Larva was disconcerting at first, since it removed a great deal of his menace. But the character works overall. The only clunkers are Reiha and Matzukaze. Their constant taunts and threats became repetitious and their actions were predictable, and it was not helped that Miyu did not have a complete victory over her rival(s).

Princess Miyu anime
I thought that the anime in the DVDs is very good and anime fans would enjoy whatching it. Although the episodes contain alot of unnessisary violence and a very repetitive plot. Alothough I do not like the idea in each sieres the music is very good. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Great Teacher" Eikichi Onizuka drinks, leers, and chain-smokes his way through these adventures at Holy Forest Academy. Unlike the shorter stories in volume 1, most of this five-disc set is devoted to two extended narratives: Onizuka's efforts to raise the money for a class trip and the subsequent visit to Okinawa. The vindictive Aizawa makes it look like Onizuka stole the funds forshort outing; rather than expose her deception (and admit he was outwitted), Onizuka plays guilty. He wins back the students by offering them the trip to Okinawa, then has to scrape up 8 million yen. In Okinawa, Aizawa causes more trouble, especially for poor, put-upon Yoshikawa.

Onizuka remains irrepressible and unrepentant, but the writers run out of ideas. The storyline about Aizawa framing the teacher recalls episode 1. The rambling Okinawa storyline suffers from a weak ending: why would Aizawa fall for the nerdy Yoshikawa? And why would Yoshikawa want anything to do with a girl who viciously abuses him, even after he's saved her life?In a final demonstration of loyalty, Onizuka takes the rap when the Board of Education tries to frame Aizawa for murder. He escapes from the police and goes on the lam, abandoning his students and the long-suffering Ms. Fuyutsuki--hardly an example of the revered tradition of the seishokusha (one who works in a sacred vocation). (Rated 16 and older: sexual and toilet humor, profanity, nudity, violence, tobacco and alcohol use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Elfen Lied
In comment to the afforementioned review: many of the scenes that you discussed have not occured in the first four episodes that are included in Vector One. I'm sure new Elfen Lied audiences to come would appreciate the chance to view the series first hand.

In response to the comments on Kouta, the main male character: he is viewed as weak and not "all there" for a reason. As the series progresses you will understand. Everything does, indeed, fall into place. Now if you still believe him to be unnecessarily weak after viewing the entire series, your opinion will be respected in my book because you are well versed.

And as many have stated, yes, this series is not for the faint of heart. And for those who are unable to appreciate the underlying storyline that is exemplified with scenes of innocense and nudity, malice and bloodshed, and "airheadedness" and suppressed pain... this series will be lost to you.

Otherwise, it is in my belief that you will truly enjoy this series.

The most disturbing anime
There is no anime more deserving of this honor than Elfen Lied.

In Elfen Lied, we get to see many VERY VERY VERY disturbing, shocking and repulsive scenes:
- a pre-adolescent Mayu was stripped naked and sexually abused by her own stepfather for a few years before she ran away from home at the age of 13.
-a bully kid smashed the dog's skull, killing the dog in front of Lucy.
- pre-adolesecent girls were seen naked in some scenes. (9 or 10-year old Mayu forced to do a striptease in front of her stepfather. A pre-adolescent Lucy stepping out of the bath with no clothes. And another pre-adolescent girl who had infected Kurama with her genes wore a birthday suit)
- you could see the bones in the center of the circles of the limbs and fingers.
- lots of dismembering, flying body parts and exploding bodies.

All of the scenes I've seen are from a pirated copy of the original, unedited Elfen Lied. I'd not be surprised if the American distributors omit those scenes out of it. They're too conservative or that.

Superb
This anime is by far the best I've ever seen, definetely not for children. It includes everything you can ask for: gore, romance, drama, great music...

The intro, Lilium, is a beautiful song, sung in latin, it appears through the story, Souta and Lucy meet because of it.

When Lucy is a child she suffers some sort of schizophrenia, very realistic in my opinion

Definetely worth it's price.

A provocative but excellent anime, if you can take it
I watched the first episode and it blew me away! It is not for the faint of heart, the level of violence is beyond anything I've seen. It is definitely not an anime for kids. Into the first few minutes of the show you would have seen a lot of blood, gore, dismemberment and decapitation. Violence aside, the music is fantastic. It sets the mood right and draws you into the show. I particularly like the opening theme which is really a piece of art.

There is an extra episode (#14) which is an OVA (direct-to-DVD) in Japan. However, the description in ADV Film's catalog does not imply that this episode will be included.

One of the best, and most provocotive Anime's created!
To begin, Elfen Lied is not an anime for the faint of heart. The levels of violence and gore found in this 13-episode series far exceed anything I've come across so far. However, at the same time, this is not an anime which one should simply disregard as another ploy to pull in fans and cash by showcasing lots and lots of killing.

Instead, this is an anime with a surprisingly deep and interesting story. Because it is so original in its plot, it is very difficult to predict. The fact that the producers still managed to incorporate a modest amount of comedic relief into the entire mix really made this series quite unique.

As for characters, overall they are fairly well developed. While it would have been nice to see a bit more time devoted to character development, I can't say that I'm disappointed since it is mainly the side characters which have somewhat 2-D personalities ( although all still do come off as likeable ).

Moving on to music, all I can really say is "wow." This is one series with a truly amazing soundtrack. Now, I'm aware that most people today aren't overly fond of classical, but Elfen Lied puts it to good use and managed to raise the hairs along the back of my neck on more then one occasion.

And finally animation. Good is the best word for it. Its obviously not up to par with certain series out there such as Macross Zero, but relatively speaking, at least in my opinion, I thought that the animation would still let it come in among the top 10 percent.

So, to conclude, if you still haven't gotten the picture (^_^), Elfen Lied is most definitely an anime worth your time. While very violent, the story and brilliant soundtrack more then make up for any queasiness one might feel. So unless you truly believe that you will be unable to handle something violent, I highly encourage everyone to give this series a chance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although it boasts plenty of sword fights, martial arts combat, and odd, orange blood, Samurai X offers deeper and more sensitive characterizations than typical anime samurai epics. Based on the manga by Noboru Watsuki, the film centers on questions about the nature of Japanese society during the years following the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. Kenshin Himura and his friends Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko seem like an ordinary, slightly goofy quartet. But red-haired Kenshin is an expert swordsman; tall, lanky Sanosuke, a martial arts master; adolescent Yahiko, a samurai-in-training. Kaoru fills the role of outspoken anime heroine. An ugly encounter with some drunken British sailors introduces Kenshin and his friends to the noble Takimi Shigure and lovely Toki Takatsuki. Shigure leads a group opposed to the Meiji government, which they believe is corrupting Japanese culture, and his ill-conceived attempt at rebellion brings him into conflict with Kenshin. A key fighter in the Restoration, Kenshin received scars on his soul that mark him more decisively than the X on his cheek; he weeps for the needless bloodshed he helped to unleash. Director Hatsuki Tsuji builds subtle visual patterns of downward motions--falling tears, fluttering bamboo leaves, the deadly stroke of a sword, Kenshin's spectacular leaps--to create a film with an unusually satisfying resolution. Not rated; suitable for ages 14 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Misleading Packaging AND Reviewers
To get it out of the way first, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie--I am huge fan of the Rurouni Kenshin series, and the movie, while not quite as good as the series' best parts, succeeded in giving me more of the same stuff I love so much (as long as you don't watch the horrific English dub--even compared to the series' English dub it's horrible).

Now on to the important part--the confusion that has been steeped upon this release. Here's what everyone should know, but seems to ignore (at least in reviews): "Samurai X" is the American title used to replace the Japanese title, "Rurouni Kenshin," when this movie and the OVA's were released by ADV. The original series (it came first, only after the comic) is being released under its original title by Anime Works. The Kenshin OVA's (under the American titles "Samurai X: Trust" and "Samurai X: Betrayal") were made later as a prequel to the series, chronicling the early days of Battousai the Manslayer/Hitokiri. By the time the series begins, 10 years later, the main character Kenshin has given up his past role of Battousai in order to somehow make up for his evils, so he lives as a wandering swordsman (note: not a samurai by any means, ever!) who refuses to kill. The Rurouni Kenshin movie takes place around the time of the series--as in, the same supporting cast appears, and Kenshin is currently a wanderer. Not only does the movie's story occur within the context of the series, but stylistically it fits as well.

Comparing the RK movie to the OVA series, in terms of story or style, is useless. They are two completely different works based on the same series, one made to portray the dark and violent aspects of Kenshin's early life, and the other meant to act as a direct companion to the material in the series. One reviewer relates the series and OVA's as being two seperate universes, and the movie an amalgamation of the two. Well, that is just flat-out wrong. All three works have been created along a timeline in terms of story, and in the case of style, have been created to reflect the period of Kenshin's that is being chronicled. The only reason the name "Samurai X" was given to the OVA's and movie was to make them look "cooler" for an American audience by Sony & ADV after they acquired the rights. The American name says nothing about the contents.

Don't get confused!
Samurai X is more of the anime series instead of the ova and the title was just created by A.D.Vision so don't get confused with the title. Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin) The Motion Picture is about Kenshin Himura Dealing with his own past back during the revolution. When Kenshin and his go to Yokohama for a little vacation they run into a swordsman that was alaso in the revolution that wants to have revenge against the man that killed his best friend in the revolution. This movie was alright but the story was kinda boring and I had to see the same scene about 6 times during the movie. Get this if you want to if you are a real RUROUNI KENSHIN fan because this may not satisfy you.

excellent addendum to the series
This DVD was actually my introduction to Kenshin, which might have been a mistake as I was not able to appreciate it as fully then as I can now. The animation is as beautiful and the colors are as vibrant as the series. As for the story- it says that it occurs in the 12th year of the Meiji so I'm assuming that it takes place after the adventures in the original televised series. It's a wonderful continuation of Kenshin's life as someone who chooses to fight when necessary, but not to kill. Kenshin is, as always, goofy, sweet, and the most unassuming former manslayer you'd ever meet. I enjoyed this movie a lot more than the Reflections OVA as this one was right in line with what I feel Kensin is all about. I'd recommend viewing this after seeing the Kyoto arc of the original series.

A long chapter of the series
This movie might fit between almost any of the series chapters. Its just like a long one of them. It was the first Kenshin thing I watched in full -having tried to see the preludes once, I got stuck with all the violence of the first scenes- so this worked out fine for me in my path to becoming a Kenshin fan. There are a couple of scenes that they abuse in showing them over and over again, but it's ok. As it was for me, it would be useful to give someone who has never seen the series or OVAs a taste of what this is all about.

It's alright.
Samurai x the motion picture is alright,the only reason I bought it was because I am a big rurouni kenshin fan and because I needed some to waste my money.The story starts out with a backround of kenshins life during the revolution(CAUTION:this scene comes out a few times so you might get tired of seeing it).Then later Kenshin and his friend's meet up with a guy named Shigure that was also in the revlution 10 years ago.My favorite scene was when Kenshin fighting shigure in the last battle in the whole movie. This feature is preety much about revenge and making a name for them selves, it's actually very stupid.Like I said in my review the story is alright the fighting was alright the movie is alright I just did not like the dubbing it was just horrible I just had to ger used to it.Only get this if yu are a true rurouni kenshin fan like I am. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Elk the Lad
To start things off, I've never played the "Arc the Lad" strategy RPG games, so I can't make any comparisons between the two. However, I found this series to be quite captivating. The first part of the series is basically Elk's quest for the truth about his tragic past. The second part of the series after the turning point in Episode 13 is basically Elk's quest to find himself.

It's true that there are not as many action sequences as one would expect for an action/adventure story, and it's true that the story gets a little disjointed towards the end, but overall this series pulled me in right from the start and included a very touching story with many memorable characters and the action sequences that this series does have are good nonetheless.

It's hard to say whether or not I should recommend this series, since everyone has different preferences. I can only say that I was extremely impressed.

As a side note, anyone who is prone to crying should grab a box of tissues before watching episode 13.

arc the lad :)
i was worried at first having played the Arc the lad games but i found this a really good dvd series and would recomend it to anyone.
it is based upon a young hunter called Elk, more than Arc, but incorperates parts of arc the lad and arc the lad 2 the games into it very well.
as a whole series it is 6 disks and is great from start to finish, however it may not appeal to everyones tastes. though it is true that the lead character Elk can be rather annoying and self pitious it is more than made up for in other aspects of the story.

A slow decline downwards...
This series becomes so awful that it is laughable. The characters soon become flat and bland. Elk practically beings to whines every episode and has to learn to "accept" things. This quickly leads to every episode having poor animation.

The fights stop around the middle of the series. I am not joking. Tosh gets to chop up maybe 3 guys at most. The problem doesn't only lie in the animation and characters, but the story becomes down-right stupid. By the end you won't care as the creators lost interest. Clive is a horrible badguy. The last few episodes are the worst. Everyone shakes because of everything. Everyone is shocked because of everything. In DBZ, Krillin shakes when someone throws a punch. This series is worse than that.

If you want a great series try "Samurai Deeper Kyo". It is so much better. The creators actually make it better as they go along. This series quickly falls apart. Save your money... ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the fantasy-adventure Wolf's Rain reaches its conclusion, Toboe, Tsume, Hige, Blue, Quent, Cheza, Cher, Hubb and Kiba continue their search for Paradise. The characters head north, slogging through snow storms and savage winds. They negotiate treacherous ice fields and scale vertiginous cliffs. The plot borrows heavily from the Norse myths of the Ragnarok or Götterdämmerung, a continuing process of birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth. Artists have been drawing on the concept of that endlessly repeating cycle for centuries. But the writers at the Bones studio complicate their story needlessly: they introduce new elements at the last minute, leave some plot points underdeveloped, and drag others out unnecessarily. Wolf's Rain is an interesting and sometimes compelling series, but it ultimately proves to be a frustrating adventure that could easily have been more than it is. (Rated 13 and older: considerable violence) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sad ending to an excellent series
This is the final episodes of the series and it pulls things together a little bit. I gave the DVD 4 stars for a bad ending, but the episodes leading up to it are good. If you have been following the series, this will be the ultimate tear jerker.

A story open to interpretation
These are the four episodes that were produced after the 26 episode television series. It could have ended there but the creators still had more to tell. Questions are answered, new ones are raised & fates determined. Over all I think several fans may dislike this ending & become frustrated. And they will want a second season, or a movie. If you want more, buy the manga since it is available in English now too. I found this to be an excellent and exhilarating finale. This story has been done just right to me. The director has said multiple times he didn't want to cage our imagination by nailing down the specifics.

Just Amazing
These last episodes are some of the most amazing (and beautiful) I have ever seen.It was dark.. surprising and amazing.

I was so intruiged by the final 4.I couldn't wait until the next week [adultswim].By the time it was over.. I had used a couple tissues (yea.. I cant believe that..) and my mouth was hangin open.Somethings I expected... and most I did not!I dont know what will happen next.. but I can't wait.I hope there will be more!

If you havent watch much of Wolf's Rain, make sure to watch these last eps!They're incredible.

And don't forget to buy the soundtrack!The music is amazing too!Especially Heaven's Not Enough.

If you think about it.......
First of all I really respect "Mr. Wolfman's" review about the last volume of Wolf's rain. I really don't think he has ruined the ending for us that have not seen it. I would also think that with all of the pain, running, working together, and killing, they really can't have a happy ending.....just not now at least. I have talked to a lot of fans and they say that there has to be a second series or better yet...a movie would be nice, but I don't think a movie would happen. There aren't that many anime fans therefore, i can just see the anime haters giving the movie a bad review and blah blah blah. Getting back to the subject, Wolf's rain has been one of the best anime series I have seen and I am picky of some anime. I was facinated of the story of wolf hiding in human form just to survive. I was also Facinated for the fact that if you think about it we humans are the same as wolfs. When it comes to it we fight for survival no matter who we have to kill or what we have to do to survive. There are bad human and good humans. anyways......Mr. wolfman I also do hope that they will continue the series. adios

Can't wait
Really can't wait till may 24 for the release of the final episodes. I really enjoyed all of them so far. ... Read more

Description

Sawa may seem innocent and naïve, but don't be fooled. She's a cold-blooded killer, and if you're on the wrong side of the law, you may be her next target. Not content to just watch as the imperfect justice system frees more criminals each day, a detective trained Sawa to be his instrument of justice. Now she will go to any length to execute her targets. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

I would recommend the uncut version, but still a great movie
"Kite" has been one of the hardest movies to find uncut for a long time, and for good reason. "Kite" has scenes of very graphic rape and raw violence and gore. But none of it is gratuitous, it all adds to the amazing story.

"Kite" brings to mind the movie "The Professional," but with a bit of a twist. In "The Professional," a young girl's family is killed and a kind assasin takes her in and teaches her the way of the hired hitman. In "Kite," Sawa's parents are murdered and she is taken in by the man who killed them, he forces her to become an assassin for her and also his sexual slave. Sawa is connected to him by dependence and hate. When she meets a fellow orphan and assassin, the handsome and destructive Oburi, she is given another path.

"Kite" is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The killings in the film are treated with such nonchalance that it affects you all the more. You are instantly attached to Sawa, despite her unblinking view of murder. "Kite" definitely has heartfelt moments in it too. The calm innocence Sawa and Oburi share together keeps you close to the characters.

I gave this movie a 4 star rating, only because this is the edited version. The uncut version of "Kite" is available now. You can buy it on animecastle.com, and I would definitely recommend the uncut over the cut.

A mesmerizing movie!
Wow, this is an amazing movie. This is the "cut" version, but it is still great. I had the fortune of obtaining the Uncut version, and while it has more "graphic" everything, this is still a good version.

This story is about Sawa, a young girl, who was orphaned when her parents were murdered. She is taken in and "adopted" by Akai, the Police Detective assigned to her parents murder investigation. Sawa, reminiscant of "La Femme Nikita" is an assasian of sorts. Ordered about by her keeper Akia, she must do his bidding. Sawa meets Oburi, yet another vigilante such as she, a young man, and sparks fly. They develop a friendship of sorts. While Sawa is a girl of few words, her face and expressions speak a thousand of them.

I absolutely loved this movie. If you love a good Japanese anime, then this is for you. If you love a good action packed flick, then this is for you. The animation is so well drawn, it is mind boggling. The scenes are so realistic, but the storyline is definately NOT for children. I give this movie two thumbs up, and so will you!

A Little Too Much
I usually like a little darkness in anime shows; however the uncut version was just a bit too much. Frankly if you get a kick out of men taking advantage of young girls, don't hesitate to check it out. The movie was about a young girl who gets tricked into working for the very man who killed her family. She is trained to be a killer by her family's murderer and goes around killing people. She meets up with another guy assasin who is closer to her age; and of course, they fall in love. Then of course, she is supposed to kill him. In the end they both get revenge on the bad guys; but, like all anime, there is that little twist in the end. Blah, blah blah.
This movie left me feeling dirty and depressed. For anyone who gets their kicks out of sick shows and love being shocked, this is your movie. If you would rather watch a show that has some darkness, but yet some deep meaning, watch "Now and Then, Here and There", "Hellsing", or "Battle Angel". At least there is some discretion used in these movies and series.

Director's Cut version
when the print says "Absolutely not for children" they weren't joking around! I'm an adult so the gratuotis sex/rape scenes didn't really bother me. It actually played a part in the movie so it wasn't neccessarily random and pointless that the makers included those scenes. The action is decent and the Sawa reminds me of Matilda in the movie Leon: The Professional. Clocking in at 60 minutes it was all so short. if it was longer and more to it I would definately vote it 5 stars. I'm glad it's part of my collection none the less. The flashbacks help tell the story of the characters and allow the viewer to follw the movie easily. I'm glad the ending left off like it did. It's good to see that not all films end on a positive happy go lucky tip. In a way it was a new beginning for Sawa which was a positive in itself. Length of movie was the biggest minus i can think of. Not for the faint of heart! Recommended. B+

Terrific movie integrating true reflections human complexity
I have seen the original Japanese uncut version, which, since it's from Japan, contains much more sexual and gore content.

But don't be confused. This is not some cheap porno cartoon. The movie itself has a very twisted, but deep and many sad parts. The creator here has a movie that will really intrigue you as you watch this movie.

It's much deeper than an action movie. Tons of human emotions are involved.

Highly recommended for Anime Fans who are Adults. It's not appropriate for children. ... Read more

Description

Kagome Higurashi, an average ninth grader, gets pulled into an ancient well by a demon, bringing her 500 years in the past to feudal Japan.There, she meets Inuyasha, a half-demon who seeks the Shikon Jewel to make himself a full-fledged demon.With Inuyasha and her new friends that they meet along the way, Kagome's search for the Jewel of Four Souls begins... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first Inu-Yasha theatrical feature plays like an extended episode of the popular television series. Kagome, Inu-Yasha, Shippo, Miroku, and Sango are pitted not against Naraku, but against the moth-demon Menomaru, who was awakened by a falling shard from the enchanted Shikon Jewel. Menomaru seeks to recapture the power of his father Hyoga, who was defeated by Inu-Yasha's father when Hyoga came to Japan "from the continent" (i.e., during the Mongol invasion of 1274). Only the combined power of Kagome's arrows and Inu-Yasha's sword Tetsusaiga can defeat this mighty demon. Affections Touching Across Time is unusually handsome for a feature based on a broadcast series: When snow falls on Kagome's 20th-century home, the designers evoke the prints of Kawase Hasui. Unfortunately, the images have been compressed to fit the TV format, and there's no widescreen option. Still, it's a must-have for Inu-Yasha fans. (Unrated: suitable for ages 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Iny-yasha still fighting your daddy's battles!
This is great, yet another demon of inuyasha's fathers time. I've only seen it in japanese with english subtitles, but I'm gonna buy this copy as well. It will be so awsome to see it in english. it definatly takes place after inuyasha has learned to wield the new tetsusaiga. It displays most all of the tv series main characters including Seshomaru(oh yeah).

Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time
This movie is great! Even though I've only seen it in Japanese with English subtitles as of yet, I loved it! (It'll be just as good, if not better, in English). About the movie: first of all, neither it nor any of the other 2 movies currently released in Japan have to do with the tv episodes. The story is completely different. I'd say this movie takes place after at least the 54th episode though, after Inuyasha has already learned the Backlash Wave. In the movie, a demon from China called Matenmaru (another moth demon like Gatenmaru) tricks Inuyasha into using Tetsusaiga to break the seal on his "inheritance"--his family's powers--making him invincible (he was already immortal before his ultimate powers were unleashed). Now, it is up to Inuyasha and company to defeat him! In addition to lots of action, there are also some touching moments between Inuyasha and Kagome in this movie. ;) Any fan of the tv show is sure to love this movie!!! (By the way, the second movie is great too--Inuyasha and Kagome KISS in it!! however, they only kiss once, and briefly, and this does not affect their relationship in the episodes at all.) ... Read more

Description

The City Hunter's back and ready for more action. And a little bedroom action would be especially nice! But that's not going to happen if Kaori and her trans-dimensional hammer have anything to say about it. Fortunately, whether it's trying to get them into bed or protecting them from the forces of evil, when it comes to pretty women, Ryo doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit." The bad guys better watch out. City Hunter's on the job!Contains the next 25 complete episodes on five DVDs!DVD Features: clean opening and closing animations; City Hunter TV trailers and Previews. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Get Wild with "City Hunter"
Author's Note: This is the same review for the first box set. but seeing as how this a review for the whole first season, it would be stupid of me to re-write a whole review for such a sake.

Now, allow me just this little bit of time to open to flood gates of my ego, I promise you I won't be long. When it comes to anime, I tend to think of myself as more learned than the average otaku. I mean, I've been around this anime block several times over the course of several years and I've seen several titles come and go, sometimes for the best. Then there are the familiar faces, you know them all, the ones that have been here longer than most, they know the game better than any recent title. And you're glad that you know them. "City Hunter" falls into this category. In short; this is (say it with me class) classic anime.

Created in 1985 by famous manga-ka Tsukasa Hojo, the story focuses on Ryo Saeba, a "sweeper" (sort of an urban mercenary, or a...city hunter! Aha!) who takes on all sorts of dangerous jobs. A cool-as-ice fighter with marksmanship skills that could rival Vash the Stampede. With his .357 Colt Python, mini cooper, and a host of partners in the business, he's the man you call when you are out of options and desperately need the job done. It would help a lot more if you were a pretty woman though. You see, Ryo is what we like to call a "sex-fiend," very much in the same vein as Golden Boy or Lupin III. Although Ryo works hard to get his man, he works even harder to get his woman. Which is both his skill and his undoing.

The series was one of the better action animes to grace the screen when it first arrived circa 1987-88. The series enjoyed mass appeal by the Japanese public. Hailed by many critics as "The worthy succesor to Lupin III," the series went on to produce 100+ episodes, several movies, TV specials, and manga. The manga and the TV specials are available stateside and belong in any otakus collection. Right, now with that short history lesson over, let's move onto an actual review.

"City Hunter" is a fun series. However, like most series that go for 100 episodes, it doesn't follow one plot as it does several tiny stories. Most of these stories are great, some are good, and there's a small batch that is kinda boring. Luckily, since this DVD box features the first 26 episodes, repetition isn't given any time to settle in.

The animation is a bit dated, but it really doesn't detract from the action or the story-telling of the series. The art is enjoybable because it manages to remain true to Hojo San's original drawings and maintains his style of story-telling. It might irk some newbie otakus, but that's how you seperate the "men from the mice."

Speaking of action sequences, this anime has manged to combine all the best elements of some of the greatest action movies. From wild car chases to insane gun fights, every episode boasts its own thrill ride.

The music is filled with an 80's kind of cool. Sort of "Miami Vice" but much better. This is 80's j-pop and j-rock, which is pretty much anykind of 80's music you can think of but with Japanese voices and lyrics.

The characters are endearing and easily likable. Ryo and his cohorts in crime(?) all have this sense of sly coolness and unbridled siliness. A little bit of recognition has to go to Akira Kamiya, Ryo's voice actor. He has been hailed as one of the greatest male voice actors of any anime and his extensive list of characters include Piccolo in "DragonBall," Kenshiro in "Fist of the North Star," Shun in "Maison Ikkoku," and Roy Fokker in "Macross." Just so you know.

"City Hunter" is a delight for any anime fan, old and new. It resonates with a timeless quality that few anime titles are imbued with today. And since ADV will be releasing future episodes of this classic series in similar box sets, you can tell it is a very good investment.

In closing, spend a viewing with "City Hunter" and you will get way more bang for your buck.

-RW ... Read more

Amazon.com

As this popular shounen-ai ("boy love") story continues, the filmmakers streamline Maki Murakami's popular manga while preserving its essence. Bad Luck is preparing to release their first single under their take-no-prisoners American manager K, when Shuichi's life is derailed by the arrival of Ayaka, the fiancée Yuki's family has chosen for him. As Bad Luck's popularity grows, Taki of the rival band Ask, has Shuichi savagely beaten, then blackmails him, threatening to reveal his relationship with Yuki. Bad Luck guitarist Hiroshi remains the lone pillar of sanity in this increasingly fractured world. Voice actor Rich McNanna captures Shuichi's mercurial personality, effortlessly shifting from repentant stumblebum to adoring boyfriend to charismatic performer. Rome Elliot is appropriately sullen as Yuki: when he tells Shuichi, "I'll be your lover," his voice sounds like ice cracking. (Not rated, suitable for ages 14 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use, suggested homosexuality) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Description

History and Science Fiction collide as Alexander the Great, born toOlympias the pagan priestess, and King Phillip II, is prophesized to first rule and thendestroy the world. Taught by the philosopher Aristotle, Alexander becomes the hero ofMacedonia’s battle against Thebus, causing his father to doubt his loyalty. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

An artsy thirteen episode original
Reign the Conqueror is one of my all-time favorites. It's art style, story and music make it a good by for anime fans looking for something a little less repetitive and of a better quality than the avrage anime series. With original and interesting characters this short but content packed series is a great idea for people looking for something different, even withing anime. I recommend that you try this one out.

Art does not have be rational...
Yes, Reign has many, many inaccuracies. But isn't that to be expected, in a work of FICTION? Doesn't the box warn you that this is a 20th century Sci-Fi spin on the true story of Alexander the Great? And after all the research I've done since seeing this series, I can tell you most of the inaccuracies were interentional, and probably could not have been executed without knowing what actually did happen, and in great detail. I'm rather convinced that it is not intended to be an alltogether accurate interpretation of the story of Alexander.

I was originally drawn to this series because I love Peter Chung's art style, having been addicted to Aeon Flux during its run on MTV. I'm actually rather fond of the naked leg look. I'd like to point out that the characters are wearing cod pieces, not thongs. Also, keep in mind that in ancient Greece armor did show a lot of skin. And Alexander's (battle) armor looks plenty Greek to me, by the way. In fact, if this were an accurate adaption we'd be seeing a lot more man skin than we already are.

As I was doing research, I was amazed at how much of what was real and really happened was changed and apadted. Ever chracter in the series was based a real person, though their roles might have been changed. Even Cassandra, who wasn't a real person, was at least based on a real figure (one of Alexander's generals, Cassander, though he was not any relation to Aristotle). I quite frankly think that Alexander's personality could not be more accurately expressed. They did an encredible job portraying who he was, and what drove him. I also liked how they used his mother's very real claim that he was indeed of divine blood, that Zeus was his father, taking it one step further and turning it into a prophecy of destruction. And I think that was far cooler way from Philip to loose his eye than in some battle.

I'd like to mention, as well, that there was, indeed a Pythagorian cult. No, they weren't freaky supernatural assassins bent on destroying Alexander, but they did exist.

Frankly, I love this series, and am a bit disappointed to see no sign of an American release of the theatrical movie. I recommend this title, though not to the squeemish or immature. Latent (and historically accurate) homoerotic themes, violence (though not exceedingly gory), some "curtousy" breasts (I'm not explaining that term- those familiar with anime should know what it means), and a plot that adults can barely understand are just some of the "no kiddies" signs. :)

Absolutely spectacular!
I am a great admireror of Alexander the Great. I know much about his life- both history and lore. I, though, was not absolutely depressed about this anime. You could tell that Peter Chung did not try to make an anime about Alexander the Great, but an artistic expression based on Alexander the Great. ONe thing that often ticks me is when someone trys to make something exactly based on a historical figure, and they end up ignoring history anyways. But Reign was awesome! It took Alexander and put him in a different time and place. The art and creativity of the feature is spectacular. In a way, this anime continues a tradition with Alexander stories. Throughout history, Alexander was written about, but things were changed- facts, settings, times, events, appearances, and even race. This continues that.

No history lesson from me!
If you want a history lesson on Alexander the Great, Masedonia, the Greek empire, etc. don't watch this anime. Read a book. However, if you want to watch an interesting anime about a real life person, with a new take on the people, places and events in his life, then Reign is for you! I really like this anime, even though I already had some knowledge about Alexander the Great and knew that a lot of what was going on in the series was incorrect. It didn't bother me that things were changed. (That's simply the case in anime. And people deal with it. I mean, Cowboy Bebop's authors didn't have the theories involved in hyperspace completely accurate, but you don't see anyone saying not to watch the series because the physics are wrong!) I really recommend this as an anime for any anime fan. Like I said though, don't go looking for a history lesson here. Just sit back and enjoy it!

Bloated and boring, Greek style.
Goodness, what is up in Peter Chung's head? He tends to make his animated works as confusing as possible. Sure, I was too young to have seen his earlier work, 'Aeon Flux', but I have seen 'Matriculated' from the 'Animatrix' DVD, and let me tell you: it was a psychadelic, woozy, "get-high" experience that left me clueless when pondering about the whole point of the story. With "Reign the Conqueror", having Chung collaborated with some Japanese animation powerhouse to make one huge animated project, I don't understand about this one, either.

Here's something I do understand about "Reign." A King and a lustful, snake-fetished woman had a child born by the name of Alexander III, or Alexander the Great, and the woman predicted that her son will be king and rule all of the world. Fast forward to 20 years, and the older Alexander the Great is wiser and understands thoroughly on the art of strategy in warfare. After current events that lead him King of some country, he and his allies set forth to other countries to conquer and be recognize for Alexander's ambition, and to find his true destiny sameforth. At first, I though he was some fictonal being like Hercules, but after minor reference checking, Alexander the Great was actually a real person from the Before Christ era, and that his doing actually influence all greeks of today to see him as an inspiration to their country. If so, then why, in perspective on true events, are there big snakes, huge flying contraptions, visual predictions of a future, blade runner-related world, and such unbelieveable stuff that happened in Alexander's world? I don't get it. Maybe the company that made "Reign" wanted a more "retro"-spective version on Alexander's glorious life, but even so, I find the whole idea improbable.

The art on "Reign"...well, it really comes down to whether people likes this kind of style or not. For me, I like Chung's art style, and its there in this series. The way he makes the world like an average 80s comic book is cool, and the characters are interesting in a awkward kind of way, while at the same, having a "keen" fashion sense. If I WERE against the style, I would say the characters are very, very "Klasky Csupo" ugly, and even the most prettiest woman of the series, I doubt many boys would go ga-ga over her, even if she's in full frontial nudity. The audio (voice acting, music, sound effects) is good, too, but curiously, why did Tokyopop suddenly decided to replace the entire cast with different people on the second half of the series?

As said, this anime is improbable, and worse, it's slow. I thought watching 'Crest of the Stars' was slow, but this anime is Slow with a capital 'S'. There are some standing action scenes in this title, but there's a lot of discussions that can get on my nerves. I don't mind verbal discussions that deal with planning, development, or ideals on the characters, current battles, or approaching future events, as long as it is balanced to any entertainment like action, but here, there's too much verbal discussions going on, and it becomes a total drag afterwards. Another drag is the amount of name-forgetful characters introduced too soon in this series; I had a hard time keeping up with at least three sub-characters in this series.

Going through this nail-biting, lingering pacing of "Reign", I expect some compensation through this patience ordeal, and sadly, it didn't deliver. An anime that's based on a famous conqueror and adding that with the surreal and supernatural, while contributing philosophies may sound cool by first thought, but looking at this, there's too much stuff going on in this series, and in the end, I find it irrelevant and just plain disposable.

Sorry, Alex, I rather stay out of this long session of Greek History 101! ... Read more

Description

Robotech: The Masters: Complete Collection assembles, for the first time in one set, the entire second act of Robotech! One of the most critically acclaimed animated science fiction television series of all time! Presented for the first time together in one DVD set, this special collector's edition contains epsidoes 37-60 (the contents of Robotech Voulumes 7-10 but does NOT contain Extras Discs. ... Read more