Reviews (2)

Robotech Remastered: pretty good improvements
Sheesh...I guess it wasn't enough that Harmony Gold & ADV got me to buy the Legacy Collection DVD box sets; now they gotta throw out all-new platters with a souped-up sound mix and "new" footage in an avaricious effort to get me to buy the same thing twice (sorta)?! Well, looks like their efforts succeeded, 'cuz I just hadda pick this latest volume up to go with the other two I've snagged, thus completing the Macross portion of the saga. And besides, it gives me an excuse to waste yet another hunk of Amazon's bandwidth with my insipid scrawlings!

The main attraction of this "new-&-improved" edition is the inclusion of some "new" footage that was originally edited out of the original Macross show 'cuz it was considered less than appropriate for the American kidvid audience at the time and/or to get the running time down. Only thing is, unlike the last two sets this one has hardly any "new" stuff in it at all. Other than a few 'slice-of-life' extensions, a few seconds of newscast footage showing wounded civilians after a battle, and a Zentraedi literally gettin' his @$$ kicked by a Veritech, not much in the way of visuals has been thrown back into the mix. Well, except for the redone opening and closing credits, which contains new typeface and more Macross footage to replace the excised Southern Cross and New Generation bits. 'Course, if you've seen the original Macross show that the first act of Robotech is based on (which I highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet; the third set, which covers the same episodes as this collection, is available for purchase at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000B1ODO/qid=1084939581/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/104-5013392-3531914?v=glance&s=dvd), the added scenes won't be all that new to ya, anyway...

My biggest disappointment with this set was the remastered video, which displayed inconsistent picture quality throughout. On the upside, the picture quality & clarity was a bit more consistent than that of the first remastered set (check it out at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00011ZBRA/qid=1080091881/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl74/103-0457490-8406223?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846), but not quite as good as that of the second one (check it out at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001DCXRY/qid=1084939451/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-5013392-3531914?v=glance&s=dvd). Sadly, Harmony Gold was unable to acquire the footage that AnimEigo painstakingly cleaned and restored for the aforementioned Macross DVD sets, and had to go with the best of what they had on hand. Which was okay for what it was, but not as sharp, clear, and vibrant as I was hopin' it'd be...

This collection's one truly extensive improvement is the sound mix, which has been beautifully remastered in 5.1 channel stereo. Most of the sound effects have been totally redone, especially the various explosion and space fold noises. The only downside to the new explosions is that they're not too varied; most of 'em sound like rock slides and crumbling masonry. You know, noises that a metal spaceship most likely doesn't make when it's gettin' blasted to bits ('course, I could bring up the point that there shouldn't be any noises at all in the space battles, but that'd be gettin' too anal-retentive). Other sounds have been "boosted" for better auditory perception. The most noticeable examples of this enhanced audio are the background noises that play during the "battle stations" scenes on the SDF-1's bridge. But the best audio improvement of all is the remastered voice track: they fixed it so that it stands out reasonably well from the background sounds, thus making the dialogue more comprehensible. Also made more comprehensible was the dialogue of the Zentraedi characters; I can finally fully understand what they're saying through that reverb now!

As for bonus material and special features-- well, aside from trailers for other ADV anime videos and a cutesy transformable super-deformed Miriya model Veritech fighter toy, there ain't any. They didn't even bother to include The Sentinels movie here, which I found a bit of a shocker. Looks like you'll hafta hang on to those 'Elements of Robotechnology' bonus discs that came with the Legacy Collection box sets you bought a couple years back if you've a hankerin' for supplemental material and The Sentinels...

'Late

Final Box for the Macross Series
This 3rd volume of ROBOTECH should be the final box for the Macross Series. The BEST edition of ROBOTECH you'll ever own, so throw away all the other junk and enjoy the crystal-clear picture (from original film masters from Japan - Macross) 5.1 Surround Sound, and EXTRA scenes never seen in any previous edition of ROBOTECH. These scenes are cut into the episodes. Support their hard efforts and enjoy! ... Read more

Description

Just when everything was finally turning around, Yuki has fallen ill! When Toumadiscovers that it's Shuichi's fault that Yuki's sick, he's determined to stop thetwo from seeing one another. Will Shuichi stay, even if it hurts his beloved Yuki?Yuki's soul, meanwhile, is in torment. His dark past continues to haunt him,pushing him away from the people who love him most. When he suddenly disappearswithout telling anyone, Touma, Mika, and especially Shuichi will stop at nothingto find him! However, Bad Luck's manager K isn't about to let Shuichi go runningoff when they have a huge concert tour scheduled to begin. Forced to make theultimate choice, will Shuichi pick Bad Luck or Yuki? ... Read more

Description

It's just another day at the Tendo Anything-Goes Martial Arts Training Hall - that is, until a strange girl named Lychee and her giant elephant Jasmine arrive to settle a score with lecherous martial arts master Happosai. Apparently, a very long time ago, Happosai gave Lychee's great-grandmother half of a legendary scroll guaranteed to bring happiness to whoever was holding it. The women of Lychee's family have been waiting for three generations now, and the prince STILL hasn't come - but of course, the moment Lychee lets the scroll out of her hands, the prince finally appears. Only now it's Ranma's reluctant fiancée Akane that's holding the scroll, and the long-awaited prince is only too ready to sweep his lucky bride off her feet. Now Ranma & Co. have no choice but to follow Prince Kirin's majestic flying barge all the way to Nekonron, China, where they find themselves in a showdown with the Seven Lucky Gods of martial arts! ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A good movie, but a bare-bones DVD
This is the first theatrical release in the Ranma 1/2 series, featuring a high school boy who turns into a busty girl when doused with cold water, and back in hot water.

First, the movie. While not as good as the second one, it's still funny and gives one of the best minor characters, the lecherous martial-arts master Happosai, a chance to truly shine. Happosai's scheming leads to Akane (Ranma's reluctant fiancee) being kidnapped by a prince who wants to marry her, and the entire gang (plus Lychee, the bride originally intended for the prince, and her pet elephant Jasmine) have to set out for Nekonron, China to stop the wedding.

The DVD has a few extras, most notably a character gallery - they're strictly bare-bones, though, nothing particularly good or worthy of seeing twice (although this seems to be the case more often than not with anime). The video quality is as good as the animation can look on DVD (much better than the TV series), and the language tracks in English and Japanese are good. It helps that Viz Video is one of the few competent anime dubbers around.

If you're a Ranma fan, you should buy this - just don't expect worthwhile extras.

A pleasing addition to Ranma.
The thrill alone of actually purchasing a Ranma 1/2 movie is worth the price. However, if you are expecting it to be faithful to the show, you may be dissapointed. I am a longtime Ranma fan and this may be one of the dullest videos (however it still deserves 4 stars) in the series.

If this is your first time experiencing Ranma, this movie is not a good thing to start off with. Watch (or read) the series to understand all the wacky events. Just because it seems weird, doesn't mean it isnt good. On the contrary, weird things can always be excellent and interesting.

The story is simple enough (too much for the Ranma 1/2 world). Akane is kidnapped when a scroll is dropped into her hands. Kirin, the master of the scroll, arrives to take her as his bride. Ranma and Ryoga do not take kindly to this and along with the rest of the gang, and Lychee, who owns the scroll, set off to Nekonron in China to confront Kirin.

As usual the dubbing stinks (except for Shampoo), but the DVD soon fixes this problem by adding te additional language (Japanese) and English subtitles. Not only this, but there are other extra features: movie trailer, conceptual art, original japanese ending, information on the story and characters. Either way it is a great experience. I would rate the dubbed version 3 stars amd japanese version 4 stars (so I rounded it up).

Awesome!!!
I have never seen any episodes of the real Ranma series sadly. I have only read the manga. >.< Well This Was an awesome movie! I was impressed; when I saw the front cover I thought it wouldn't be that good. It was increddibly funny and exciting. I really loved this movie. Sadly I don't own it; I borrowed it from my library once. It was a really good movie. (I also suggest you get the CD! ^^)

Funny movie, with typical Ranma humor
This was a funny film, Ranma and co. have to head to China when, true to series form, Akane is kidnapped, and once more by a guy named Kirin who wants to(what else?) marry her, so it's up to the usual gang(and thankfully, Ukyo's not with them, she only makes a brief appearance), along with their reluctant ally Laichi, who is ticked off at Happosai, because Kirin was supposed to marry her, but he mistook her for Akane, as well as her elephant, Jasmine, and save Akane from him! There's a bit more humor than action in this one, and the fight scenes in the 2nd film are a bit better, but it's still worth at least checking out. It also has one of the rare times Soun uses his infamous, "Demon Head," form in the anime, plus also features a HUGE chase scene at the beginning with nearly every character to ever appear in the series, including Mikado, Asusa, Ryoga's dog, the Dojo Destroyer, Gosunkugi, Dr. Tofu, the Gambling King, the little pork and bean bun-headed guys that wanted the Dragon Whisker, the Ghost Cat Maomolin, and more! I also think the end theme, "It's Love," by Rabbit, is also pretty catchy! Although people not familiar with the series may not know what's going on, if you're a Ranma fan, I recommend you check it out!

normal person who enjoys ranma
Ranma the movie was very funny. In the movie akane is kidnaped (of corse). And ranma saves her, but on the way he gets into some interesting perdicaments. The movie was great. My only conplant was the lack of pronouns, and over use of proper verbs, but if you can over look that you will love it. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A great sci-fi mini series.
Crest of the Stars is a anime based on a novel and it shows. Lots of details, lots of background, lots of characters and lots of action. Jinto Lin, a Abh by title, and Lafiel, a Abh by birth, are the focus of the 13 episodes. They are thrown into the chaos of a galaxy about to explode into a war, but they always stay the focus of the story even when the events shown are light years away.
The Abh are a race who live in space and use genetic engeering to improve themselves. They believe that to bring peace to the galaxy that they have to control it - why else would they have massive battle fleets and take over planets that couldn't be a danger to their Empire? Of course, the other Human Empires don't agree with their viewpoint and also fear the Abh who they see as organic machines who have gone nuts.
The anime gives us the impression that the Abh have the edge in spaceships and military weapons, yet also show that even the Abh can be selfish and unsure of themselves. At one point, in the last few episodes, a Abh officer did not understand why the enemy fleet would attack him even after realizing that he had the bigger fleet. The idea that the normal humans might prefer to die in battle than retreat or become 'slaves' seemed to be beyond his grasp.
This is the FIRST part of a Epic of stories, starting with Creat of the Stars. I plan to get them all. I want to see who wins, even if I'm not to sure who is the Good Side and who is the Bad Side. Much of the story is seen from the Abh's point-of-view.

An excellent start to an unforgettable epic
Firstly I would like to start off by saying what an incredible value this collector set is...Crest of the Stars is a beautiful anime worth more much more than what you will be paying for.
People looking for mindless action like that of anime like Gundam and Dragon Ball Z will be very disappointed with Crest of the Stars. Crest of the Stars is not an action anime; it is an adventure, love story and political drama all in one. The story of Crest of the Stars is its strongest point along with its characters. Many of the episodes in this series are spent on character development instead of focusing on the actual plot. The animation quality is great but since the anime is a few years old it isn't as good as most of the recent BANDAI/Sunrise projects such as Cowboy bebop. The music is excellent but it is not typical of most Japanese anime as it has a more sci-fi feel. At only 13 episodes, Crest of the Stars is hardly complete, which is why viewers of this anime who like it should check out the sequels Banner of the Stars and Banner of the Stars II. Most people who are past the age of 13 and who don't consider Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z the best of anime will most likely like this series.

Legacy of the Stars
Crest of the Stars is not for the impatient. I remember buying the first volume years ago, and thinking at the time that I might continue watching it, but it was the slowest moving anime I had ever seen. This still holds true. The storyline on this one is much deeper than your typical anime, or even your typical sci-fi. The story revolves around young Jinto, who through no fault of his own became royalty, a traitor to his people, and a person without a real family while still a child.

The whole chain of events gets started when the Empire of Abh invades the Martine Star system and Jinto's father (leader of the planet) surrenders without firing a shot. Really, one might say that the real focus of this series is how different ways of thinking cause misunderstandings. When the Martine Star System is invaded, the Abh tell the planet's inhabitants that they are not interested in the planet, just the space surrounding it, and that the people can be ruled by one of their own. The people of the planet take it as an insult, rather than as an act of mercy, and view the surrender of their leader as betrayal, rather than as a brave course of action that probably saved their lives.

What really makes for an interesting twist (like some of the best anime) is the fact that there really aren't any good or bad guys in this one. Some of the things that the Abh Empire does could be seen as evil, and some of the things that the Abh do could be seen as extremely noble. One part of the series which really had a strong impact on me (once I understood it) was an old woman who was helped by Lafiel when her luggage was being stolen, and swore at her. Only at the end of the episode do we see what she was carrying (anti-Abh propaganda).

All of the galactic politics of war in this show is great stuff to be sure, but Jinto and Lafiel are the true stars of the show. On the suface Jinto appears to be a weak and mild-mannered person, and Lafiel appears to be a strong and resourceful Imperial soldier. As the show goes on though, we come to see that there is more to them than meets the eye. Jinto can be brave and ingenius (and even heroic) when he needs to be, and underneath that cool exterior, Lafiel is really just a kind young girl in need of love and understanding.

I highly recommend watching this one in the original Japanese, as it is vastly superior to the English dub. If you love hard-core sci-fi and serious drama, you'll love this show and need to buy it immediately. Espeically if you have the patience for a good story that takes its time.

Misses Greatness But Still Fun
* At the beginning of CREST OF THE STARS, a 13-episode anime series on
four DVDs, the Abh, a spacefaring race of genetically modified humans
with blue hair, occupy the planet of Martine, with the planet's
president making a deal with the invaders to become the planet's king
instead.

This makes his young son Jinto Lin a prince of the Abh Empire, and he
is educated accordingly, even though he finds the idea of being a
prince a little baffling. His duties as a prince
include military service, and so when he comes of age he reports to be taken
to a training academy. He is greeted by the first Abh he has ever met
face-to-face, a girl about his age with long blue hair and pointy ears
who gives her name as "Lafiel". At the time, Jinto has no idea that
pointy-eared Abh are royalty, and Lafiel is pleased by his
unselfconcious and unfamiliar informality. However, as the two return
to the patrol vessel that will take Jinto to the training academy, the
wheels are in motion that will lead to a galactic war with the rival
empire of United Mankind. The war will send Jinto and Lafiel off to
many adventures and make fast friends of them.

CREST OF THE STARS, based on a novel by Hiroyuki Moriyoka, is
basically a formula Galactic Empire story. There is very little that
is conceptually new here, and the story delivery is not particularly
inspired. CREST OF THE STARS can be annoying since it seems to
consistently fail to pick up on interesting story leads, for example
on the nature of the semi-benign / semi-authoritarian Abh Empire, and
also gives a consistently flat delivery of story elements that were
probably meant to be funny in Moriyoka's novel -- for instance, the
part of the story concerning the "Space Bimbos of Baron Fedbash" is
played almost straight, though it seems hard to believe somebody
wouldn't play it for laughs.

However, that said, I can see why this series has its fans. The story
is actually fairly strong, strong enough to still shine to a degree
through the clumsiness of the anime production, and in particular
Jinto and Lafiel are very appealing characters -- Jinto often boyish
and bumbling, but still courageous and bold when necessary; and Lafiel
leaking out glimmers of vulnerability under her sometimes overdrawn
military / imperial bearing. The two form a good team. The
production values are also good in general, if not remarkable, though
I found the theme music ham-fisted and thoroughly overused.

I tend to see CREST OF THE STARS as a "Galactic Empire Space Opera for
Adolescents" and as such found it enjoyable, reminiscent of a lot of
the sci-fi for adolescents I read when I was a teenager in the late
1960s. It has a certain Miyazaki-like flavor, not only because Jinto
is drawn in a way that suggests Miyazaki's artwork, but because the
Jinto-Lafiel team is reminiscent of Pazu and Sheeta in CASTLE IN THE
SKY. This is not entirely a happy comparison, however, since thinking
of it immediately brings to mind the thought: "CREST OF THE STARS
would have been really fantastic if Miyazaki had made it." Still,
I'll take what I can get, and wish that the production crew will
mature in time to make more of the good material they've got.

Can I recommend this? Yes, if cautiously. It's better than ordinary
anime, most of which I have trouble swallowing -- but that doesn't
make it extraordinary. I like to think of it as being what I wish
ordinary anime actually was. Certainly it's a good buy for the price,
which is surprisingly low for a four-disk set. I'll likely pick up
the sequels.

Interesting, & Intelligent Sci-Fi series with Great Visuals!
Jinto and Lafiel are two young royals, who are thrown together during an interplanetary war. The Empire Abh, and the United Mankind Empires are fighting. It raises questions as for who to root for in the conflict. I believe the Abh were once humans, who have progressed through genetic manipulation, and have now rebelled. There seem to be many conflicting reasons for the conflicts, and unusual treatment for the conquered. Jinto was the offspring of a political faction and somehow made a prince.

Beyond the political intrigue, we have some of the differences in the cultures displayed through Jinto and Lafiel. Jinto spent his life on the surface; Lafiel was basically, born in space. Most of the time, it's the Vulcan like logic, and intelligence of the Abh, Lafiel making Jinto seem very impotent. Things change later in the series, when they crash, and have to survive on the land.

It does appear that Abhs were modeled after Vulcan's. The pointy ears, long life spans, and stoic intelligence gives that away. Still, something is quite different in their war vs the human culture. The series has other intelligent treatments of concepts like hyperspace. I did have a bit of trouble believing that mines were an effective space weapon, but I suppose its possible. The space battles are nice and very believable action.

The main thing the series has going for it, is still the characters. The main characters and supporting players, are well developed at each point in the story. The story often plays more like a medieval era adventure, so it can seem a little choppy in places. Still, it looks like the storyteller stuck to their vision, and played out the plots of the main characters within it. When it all comes to an end you do want more, and they made two sequel series, both under the Banner of the Stars heading in the US. Its too bad such a richly created universe does not have the support to create 200 episodes like some other anime series. I guess it would cheapen the quality. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This early anime series that helped introduce the genre to the United States in the mid-1980s is a curious hybrid. Harmony Gold bought the rights to the 36-episode Super Dimension Fortress: Macross, in which an alien invasion was held at bay by the voice of a girl pop star, but executives felt that American viewers wouldn't accept that plot. Producer-story editor Carl Macek intercut sequences from Macross with two similar-looking sci-fi series from Tatsunoko Studios, Genesis Climber Mospeada and Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross, creating a sprawling 85-episode space opera with a completely new story line. A gigantic spaceship crashes into the Earth in 1999; after 10 years of analysis and repairs, the Earth forces relaunch the gargantuan flying fortress--just as the 50-foot alien Zentraedi attack hoping to capture it--precipitating an interstellar war. In addition to two discs (12 episodes) of the Macross adventure, this first collection includes the first video release of Codename: Robotech. Made to promote interest in the series before its debut, Codename consists of the first 13 episodes recut as a feature. Captain Gloval's reminiscences about the characters' adventures ties together the rather choppy film. The supplemental disc also offers a commentary by Macek, describing the origins of the Robotech project and the making of the Codename feature; a portfolio of character model sheets; and selected scenes in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. A must-have for Robotech fans. Unrated; "contains mild animated violence." Suitable for ages 8 and up: violence is restricted to spaceship and robot battles. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (86)

finally robotech has landed
Well it's been a long time coming but Robotech has finally come to us on DVD. I picked up the box set at media play for 40 bucks. It containts 3 DVD's 2 normals and 1 SE. I haven't had a chance to check out the special edition yet.

The set contains the first 12 episodes of robotech. The story line and characters are great. The animation is just what I would expect from a '80s t.v. show. Don't go expecting a Titan AE experience from this DVD. It's like they did an exact transfer from the Master VHS tapes. The quality is good and I couldn't notice any flicker or screen problems but I would have liked to have seen a revamped picture and possibly a transfer to anamorhic widescreen.

I had to change this review a little bit in regards to the sound. When i first played the set it was just on my regular tv since my Dolby Digital reciever was in for repair. I just assmued the whole thing was in stereo. But after looking at the DVD box itslef it says DD right on the back. So it looks like the series does support the DD sound as well.

So now I must give this box set the thumbs up all around!

SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM...
With a stroke of success in the 80's, the Robotech: Macross series still has a place for many fans today and shares a strong cult following. Being a fan of the series as a kid, I decided to buy the whole Robotech: Macross series, but I came across the overwelming amount of editions to the series. I didn't know which to buy, so I watched them all. Here are the differences between to different boxsets (all offered through Amazon):

Robotech: the Complete Macross Series
One Boxset: 6 disc

Sells for around $60-$65
Nothing special, picture quality is not great, but bearable. Comes in one compact boxset with all the disc in it. Would not reccomend getting this edition unless you just want a copy of the series and want to spend the least possible amount of money.

Robotech: The Legacy Collection: Macross Saga (Collections 1-3)
Three Boxsets: with 3 disc in each
Sells for around $40 each boxset, entire set around $120-$130
Same picture quality as the above set, but with addtional features. Comes with the most extras out of any current sets, but even then, they are so-so. I would actually recommend getting the above edition as I was not impressed with the extras, some were interesting, but it definately didn't justify the price. Your paying almost twice the price.

Robotech Remastered: The Macross Saga (Volumes 1-3)
Three Boxsets: Two disc each boxset
Sells for around $25 each boxset, entire set around $75-$80
Remastered picture quality superior to both sets above, sound quality much improved. This is the set that I would recommend. The price is affordable and well worth the extra money compared to the first set. Also includes a few bonus footage.

Macross: Super Dimensional Fortress (Sets 1-3)
Three Boxsets: Three discs each boxset
Sells for around $60-$70 each boxset, entire series around $180-200
Macross is the original Japanese series of the Robotech: Macross Saga. The storyline is slightly different with different music and sounds. When it was brought to the US, Harmony Gold added the Macross material with two other Japanese series to make Robotech. Macross is more "mature" and includes several scenes taken out of Robotech. Picture quality is even more crisp than the Remastered Series. I would reccomend only to die-hard Robotech fans. It's pretty expensive and lacks really any real extra features.

I loved it
What can I say I love robotech and I love the boxset format with a seperate extras dvd. this is one sexy box set. This is what BOTP should have done.

A true Macross fan? Don't bother. A robotech fan? Sure.
Originally I had high hopes for this set, after all they used the name Macross on the title. However after popping the DVD in I was severely disappointed. Not only is the childish dubbing still present, it is also the cut, convulated American version. You see "Robotech" is a whole bunch of Macross sagas tied together for America messing up alot of the story line.
If you are interested in the original and pure version you are better off buying the AnimEigo versions, they don't have any special features but it is the true vision of Macross.

The beginning of a legend
Robotech is a series I missed back in the '80s (as it aired against some of my existing favorite shows on Saturday mornings), but watching this disc, I can easily understand what the "fuss" has been about. While definitely a product of the '80s (note the titles and a few obvious moments of obvious visual and dialogue editing for US audiences), the series has definite depth, and a cohesive storyline that was previously impossible for American cartoons (thanks to problems with airing orders and general meddling from the Big Three TV networks). The narration is concise and, when needed, quite extensive, which helps ease the neophyte viewer into the show while in no way harming the style of the series.

One negative point is that the video isn't restored. Of course, given the nature of this series (a heavily edited and re-edited showing of three very different television shows), I'm not surprised. However, the video is at the same level as the original broadcasts (which unfortunately speaks ill of how TV shows were broadcast in the days before cable was in most of our homes), and everything is included (even commercial bumpers, recaps, and previews). The special features disc is equally loaded, with a special premeire movie (and commentary by Carl Macek, who is for all intents the "creator" of Robotech) and a series of character model sheets.

While certainly dated, with its sometimes primitive animation and now-unimaginable dubbing policies, Robotech is an essential series for all cartoon fans, and (naturally) this set is the best place to start. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're looking for a different kind of anime, Sakura Diaries might just fit the bill. It's a clever, quirky romantic comedy spiced up with lots of goofy humor and a splash of R-rated eroticism. Tuoma Inaba is your average country-boy loose in the big city. He arrives in Tokyo to take his college entrance exams, but Tuoma's not too bright and he fails them all. In short order our hero enrolls in a cram school, poses as a student at the prestigious Keio University in order to pursue one beautiful girl, and moves in with another--his cousin Urara who has a huge crush on him. Then things start to get complicated. This collector's edition contains all 12 episodes of Sakura Diaries. Because it is based on an uncensored version of the Japanese original, there are several differences between it and the earlier multivolume release on VHS and DVD. The plot remains essentially the same, but there's more nudity and newly translated subtitles, and there is no English dub. If you already own the earlier edition and don't care about a few extra seconds of skin, you probably don't need the collector's edition, but for completists and those new to Sakura Diaries, this is the definitive version. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Sakura Diaries Uncut!
At last the original version is out! The previous 4 part tape and DVD editions were taken from a hacked TV version of these OVAs. The hacked versions also had dubious dialogue for the subtitles that made the characters seem different than what they were. The dubbed dialogue was even worse on those as it rarely even came close to the sub dialogue. Happily those defects have now been fixed in the collector's edition: There is no dubbed dialogue and the sub is now accurate to the Japanese dialogue. Cut nudity has been rstored. There are even liner notes, which is unusual for ADV. The one feature not mentioned is that it also has the original next volume previews--the OAVs were originally released on VHS in Japan at 2 episodes per volume. The story ends at a natural point, but the ending tells us that there are more stories to be told. ADV is co-producing shows in Japan that will then become part of their future releases(The new Rurouni Kenshin OVA series)and this series would seem like another good series to continue. Enjoy!

Average Show, but Good Value
Sakura Diaries revolves around three characters. Urara loves Touma, but Touma wants to date Mieko. Mieko will only data a college student, so Touma crams for the entrance exams while pretending to already be in college. The story is far more serious than anime like Tenchi and Ranma.

This series was originally released as 4 DVDs. It was later discovered that two versions of the show existed, so ADV decided to release the second version as a box set. The material in this version is a little more risque than the original (i.e. it's not for kids). ADV redid the subtitles for this release, and by all accounts, the new subtitles are more accurate. However, there is no English dub on this version. If you hate subtitles, this release isn't for you. If subtitles don't bother you, this is a great value--you get over 4 hours of animation.

Better than Love Hina, thats for sure...
First off, Urara had long hair in her youth, should have kept it long... somewhere along the path of life she lost her way, for shame Urara -_-; Secondly, I wish I had a back scrub like that! *_* (watch the show & you'll know what I mean) ..OK, with that said..

I'd have to agree with the other reviews. At first I was under the impression that this anime would have typical "Love Hina" or "Chobits" style storyline to it. It does in some ways, but the overall story follows a different path. A path that slowly but surely grabs your attention & keeps you locked in. What I mean is, the first 2 or so episodes feel like any other anime out there, but as the story progresses there are a surprising/interesting plot twists & very good character developement. The humour, as with most Japanese anime, is always a bonus side-dish ^_^

The ending once again, is some-what abrupt, but by the time I saw episode 11, I knew they'd pull off an abrupt ending. We're left to answer most of the questions for ourselves... so keep in mind that this anime focuses on the theme of "love/relationships" & "journey to self-discovery". Rather than asking what happens, think about what the characters did to overcome their problems & as a result the direction the story was going close to the ending. Once you do that the answers should come naturally. If you keep that in mind, the ending will feel a lot better. You'd say to yourself, "Ah! So thats what they were going for/getting at! ^_^"... that or I could be crazy, watch it & you be the judge!

Anyway, (final notes...) I think the network that was airing the show might have put then on the cutting block or they might have had too small a budget to pull of anymore than half a season's worth of episodes. In any case, if you like romance with a side of naughty humour, you must see this show. And yes, at first, I too said "WTF?^^ MATE" cause the ending was all like "THEE EEND!!"

Done reading my essay? Good. Now hit the "BUY" button. Hehee.. hope this review helped.

Very enjoyable from the start!
I really enjoyed this anime series. I picked it up on impulse, and was drawn in on the story. The story (I watched it in jap. with eng. subtitles) made me feel connected to the characters, and I wanted them to be happy. I cannot compare it to any other anime romantic comedies, for I have seen none. The first time I saw the ending I was heartbroken, but the second time through, I realized it ending with a feeling of hope for Urara and Toumi.

horrible ending
i fully enjoyed the series of Sakura Diaries, except the ending. it was very anti climatic and left me with alot of questions. i wont go into detail because that would ruin this series. the ending is horrible!! i thought that there was one more episode after it, but no i looked and looked. there was no other episode. i was left with WTF MATE^^. i was shocked and appualed that there was no extra episode and that that was the ending. overall, the series gets an A, the ending gets a F=(yes thats a double minus) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Prepare yourself--this ain't Disney
After reading the review below, I thought I'd better write in to clarify the sexual politics of Revolutionary Girl Utena. If you don't care one way or the other about this issue, read no further. If you do, I hope this will be a guide to help you think about the show.

Revolutionary Girl Utena is 39 episodes long, but for several years only the first 13 episodes have been available in the States. There are three reasons for this. First, the sex. We see teenage characters who are sexually active in some way, even though we don't see what they do. Second, and more important, there are some pretty obvious displays of gay sexuality, including one character who is a lesbian and knows it. Third, there are open discussions of brother-sister incest, including a younger girl who has a hopeless crush on her older brother.

Let's handle these three things one at a time.

1. The sex. In terms of its frankness about teen sex, Utena is more graphic than any US-based cartoon for tweens but far less so than Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So, if Buffy doesn't bother you, this show might not either.

2. The gay themes. This show never judges people for being gay, and the entire series is clearly about finding out what you want and staying true to your own ideals and desires. The main character, Utena, seems to like only boys at first, but she also kind of wants to BE a boy--strong, assertive, and able to defend other girls who are being persecuted or pushed around. In short, this is not a show about traditional family values.

3. The incest stuff. Incest is NEVER presented in a positive light in this show. Quite the contrary, is is portrayed as a tragic reality that is neither imaginary nor safe. The show's insights into the dynamics of family desire are very, very radical, and if you don't even want to THINK about these isues, don't watch the show. However, if you want to see a show that takes the issue seriously and will give you food for thought about what incest MEANS, you are in for a revelation.

[Note--The Black Rose Saga also has hints of teacher-student sexual relations, and these are handled similarly. The reality of such relations is acknowledged, but there no sense of sexiness, much less of approval]

This middle segment of the show, The Black Rose Saga, is the least interesting one. It's sort of a lengthy pause between the first arc, which handles the development of Utena as a "prince," and the last arcs, which deal with two basic questions: what does it really mean to be a "prince," and what would it take to revolutionize the world? However, even though it's a pause, it's still an interesting portrait of some minor characters and their own struggles, which are often different from Utena's.

In terms of its overall take on sexuality and desire, Utena is more radical than ANY show in the US, including Xena, OZ, Queer as Folk, etc. In terms of its sexual politics it just might be the most radical TV show, ever. By the time the series is over, the show has pretty much completely revised the whole idea of how men and women are supposed to relate to each other and what it means for them to desire each other. From the simple image of a prince on a white horse, an entire new fairy tale emerges that suggests women, and men, are headed toward a very new future. I can't say more without spoiling the show.

I write all this becuase US fans of Utena often attempt to downplay these issues and say that the characters aren't "really" gay, etc. Fine--but the characters aren't "really" straight, either. They are complex, powerful, and often tragic individuals who are trying to figure out what they want in life. I think we need more shows like this, both for teen viewers and for the rest of us. But make no mistake, this isn't just some adventure cartoon with cool fight scenes, and it will try to make you ask questions about your own desires.

The second season of the greatest anime of all time.
The release of the second arc/season of Utena is a big deal-a very big deal for us in the states. The Black Rose arc is far from being the best Utena series, but is still better than most series. It's fighting sequences are better than that of the first season, but it dosen't focus on character relationships the way the 1st does, but gives us a good insight on the secondary characters of the show, such as:: Kanae, Kozue, Shiori, Tswuabuki, Wakaba & her Onion Price, and Keiko. It also introduces us to the so called "villians" of Utena, Mikage and Mamiya. The relationship between the two has scared some off from this series but please, there aren't any real fruity scenes between the two. It never goes farther than Mikage kissing Mamiya's fingers- so if you're homophobic, you'll still enjoy this series. Mikage is a very interesting character with a dark past that will give this series quite a shocking season finale. Don't pass up the series that shocked Japan and is flying off the US racks.

Contains episodes 14-26

***Aside from the Black Rose, this also contains the first two episodes of the highly anticipated 3rd Saga- Akio.*** ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kintaro Oe, a 25-year-old dropout from Tokyo University Law School, bicycles around Japan "learning about life" like an Asian Along Came Bronson. He takes various part-time jobs, surprising everyone by excelling at everything he does, despite his goofy demeanor. He's lucky he's a quick study, as he spends most of his time ogling pretty women, cleaning toilets, and getting beat up. In this six-part 1995 OAV, he writes code at a software company, helps a corrupt mayor get re-elected, and learns to make noodles by hand. The animation is often sloppy--Kintaro changes appearance frequently--and the artists clearly concentrated on the bouncing breasts and jiggling derrières. Kintaro is a good-hearted and generally agreeable goof, but the slight plots and leering humor of this series will quickly bore anyone but a lecherous adolescent. As Kintaro's enthusiasm is matched only by his libido, it's all very silly and often crass, with his visceral reactions digitally disguised. Rated 17 Up: nudity, violence, profanity, sexual and toilet humor. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

WITH A HEART AS GOOD AS GOLD
The suggested age for this dvd is 17+ for a good reason. Kintaro Oe is 25 and dropped out of law school not because he couldn't hack it, but because he had already mastered the curriculum and wasn't learning anything. So now he bicycles from place to place, getting any part-time job that suits his fancy, writing and drawing in notebooks. He still studies, but his major is now life itself.

Kintaro usually thinks with his libido. For example, when he sees a beautiful woman who turns out to be a swimming instructor, he gets a job as an instructor, even though he doesn't know how to swim. After he is exposed, he tells her he will beat her in a swimming race if she will give him a job while he's training. He fantasizes about her, and as in other episodes, he especially has a fetish for the toilets beautiful women sit on. She thinks Kintaro is a scumbag. The interesting thing is that he improves the training program at the school and actually revolutionizes their methods. In the end, the swimming instructor falls in love with him, but he disappears, on to another adventure even as she realizes her mistake about him.

Most of other 5 episodes follow a similar pattern. He gets a job around beautiful women, they think he's scum, until at the end he has changed their life. Just like GTO, even though the character seems perverted, in the end there is no sex. He helps out a sofware company, becomes an anime gopher, chases a motorcycle chick, saves a virgin from her caddish fiance, and has to deal with a yakuza mob boss.

This dvd was really funny. The voice actor doing Kintaro overacted as needed and the women were drawn in ways that actual humans could never be proportioned. Some people probably couldn't deal with the sexual humor on display here, but at least Kintaro is honest with his urges, and in the end knows exactly what he is doing. The real Kintaro has a heart of gold. This is a good price for 2 dvds.

Leechorus is good.
First I am tired with all the neo feminist reviews. As a loyal amazon custumer. I would like once a review by amazon that's not "Neo Feminist". Anyway I liked this collection. I personally love it when the hero is clumsy and a little quirky. Brings a little realism and fun to the character. Yes the animation does look sloopy in some of the areas. But I think that is because the director or the animatior wanted to show the lude scenes as such. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

well-endowed hitwoman vs. drunkard killer
This installment in the ZERO WOMAN series is a standard but enjoyable Japanese girl-with-gun direct-to-video movie. The story revolves around hitwoman Rei, who is assigned to kill the leading personel of a criminal company. This turns out to be not an easy task, since the bad guys hire professional killer Katsumura, an expert despite his problematic drinking habits. Rei and Katsu fall for one another (hence the title). Things turn bad when the gangsters kidnapp KatsuÂ's girlfriend Tomomi to put pressure on the assassin to kill Rei. Will Katsu do as ordered? Or will they team up? Is Rei willing to fulfill her assignment by killing all the gangsters, including her lover?
Well, watch for yourself...

Busty Kumiko TAKEDA may not be much of an actress and neither is she my favorite ZERO WOMAN, but she is undeniably very good looking and the script provides her with many opportunities to show her naked ample assets. In this installment of the series her character suffers from flashbacks of a trauma ( her policeman father attempted suicide after shooting dead his unfaithful wife and her lover, and in the hospital young Rei pulled away the oxygen mask from his face resulting in his death), so the ZERO WOMAN is an unstable, insecure and angstridden killer unlike in the other entries. So Rei is not very convincing as professional killer. And her drunkard assassin lover is a total loser!
As far as I am concerned I didnÂ't like this pseudo-psychological characterization too much.

On the up side there is plenty of violence, nudity and sex on display. The impact of the bullets is shown quite gory with lots of blood spraying around.(As far as ReiÂ's boss is concerned, thank God thereÂ's Kevlar!) The sleazy gangster boss who is into S/M adds to the entertainment value.
Camerawork is also fine. And I really liked the score and the rather cynical ending...
The film is presented letterboxed (in Japan also direct-to-video films are presented this way in order to give it a more "cinematic" look). Subtitles are easy on the eyes. Extras include the filmÂ's trailer, additional trailers for several other ASIAN PULP releases, a "meet the characters" section and trivia. This last extra consists of a multiple choice quiz, where you are asked to answer questions about the film by highlighting the correct answer with your remote. If the answer is correct, you are awarded with a short scene from the movie and a caption like "You are a genius!". Silly, but fun!

Overall: Definitely not a must-have, but good entertainment nonetheless. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Fun Little Peice of Anime
People expecting the next Kite should deffinatly not watch this. Mezzo Forte is much lighter than Kite (although still VERY violent) and takes everything with the tongue placed firmly in the cheek. Oh and just to make this clear, I saw the cut version of Mezzo Forte (sans all adult scenes).

The dub for this release is also pretty well done. Some very familiar voices grace the screen, and not the usual Kitty actors (although I read at AnimeonDVD that the girl who Mikaru had a voice double for the more mature scenes).

This is not for kids at all! There is plenty of nudity and some pretty strong sex related dialogue in the first few scenes. Also, even though this is a comedy, it is VERY violent. People are shot, impaled, exploded, and beaten with bats to name a few little things. A deffinate 16+ viewing experince (and the directors cut is deffinatly a 18+.)

For the fans...
Well, this 2-ep. OVA was quite a surprise after something like Kite. I really liked Kite for it's no-sweat attitude and violent action sequences. The same things can be found in Mezzo Forte, but it's taken in a slightly different approach.
This anime wasn't made to be taken seriously. It's more of a lighthearted action show rather than a pychological action drama(like Kite was). It's like a Yasuomi Umetsu grab-bag film (meaning that you'll find most of the things he does well in this movie)

The first thing that will strike you about Mezzo Forte is it's art and animation, which are a large step above Kite's (which is excellent on it's own). The character animations are very smooth, and the coloring is very detailed and diverse. Unlike Kite's animation where everything but an action sequence uses mostly still fraims, Mezzo Forte gived nearly equal treatment to every scene throughout. The character designs are very appealing and attractive (espcially for the female characters. You could almost drool over them. I want the director's cut now *gawww*) As you can see, Action scenes aren't the only thing in this show that are a sight to behold.
Speaking of action scenes, this anime takes Kite's standards to a new level. Remember the exploding bullets from Kite? Mezzo Forte has exploding people(well, they're actually sex robots) and explosive bowling balls. Not only are there gun fights, there are also some superbly executed hand-to-hand combat scenes that have great attention to detail in the choreagraphy.
In conclusion, as far as art/animation and action goes, you will not be dissapointed in this title.

Now not 5 instead of 4 stars? Well, that's for the title's lack of depth. You won't turn off the film and start thinking about the plot's twists and turns. The entire film is pretty straightforward. Some people tend to like that in action films, that it not being too cerebral. I'm more of the cerebral type, but this movie was still quite enjoyable. Like I said, Mezzo Forte is quite light-hearted and is filled with jokes and gags. You could almost call it a comedy.
There's a hilarious parody of Die Hard during the second episode and watch for the *blink-and-you'll-miss-it* cameo of Sawa from Kite.

The dubbing is also quite good. I espcially liked Mikura's cute voice done by Ed's voice actor from Cowboy Bebop. The Japanese VAs also do a terrific job.

Overall, the film's lack of depth doesn't keep it from being a very goofy and entertaining story. If you want something like Kite but less depressing, then this is your film.

I also wish Mezzo Forte was longer (only 55 minutes). I thought that it really could have used an extra half hour. I wanted more!

But even though the film is goofy, it is filled with blood and guts. There first scene in the film has a guy beaten to death with a baseball bat and then shot several times. People get shot not once, not twice, but dozens of times before they die. Mezzo Forte isn't for the squemish. As the cover says, this is Kite times 2.

A Fun but Short Anime
Most anime are fun little distractions, rather then serious works of film. With that in mind, I have to say I love Mezzo Forte, and I love Mikura.

The main character of the show is the cute, spunky, and feisty Mikura. She's a badass fighter and really flexible, we never know why she got so good at fighting, but then who cares? She has a firebrand nature, and can be easily upset. Where her two partners are spineless to a point, she is afraid of very few things.
In the same Investigation agency she works for, there are two clowns, Harada a young mechanic of cyborgs, and Mr. Kurokawa, a ex-cop with money.

The main story revolves around the trio kidnapping a mob-like owner of a baseball team, but then things go sour fast, and next thing you know there is fighting and explosions, and Mikura!!! The story is by no means great, as it feels as though the writer wanted alot more then an hours worth, but never got it. Secondly, this movie is the prelude to the TV series which is either running or will be running on Japanese TV, which means its more of an introduction to the team, rather then a complete "stand alone" movie. In the end the story is enjoyable for what it is.

The animation in the movie is top notch, as it comes from the same guy who brought us the gritty movie "Kite". Mikura, for a cartoon is sexy cute, and all the other characters in the movie are graphically pleasing in their own ways.

In the end this a fun little movie, not to be taken seriously, but to be enjoyed for the zanny characters and the excellent graphics.

anyone else get a heavily edited version?
I got it as gift for a friend who's into "hardcore" anime. He's still mad about it - apparently the one I got has been heavily editted (according to him) because it only implies sex - it doesn't show it.

Great Action Anime
This is one of the finest anime for those who like Action ^^ from gunfights to catfights this show has it all , I guarantee you wont be dissappointed , Did I mention the exploding bowling balls and cute girls who kick ass? ... Read more

Amazon.com

In "The Birth of NERV," the filmmakers offer the viewer glimpses of the main characters' childhoods in scenes that hint at the sources of their problems and sorrows. And the penultimate episodes are dominated by sorrows at NERV, the organization that handles the Earth's defenses against the invading Angels. Asuka has grown so hostile, she can no longer bond with her Eva. After being badly injured in battle with the 15th Angel, she's removed from the program she lived for. As Commander Ikari insists on keeping Shinji's Eva in "cryostasis," Rei is left to face the serpentine 16th Angel alone: rather than be overcome by it, she destroys her Eva, the Angel, much of the surrounding landscape--and herself. Shinji is shattered by her disappearance. After decoding a message from the murdered Kaji, Misato forces Ritsuko to reveal to her and to Shinji the hideous truth about the creation of the Evas. But Misato, Shinji, and Ritsuko are only pawns in the larger game being played by the ruling cadre of the sinister SEELE organization. The 16th Angel has been vanquished and, according to the predictions they have derived from the Dead Sea Scrolls, only one remains to appear. These fragmented episodes showcase the singular mixture of Christian symbolism, sci-fi action, and Eastern mysticism that has made Evangelion one of the most widely--and hotly--discussed series in the history of anime. Not rated; suitable for ages 14 and up: robot versus robot violence, minor nudity, and grotesque imagery. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Description

Meet Ryo Seaba: ladies' man, troubleshooter and expert marksman. When you need more help than the police can provide, he's the solution. He's the City Hunter, and if he can't solve your problem, no one can. Welcome to the world of City Hunter where freelance troubleshooter Ryo Saeba works to keep the streets of Shinjuku safe. When calling the police just won't do, leave an "XYZ" message on the board at Shinjuku Station and the City Hunter will respond to your plea for help, especially if you happen to be a beautiful woman!Contains the entire first season (26 complete episodes) on 5 DVDs! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

People who are stuck in the 80's..
City hunter's sound track was popular (3 different ending theme songs were #1 on the oricon charts in 1986 - 1987) but why would you want to "collect" animation thats 20 years old?

Hunt this out
First off, this series is Japanese with English subtitles - and that is the best thing ADV could have done. No dub would capture the frequent changes between tone the characters all use. But don't fret people City Hunter is a very visual anime with regards to plot and humour - even if you're slow at reading you'll keep up with this. Previous dubs have all been terrible changing Ryo's name to Joe anyway...

Second the boxset features an introduction to words or phrases used in the show before each episode which really helps.

Thirdly the music in this show is great (the later boxsets of the series gets even better) and fourth this boxset is great value for money - it's half the price of a season of Tenchi or Trigun and less than Ranma or Slayers too.

There's no reason not to go after this boxset of the Mokkori maniac City Hunter's exploits.

City Hunter the Best of the Best
All 140 Episodes of City Hunter (CH.1,CH.2,CH.3,CH.91) and the 6 City Hunter Movie / Special (Goodbye my Sweet Heart,357 Magnum,Bay City Wars,1000000 Dollar,Secret Service and The Death of Ryo Saeba) are Perfect for each Anime fan !!!!!!!!!!!
I saw City Hunter.1 and 2 at the German Pay tv and I loved it from the first minute (I hope that there will be a German dvd with it soon )if you believe,City Hunter.1 is good then wait on City Hunter.2 (Episode 52-114) 1000% more City Hunter Action !!!

The bigest Episode at CH.2 is (Ep.100)Goodbye cold City 1/2 Ryo must save Tokyo from a group of Terrorists wiht a Atomic bomb but his real problem is the Boss of the Terroists it is a woman and her name is Kaori Makimura !!!!!!!!!

Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy BUY BUY Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy

Get Wild with "City Hunter"
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

Description

Love is never easy, and that goes double for Daisuke Niwa.The only way Daisuke can rid himself of the phantom art thief, Dark, residing in his DNA is to have his love returned.The problem is he has fallen for Risa who is obsessed with his alterego Dark.It's Risa's twin sister, Riku, who seems to have eyes for him! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

D.N.Angel just got more interesting
In this dvd we learn about Daisuke's father and how he met his mother. I just loved how they met because it was just one of those couples that fall in love at first sight. The first episode on the dvd is just humorous and it is just nothing but comedy. The episode just talks about how Risa and Riku switch and take each others parts. Other than that overall I would still recommend watching this series to anyone who likes anime and has patience!

Fun to watch
This a very good DVD in my opinion. but if you dont think so then you not into the innocents type of show's. like i am. so if your not into the innocents type of show's. then this is not for you. but I do so I like it.

xoxo,
Kaoru the White Lilly

One of the greatest animes
I just finished watching the entire DVD, extras and all, and I just got it today!That's how much I wanted this DVD and absolutely loved it.
The voice commentary this time is the voices for the twins, Riku and Risa, which is soo funny!
We get to hear an unplugged version of the opening song, which just grips and makes you feel the song even more.
The four episodes this time are much more developed character wise, and once again staying to some point with the mangas.
This is a series that is totaly worth checking out, and a DVD to get! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brief overview of what happens.
Episode 31 - Countdown to Destruction

Tak sees Natalie in a Mercedes with another guy. Pissed off, Tak gets to Mt. Akagi filled with rage and begins to race. The 86 battles the overpowered Evo, which contains the legendary mis-firing system.

Episode 32 - Goodbye Eight-Six

During the epic race, Tak suffers from the difference in horsepower. While he wins a little distance in the cornering, he loses the lead in the straight-aways. Bunta begins to worry about Tak.

Episode 33 - Battle at Akagi

Iggy tells Tak he is going to go watch Ry's and Kyle's battle. It's a battle between the epitome of motor sports technique and the essence of mountain battle technique.
... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the most absurdly violent films ever made, this outrageous comic book of a movie is short on style but makes up for it in sheer audacity and excess. Brooding street kid Ricky Ho (Fan Siu Wang, playing the part of avenging angel with self-righteous earnestness) walks into the corrupt corporate prison system with superpowered martial arts skills and proceeds to punch his way through every bullying thug and sadistic guard who comes his way. Literally. His fist puts a gaping hole through the stomach of a giant sumo-wrestler-sized thug and the jaw of a pompadoured bully, and turns the skull of a pathetic guard into a bloody stump. As Ricky becomes a hero to the downtrodden prisoners, the assistant warden (who keeps breath mints in his removable glass eye) organizes the dreaded "gang of four," the cell block gang leaders, to take Ricky down. Fat chance!

There's nothing realistic about the bone-shattering, blood-splattering spectacle of crushed heads and snapped limbs, but the unrestrained display becomes so preposterously grotesque it hardly matters. You'll be convinced that the "Oh" in Riki-Oh stands for "Oh my God, did I really see that?" Yes, Ricky really does tie a sliced tendon with his teeth, a thug cuts open his gut and uses his own intestines to strangle Ricky, and the warden (for no apparent reason) puffs himself up into a giant rubber ogre. Ricky's curvy, feminine nemesis Rogan is played by Yukari Oshima, the butt-kicking, all-woman star of Angel and others. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (75)

A movie so bad that it's entertaining.
....Riki-Oh: The story of Ricky is a B movie beyond any B movie I've ever seen.As a movie, it gets 1 star,as a form of visual entertainment for the morbid,and/or people with strong stomachs looking for a movie to make fun of,a full 5 stars.The dubbing is bad,the music is bad, the plot is full of holes,and ridiculous things happen in his movie that could never occur in real life,but all this does not matter,because the gore and violence are so over the top. If you have a morbid sense of humor, this movie will definitely do. There are tons of graphic scenes of major mutilation and death.I found it so funny that I often had to replay the scenes in slow motion to see how they did it,and when you slow it down,it looks even funnier.This movie is crazy,and doesn't make a ton of sense,but I find it very entertaining.If you've got that "special sense of humor",you owe it to yourself to buy this DVD,and gross your friends out with it.I have to find/make a T shirt that has the DVD box art on it! Too funny.

Ridiculously violent masterpiece of bloodshed and mayhem.
OK, this is either the worst movie ever made, or the best, depending on how you look at it. By normal standards upon which most movies are reviewed, it doesn't get much more terrible than this. However, based upon sheer violent content that reaches such an unbelievably, unimaginably, outrageously graphic level it achieves comedic sickness whether its meant to or not, it is the best movie ever. Riki Oh is by far the bloodiest, goriest, and sickest film ever concieved. Imagine the game Mortal Kombat... and make it 50x bloodier. Holes are punched through people, heads are crushed, tendons are ripped and tied, intestines are pulled out and used as weapons, body parts fly, eyes shoot out from the sockets, and people are shoved into meat grinders. That is only half of it. Blood flows like water. Watch it, you'll have a good time doing it. You'll be watching the fight scenes over just to make sure that, yes, you really saw Ricky tie his own tendon with his teeth. Watch it with a group of friends, you'll all be laughing your butts off, either that or vomitting profusely. Riki Oh is a tremendously enjoyable experience, however those who are weak of stomache should stray away from this movie at all costs. If you are a gore freak, or just looking for a good distraction from your woes, by all means get Riki Oh. If you are looking for depth of plot and heartfelt acting, avoid Riki Oh no matter what. Again, it cannot be stressed how insanely violent this movie is.

So bad it's funny
Story of Riki is a must see.
It is so bad it's funny. Especially the laughable dubbed version of the film.

The plot is pretty dull but still holds a grudge.
The film is very very Cheesy too.

The violence is over the top but very unrealistic but Still over the top such as the part were Riki pumbles through a guys stomach or of course the part were riki smashes through a guys hans. This film is very very violent and graphic but in a funny way.

The music was acctually pretty good! The story of Riki Rules! And I recomend this too some one who just wants to see some thing F-d up.

Over all this is a horrbily but funny movie even though it's not tended to be funny.

Get it...NOW!!!

Later

Ricky's Great! Ricky's superb!!!!
Recently I've been reading up on Horror movies while on the internet, which naturally leads to discussion of gory films. Not too many non-horror movies would generally come up, except for this one, which was referred to repeatedly. Still, I wasn't too interested til I came across it in a store, and noticed the 'features the hilarious exploding head from the daily show' sticker.

Clearly, this was a film I had to see.

Normally, I write long, tedious reviews, but really what can you say about Riki-Oh. This is the height of camp entertainment. It is compulsively watchable, including the non-action scenes which still have immeasurable camp appeal. The ultra-cheap, inappropriately brightly colored sets are delightful, and the subtitles are absolutely atrocious, both of which add to the film's appeal. Honestly, this movie would be pretty damn amusing e