Reviews (687)

Mononoke a must for Fantasy Fans
This is an amazing anime feature reminding me a little of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Except that was Chinese Folklore). It has simplistic yet very professional and detailed animation by Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring a beautiful instrumental score rendered by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. This movie is set in isolationist Japan, and is filled with eastern/Japanese cultural elements for us westerners to attempt to understand. Along with a decent fantasy helping of personified animals and Gods. Be careful watching it if you can constitute a western audience member. This isn't a tree hugger movie like Fern Gully (me shudders). If you think this movie has contemporary western political motives then you are thinking too hard! I had to stop myself and just enjoy it. The story really has no antagonist because both sides in the story are equally guilty of one emotion (try and find the best line in the movie that sums up what I just said)...plus it smacks of Eastern values and mythology. And that's all I'm going to say about the story. If a devout conservative can love this movie...anyone can. Leave the soap box at home. Incidentally the english dub features the voices of American Hollywood stars such as Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)and Billy Bob Thorton (Armageddon, Pushing Tin, etc...)...But don't tell the real Anime buffs that I watched it dubbed...lol...I know only real anime fans watch subbed anime.

Excellent Display of how our world is!
I have experienced some of the things that Miyazaki has put in "Princess Mononoke". For example, i've had to step into fights and then get rejected by both sides. We ourselves are demons in a certain view. We hurt others when they're in the way of our dreams or whatever. For example, if I wanted to rule the world and my friend opposed me, I would hurt him. Miyazaki is clearly showing this and that's why I give "Princess Mononoke" a 5-stars rating.

Be literal, "artistic" metaphors are stupid!!
Don't listen to rhogen, he's not smart. So what if all the characters have human actions, this movie is full of dizzying contradictions and superstitious crap!! Those who think in a literal way are much smarter than those who don't. I'm not an Evangelist Christian from Mississippi who thinks Princess Mononoke is full of paganism, I'm a Soviet Marxist who thinks Princess Mononoke is full of anti-human new-age supersition and metaphors that are silly and nonsensical. Miyazaki screwed up and should keep his enviromental anti-human commentary in Japan, like killing people will help trees grow. Watch Akira (Streamline version), Ninja Scroll, and Ghost In The Shell. All of those anime have adult and provacative content, but don't have anti-human new-age spiritual crap, "artistic" metaphores, and they don't make you puke out your lunch.

Don't be so literal, this is artistic metaphor at its best
I have to respond to those who freak out about the "superstitions" of this film. Being a totally non-magical thinker myself I can understand the first-order reaction. But frankly, you need to see the metaphors. When the spirit gods express anger at "humans", this is metaphorically our own conscience questioning and evaluating what we are doing. It's that simple. If you can do that, you will be able to LOVE this film. SEMI-SPOILER: The first great thing about it is that there are no mustache-twirling villains. Everyone's motivations are human, they're doing what they think is best. That's just the appetizer. Great stuff!

VISUALLY SPECTACULAR, HOT-BUTTON MESSAGES, BUT..
The reviews for this typical Miyazaki blockbuster are so rabidly of the WOW mentality that you may expect something mind-blowing. 'Manage your expectations and enjoy the bloody ride' is my advice.

In terms of sheer execution this is one of the best anime capers you'll see, replete with beasts of mythic proportions, lush forests, sparkling waterfalls, and some mind-numbing inter-galactic slaughter. I could wager in a blink that this is what inspired Tarantino to do that little anime insert in Kill Bill Vol 1.

Plus, the film has some swank credentials under its belt: the Japanese voices are dubbed, not just subtitled, by big *American* stars -- Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, Bill Crudup, etc -- who lend their laryx to a host of universally relevant issues such as the plight of indigenous people and nature in the face of unchecked business interests, the death of spirituality in the name of social progress, misogyny in its many variations, etc.

But I have my gripes. The film is violent. Very violent. Sometimes senselessly violent. I had to frequently turn my volume knob to the left. There are gigantic guns, and blood and guts splatter the landscape every minute. Most of this soon seems overdrawn (and the film is looooong) with all this supposedly cool action amounting to precious little in terms of any clear message about good versus evil. The underlying purpose is summed up brilliantly by a roadside beggar when he says something like the world is cursed, but we still find a reason to live.

I also found something lacking in the animation itself. While exquisitely vivid it seems to lag in its flair for capturing natural motion. Disney or Pixar movies pore over a sense of suppleness when an eye is raised or a muscle is twitched by a character. Miyazaki's animators on the other hand haven't penetrated beyond the skin, the moving creatures feel inarticulate and jerky, particularly when played against the very 2D painted backgrounds.

But that still doesn't stop me from recommending this powerful cult flick, a must if you're an anime acolyte. If not, then be prepared for a Tarantino x 100 and you'll do fine. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

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

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

Reviews (373)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (373)

Pure enjoyment for the open minded...
This review is directed to those who, like myself, are not avid anime fans. I own three anime DVDs: Ghost in the Shell, Akira, and Ninja Scroll, and I enjoy all three. However, Ninja Scroll is far the most enjoyable to watch. But this review is not a comparison of the three.

I would like to praise the writer/director of Ninja Scroll for creating such an exciting and artistic work while at the same time retelling the ancient tale of the reluctant hero. The plot was sufficient enough to withstand the weight of the amazing action sequences and fun sexual content. The character development was superb. Jubei (the hero) is not portrayed an all-powerful superhero. Instead, we just see a gifted fighter with an immense will to survive.

The action scenes are among the best I have ever seen, with battle choreography that is comparable to that of the best filmakers. The villians are imaginitive and original, not to mention devious. The plot is extremely imaginitive, touching on topics that are not common to the "super robots and cute little girls" world of Japanese Anime: love triangles, rape, greed, self esteem, and homosexuality. This film was enjoyable from beginning to end, and if you are searching to expand your collection into something new, pick up this DVD. Its pure enjoyment.

Breaking the Samurai Code
One tradition of Japanese manga and anime is based on the legends of Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi, who was a very real swordsman serving the Tokugawa Shogunate at the beginning of the 17th century. Jubei was known for wandering Japan, sometimes as a spy for the Shogun, and righting injustices with displays of his extraordinary swordsmanship. Kind of a Japanese Knight of the Roundtable.

In 'Ninja Scroll', this part is played by Jubei Kibagami, an itinerant ninja. He is drawn into clan politics when he comes to the aid of Kagero, a female ninja in service to the Yamashiro clan. To save Kagero, Jubei must successfully challenge Tessai, an evil ninja (one of the Eight Devils of Kimon) with the ability to turn his skin into stone, and the strength to chop walls down. Jubei succeeds, but Tessai swears vengeance, leaving Jubei deeply entangled in a struggle with the Shogun of the Dark.

The third player in this contest is Dakuan, the Shoguns spy. He is a deadly old man who recruits Jubei by giving him a poison that will kill him in a day and a night. Dakuan informs Jubei that Himuro Gemma, an old enemy that Jubei was sure was dead, was still alive, and, in the company of the Devils, was at the center of the plotting. Jubei, Dakuan, and Kagero must defeat the evil ninjas and discover the purpose behind the killing of an entire village.

Kagero is a poison taster, and, as a result, is permeated with deadly toxins. She can never take a lover, because even her kiss would kill. At this point in Japanese history such a woman was an outcaste, having little value in the eyes of her society. Jubei shatters her world when he insists on treating her as an honorable human being, creating a strong emotional tension that plays against the simple samurai action of the main plot.

Production qualities of the film are beautiful, echoing traditional Japanese art forms with a fine sensibility. Line and color are strong. Violence, of course, is present, but is tightly controlled, not dwelt upon. This is one of the best and most representative films of the more conservative Japanese traditions of anime. Worth seeing for its historical status as well as for its outstanding artistic values.

Even good with overdubs
The thing that bothers me the most with Anime from Asia is the sometimes horrible overdubs in English that sound flat and unimaginative. Ninja Scroll (and Princess Mononoke) is an exception.

The drawings are as always superb and the story line is as well. This story is about Ninjas in 16th century Japan, but with supernatural powers. REally interesting.

It is very graphic and the language is sometimes very coarse, does make it more 'real' in some strange way or another.

Really good movie, watch it twice, once in Japanese, once in English and be surprised

One of my favorite Anime flicks
Ninja Scroll is about a masterless ninja named Jubei who basically wanders around Japan looking to work for anyone worthy of his service. he eventually gets caught up in a change of events that force him to fight the Seven Devils of Kimoen who are trying to take over Japan and rule it by force. this movie contains a number of cool characters and very innovative villians with unic powers. there is lots of sex and voilence in this movie so i would recommend waiting until your at least 13 before veiwing this. i(being the Anime obsessed Otaku that i am) enjoyed every bit of this and i recommend that any fan of Anime should check this out.

10/10

Mehh....
I don't want to piss the NS fans out there but I don't see how good this is? I mean I have to agree with one reviewer, this is one of the coolest animes but I didn't think it was a masterpiece.
The story was alright but not big!
The animation was great but not excellent.
The action was great.
Over all it was an alright Ninja flick. Though I think this film is a little overhyped.

Also I have a problem of people saying "OH THERES A RAPE SCENE! OH!
Gimmi a freaking break its not like you see what going on! Even though you have the sence of whats going on it's still stupid how people make a big deal that you see like a 2 minute rape scene which you barley see anything but a nipple shot. Jeez.

Now I must say the violence is over the top. Especially when one guy gets both his arms ripped right off. EEWWWW thats gotta hurt.

Over all I thought this was an alright flick I guess.
Check it out for yourself and give your opinion on it. ... Read more

Description

In 1988, the landmark Anime film AKIRA, by director Katsuhiro Otomo, defined the cutting edge of Anime around the world.By today's standards, Akira remains the pinnacle of cel animation and retains the explosive impact of its highly detailed animation and its intensely violent saga of power and corruption.Neo-Tokyo has risen from the ashes of World War III to become a dark and dangerous megalopolis infested with gangs and terrorists.The government seethes with corruption and only maintains a token control over the powerful military that prevents total chaos and hides the secrets of the past. Childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda plunge into Neo-Tokyo's darkest secret when their motorcycle gang encounters a military operation to retrieve an escaped experimental subject.Tetsuo, captured by the military, is subjected to experiments that make him a powerful psychic, but, unfortunately for Neo-Tokyo, Tetsuo's powers rage out of control and he lashes out at the world that has oppressed him!Nothing can stop the destructive forces that Tetsuo wields except possibly the last boy to destroy Tokyo.Insert: 1) Black BRC response card (regular version).

2) Todd McFarlane Toy Insert (limited to 300,000 total inserts)* Anime masterpiece first time ever on DVD for North American release! * Created and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo.Special Features: * Digitally re-mastered including High Definition film transfer, High Definition restoration. * THX Certified * New English dialogue, new 5.1 mix (on the English audio only), scene access and more. * Disc 2 contains supplementary materials including "Akira" Production Report, "Sound Clip," director's interview, trailers, production materials, Restoration of "Akria", and "Akria" glossary. * Widescreen format (1:78) and enhanced for widescreen TV's (anamorphic).Akria The Special Edition (DVD9, 2 discs) ... Read more

Reviews (557)

The classic in a spiffy new version
For the uninitiated to Anime, Akira is the prototype. Everything great about Anime is here -- Rich scenes, bold action, powerful emotions and a mind-bending plot.

The Special Edition vocals are a departure from the old vocals, and, as other reviewers here note, are not always an improvement. The translation is also subtly different, with fewer memorable lines. However the story is easier to understand at the same time. Both versions have their high and low points...

The DVD transfer, BTW, is flawless -- and the soundtrack on DVD (I had worn out my VHS type) is impressive with my 5-speaker Dolby Digital setup.

The movie also has some of the downsides of much Anime -- some characters are cardboard cutouts, the animation has moments of lameness that appear dated followed by beautiful, flowing chase scenes. And the movie does not always make perfect sense, but then, if you are watching a movie about people who can channel pure energy, why get technical?

Warning for all squeamish people: This movie is NOT for you. More people die in this movie than in Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Pearl Harbor combined. (Of course, 20 million people die in the first scene, but that's beside the point...many of the deaths are graphic and my wife had a hard time watching).

The Special Edition includes lots of neat extras on the second disc -- trailers, making of, cool stuff about the weird instruments used to make the eerie music, and an interview with the creator, who doesn't seem to realize the enormity of his creation.

The Greatest anime movie now on DVD!
Set after 1988 when Tokyo gets bombed, 30 years later in the near future somewhere in 2019, it's now called "Neo-Tokyo" a urban jungle of Neons and Technology. A gang of good bikers led by "Kaneda" have a war against another Biker gang, but one of Kaneda's friends who is named " Tetsuo" gets hurt in a accident and is taken by Army soldiers, that's when things turn for the worst. Tetsuo is being the subject of a secret government experiment that gives him telepathic powers and telekinetic powers beyond belief, he now goes mad and rampages through Neo-Tokyo to find the source of his power.

A brilliant, visually stunning, spectacular and unique futuristic animated science fiction thriller from Japan that set the ground for anime back in 1988, based on a popular Japanese comic book and is one of Japan's most popular and highest grossing movies. In 1989, it was brought here in America and amazed audiences as well as critics and introduced them to Japanese anime. Phrased for it's awesome animation, great artwork, details, stunning background, ultra-violence, high action, Atmosphere, character devolpment and a odd ending which makes this movie a one-of-a-kind experience that you must see on DVD.

The DVD 2-Disc set is great and has great picture quality and CD-like sound in THX, Widescreen format, Bilignal with english Subtitles, and tons of Extras such as Trailers, "Behind the Scenes" and more, so if your interested in Anime or a fan of Animation, Science-Fiction, Action and anime then this is a must own.

Also recommended: Ghost in the Shell, Blade Runner, Scanners, Total Recall, Heavy Metal, Day of the Dead, Carrie, Roland Emmerich's Making Contact ( a.k.a. Joey), The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Starship Troopers, The Matrix, Mad Max, Fist of the North Star ( 1986 animated), The Crow, The Road Warrior, Firestarter, The Rage: Carrie 2, The Fury, Metropolis ( anime version), The Dead Zone, Nightmare City, Die Hard, The Noah's Ark Principle, Saving Private Ryan, Esclaflowne: The Movie, The Sixth Sense, Minority Report, The Running Man, Wizards, The Thing ( 1982), Altered States, The Stand, Terminator 1 & 2, and Spriggan: The Movie.

This is The Best Anime I Have Ever Seen
I think this movie is a good example of anime,this movie got me in to anime because it has a cool storyline and good animation, I don't reccomend this just to anime fans but to anyone, even if your not fan of anime, this movie will get you into anime

Great film
This is one of the best anime films i've ever seen. The animation is good. Even in the original film the animation is great for a 1988 movie. It is violent and has plenty of language. The dubbing was horrible, not the voice acting but how the characters mouths moved with the words (for those of you who really care about that sort of thing.) I actually liked the voices. If you've ever seen the series Trigun or Dual Parallel - Trouble - Adventure you will probably recognize the voice talents of Johnny Yong Bosch (sp?) who was Vash in Trigun and the dude who played Kasuke in Dual. The story is also pretty cool. The only really downside to the movie (for some people only) is that the movie seems to go on for a really long time. I kept thinking it was about to end and then something else would begin and that got kinda annoying. Overall I really enjoyed this movie and would definately reccomend it especially for fans of the Armitage movies.

Vash vs Leo, Leo kills the p*ssy!!
Akira is the greatest anime, but Kaneda's "Vash" voice makes the movie repulsive to watch. Kaneda's "Leo" voice was a billion times better. Not only that, Leo is tough, cool, and respectable; Vash isn't!! If Leo and Vash got into a fight, Vash would have an advantage because he has firearms instead of swords, but Vash won't exploit that advantage because of his p*ssy belief of not killing his foes. This will give Leo the advantage and he'll chop Vash into bits!! Leo rules Vash blows!! That retard who said that Vash is better in the review below mine ought to be beaten to death with a Soviet sledgehammer!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro) achieved his first international hit with this delightful 1979 adventure yarn. Quick-paced, high-spirited, and loaded with wit, Cagliostro is a dandy throwback to the caper pictures of the '60s. International man of mysteryLupin III stumbles back into the picturesque European duchy of Cagliostro with his faithful and gruff sidekick, Jigen. They will encounter, in no particular order, a runaway bride, a magical ring, an evil count with a dastardly plan, an inspector bent on catching Lupin, perilous rooftop chases, hooded guards with superhuman powers, a well-used dungeon, a counterfeiting scheme, and an ancient mystery promising grand treasure. Lupin deploys an array of Bond-type gadgets, razor-sharp wit, and a surprise up both his sleeves. Despite the hail of bullets, this caper is great fun, never taking itself seriously. Miyazaki's career illustrates how limiting the term anime can be for these films; there are hardly more than10 live-action films of this genre as entertaining. Far less mean thanHollywood fare, it nevertheless is for ages 9 and up with language and gunplay. The Lupin character has been featured in other anime films, but never as successfully or with as much fun as in Miyazaki's film. The new English-language dubbing is excellent to boot. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Fun!
Castle of Cagliostro has everything a retro 70's
action/adventure film should have: a fearless hero
with faithful sidekicks and slick gadgets, an evil
villain, a damsel in distress, a castle, plenty of
humor, daring escapes and chases and of course,
music from the 70's. This is probably because it was
made during the 70's ;-).

Seriously speaking, Lupin is a successful merger
between James Bond and Indiana Jones, with a
personality and sense of timing which surpass
both. The movie is a lot of fun to watch. Jigens
(his partner in crime) is also a great character.
This movie is a lot of fun. Everything is stereotyped
(Lupin is the typical charming rogue which gets away
with all his thefts). I don't think you'd regret
watching it and even buying it (if you collect anime).

On the technical side, the animation shows its
age (both in detail, frame rate and quality of
picture). The soundtrack is good; however, in my
copy the Japanese track is simply _horrible_

(technically speaking; the voicing is wonderful).
I don't know if it's because of my system (an old
amplifier) or because that's the way they recorded
it, but compared to the English track it sounds
like it was passed through a telephone speaker!

The best Lupin movie; one of Miyazaki's best movies
This film is great! A great mix of genres(suspense, action, romance, humor), a feel-good tone throughout the film, and a great, light-hearted story make this a must-see film for anime fans and even non-anime ones. Fujiko goes from being brunette to blonde in this one, although it's not really important. A bit of Lupin's past is revealed when he and Jigen trail a counterfeiter to Castle Cagliostro. What can I say? It's just good. The English dubbing(on the DVD, as I've never heard the original English dub) is excellent, far beyond the horrid dubbing used for the TV series. Unlike Tony Oliver, David Hayter(Metal Gear Solid) does a perfect job of capturing the same tone of the late Yasuo Yamada. Sadly, this was the first and last Lupin show/movie he did(as of now). The dubbing people of the Lupin TV series should watch this film and pay attention on how to make a good dub! But enough said, the movie's EXCELLENT!

Great caper film which happens to be anime.
Monday, May 03, 2004 / 4 of 5 / Great caper film which happens to be anime. This was my first full length film exposure to the Lupin mythos. Long ago I had played the laser disc game 'Cliffhanger' in the arcades when it first came out, it incorporated most of its plot and scenes from this movie. It was great to finally see the whole thing as I only ever made it about half way through the game, heh. Lupin and sidekick rob a casino and during the ensuing pursuit happen upon a princess chased by thugs. Ultimately leading back to a castle, a count, and a small country holding secrets to counterfeiting and beyond this was an excellent early anime with a great plot. It's interesting to see the character and stylistic cues later anime, particularly Cowboy Bebop, took from the Lupin saga. The plot was what surprised me the most, very sophisticated and entertaining for an anime, it was almost like an animated Bond film, or similar spy caper/mystery. Recommended.

Now we're cooking with gas!!
This is the cream of Lupin films and was created by a celibrated master storyteller and director. It's got everything a good adventure aught to have. The dashing roguesh hero. His faithful assosiates of great skill and daring. A beutiful damisal in distress. And evil and dastertly villan. Lost tresure. Harrowing escapes and great car chases. All of which are crammed into this rip-roaring ride that is Castle of Cagliostro. Throw in international esponage and intrege. Add a dash of comic relief.While stirring in the boys from Interpol and you get the general idea. This film simply ROCKS!!

DVD Review
Castle of Cagliostro is Miyazaki's first feature and stars the characters of the Lupin series. Miyazaki worked on much of the first season of Lupin and did two episodes in the second including the finale. I haven't been able to determine if these episodes are avaible on any in-print English release. While the animation is considerably cruder then Miyazaki's later works, the film is filled with thrilling adventure and fun humor. The breakneck pace and knock out action set pieces make up for the cruder animation style. Even without any prior knowledge of the Lupin characters, the story is simple to follow. Only the appearances of the female spy and the samurai seemed odd to an unititated viewer.
Film: 4 stars out of 5.

It is not Miyazaki's best, but it is easy to see his style emerging. The character designs for the count and the bride would soon appear in Nausicaa as Kurotawa and Nausicaa. Castle of Cagliostro is a great adventure film, but lacks the emotional realism and epic narratives that make up his later films. It may be Miyazaki's best on a pure entertainment factor. Think of it as a James Bond film by way of Pink Panther with Jackie Chan.

Manga's dvd is less then stellar. Picture quality is dicey. Most of the time the picture is fine with good color, but there are problems that pop up. Black spots appear on the film from time to time and several times heavy black blobs show up on the frame. The print also suffers for instances when the images shudders and appears to shake a bit when there isn't movement in the frame. These problems do detract, but generally they didn't distract from my viewing.

The video is presented in letterboxed format with subs that are half on the frame, half on black. I avoided the dub because the Japanese audio was just fine. Purists might be annoyed to find that the end credits are typed in English over a black screen without music, I don't know what the orginial Japanese print had. There aren't any extras other then several lame Manga Video ads.

Castle of Cagliostro is not part of the Disney/Ghibli deal so don't plan on them for releasing a new dvd. I would still recommend this dvd, although hopefully someone in the future will release it without the minor picture problems. Pioneer and Funimation both have recently put out other Lupin dvds, but I don't know of plans to pick up this title.
DVD: 3 out of 5 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on a series of fantasy novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a bloody anime adventure. Set in the distant future, the story focuses on D (voice by Andrew Philpot), the son of a vampire and a mortal who has dedicated his life to exterminating vampires. D is pursuing Charlotte (Wendee Lee), who has been carried off by vampire Meier Link (John Rafter Lee). The bounty-hunting Markus brothers and tough-talking Leila (Pamela Segall) are also on the trail. A long, violent chase brings them to the Castle of Carmila the Bloody Countess (Julia Fletcher), where the narrative founders in a series of confusing illusions that lead to an inconclusive ending. Bloodlust looks better in still images that evoke Yoshitaka Amano's intricate illustrations than it does in motion. The very limited drawn animation clashes visually with the more fluid computer-generated imagery--D's cape billows dramatically, but his expression rarely changes. Fans of such violent anime features as Sword for Truth and Ninja Resurrection will enjoy the no-holds-barred action sequences, but more squeamish viewers will be put off by the beheadings, impalements, disembowelments, etc. Vampire Hunter D, an earlier, more modest feature based on the same material, is a better adaptation. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (331)

Mediocre at Best
Maybe I anticipated the release of Bloodlust too much or maybe I've just watched too many really good animations recently, which detracted from this movie. Most likely, it just wasn't that good. I was a big fan of the first VHD, but for a new movie that has had this much attention and praise I was quite disappointed. I'm not going to just give it a good score simply because of high hopes and respect for its predecessor. D didn't deliver the sword battles that can be found in Samurai X. The artwork wasn't sinister or gothic compared with Blood - The Last Vampire. The characters weren't nearly as well developed as those found in Ninja Scroll. After the dust settles and the hype moves on to a new movie, Bloodlust will be far removed from the status of "an anime classic" reserved for the likes of Akira and Ghost in the Shell. This move could've been much better than what's playing in movie theaters right now, but that's just my opinion.

The Original Classic's Sequel
Bloodlust is a great combination of action and beautiful animation. Those of you who have seen the first film and were not impressed should look no other place than Bloodlust. Unlike the first film this is much more of an action packed violent movie. The voice acting of D is again done very well. Unlike in the first film all of the side characters are done just perfect. The animation in this film is the best you will ever see. The sound and picture quality is also very good. But no anime can be perfect as shown in this film. The D's hand which was awsome in the first film comes of as annoying in this one. The Scene in which the shuttle lifts of may make you gag put it isn't too horrible. Even with these flaws it is still a far superior film than the original. Those of you who have not seen the original should probably see it after you see Bloodlust.

So this is my review of Bloodlust

Story 7/10- The story thats there is good there just isn't that much of it.

Sound 8/10- The voice acting is done well and the quality is good.

Visuals 10/10- Great.

Extras 7/10- Nothing special.

Rating 15 and Up- Its not as violent as people say it is.

Movie 10/10- With a great lead character, tons of acton, decent story, and great animation Bloodlust is a must see.

The End

Um..Studio Madhouse..Kawajiri....Amano.....could there be...
..........a more incredible team to bring the latest Vampire Hunter D story to life?

Our wandering vampire hunting bad*** has been hired very reluctantly by a local aristocatic family to rescue a woman kidnapped by an ancient vampire named Meier Link. But D has some competition in this particular mission. The Markus Brothers, a team of vampire hunters with advanced technology hope to beat D to the prize. But after a brief encounter with Meier Link, D begins to suspect that the realtionship between Link and his abductee might not be what everyone assumes. Very dramatic with an outstanding orchestrated soundtrack, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a worthy follow-up to the 80's classic. And believe me, fans of the original were the most difficult to please.

Some people have complained that this DVD doesn't contain the Japanese track. It should be noted that there is no Japanese track. Since the film takes place in Europe, the film was originally dubbed in English using some of the top American talent. Which is why the dubbing is far superior than most other Englich-dubbed anime.

"I know I'm a parasite, but I've always been a helpful parasite haven't I, D?"......HA

better than it deserves to be
first off i want to stay that i HATE vampire hunter d. the original that is. i saw it once a few years back and thought it was the most worthless piece of trash i'd seen this side of dragonball z. i still do. so going into this i already had some preconcieved notions about how assy this would be.
the opening scenes just floored me. the animation is second only to akira, and its a close second. the characters, even the secondary characters like the marcus brothers, are spectacularly designed and have great personality. the plot, while on the surface may seem very standard fare, is done delicately and with enough pinache to absorb a casual viewer.
the action scenes are top-notch. the music is awesome.
the ONLY downer to the movie is the main character, who through most of the movie just sorta sits there. as boring and mannequin-ish as he is they did a pretty noble job of giving him some personality. if you dont believe me just watch the closing scene.

One of the best 10 movies I have seen. Period.
I cannot say why. It is, after all, animated. There are few animated full-length films on my best-100 list. Nevertheless, Vampire Hunter D is on my of-all-movies, top-10 list.

I am not knowledgeable enough to rate the animation. Maybe the most important thing is it is not evident after the first few viewing minutes; the movie just becomes an engrossing story. Animation only comes to mind afterwards; when something is obviously better done through animation than special effects (somewhat as black and white goes away after a few minutes of Young Frankenstein or Casablanca and comes to mind only when you think back on the film and realize color would not have been an asset).

Bloodlust has fabulous characters and a story complex enough and good enough to draw you in completely. It is much better than the first film. ... 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

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

Reviews (187)

Welcome to... METROPOLIS
I waited for what seemed like years to see this movie but when I finally did see it, it lived up to all expectations. It's about a 20's version of the future where robots are just as smart as humans but they are treated differently. The story goes much much deeper than that but i don't want to explain it.
ANIMATION:10/10: It's a mix between anime a fifties cartoon and computer graphics. I personally thought they blended very well. Although the CG wasn't superb it WAS passable and there was a whole lot of it.
SOUND:9/10: In the theatrical release there was no english dubbing, it was left in it's original japanese form with subtitles. However the DVD has the english language and the original japanese language. The dubbing is actually quite good. The music was EXCELLENT! However if your not into jazz you should probably turn the sound off and just read the subtitles. At the end when they played "i can't stop loving you" it had a really weird effect on you but it was cool.
CHARACTERS:9/10: Metropolis has realistic lovable characters that wear cool clothes. (Rock's boots are tight!!!)
OVERALL:10/10. Metropolis is a must see and a must own. Buy the DVD.

Style extravaganza... but falls short of it's potential
As an anime fan, I felt compelled to watch this movie. After all, it's a must see, according to everyone and their mothers. Sadly, this movie doesn't hold to the hype.

It's undeniable that it gets brownie points for style: The graphics are crisp and clear, and the jazzy music worked it's way into my soundtrack favorites list. However, I felt the use of 3D Computer Images was overdone, and contrasted too much with the normal 2D animation.

So far, so good. However, when it comes to the story, it falls flat. Metropolis sure gave it a shot: It attempts to be deep, it attempts to create a living, breathing environment, it attempts to use great characters... and that's it's problem: It attempts. but it never quite meshes out correctly. It never achieves the potential it holds to reach the state of greatness it was intended to.

Still, it's not something to keep it out of your collection. A reccomendable movie for most people, worth the money. Just don't expect a Grave of the Fireflies quality movie.

Work Smart Not Hard
* METROPOLIS, a Japanese animation film by Katsuhiro Otomo (of AKIRA
fame) and colleagues, is an adaptation of a late-1940s manga (Japanese
comic) series by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese animation
and comics. The manga was in turn inspired by Fritz Lang's silent-film
sci-fi classic, METROPOLIS.

METROPOLIS takes place in a city of breathtaking skyscrapers sitting on
top of underground complexes populated by humans and robots. The
society of Metropolis is caste-oriented, with an elite at the top of
the skyscrapers and a downtrodden, restless underclass at the lowest
level of the underground, with armed fascist gangs maintaining their
idea of order while a revolutionary underground arms for an uprising.

The story begins with the opening of the "Ziggarut", which despite its
name is a skyscraper, not a step pyramid. It is the creation of the
aristocratic Duke Red, an ambitious man with an obscure agenda. His
adopted son, Rock, leader of the fascist gangs, idolizes the Duke but
has an agenda of his own, which he carries out by indifferently
shooting anything in his way. A lad from Japan named Kenichi arrives
with his uncle, a detective in pursuit of a fugitive, and the two
become involved in the intrigues, which revolve around a pretty
android named Tima.

METROPOLIS is, particularly by anime standards, an impressive
production job, mixing elaborate computer-generated visuals with
excellent character artwork in Tezuka's style (though they made the
legs longer). It takes an interesting "retro" approach, with airships
flying over the city and a soundtrack mostly focused on old-time pop
tunes and New Orleans jazz -- SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY in an anime, what
a surprise -- and also makes good use of a Ray Charles number.

The end result is a movie that is visually dazzling and technically
impressive but fails to be memorable, not in spite of these things
but because of them. There is a fundamental clash between the
computer graphics and Tezuka's artwork style, and more to the point
the characters end up being lost in the scenery -- sort of like a
theatrical stage that is so elaborate it's hard to spot the actors.
Somehow I ended up thinking of the kind of web pages that are full
of bells and whistles but don't have any content.

The story actually seems basically sound, and the irony is that
METROPOLIS seems like it could have been a very good movie if
substantially less effort had been spent on the computer graphics and
more on getting up-close with the characters. In practice, METROPOLIS
never really picks up much momentum. It's interesting to watch, but
doesn't have much impact. Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS, though very dated,
has a lot more staying power and will be around for much longer.

Incredible backgrounds
I admit, I watch most videos with only half my attention while doing something else. This time, I just had to see every detail. The backgrounds in this animation rich and varied. Some, with meshes of building-sized gears, catch the early-industrial mood of Lang's "Metropolis". Others have an art-deco esthetic with monumental symmetries, or tech-noir grunge. They create unique moods for each passage, and are the distinctive strength of this movie.

That said, the script and action are ordinary. The characters came from central casting: boy-hero, grasping industrial mogul, bounty hunter, and central character with identity angst. The action is well paced and the script follows its own rules. Earth is saved in the end, as usual.

The one real disappointment came from the title "Metropolis," staked out almost 80 years ago by Fritz Lang. That title creates a very high standard to live up to, and this movie falls short. I have tried and failed to imagine any reason for this self-inflicted injury. A few of the choices for background music border on the bad, as well. At worst, though, they came across as 'trying too hard.'

It's good. I'll watch it again, if only for the backgrounds. I just wish it could have given the greatness that it wanted to.

Tima's last scene
It'd been a long time since I hadn't seen a 'one scene' capable of rescuing a whole anime movie. (I wished for a scene like this one all along Akira for instance, and ... nope, it never happened, not one scene saved it, it sucked until the very end.) Other anime don't need such scenes because they are entertaining or decidedly good; not quite the case with Metropolis.

The design of the characters is quite dull, which contrasts distastefully with the (for the most part) great scenery of the picture. I'd say though that the major achievement of the designers was to portray the robot girl so beautifully, which was essential for the movie itself.

On the whole, the plot seems week, as does the script; but we'll always have that last scene between Kenichi and Tima ... which would have been the only reason for a third star, but it does not pay off for a rather mild film. ... Read more

Description

Ryu must undertake the ultimate journey of self-discovery and learn to control the force threatening to consume him. But with his confidence waning, will he have what it takes to confront Akuma, the vicious master of the Dark Hadou himself? Find out as allies old and new join forces against a sinister new threat in the pulse-pounding sequel to the phenomenally popular "Street Fighter II: V" series. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Disappointing
In this review I will discuss this movie's good and bad points. First, some of the new characters like Sakura, Rose, and Birdie were in the movie briefly but in a meaningful way. Secondly, the dubbing was very good. The scenes with Sakura in them were very cute and humorous, even Ryu's alleged brother Shun had some adorable moments.

Now on to the bad points, the back of the movie box claims that this movie is a sequel to the Street Fighter II V series, however this is not the case. In fact Chun-Li is reintroduced to Ryu and Ken (yawn).

This movie has character designs by Yoshihiko Umakoshi the result is that the characters look the way that they do in the Street Fighter Alpha games which in my opinion isn't nearly as good as the character designs in the Street Fighter II movie or the SF II V series. The fact that this is a Street Fighter movie I expected the fight scenes to be equal to or better than the fight scenes in the previous SF movie or television series, but unfortunately the fight scenes aren't that great. Also, I was a little upset that some of the Alpha characters that were in the movie like Guy, Sodom, Rolento, Adon, Vega, Dhalism, and Dan, had roles that were short-lived and corny. The story wasn't fully realized by the writer's in my opinion, because it had the potential for being so much more than a story fit for a Saturday morning cartoon show. The characters were also in many cases repeating the same tired lines over and over again which was very annoying.

Good dvd, BAD movie
Very dissapointed with how this movie turned out. I don't where the script writers came out with younger brother angle , but it doesn't work. Rule One : Don't rewrite histories of established , tried-and-true ,bread -and-butter characters , geez! Some scenes are very reminiscient of Akira and Dragonball Z , only very hacknyed and lame. Too much groaning and powering for SF in my opinion. The whole movie kinda floats around with barely any screentime for all those new Alpha fighters. The movie SHOULD have been based around a tournament , with nice, lengthy fights..only nauseating or incredibly short fights here.
And the character designs are ugly and very strange..I loved the art in Street Fighter II V...how can they drop the ball on a feature film?!
On to the DVD, video and sound quality are excellent , and I was pleased by the extras (interviews with the REAL cast for once). And the requisite trailers..if you are SF fanatic or completist , then go ahead pick it up. Otherwise , look elsewhere.

The Way It Should Be!
First and foremost, I love the Street Fighter series, ever since Street Fighter II: World Warrior was made available on Nintendo, ahhh memories.
The thing that set Street Fighter apart from anything else were the strength of the characters, diverse yet loveable over time. All had very interesting histories that had led them to this point, (hence the creation of the current Udon comics).
I have to say i love this movie. This film is the way it should be. I'm such a sucker for films which combine an element of destiny and spiritual self discovery.
I think i'm definitely a minority when i say that this animation is better than the animated effort before it, Street Fighter - The Animated Movie. That film had good combat sequences but failed miserably in delivering a story, i mean come on it was so cheesy, it hurt. And the voice acting... OH MY GOD, that was sooo bad!
Anyway, that is in the past and now we have Street Fighter Alpha, it's just soo perfect, adopting a very compelling story, although i do believe it loses its way towards the end.
The writers have done great job with the script, whereby the characters convey themselves the way should be, along with the voice acting which is also perfect. It really is, the script and voice acting make the characters likeable (i particularly like the way Ken was intepreted), we can really understand their positions. Unlike the previous film which made the characters appear arrogant and stupid, it made me hate the characters more than anything.
Also the animation is very nice, with very "arty" moments such as Ryu's blood washing away in the rain, these moments really add to the film as whole.
Sorry i know i'm long winded, but the ending is also worth noting, i don't think many people like it, but i always like an ending with some question attached and climax.

All in all, a great film
This coming from a loyal and huge Street Fighter fan.

A STORY BEYOND THE AVERAGE STREET FIGHTER STORY LINE
PERHAPS ONE OF THE BEST STREET FIGHTER STORYS OF ALL TIME. THE MOVIE DOESN'T ONLY SHOW YOUR FAVORITE ALPHA FIGHTERS, BUT ALSO TAKES A DEEPER LOOK IN THE STREET FIGHTER WORLD. AS RYU TRIES TO OVERCOME THE DARKNESS WITHIN HIM, HE MUST ALSO FIND OUT WHO HE REALLY IS AS WELL AS FINDING THE TRUTH BEHIND A "LONG LOST BROTHER". IT'S REALLY EMOTIONAL AND HAS A SOILD STORY TO GO WITH IT. IF YOU LIKE THE STREET FIGHTER MOVIES AND INTO DEEP STORY LINES, THEN DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET THIS UNBELIEVABLE STREET FIGHTER MOIVE.

great Anime
This anime has some very nice backgrounds and such - the water training scene in particular has a zen peacefullness to it. The animation during the fight sequences is generally done very well and there are a few moments that are awesome. The drawing style is unique and I really liked it. The story is pretty weak - typical street fighter "with great power comes great responsibility" I guess. Some of the fight scenes are really spectacular - though I found myself waiting a bit too long for them sometimes. I understand that the whole movie cant be fighting, but when you name a movie Street Fighter I just wanted a little more. All in all I would say this is easily as good as every other street fighter movie made and I appreciate the inclusion of Akuma, though it would be nice to see Guile and Dhalsim play larger roles. Down, Down-Forward, Forward+Punch.
As far as the extra features go, I dont know, I never watch that crap. If you are really looking for an awesome anime, this is definately one of them, but if you havent seen Ninja Scroll or Vampire Hunter Bloodlust then I would say get those first. ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Great movie and one of the best anime DVD's around
Perfect Blue is a strange and wonderful movie, and this DVD really does it justice. The menus are beautiful and fit the film perfectly, and the extras are refreshingly good. We actually get interviews with the three main actors and actresses who contributed their talents to the (pretty good) English dub; it's beautiful and kind of strange to hear them speak in a normal conversational tone about the film and its meanings. The interviews with director Satoshi Kon and Japanese voice actress Junko Iwao aren't as good, but at least they're there. Everything else is good for an anime DVD release, and the film... well, you have to see it and make up your own mind. A lot of people hate it and others (like me) think it's great; everybody will agree, though, that it's confusing as hell at times thanks to some crazy editing. The movie tries to take us into the psyche of a crazy person, and for this film that means not knowing what's real and what isn't. You really lose track of reality, because the screenplay keeps turning the old "The character wakes up and it's all a dream" cliche on itself. After a while you forget whether it's a dream or not, and you start to sympathize with the insanity of the various characters. It's a powerful and unusual film, one of those movies you keep thinking about six months after watching it, and I think everyone should experience its lunacy.

Will the real Mima Kirigoe please stand up?
Based on a novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, 'Perfect Blue' is one of those anime that successfully attempt the unexpected. Written and paced more like a Hitchcock film than the typical action film, this is a story where the psychological aspects are as compelling as the sometimes-ferocious action.

Mima Kirigoe is an idol singer, part of a moderately successful trio called Cham. Since the career life of these singers is, at best, a matter of a few years, Mima has decided to leave Cham to try her hand at being an actress. She lands a part in 'Double Bind,' a suspense thriller that will test her commitment in many ways, putting her in situations that some of her old fans find uncomfortable. This explodes into her life in a big way when Mima finds an internet website that purports to be written by her.

Whoever is writing the site knows too much about what Mima is going through, and she finds herself stalked by an unhappy fan that has developed a fixation on her. Soon people are dying in gruesome circumstances, and Mima becomes more and more confused about whom she really is and what is real. First time director Satoshi Kon is merciless, making sure that the viewer gets few clues about which reality is real and whether what one sees is in 'Double Bind,' 'Perfect Blue,' or in Mima's mind alone.

This is really a remarkable piece of work. Great care is put into artistic and musical values. It has striking graphic qualities without the viewer ever getting the feeling that the images are overwhelming the story. In addition, I particularly like the imaginative use of color. Of course, the use of music is particularly important in a film about Japanese popular entertainment figures, and Kon makes sure that the film lives up to aural expectations.

This is a rough, gripping film. Violence, murder, and rape are depicted with the deliberate intention of making the watcher uncomfortable. It skirts the edge of being offensive, and is sometimes classified as hentai - animated pornography. It isn't by my standards, but 'Perfect Blue' is graphic enough to offend some people. Take this into consideration before deciding to watch.

The best psychological thriller.
Perfect Blue is one of my all time favorite anime's by Manga. This movie is twisted with a damn good plot, it has some of the best animation and character design's you will find in an anime. It took me about two or three times watching this movie to fully understand what was going on but in time i finaly did, this movie is the s**t. I've loved it ever sence the first time i watched it and hopefully you will come to love it to (it is a masterpeace). I recomend it to fans of Manga Entertainment and to anime lovers, get into anime's for they will change your life.

I really wanted to like it
After I saw Millenium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers, I had the highest hopes for other anime by Satoshi Kon.

I guess he just set the bar so high with those movies that even he can't always meet the standard he created. Perfect Blue is watchable. It says some interesting, even disturbing things about what it means to change. It just didn't have the impact on me that the other movies did.

Severley Over-rated
I found Perfect Blue to be one of the most overhyped anime's to this day. I find little about which is original, memorable or interesting in any way. The story is a farce - anyone who watches mysteries or movies in general can pan out the plot by the middle of movie. What more evidence can you see about this anime's forgettableness then the fact that the last review was posted
August 2003? The animation is average, so is the sound.
I suggest those out there think about whether they really enjoyed this rather then echoing other reader's opinions, or the opinions of what they read on anime review sites. Imitating another reviewers opinion doesn't necessarily make you more open minded or knowledgeable about the whole anime scene. Learn to recognise a crap movie when you see one.
You want something mindbending? Watch Lain, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Akira...et cetera....oh and just for records, Cowboy Bebop is almost identical to Trigun which was made before it and has a much better storyline, humour and characterisation, and while Cowboy Bebop attempts to be a bit more 'adult', it lacks originality. Face it - you just want to jerk over the chick in the tight orange top. Metropolis is a peice of utter **** too. I've never seen a movie which could potentially make a human being go insane if seen a second time. Stay away from these anime's, people - they might represent popular anime culture but in every genre, there's the real deal and there's the commercially viable otaku wannabe fakes. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

The most heartfelt series I've ever seen.
(As of the time this review was written, no information on this series is posted, so I'll give a brief synopsis of this series.)

Fruits Basket (called "Furuba" by fans) is the story of Tohru Honda, a high school student who has lost both of her parents. Her mother died only a year before the start of the series, and Touru misses her so much that she always carries her picture around with her. Tohru was living with her paternal grandfather until he began renovations on his home, so he asked her if she'd mind staying with some friends for awhile. Touru didn't want to impose on either of her friends, so she decided to set up a tent in the woods until the house was finished.. until one day she stumbles across the home of her classmate Yuki Sohma, and accidentally discovers his family's BIG secret - when "huggled" by someone of the opposite sex, they are cursed to turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac. Tohru ends up moving in with the Sohma family as a housekeeper/cook in exchange for room and board, and she is introduced one-by-one to the rest of the clan (some of whom are.. VERY.. unusual).

Now, you might be telling yourself "I've seen this before, and it's name was 'Ranma 1/2'.." - and you have NO IDEA how very wrong you are. Fruits Basket is a one of a kind series that manages to take a premise that could very well have followed the same path as Ranma (namely, relying on perverted jokes and accidental transformations to convey most of the plot and comedy), but instead becomes a chronicle of truly believable characters struggling to belong and dealing with what life has given them, both the good and bad.

Over the course of its 26 episodes, Fruits Basket has made me laugh harder than any other anime I've ever seen, and then it goes right ahead and takes me on an emotional rollercoaster ride until I'm bawling along with the characters onscreen. But no matter what happened, it always leaves me with a smile and a feeling that if I could just have an ounce of the inner strength that these characters display, I would be all the better for it.

Don't let me mislead you into thinking this is merely a cheesy tearjerker - Fruits Basket has PLENTY of high-energy martial arts battles, slapstick comedy, and wacky plot twists, but underneath all of this lies a deep emotional current that EVERYONE can connect with. If you've ever been jealous or angry with your family, undergone the loss of a close relative, felt completely alone, watch the people you love leave you behind, or have simply been misunderstood, you will regret missing this series. The true power of this series is found not in the comedy, but in the relationships between both family and friends.

On a more shallow level, the characters are mostly rather good-looking, the animation is attractive - no amazing special effects, of course, but consistently high quality and well-suited to the story, and the music is very beautiful. Overall, this is a series for everyone to see, from the shoujo (girls') romance fans to comedy lovers to drama affectionados. You will NOT be disappointed - by episode 26, I guarantee you'll find yourself upset that ANOTHER season doesn't exist (yet). ^_^

Anime at its best.
Fruits Basket is quite an interesting anime, at first the show seems to over the top, and can turn off potential viewers with the giant eyes and the crazy fan club girls, but on episode two the show really kicks off, and with the introduction of new characters, each of whom are unique and different in their own way and devolop quite a bit over the course of the series, the show becomes even funnier, as a note Fruits Basket has an amazing dub, for those who like dubs, in fact, most of the time I watch this series dubbed.

As a note I consider the Fruits Basket DVDs to be really the first truely amazingly done DVDS, at the time (Or at least to my knowledge) most Anime discs had 2-5 episodes and th only features were textless endings (Can you say crappy and boring?) but Fruits basket has not only previews for other Funimation stuff, but interviews, a documentary of the "eye catches" (Which are explained in the documentry) and even behind the scenes footage. AND 6 episodes per disc, and the disc has 3 regions, any fan of special features would freak out, why the only way they could get any better would be is if it came with a poster or something rather.

Overall I suguest Fruits Basket to anyone who is willing to give it a chance, the anime has elements from many genres and is a perfect balance of Comedy and Character devolopment.

Buy it today.

Beautiful
When I first started watching this series I expected to dislike it. I generally dislike anime focused around everyday japanese schoolgirls and prefer fantasy/fighting anime (berserk/kenshin/etc). At first glance (actually the first 15 minutes) Fruits Basket seemed to be one of those carbon-copied, overly-cliched animes involving schoolgirls, cute boys, tragic pasts, with the odd bit of fantasy/mythology thrown in. Also, Tohru's eyes were freakishly large enough to frighten me.

After watching the first three episodes I pulled a complete 180 (although the tortured pasts are still there). Fruits Basket is an utterly charming story.

It's rather hard to describe without delving into trite phrases. It's sweet but not saccharine; gentle but not dull; funny but not banal.

It's not all fluffyness and light. Occasionally tragedy strikes (or was unearthed). All of the characters are developed and are so fleshed out that you really feel it when they hurt. This is the one anime that has almost made me cry, and it was over a character that up until that particular mom