Showing posts with label Funimation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Funimation. Show all posts

Monday, November 25, 2013

Shakugan no Shana: Season Two, Part 2 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Some Interesting Divergences
At the end of the 1st season, Shana and Yoshida expressed their intentions to fight for Yuji's affections. This is where this season picks up. The 1st 2 episodes are kind of strange. A denizen has the power to trap the 3 friends in a dream world. Past events reoccur and confuse them. There are a few episodes that explain some events in Marjorie's tragic past. There are also some light hearted episodes where they all go to an amusement park, Yuji's Dad returns, and a school festival takes place. Most of this collection is spent developing the relationships between the characters. There are also a few new characters introduced. The origin of the Midnight Lost Child is revealed and the Caprice of Beauty come to collect it. This set leaves you hanging right as this happens.

My only complaint with this season is that nearly all of the key voice actors have been replaced. It's a little strange at first, but the new actors are very good and pretty well known. It doesn't hurt the...
A Great 2nd Season! Every anime Fan should See This!
After learning the origin of The Midnight Lost Child, Yuji decides that he needs to train harder to protect himself. His new attitude creates a rift between Shana, Yoshida, and himself. Eita also distances himself after seeing Ogata's death. Even though she was able to be revived, the sight of his dying love leads him to abandon Marjorie. After some terrible experiences, the bonds that the group has built strengthen. The news about Yuji's unborn sibling also helps Yuji decide to stay in Misaki City. Just as he realizes this, and is about to choose between Yoshida and Shana, The Ball Masque appears. Hecate removes the Midnight Lost Child and uses it to awaken a giant monster. Marjorie, Wilhelmina, and Shana go to save him. But will they be able to prevent his disappearance?

This is an excellent 2nd season. My first thought was, "holy crap! All the voice actors are different." Yes, all the voice actors from season 1 were replace. No it's not a bad thing. It took a few...
Shakugan no Shana...takes a break?
I'm still up in the air about writing a review for season one. It has enough reviews already so I don't know if I could add anything to them. Season two part one though I feel differently. So here we go.

First, let's talk about probably the most obvious thing that viewers are going to notice: the changes. Big changes. Assuming you watch the show in English, like I do, you'll notice right away that every single voice actor has been replaced. And I mean everyone, even people who barely had any screen time. Of course, we know why Tabitha St. Germain couldn't renew her role, what with voicing the best pony ever, but the rest of the cast is a mystery. The new voices will take some getting used to, but they work--for the most part. Shana is now voiced by Yoshika Miyafuji from Strike Witches. Okay, so her real name is Cherami Leigh. The point is, Shana's new voice actor was the one I was most concerned about, but when I found out that it was the same girl who did Yoshika, I was...
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Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine [Blu-ray]


Extremely well done
Let me start off by stating Lupin the Third: the Woman Called Fujiko Mine isn't anything like all the previous Lupin series, movies and specials. For starter, this new series is a sexier and slightly darker take on the Lupin we all know and love, at least anime wise for me. Gone are the wacky hijinks and some of the crazy exploits Lupin and company are known for. Of course this is replaced by the much more mature take on Fujiko Mine and Inspector Zenigata. In this series, there's no more innuendos from Fujiko as she is flat out overt in her sexuality.

Lupin the Third: the Woman Called Fujiko is basically a story about how Fujiko becomes who she is and her first encounter of the Lupin gang. This series is all about Fujiko and her secret past while Lupin and company take a back seat. It's a nice departure and is pretty well planned out until the last couple of episodes where I felt they might have rushed the ending a little.

As for everything else, this series was...
A different kind of Lupin the Third series
Any fan who knows anything about anime knows who Lupin the Third is, but do they truly know about his compatriots? This series is primarily about Fujiko Mine, not Arsene Lupin, as the title implies. The mystery of Fujiko is the main drive for this series, and how she may be tied with a mysterious organization of owl obsessed fanatics. Yes, an owl organization. It sounds absurd, but it works in the confines of this series. In fact, the owl imagery is so unusual and random, it is downright scary.

The first thing a viewer would notice when watching this show is that Fujiko Mine doesn't seem to wear clothes a lot of the time. This is very apparent in the opening and the first few episodes. Because of this, and the dark elements of the story, this is not a series for younger anime fans at all.

Zenigata, Goemon, and Jigen are the other popular Lupin characters that also appear in this series. Their pasts are described finally, and they are particularly different than...
Pretty Good
I bought this show on a hunch that I would love it and I do its a perfect prequel to Lupin the Third
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Heaven's Lost Property: Season One (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


crass, lowbrow, ecchi - but very funny
If you are down on lowbrow anime pervert humor / ecchi comdey, regardless if there is some real cleverness & humor in it, then just walk away. This being another fantasy ecchi harem comedy, it has all of that & then some.

But this show really had me laughing. And there is an intersting mystery going on with some darker ominous undertones, creating some legitimate tension making you want to see the next episode. The angeloid characters are all well done characters with distinct different personalities & motivations. Our mian protaganist who ends up having to look after the angeloids, is an idiot. But one of the better idiots I have seen in these kinds of comedys, and well done character. It could be easy to dismiss a show like this as more fan service cheeasiness, but I think it does have some genuinely funny stuff going on throughout most of the show. The end credit animation & songs being different for each episode (and quite funny & clever) add a nice touch.
Heaven's Lost Property, Season 1
I really liked this show. The humor is very lowbrow and some of the plots get really dirty. It is not something a person would want to just tune into to fill a day without looking into first. That said, it is really funny and definitely worth watching.

On some levels, this show has a linear plot line that can progress from episode to episode. It deals with an angel and the boy she belongs to and her ability to give him anything he wants. Did I mention he is really, really, obsessed with females and their undergarments? Well, that comes up a lot, as does his connection to his childhood friend/neighbor/possible love interest. There are two other characters as well, the class president and the boy who wants to fly, and another angel evening out a cast that adds a lot to the humor.

Here's an example of a plot line, to see if it is something you would watch, noting this is done with humor but that it also involves some nudity and crass comments/suggestions. Having...
Great Anime but misleading Title
This is indeed a great anime, but the title is a little misleading as in this is only the first season and not the second one. So calling it the "Complete series" is misleading to me.
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Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom - Complete Series [Blu-ray]


Weapons the Arcs
This anime series covers 26 episodes and presents itself through 3 main arcs with some lapses of time occurring between the arcs. The series is a spy action thriller with a deep story that will keep you engaged in this world of mystery and discovery. Twists and turns in a world where the main character is on a quest of identity, self, love, strength, and just about a dozen other things. All the characters feel real and it was just a series that I really enjoyed. I tend to refer to this anime as the modern setting of the anime Claymore. There is not connection between those two anime but I feel like the are on par quality wise but this series isn't as mystical and is better off in the area of plot. Also, I'm not sure what the other reviewer had mention about this being the first season of two. As far as I know this is the only season and it is worth buying. If there is another season let me know!

I will be buying this without a doubt, an amazing anime not to mention having...
Possibly 2011's best action anime series
Anytime you put assassins, treachery, angst and possible romance in a storyline and DO THEM ALL EQUALLY WELL, you've got yourself a winner my friend! I bought this series as soon as it dropped and I absolutely loved it. I already bought the Phantom OVA that was released years ago with just a few episodes and this is basically a better re-telling of that story.

I NEVER compare anime to manga from 2 different series- (#1 it's not the same art form #2 you shouldn't compare moving art to still art). Another reviewer compared Phantom to a title that was released 15-20 years ago, criticizing this series. Comparing one title's anime to another title's MANGA is just plain bad reviewing.

This anime falls in the same category (I guess) as Noir, Madlax etc., but those can't hold a candle to this series. It has way better production quality. It was masterfully animated, excellent English dub, kick-ass action and plenty of likeable characters. The musical score made my...
This is one that will stick with you! An amazing series.
It took me a couple of episodes to get into this series, and it's not one I'll soon forget. It has some of the most memorable - and tragic - figures in Anime. No giant robots or wizards, demons or aliens. This is the story of professional assassins, brainwashed and brutally trained into their profession. We stare with Einz and Zwei, then later add Drei. All three are high-school aged kids, and all are the best at their profession. This is realistic, sometimes heart-wrenching, usually action-packed animation. It's similar to Ghost in the Shell in it's look and feel, only set in modern times with modern weapons. Mob bosses using specially trained assassins to keep other mob families in line. We have unrequited love, brutal assassinations (some are pretty shocking), world-class animation and voice actors, and is one of the best I have seen in ages.

The ending - the real ending - is in the final credits, and it's a shocker. Is it open ended? Not really, but I suppose a...
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Yu Yu Hakusho: Season Three (Classic) [Blu-ray]


Fantastic. Brings back great nostalgia.
I hadn't watched Yu Yu Hakusho in several years until I came across Funimation's release of the seasons on blu ray. I remember the series as a fun ride, though I didn't recall many specifics of the plot. I ended up purchasing the first 3 sets on blu ray. There was a pleasant sense of familiarity as I watched the sets. I can say with definite certainty that I will also purchase the last set as well.

As for this specific set, I believe it is my favorite of the 3 thus far. The action is intense from the very beginning as the set starts off in the beginning of the final round of the Dark Tournament. The fights are very exciting/over the top and take up the whole first disc of the set. The only negative I have is that I feel the final fight with Toguro draggs out a bit too long, but it is still epic an battle nonetheless. The disc wraps up with a fitting end to the arc. As for the rest of the episodes, they center around the Black Saga arc. Going into these episodes...
Excellent remaster
I already own a ten-year-old set of the Dark Tournament DVDs, and I'm looking to finally complete my collection, so I bought this to compare the two and see if the Blu-Ray version was worth the cost. It is! I'm really picky about video quality, and I was expecting a low-effort upscale job, but it turned out to be better than I could have hoped for such an old series. The colors and lines are vibrant and clear, and the artifacts that bothered me so much on the old DVDs have been smoothed away. They even relaid the text on the titles so it would be legible at 1080p. YYH was my first "real" anime, and it warms my withered, jaded heart to see it get such a loving remaster.

I remember when Suncoast tried to charge $25 for a four-episode disc. Now we can get the whole series in much better quality for $100. Definitely worth it.
A Great Season as well
For those who got the Season 2 set you'll have to get this to finish dark tournament anyway. But the season that follows is great as well, you'll see changes in the soundtracks and I think the show is a little more mature in this part of the series.
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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Lost Girl: Season Three [Blu-ray]


Keeps getting stronger
Unlike some shows that lose steam after a couple of seasons, Lost Girl apparently improves with age. Having firmly established its mythology in seasons 1 & 2, season 3 introduces important new characters and delves deeper into the background of some of the central characters, including a visit to Bo's past. If you are a fan of Vex, you'll certainly enjoy the first couple episodes of the season. Bo and Kenzi continue to face down new enemies with their usual panache, although it seems they are separated more often in season 3 when confronting what needs to be dealt with.

The introduction of expansive lore and imaginative minor characters with each episode never ceases to amaze; the all-fired creativity of the show's world is largely unparalleled in television today, and remains among Lost Girl's greatest assets. I rarely rate a TV show with 5 stars, but in the case of Lost Girl it's hard to find a downside, other than scripts that sometimes could be a bit tighter. Season 3...
Love this season
Before this show, I hadn't really gotten into Canadian shows. I loved lost girl. I love the mythology, the story line, the strong female protagonist and basically everything else. It is beautifully shot, the actors and actresses are amazing (and sexy and funny), and the storyline is riveting!

I think this season really hit the shows stride. More of the politics and history was brought out, and Bo continues to be challenged. Bones- Linda Hamilton guest stars!
More Doccubus Please!
I am a huge fan of the Canadian series "Lost Girl". I love fantasy and sci-fi and Lost Girl takes it to the next level with snappy dialogue and well developed characters as well as a great 'love is love' message and a cool vibe about acceptance all around. The setting is the unseen world of the Fae (both light and dark) and the interactions they have with humans. The protagonist is a Succubus, a Fae that feeds on human sexual energy (way to bury the lede!) This is season 3 and season 4 is just around the corner. I hope they get renewed again.
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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Dragon Ball Z: Broly Triple Feature (Broly/Broly Second Coming/Bio-Broly) [Blu-ray]


Decent DBZ Blu-Ray Still Coming
Funimation is still releasing the DBZ movies in their new remastered Blu-Ray/Steelbook DVD formats. Some fans may be disappointed if they bought the Broly features when they came out in the Blu-Ray pack recently, but for those who haven't purchased them yet, or only have the old regular DVD versions from a few years ago and want to upgrade, this is the way to do it.

This set containt DBZ Movies 8, 10, 11.

BROLY: THE LEGENDARY SUPER SAIYIN
This is probably the main reason for fans to buy this and is definitely the best of the three seen here, and some would argue the best out of all thirteen movies. It's storyline begins way back when Goku was a crying baby Kakarot on the planet Vegeta and introduces another baby Saiyin, Broly, who didn't care much for his cries. Then the story picks up again years later when another surviving Saiyan, Paragus, interrupts the Z-Fighter's picnic by dropping by in a large space ship. He has come to invite Goku and Vegeta to the...
Blue-Ray Version!!!
A must for all dragonball fans and a must have. We have all seen these and we'll worry getting. The HD to Blue-Ray transfer looks great and a must have.
HELL YEAH
DBZ is my all time favorite anime series and they done me proud with this blue ray triple feature. it made me feel like i was a kid again. once again HELL YEAH.
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Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season Three [Blu-ray]


No Filler, Original Music Back, Best Performances
Once again another season, another box set, another rendition of Funimation's dub over of the original series. The 20+ episodes will scream by fast, although the pacing becomes very different compared to seasons 1 and 2, in some cases it'll feel very slow, other times it's very quick. The transition from the Android menace to Cell is almost a blink and doesn't stop until Cell absorbs his first android victim.

The musical score has been altered after the problems with the japanese composer being busted for infringment and while the japanese tv version didn't replace the new score until the end of the series run, the english version redid the audio track with the original musical score instead. So those of you who were enjoying the new style that appeared thru much of season 1 and bits of Season 2, I'm sorry, but that's what happens when you copy other musical scores without permission, you get to resign your comission from Toei! However the original score has no problems in...
DBZ Kai Continues to Impress!
As a fan of the Dragonball and Dragonball Z manga, DBZ Kai is a really nice addition to my collection. While I can appreciate the original for its own sake, this is the version I go to when I just wanna watch some of the story and not take up too much time. For those who know the original Japanese music inside and out, the music placement in Kai is a little weird, but if you can get past that it's fun to watch. The English voice acting is hugely improved upon compared to the American version of the original DBZ as well. Give it a shot!
My Favorite DBZ Season!
This is my favorite DBZ Kai season out to date!

This Review Will First talk about the packaging/contents, then thoughts on actual film.

Packaging:
This came from amazon in a small brown cardboard envelope type package. I would say its pretty safe from damage because the contents when opened were not crushed and was wrapped in plastic to protect from scratches. When I removed the plastic wrap, I noticed that the case comes in a sleeve that has the exact case art on it. I don't understand why it has the exact same print on the sleeve as it does on the case but it's okay, the sleeve still adds a nice quality look to it. When opening the case I found a DBZ Game ad, and a survey. The case is see through so you can read the episode list printed on the back of the case cover paper. And Of course the four disks.

Film:
If you've watched or heard about the kai, you know it has been refined, shorten, and re voiced. I think the characters sound just as...
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Legend of the Legendary Heroes: Complete Series [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]


Much more impressive than the title would suggest
Yeah, got this on a whim since I was subtly craving a Lodoss/Escaflowne type series. The title definitely threw me (it felt lazy), but i'm glad that didn't stop me from the impulse buy. This series has a lot of good going for it: very compelling main characters, a strong supporting cast, interesting overall story conceit, strong animation, and good overall execution. In all, this is definitely worth watching. Please note, the series does have a definite conclusion, but there is plenty of room for the series to continue/have a sequel (based on the fact the stories the series originated from continued further). In all, this is a great piece of escape if that's what you're looking for.


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Friday, November 22, 2013

Maken-Ki: Complete Series (Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Putting this on My Wish List!
YES! IT'S HERE! This is gonna be GREAT uncensored. I think there might be a season two comign at some point as well. I ADORE fanservice anime, so i HAVE to collect this later. I'm thrilled!!
Finally came out
I'm just gonna say, I buy series with fanservice, and this one has a lot. It's a must buy.

Finally it came out.

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Shiki: Part 1 (Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Can I Come In?
Sotobamura is a small, secluded village where the old customs, such as the burial of the dead, are still practiced. Life in Sotobamura is calm and boring. When three old people die in the outskirts of the village, it is marked down as old age or heatstroke. But when a healthy teenage girl expires, it starts to look like the deaths might be connected. The local doctor, Toshio Ozaki, starts to see a pattern--light anemia followed by sudden and inexplicable death-- and suspects an epidemic. But what sort of disease causes its victims to quit their jobs before dying? And what about those families that disappear in the middle of the night in moving vans?

I've always been partial towards the idea of vampires in stories, but I rarely like the sort of stories that have vampires in them (a contradiction, I know). But Shiki manages to create a excellent atmosphere of creepiness and uncertainty. The story moves on at a rather languid pace, but it is never boring. Shiki has the sort of...
A perfect horror series
Shiki,translated in english as "corpse demon", begins with a series of mysterious deaths in a tiny rural village called Sotoba. Even though many of the victims display the same mysterious symptoms, the towns doctor can't pinpoint the cause of the deaths. They begin around the time a new family moves into a mansion, overlooking the small town. Unfortunately, many of the townsfolk are too focused on their everyday lives to notice that something strange is going on and for some that mistake proves to be fatal.

The village doctor, Ozaki Toshio, begins searching for the cause of the deaths and eventually discovers that the village is being targeted by undead creatures similar to vampires. Another man,Seishin Muroi, the junior monk of Sobata finds himself torn between two worlds, either of which he may not be able to return from.
At the same time, Natsuno Yuuki, a young man who truly hates life in Sobata discovers the same shocking truths as the doctor and searches...
shiki omg
At first i was doubting this anime but once i got to ep 4 i was hooked. i ended up watching the hole set in 2 days and i will watch it all over again. It hits all good points. there is love, action, star crossed lovers, and some really bloody scenes. so not for any one under 14. and there are some parts that bring tears to your eyes. btw this aint some twilight story. it is really dark moments. and some WTF moments. i say it is a 100% buy.
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Thursday, November 21, 2013

King of Thorn (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Amazing movie
This is one of my favorite anime movies by far the art and animation are amazing not to mention the story line kept me hooked through out the whole movie. This movie is definitely not for young children because of all the blood scenes but its not gore. The ending got a little confusing at first but then it all worked out in the end a 9.5/10
Absolutely Astounding!
I have never heard of this, but I saw a trailer, and instantly bought it on a whim, and I have to say I am very happy with my purchase! It is a great movie, the animation is flawless and very artsy with some CGI put into it. The story is very in-depth and the characters are unique and pull the story along quite nicely. Anyone looking for a strange, creative, fantastic, anime to jump into should definitely buy this, it will not disappoint you!
King of thorns (combo)
This is a good anime that is entertaining to watch.
animation if very good, and the story well thought out.
Happy to have added it to my collection.
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Sankarea: Complete Series - Broadcast Edit Version (Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Beware this release is censored
Funimation has messed up this release majorly and has put the heavily censored TV version of this series on the Blu Ray/DVD sets and does not currently have the uncensored masters on hand yet.

Because of this, if you buy this release from Amazon or anywhere at the moment, you will notice that the episodes are heavily censored in scenes.

I suggest people cancel their pre orders and refrain from buying this series until Funimation has shipped the uncensored boxsets to retailers at some point in the future.

I am absolutely against censorship but think that this needs to be mentioned, many of you will need to return your boxsets to Amazon and request a refund, a replacement won't make any difference, you will just get a censored boxset sent to you.

Sit tight, Funimation doesn't make mistakes often, and as you've noticed I haven't in any way been negative towards Funimation.

I will leave this review up for a short while before...
This release is censored, do not buy.
While I have enjoyed the manga, the anime is censored. If you contact Funimation, you can get replacement discs that are uncensored. However, your best bet may be to return this item to Amazon and purchase the unedited release when it becomes available.

Hopefully Amazon will return the edited version of Sankarea to Funimation, for the unedited version. Funimation has indicated that it will be producing the unedited version of Sankarea, as soon as possible.
I don't own it but this is important info
Fair warning, I don't own this.

Funimation has stated they've chosen to recall the release of this series due to issues. The original issue is the masters they worked from were the televised versions(which are editing for time and censored for air in Japan). They were going to do a disc replacement offer, but realized that the rating on the title would have to change from TV-14 to TV-MA. If you've already bought the set and don't wish to keep it they now suggest returning to the retailer.
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One [Blu-ray]


Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One [Re-Release]
Here we go again! Another Season One Release for Dragon Ball Z Kai. Why you ask? Simply because Funimation, American Distributor, messed up the first release of this season. In March 2011 a scandal broke out regrading the Original Musical Score for the Show composed by Kenji Yamamoto. Shortly after Kenji's score for the show was completely removed and replaced with the Original Dragon Ball Z score by Shunsuke Kikuchi. With this issue the original release date for Dragon Ball Z Kai Part 5 was pushed back. When it was released the set contained the replaced score.
As expected Funimation dished out the "Season Sets" for the show, most likely to replace the "Parts sets", with the release of "Dragon Ball Z Kai Season One" back in October last year. Season one was was released to replace Dragon Ball Z Kai Parts 1 & 2, but with the Shunsuke Kikuchi musical score. However shortly after it's release many who bought the product found that the set did not contain the Shunsuke Kikuchi, but...
Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One: 2011 Release [Blu-Ray]
This review refers to the original 2011 edition.

Funimation has been throwing around Dragon Ball Z releases for years from Volume sets to those hopefully forgotten Orange bricks sets. So what makes this new release any different from the rest?

Well this isn't the original Dragon Ball Z TV Show but a "Refreshed" edition of the show. Dragon Ball Z Kai takes to the vision of the Manga. Kai brilliantly removes all the filler from the original TV Show allowing a more faster and action packed story. For example the Garlic Jr Arc has been removed as it was not presented in the manga in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Not only that but the show is presented in a Full HD 1080p resolution with a complete dirt clean up giving it a whole new viewing experience. The show runs for a total of 98 episodes finishing off at the end of the Cell Games.

One of the main attractions to the English version of this show is it's Dub. The English Dub keeps strict to the Japanese Dialogue...
No Fillers but doesn't mesh completely well.
The biggest turn on about the new Dragonball Z Kai is simple, they eliminate all the filler that took place in what we regarded as Seasons 1 and 2, from Raditz touch down to the crew's adventure on Namek.
However not everything blends completely well and it becomes noticeable at times, such as why Chichi is seen fainted is never explained (but if you've seen the original series you know), Gohan's training and why the T-rex is missing most of his tail when the previous episode it was all intact, and all of the back story of Planet Vegeta that was explained by King Kai.
The worst editing was Zarbon and Vegeta's battle being very heavily edited, but it ended still rather well.

There's a new music track which only exists entirely in Season 1 and tends to not fit very well in terms of what's going on in the animation.

English and Japanese voice overs were completely redone to fit the series better, and the English version still does it's job of over dubbing...
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Eureka Seven AO: Part Two (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Decent anime, Terrible sequel
Honestly, there are only 2 major sins this anime commits:

1) It doesn't even attempt to properly honor the message or style of original series despite being advertised as a sequel. This would've served better as a spin-off with brand new characters, only borrowing elements like surfing robots, trapars and surfing robots.

2) The first half tries to be a classic "monster of the week" show, but forgets the important fact that your monsters need to be memorable in order to succeed. Astral Ocean's monsters are faceless, colorless shapes that are all killed in a forgettable manner(with the exception of the first one).

People complain about lack of story direction, cardboard characters, and political nonsense but I've been a fan of the mecha genre for a long time and this is hardly the worst offender. I've grown to enjoy political mumbo-jumbo as its own form of storytelling. To be honest I even grew to like the characters in this anime despite their lack of...


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Monday, November 18, 2013

Summer Wars [Blu-ray]


Welcome to the world of OZ
If Hayao Miyazaki made a cyberthriller, the result might be something like "Summer Wars." This colorful little anime movie spends most of its run straddling the line between a family reunion comedy and a world war entirely on the web. And the results manage to stir your heart and make you laugh at the same time.

Math nerd Kenji is shocked when popular upperclassman Natsuki asks him to come to her family's country house for the weekend. Unfortunately, he's there under false pretenses -- not only is Natsuki claiming that he's her boyfriend, but that he's a wealthy college student at Tokyo U. Yeah, that is inevitably going to backfire.

But something far worse happens when OZ (a crazy hybrid of amazon.com, Facebook, fighting video games and... well, just about everything you can find on the WWW) is hacked -- and Kenji is the main suspect.

The truth is actually much more sinister -- a horrendous program called Love Machine is devouring OZ user avatars, and...
A touching family story wrapped in a stunning cyber-thriller!
Or is it the other way around?

Reminiscent of American movies like "War Games," as well as anime greats like "Spirited Away," this movie blends suspense, comedy, family, and a touch of romance in an expert mixture that is fun and heartwarming.

Kenji is a math genius with no self-confidence and, in his opinion, nothing else he is good at, especially when it comes to the fairer sex. He is spending his summer break working in tech support for the mega-giant, all pervading social networking site Oz when the girl of his dreams, the popular upperclassmen Natsuki, asks if he can work for her over the summer. The job is simple, she says. He just needs to accompany her on a trip to her Grandmother's house for a family reunion and do whatever odd jobs are needed to help out her big family. When it turns out that the real job is to pretend to be her fiancé, he balks at first. After all, he has never even taken a girl on a date, let alone gotten serious enough to be...
An excellent localization
I received my preorder of this DVD the other day, and I'm thoroughly delighted with it. Having seen the original Japanese version, I was pleased to see that the localization to English was well done. The dubbing is good, the translation natural, and the voices match to the originals quite well. There are subtitles in a few places where necessary. You get art cards showing the Oz avatars of the main characters, which are quite nice. And the extras (interviews with voice artists and original commercials for the movie) are good too. Besides being a great story in its own right, this'll be the perfect DVD for me to share with family and friends to help them understand what this crazy anime hobby of mine is all about.
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Heaven's Lost Property: The Angeloid of Clockwork (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Great way to prepare for the third season
For fans of the series this is not only a continuation of the series as it's a bridge between season 2 and season 3 (which will be released in a few months) but also a recap of previous episodes shown in a different point of view.
This divulges into the "Hiyori Kazane" arc, a resident of Sorami City and the film's main heroine, and she introduces herself and explains how she met and fell in love with Tomoki, while also narrating about how she took part in several events from the two previous anime seasons, all the while observing Tomoki and his friends, and even becoming acquainted with most of them.
While staying true to the series it shows Tomoki's usually pervy high-jinks, but also divulges into more of what the Synapse really is and how the world that many of the characters are in isn't "reality".
This movie is a great way to prepare for the 3rd season so for fans of the series buy it.
Good, Once It Gets Going.
Hiyori is a shy country girl. She spends most of her time gardening and farming. For some reason, she has a thing for Tomoki. She is too shy to say anything because he is always surrounded by beautiful girls. One day she gets the courage to join the New World Discovery Club. She is accepted and liked by the other members. One day an accident happens and she begins to vanish from everyone's memory. Was she really even there? Who is this new Angeloid that looks just like Hiyori, and why is she attacking?

This movie was kind of disappointing at first. I am a big fan of this series, and I expected something a little more. The first 45 minutes of the movie is a recap of seasons 1 and 2 told from Hiyori's perspective. At the 30 minute point, I was really frustrated. I fast forwarded to the 45 minute point. That's where Hiyori joins the club. The second half of the film is pretty good. It's what you would expect from this series. I think that the recap from Hiyori's viewpoint was...
Anime was Good
its came in good condition with no problem it is an excellent anime and it was amazing to watch and see
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Guilty Crown: Complete Series, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Great artwork, sound track, and story... for the first half at least.
I watched this show all the way through and found it quite enjoyable for a number of reasons. 1) the artwork is stellar and not just for the characters but the environments, tech, and the Void abilities. 2) The sound track is awesome, Ryo (SuperCell) had a hand in it so that's a major bonus for me.

What I dislike about this show is the main character, Shu. He's too weak of a character to be playing this main role, in my opinion, but does a good enough job to soldier on and be apart of the 'group' so to speak. He shows some growth as he progresses through into the second half of the series but towards the end he gets a major overhaul in personality and I'm just not sure what to make of it. Also, the latter half of the second part to the series gets a little sloppy with the story and I felt like the ending was lacking.

In the end, would I buy this show despite my list of faults for it? Yeah, I would.
I think people are being a little harsh.
I'm not sure if there is a Manga regarding this show or any other sort of Media, my review for this is based only on the actual Anime, for that is all I have seen.

That being said I find people are being a bit on harsh on the reviews, at least in my opinion. To be honest the plot is doing nothing new. A military organization is trying to wipe out Japan and it's up to the resistance to fight back and keep Japan out of the clutches of this organization. It's not something new but the way the fights, the plot, and the characters are presented seemed fresh and new to me, for the most part I very much found myself enjoying the series.

The stand out here for me was the music and art. If you are a huge fan of soundtracks this is one you may not want to miss. The show does a wonderful job of setting the mood, from sad moments to some of the most epic fights the show can offer. And when it comes to over the top fights this show is not hurting at all, it has enough action...
Good Series.
First of all, I want to say that personally, I really enjoyed this show.

I'm not sure what put people off because they all agree the first part of the show was great but the 2nd was not. I wanted to know what the fuss was about so I watched it and I must say where was the problem?? The 2nd part was more depressing but I stilled enjoyed it. In the end, I just thought people do not like watching depressing things or from what I'm hearing are upset for the mild religious context in the anime?? I really would say if you're going to argue or are easily offended about religious context like every parent does in school, do not watch this anime period.

I digress but moving on.

Personally, I recommend this anime to anyone especially if you enjoyed Code Geass, you will like this anime. Is it better than Code Geass? No. But I liked Guilty Crown in its own way. To add on, The first opening (My Dearest by Supercell) is by far one of my favorite anime openings I...
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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


Pleasantly surprised.
First off, I would like to state that yes, I am a woman, and a fan of the game series. That led me to purchase this title from amazon. I had no real idea about what the film would be like, apart that it was set in the world of Dragon Age.

The aninmation style was very different that what I was expecting. Every image had an almost ethereal glow. It made everything almost too pretty, but after a bit, I got used to it.

The story itself could have been taken from Dragon Age Origins, and I liked that. It should fit in that well.

The bad guy was pretty 2 dimensional, though, I wish we'd had at least a minute or two of backstory on how he became so hideous looking, apart from the whole "I are a blood mage! RAR! I kill you all!" thing.

Would I recommend this to people who have not played the games? Yes. The story is easily accessible, and enjoyable.
Entertaining
I saw the premiere of the English version of this at PAX East on April 7th 2012. I found it to be pretty entertaining. The story takes place between Dragon Age and Dragon Age II and the plot was good (no spoilers). I know some people didn't care for it, but I thought the voice acting and animation were just fine as well. Towards the end of the movie things get a little far fetched, but it's all in good fun, and hey, this is Dragon Age so some crazy heroics are expected. All in all the movie works because it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's funny at times, dramatic at others, and moves along at a good pace. Well worth the preorder price for sure.
Pretty Good for a Video Game Movie
Let's face it, it's a video game inspired movie. It isn't something that is going to be up for Academy Awards in the US.
That said, it is definitely on the good end of the spectrum for a Video Game movie.
Personally, I like the animation style, though I can see where some might not care for cell-shaded animation.
It is definitely better than Dragon Age Redemption, though I do not fault Felicia Day or Knights of Good for the limitations of that production. Dragon Age is simply something that cannot be done on a limited budget as a live action production.

The story is predictable, and some of the voice acting isn't that great; but, again, it's a straight to DVD/Blu-Ray (atleast in the US) videogame movie made by a Japanese Studio based on a Western RPG and then dubbed with english speaking voice actors.

In the end, you probably know whether you're going to like the movie before you even read any reviews. If you're not familiar with Dragon Age, or...
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Steins;Gate: Complete Series, Part One (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)


one of the greatest animes ever
Steins;Gate is a very compelling story and yes it does start out a little slow but it is this development that makes the climax of the series so enthralling. Funimation did a great job dubbing this show to the point that it is even comparable to the Japanese which is also spectacular. The blu-ray looks wonderful. The dvd's are nothing to scoff at either. As for the special features they were lacking as basically they were commentary and a map, which in the blu-ray version is interactive. The commentary itself is almost as entertaining as the episodes they're superimposed on, in other words they're great. If you are a time travel fanatic then this is a must have. If you like anime in general this show is amazing.
Groundhog Day meets Terminator
Steins; Gate is a truly original Anime. OK, no story is ever TRULY original now, I know, but the mix included here is.

The first bunch of episodes are happy go lucky, in a fun sort of way. Okabe is a mad scientist trying to build a time machine to fight against the "establishment." Along for the ride are his friends Mayuri and Haru. When he finds a dead girl at a convention, only to later that day be told he never went to the convention, we realize something is going on. Then when he meets the same girl at a different lecture, we know for sure something's up. As the story progresses we add more female characters (it's not a harem show, I promise!) and a LOT more drama. And they change the past (well, change the past, that changes the future...) with a MICROWAVE and email/text messages!

By the end of the first part of Steins; Gate things have gone terribly wrong, with Okabe fighting to retain his sanity and save dear friend.

Based on a "graphic novel"...
One of The Best Animes of the Decade.
This show has one of the best plot's for an anime that I have ever seen. The voice acting is amazing and the humor is superb. I have recommended this show to all my friends who have gone on to only say other good things about it. The show starts out with a lght sense of humor and a great cast and by the second half the show becomes increasingy dark when problems arise as the main character Rintarou creates a time machine accidently which leads him to mess around with time trying to figure out how it works which causes problems that he must undo to save his loved ones.
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