Dval's stats
- Review count272
- Helpfulness votes432
- First reviewDecember 3, 2011
- Last reviewSeptember 24, 2016
- Featured reviews1
- Average rating4.5
- Review comment count7
- Helpfulness votes8
- First review commentMarch 9, 2012
- Last review commentMarch 17, 2015
- Featured review comments0
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![Recharged [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2359/2359152_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
2nd remix album
on December 22, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Like some of the others have said, this is the 2nd remix album from Linkin Park with the original being Reanimation. Once something has been done so successfully, it's extremely hard to follow up with the same quality or exceeding the original. I honestly can't say that this one lived up to what Reanimation gave us.
One of the detractors for me on this album is that I'm not a huge fan of all the songs to begin with here. Hybrid Theory was one of, if not, the best albums to ever come out in my opinion. The original songs are all favorites. With Recharged, I'd have to say that less than half the songs on here are songs that I really enjoy.
Enough of the comparing, though. Linkin Park still knows how to make a good album even if I don't love all the music. Their ability to work with other artists and transform their songs is still amazing. Would have been great if they had remade a couple of the songs off of Meteora and/or Minutes to Midnight.
Not the best album they've put out, but any Linkin Park fan should still own it.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Divergence Eve: Complete Collection [6 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
This super sexy release from the anime series Divergence Eve includes all 26 episodes of the show, following the story of a future in which monsters from other worlds have become a side effect of inter-dimensional travel, and special fighters are enlisted to fight them - many of whom are very attractive girls.
Customer Rating
4
End of Humanity?
on December 22, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: SciFi, Action
Length: 26 episodes
Length: 26 episodes
"In the early 21st century, the discovery of the first wormhole made faster than light travel possible. However, what promised to be a gateway to the stars also proved to be a Pandora's Box, and the process of jumping through space via parallel universes unleashed terrifying consequences. Now, a quarter millennia later, the deep space outpost Watcher's Nest must stand on guard, defending the vanguard of humanity against attacks by the monstrous Ghoul, who emerge from alternate time streams and turn their victims into the living undead horrors known as Necromancers. For newly arriving cadets Misaki, Luxandra, Susanna, and Kiri, it's going to be an assignment in Hell as they train to become members of the elite Seraphim Squadron. Because this is a war mankind has been losing, and a new top secret plan to take the fight back to the Ghoul may end up costing them their minds, lives and even their humanity. At the edge of known space, fighting an enemy from beyond time, the battle to keep the final frontier from becoming mankind's final resting place has begun in DIVERGENCE EVE!"
Fourth review...hoping it goes through!
The cover art does the series some disservice. While the ladies are all overly endowed, the series doesn't use it as a selling point much after the first few episodes. The series does feature a few topless shots, but it's not much. Although I will say that there's no real reason for a solo shower scene that doesn't even have the ladies saying anything. Pure fanservice there. There's really only one gore-ish scene at episode 10. It's extended out a bit too long which was a little unsettling.
Divergence Eve isn't the greatest series contrived. It's decent at best with plenty of flaws, but also a good amount of positives as well. The series starts off pretty slow as the first episode should really be episode 11 or 12. We see a bit of action/story, but then it reverts back and tells us what lead up to this point. And then season 2 throws you for plenty of plot twists that keep it fun and interesting to watch. I have to admit that it was a bit hard to get through the first 4-5 episodes as they just weren't that interesting to me. The characters lacked a lot of depth and just felt like something to feast the eyes with.
Being a 10+ year old series, the graphics are nowhere near great. Especially the CG animation. It did feel that the artwork got a bit better after a few episodes, but that might also be that I started to like the series more. There are some extras on each disc, although they aren't much. Songs, a few trailers, a couple commentaries, and some sketches.
I doubt I'll watch through this one again, but it was enjoyable. I remembered seeing some of the episodes on the old G4 or whatever the cable channel used to be called back when they showed anime like Betterman, Soul Taker, and some others.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Wolf Children [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2215/22154861_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Beautiful album
on December 19, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
This CD is the soundtrack to the Wolf Children movie which just released here in November. If you haven't seen the movie yet, then you need to order it now!
The soundtrack is just like the movie in the emotions that they express. You could almost say that it keeps its emotions restrained from going out of control. The tones never get to a fast and fevered pitch. At the same time, they never drop to a slow, mournful expression, either. That's not to say that the emotion isn't felt strongly...you can certainly feel the joy and happiness in a lot of the songs as well as the sorrow in others. However, there's a certain atmosphere about the music that keeps you smiling and enjoying every minute of it.
Like with most anime soundtracks, the majority of the tracks are purely orchestral. However, there are a couple with vocals. Mother's Song is the definitive track for the movie. It's an extremely slow paced song which isn't the greatest ever, but it's quite easy to sing along to.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4
Anime Classic
on December 15, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Comedy, Action, Drama, Harem, Fantasy
If you grew up with the Toonami block on Cartoon Network, then most likely you saw Tenchi Muyo! at some point. Had been over a decade since I last saw this one. Stuff looked great back then, but you realize just how dated it is nowadays. The OVA series is essentially the first 13 episodes of the main storyline. Hoping that at some point we'll see the rest released in Blu-ray as well.
Tenchi Muyo! is about a young buy named Tenchi who is a country boy living with his dad and also trains with his grandfather. After being repeatedly warned by Gramps not to go into a sealed shrine that supposedly contains a demon, Tenchi manages to steal the keys and breaks inside. Unwittingly, he frees the demon who then sets out to get her revenge on those who imprisoned her. After Tenchi subdues the demon, she begins to live in his home and soon enough all sorts of space heroines descend on his home.
Really, the series is about lots of space chicks after Tenchi's love...and body. By today's standards, Tenchi Muyo would be your average run-of-the-mill show. However, it was one of the first "harem" series and pretty much set the tone for how the future would handle it. While comedy is a huge part of the series, there's also a lot of drama and action that really keep you drawn to it.
The graphics are definitely a ton better than the old 480i or less of the original series with it being redone in Blu-ray quality. Loved the crispness and detail. Can really see the difference when paying attention to the scenery and backgrounds. However, the series is still in a 4:3 format. Quality was increased, but I'm not a big fan of watching a tube TV picture on an HDTV.
Still all of the original voicing from the original series...which I realize isn't the best by any stretch of the imagination. English voices are great for those like me who saw it before, but if you're new to the series, I might recommend watching it with subtitles.
The extras were pretty much non-existent. Have one omake trailer and about 8 previews. Although I did enjoy the omake theater.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This hard hitting release from the action-fantasy anime series Inu Yasha includes episodes 13-26 of the show, following the story of a schoolgirl whose destiny is linked to a hot-tempered half-demon named Inu Yasha, who she must help recover the shards of a shattered mystical jewel - if he doesn't drive her crazy first.
Customer Rating
5
The end of InuYasha
on December 14, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Drama
Length: 13 episodes
Length: 13 episodes
"In their quest to restore the shattered Shikon Jewel, Inuyasha and Kagome face their ultimate enemy, the demon mastermind Naraku. With the Jewel nearly complete and in enemy hands, the race to collect the remaining shards intensifies, and an epic battle is brewing on the horizon!
Kagome finds herself pulled between two worlds as she struggles to fight alongside Inuyasha in the Feudal Era and study for her high school entrance exams in the present. As the battle enters its final stage, Inuyasha and his friends have their strength, loyalties and will to live pushed to the limit. The final key to Naraku's and the Jewel's destruction may lie in nothing more -- and nothing less -- than the trust between a half demon and a girl from the future."
Aaaaand, it's over! This volume is the finale to InuYasha. It's one of the few series that actually gives a definitive ending which makes it nice because there's a sense of closure, but it also pretty much axes any hopes of more as well. And it only took 193 episodes, 4 movies, and 5-6 OVAs to accomplish!
Volume 1 took care of killing off all of the characters and pushing all of the side-characters out of the picture. Both InuYasha and Sesshomaru must learn to fully master their swords and put aside their pride to defeat Naraku. We also learn why Kagome's powers have been sealed since she came to the feudal era. Sesshomaru also gets his own brand new sword! It doesn't look anything special, but it's attack and effects are probably the coolest yet.
Non-stop action, a little bit of comedy, and the final battle#s# make this a great finale. I remember why I loved this series so much nearly a decade ago after watching The Final Act. Watched the last 13 episodes in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it! InuYasha is definitely one of the older series out there that I think everyone should be introduced to. Don't expect everyone to watch the entire thing as it is really friggin' long, but it's pretty addicting.
Final note: I didn't notice much of a difference from the Blu-ray and DVD versions. Some of the scenes had more vibrant colors, but 4' away on a 55" screen didn't seem to yield any noticable change in resolution. Might just be my eyes since I'm dead tired :/ Also, the extras aren't any good. Don't even bother unless you want to see a few art scans.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This hard hitting release from the action-fantasy anime series Inu Yasha includes episodes 1-12 of the show, following the story of a schoolgirl whose destiny is linked to a hot-tempered half-demon named Inu Yasha, who she must help recover the shards of a shattered mystical jewel - if he doesn't drive her crazy first.
Customer Rating
5
Beginning of the end
on December 13, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Drama
Length: 13 episodes
Length: 13 episodes
"Kagome is an ordinary schoolgirl who finds her destiny linked to the half demon Inuyasha and the powerful Shikon Jewel. In their quest to restore the shattered Shikon Jewel, Inuyasha and Kagome face their ultimate enemy, the demon mastermind Naraku.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru learns the truth behind his sword Tenseiga, and Kikyo discovers a secret that could defeat Naraku! With the jewel nearly complete and in enemy hands, the race to collect the remaining shards intensifies, and an epic battle is brewing on the horizon!"
Can't believe it took me so long to finally watch this one. Bought it nearly a year ago on its release date! For those that aren't familiar, InuYasha was an incredibly popular anime series that was shown on Cartoon Network's Toonami block late at night some 6-10 years ago. Still have a couple of the figures as well as the imported DVDs of the different movies from back then, too. However, the series was never finished. Rumiko Takahashi, its creator, needed a break from the series and so left it unfinished after several seasons and 167 episodes. After 5 years on hiatus, the series started back up and concluded it with this volume and volume 2 of InuYasha: The Final Act.
From the get-go, you can tell that the series is no longer dragging things out and continuing to build characters or relationships. Several of the characters that you may have loved or hated start biting the dust in these first 13 episodes. Even though I hadn't seen any of the episodes in years, I still found the deaths to be pretty emotionally powerful. They did it very well! And if you hadn't figured out from the original 167 episodes, Naraku is one cruel dude. Definitely no love left for him after this!
Some of the episodes did feel like filler, but none of them were. Each one was designed to emphasize the emotional impact of something that had just happened or was about to happen. I honestly expected to watch this over 2-4 nights, but I loved it so much that I watched all 13 episodes back to back! Don't bother with the special features, though. In typical Viz fashion, they're exceedingly lacking.
If you've seen ANY of the original series and enjoyed it, then you owe it to yourself to catch all of the Final Act. Can't speak for the last 13 episodes, but this volume is certainly pushing the end here fast. Won't be enough characters left alive to last for much longer!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This exciting release from the anime series Girls Und Panzer includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of a group of girls attending the Orai Acaedmy to learn the art of Gun-Fu.
Customer Rating
5
Panzer vor!
on December 12, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"You may have heard of kung fu, but the girls at Oarai Academy practice gun-fu - really BIG gun-fu, in fact. It's called Tankery, and it's the martial art of operating armored tanks! And even though the Tankery program at Oarai has been defunct for years, the student council has taken a sudden interest in the art and no one they set their sights on is safe. Which is how Miho Nishizumi, who transferred to Oarai specifically to stay out of tanks, gets drafted to join the newly revived Tankery division. Buts it's not all bad, because joining her in Team Anglerfish are her new found friends Saori, the highly receptive radio operator; Hana, a flower arranger turned gunner; Mako, their brilliant, but chronically sleepy driver; and combustible tank fangirl and loader Yukari. They may not be on the half-track to fame and fortune, and maybe some of them would rather shop for tank tops than become tops in tanks, but once their focus is locked and loaded, they're absolutely driven. It's mad, it's metal and mayhem is guaranteed! It's GIRLS und PANZER!"
Girls + tanks, what could be better!? Girls + Gundams! Or something like that. Girls und/& Panzer is one of the few titles that I waited for an English release before watching any of. Could have streamed it on Crunchyroll, but it just didn't jump out at me with the first episode. I watched it and just felt that it was too cutesy. It also felt like Miho didn't really have a backbone early on. Once I got past episode 3, I was hooked on the series, though!
If you're a tank buff, you'll love this show regardless as G&P is set on making sure that it gives factual information on its tank models, what they're capable of, and even how they operate. I like tanks, but I'm not an expert on them. One of my coworkers was ecstatic over the series' portrayal of them and was the main reason that I ended up getting this one. I really hate to call a series about a bunch of cute highschool girls "action", but aside from a bit of comedy, it's hard to give it any other designation. With tanks pounding away at each other in almost every episode, the action title definitely fits.
The one thing I hated the most here is with how the discs were encoded. You can't change from Japanese to English audio or vice versa outside of the main menu. If you want to change the audio, you have to start over. Also, it won't let you rewind back through previous chapters. Very poor job by Sentai, in my opinion. Also, I couldn't stand the English vocals. They weren't horrible, but they just didn't have the right sound for the age. I had to stick with the original audio for every episode.
Lastly, if you don't want to watch all the episodes, then just watch the extras on disc 2. You can get a quick breakdown of the series in under 50 minutes with the Introductions 1 & 2 specials. I blew through the last 9 episodes tonight and enjoyed every minute of it. Girls Und Panzer isn't the best series to come out, but it felt very fresh. No blood, very little fanservice, and just a touch of swearing. Appropriate for almost everyone!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
A story of overcoming adversity
on November 27, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Drama
Length: 117 minutes
Length: 117 minutes
"Hana was a student before she was a mother. She was bright and pretty, and her future held endless possibilities. Then she met a man, who turned out to be a wolf, and together they built a family. Hana loved her mate fiercely, but fate took him from her, leaving her alone with two unusual kids she didn't know how to raise. Frightened of being discovered, Hana and her wolf children fled to the countryside to build a new life. Raising her little wild things was an adventure. It left Hana bruised, scratched, exhausted, and joyously overwhelmed as her pups grew stronger and wandered further every day. This is a mother's journey. Teach your children to chase their dreams - and smile through the tears as they disappear into the world in search of who they will become. Hana wasn't always a mother, but it was always what she was meant to be."
Wolf Children is the latest work of director Mamoru Hosoda who also directed the amazing Summer Wars as well as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time which I haven't seen yet #want to get the blu-ray of it, but it's discontinued and goes for $100+ -_-#. This continues Hosoda's list of fantastic movie titles that he's directed. Wolf Children puts a heavy emphasis on the importance of family.
The movie does a very good job of keeping things moving along at a very brisk pace that never leaves you tired or bored. The first quarter of the movie focuses on the love between Hana and her wolf man, the birth of their children, his death, and then her leaving Tokyo. Sadly, because of how quickly the beginning moves on, the father's death isn't that impactful, emotionally. However, I think they got it just right unless their emotional gauge is off. There are several scenes in the movie that start to pull at the heart strings but let go of them just in time to keep things from getting too sad. Extremely well done.
The storyline for Wolf Children is masterfully done, and so are the music and artwork. The very first scene is a strikingly realistic picture of a white flower #don't know which type# that then opens up to a giant field of flowers that Hana is lying in. The music is never riveting, but the orchestral presence really carries every scene over to the next and definitely helps set the tone. Add on the beautiful cinematics and it's an excellent masterpiece to watch and listen to.
I'd been waiting on this movie to come out for months and it definitely didn't let me down. I'm typically a guy that loves shows with mechs, action, violence, and fanservice, but this is one of those movies that virtually anyone can love. Everyone should pick it up and watch it a few times!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
3
One-shot OVA
on November 27, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Fan-service
Length: 15 minutes
Length: 15 minutes
"When an unplanned stop on a deserted island gives Takashi, Saeko, and the rest of the ragged band of survivors a chance to expose themselves to something other than zombie bites for a change, they're more than ready to take a break and let their hair down. Discovering the remnants of an old beach store, the entire group strips to swimsuits and sets out to make the uninhabited island inhabitable, but they're unaware that this seeming paradise is actually just the dead calm before the storm.
Because sometimes the recently deceased aren't the only problems that can lie buried in the sand, and as the swimwear comes off and the inhibitions come down, a kink in the island's food chain sets a truly shocking series of events into motion! You won't believe what comes out next, but suffice it to say that the deserted island may not be so deserted after all! It's an extra special H.O.T.D. that's even hotter than usual as the naked and the dead come together like never before in HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD - DRIFTERS OF THE DEAD!"
Because sometimes the recently deceased aren't the only problems that can lie buried in the sand, and as the swimwear comes off and the inhibitions come down, a kink in the island's food chain sets a truly shocking series of events into motion! You won't believe what comes out next, but suffice it to say that the deserted island may not be so deserted after all! It's an extra special H.O.T.D. that's even hotter than usual as the naked and the dead come together like never before in HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD - DRIFTERS OF THE DEAD!"
Sheesh...the description takes longer to read and write than it takes to watch this thing. At this point, I think we're all grasping at straws in the hopes that we might get some information on a 2nd season for this anime. Sadly, no information is given except that they declare at the end that this isn't the end and it's "To be continued!". 2-3 years later and we're still waiting. If it's of any comfort, another chapter of the manga was released earlier this year but nothing else has come out since.
This OVA is all about the fanservice. Surprisingly though, there's no actual nudity like the series itself shows. Don't expect anything "truly shocking" like the description says, either. Basic story is that everyone accidentally gets high and the bodies come together after that. No action at all. For less than $10, I said "Why the hell not?"; just like the back cover says, too! If anything, it makes me want to rewatch the series again.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
What's great about it: It's more HOTD
What's not so great: Way too short
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Shu is forced to come to terms with his past during a quest to rescue Inori from a fate worse than death.
Customer Rating
5
Highly enjoyable anime
on November 20, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama
Length: 11 episodes
Length: 11 episodes
"Shu's desperate quest to save Inori from the mysterious spectre known as Daath sends him hurtling through a horrifying flashback. Glimpses of the boy he once was combine with fragments of painful memories to hint at the harrowing origins of the Apocalypse Virus. And though Shu manages to save his beloved songstress, he and his friends find themselves quarantined to the warzone that was once their own school. Meanwhile, nefarious GHQ agents seek to incite chaos by turning this frightened band of young rebels against each other. Division in the ranks - and the shocking death of a dear friend - pushes Shu to the brink of madness, exposing Inori and everyone he loves to an eerily familiar enemy. As the terrifying truth about the power of the King's Right Hand emerges, Shu and his comrades must place their faith in one another - and fight for the future of their world!"
The thrilling conclusion to Guilty Crown after part 1 left us with such a cliffhanger! Inori has been abducted by someone else who can pull out her Void and Gai is seriously wounded trying to save Shu. This sets up the premise for us being introduced to Shu's big sister as well as why he never talks about his past. Plot twists abound, the world is ending, and friends are dying all around Shu. Maybe I'm a sucker for some of the usual cliches, but I really enjoyed every bit of this series. It didn't try to mix in slapstick comedy on top of the heavy action and drama like a lot do. Fanservice is minimal. Shu and Inori's romance is pretty awkward, but what can you expect from a social recluse and a weapon?
Aside from my own experience, pretty much most of the reviews for Guilty Crown have been pretty terrible. A lot of people got through the first season and then stopped. Sadly, it's because they couldn't stop comparing it to other series instead of enjoying it on its own merits. A lot of the stuff said really irked me for some reason. No show is perfect and everything is subjective, but you can't pass judgment on a series that you've never even finished. Easily offended? Might want to stay away from the internet and TV. Standard cliches? Every other series uses them, too. It's fine to not like a show, but don't base it off of others.
If you don't feel like spending the money on season 1, there is a 45 minute condensed version of it in the extras here. It is EXTREMELY condensed. If you feel that you might get bored watching 11 episodes, then it's a good start, but you'll be a bit confused by a lot of the stuff from Part 2. Watch it at least once and decide if you enjoy it. I know I did.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dval's Review Comments
Eliminate your unwieldy collection of remotes and start using one device. A Geek Squad Agent will program your new learning remote control (such as a Logitech Harmony remote) for easy operation of your TV and home theater components. Perform commands like Watch a DVD or Listen to Music with the push of a single button.* This service takes about an hour to complete. After completing your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail that contains a redemption code. You can then schedule your appointment by calling 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) and following the prompts for Home Theater and Installation.** Please print your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail and be ready when the Agent arrives at your chosen location.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5its work for reciver by wifi bettween 2flooer
By saadcitystar
from nashville
its work for reciver by wifi bettween 2 flooer my reciver in 2 flooer and my tv is doween stires,so its work doween stirs in tv samsung by wifi
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Interpreting
March 9, 2012
I try not to be a grammar-junkie, but I think "saadcitystar" is trying to say that he/she's happy with their remote programming. It sounds like he/she purchased a Harmony remote with RF (radio frequency) instead of IR (infrared) that is capable of sending signals over about a 50' range and can even go through walls, cabinets, etc...
If purchasing a remote programming by itself, the service is $99.99, but if you're having other services done as well (audio setup, wall-mounting, calibration, or networking), the service actually drops down to $59.99.
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![Hide and Seek [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2066/20661297_sa.jpg)
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Throwback album
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Album came out back on Tuesday and it arrived on Wednesday. Love the quick shipping here.
Hide and Seek isn't quite the same as previous albums from The Birthday Massacre. Couple of the songs have a little bit darker feeling to them, but the overall sounds took me back to music from the 80's and early 90's. Really loving it.
Wouldn't really say that there's any songs that just jump out at you, but it actually works out good for this CD. Really enjoying every single song so I can just keep the entire thing going on repeat. Would be nice to have a killer hit like "Blue" or "Red Stars" thrown in, but the whole thing more than makes up for it.
There's also a Vinyl version available as well, but you'll have to order that through other means if you want it. Definitely recommend this one to any fans.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Update
December 4, 2012
Have to update this as I've had this CD going for the past month in my car. Truely great CD. Very little pops out because all of the songs are so good. Should have given this one 5 stars.
0points
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This release from the chilling anime series Gunslinger Girl includes all 13 episodes of the show's first season, following the girls of the Social Welfare Agency, who appear from the outside to be orphaned schoolgirls, but are actually trained to be cold blooded killers. Extras with the release include voice director commentary, textless songs, and more.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Killer girls from...
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
"Officially, the social Welfare Agency is a government sponsored corporation that's in the business of saving lives. At least, that's the ruse. In reality, it's an agency on the fringe of technology. They give terminal patients another shot at life using cybernetic implants. This conditioning process then shapes the patient into an effiecient machine for handling all of the goverment's dirty work. They've been given a second change at life, but at what cost?"
Basic plot: Little girls that were about to die have been given a second shot at life, but in return they're basically assassins for the government. The first season here doesn't really do much more than give us a character intro for 6 different girls. The story takes place in Italy which is a huge change of pace for most anime. Plot only got an average score because of the lack of one thus far.
Cinematography: The graphics are very visually appealing. Seeing everything out in the Mediteranean is a good change from the streets of Japan. The character designs themselves aren't very well done, though. They're really kind of normal. However, there's a ton of detail put into the outfits, guns, and scenery. Found it kind of odd, but the Blu-ray version is definitely nice and crisp. No jagged edges around the faces like on DVD versions.
Acting: Loved the English voice-acting and didn't touch the original Japanese. Kind of want to just to hear they're versions of each girl.
Extras: Non-existent. Not a single trailer, commentary, or even a textless opening or ending. Bare bones.
As the first reviewer posted, the story is a little disturbing. If you can get around little girls being used as military dolls, then the action is quite nice and I really enjoyed it. Just not the best series out there. Should definitely pick it up if you like anime, though.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Part 2
January 3, 2013
Completely forgot about the extras on disc 2. There are actually quite a few. The voice-actor commentaries about their own characters are really enjoyable. Would bump the Extras up to 4 stars, but it wouldn't change the overall rating.
0points
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Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5meh...
By lobb152
I just didnt like this movie as much as the other two.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
February 13, 2013
Any particular reasons why? Story, cast, etc...?
+1point
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This mind-bending release from the psych-horror anime series Deadman Wonderland includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of a high school boy who is unjustly jailed for the murder of his class in a prison system that fits him with a collar constantly injecting him with poison. The poison can be neutralized if he can take regular doses of the antidote often enough, though these can only be obtained through prison work.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Supernatural prison
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Supernatural, Action, Drama
Length: 12 episodes + OVA
Length: 12 episodes + OVA
"Ganta is the only survivor after a mysterious man in red slaughters a classroom full of teenagers. He's framed for the carnage, sentenced to die, and locked away in the most twisted prison ever built: Deadman Wonderland. And then it gets worse.
At Deadman Wonderland, convicts are forced into brutal deathmatches for the amusement of the masses, the cheers of the crowd drowning out the screams of the dismembered. Even when Ganta befriends Shiro, an unusual female inmate, his dark fate crushes all hope – until he discovers the strange ability to wield his spilled blood as a weapon. Ganta learns his new skill might be related to the murderous man in red and uncovers disturbing secrets that could expose those who stole his freedom. He's determined to see justice served – but first he'll have to fight for his life in a prison that holds a million ways to die."
Deadman Wonderland is a decent series that gained attention in America after Cartoon Network aired it on the Toonami animation block when it was reincarnated back in 2012. I caught the first 2 episodes, but never got around to watching the rest. The series is filled to the brim with blood, gore, and action. The English dialogue is pretty racy as well. It does an excellent job with the shock factor. You just know someone is about to die, but it can be a little hard to predict how it's going to happen. Sadly, the series is quite rushed and a ton of knowledge is never made known. There also isn't really a true ending. Red Man remains a mystery, sort of. What relation does Shiro and Ganta have? Don't want to spoil any of the ending, but it pops up just as many questions and doesn't really answer anything. It leave tons of room for a 2nd season, but I haven't seen anything in the works, yet.
I enjoyed the series overall even with the rushed ending and lingering questions. My brother was also a fan and admitted that he was a little confused with the entire thing. This is a great value on a pretty good series. Pick it up!
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Reply
August 7, 2014
That's correct. First two black discs are the DVD version while the last 2 light blue discs contain the BD versions.
+1point
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Keep your air clean and healthy with this Therapure 90TP50RM01 mini air purifier that is designed for areas up to 5 sq. ft. Stainless-steel collection blades allow easy cleaning and ultraviolet light destroys airborne viruses.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Not what I was looking for, much better
By kakky
from Houston
Came in looking for a new portable radio. Salesman guided me to a blue-tooth speaker to connect to my phone instead. Can also use this with my MP3. Works much better than the radio would have and great sound. Helpful salesman did a bit of technology training to help me get it set up.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Wrong item?
August 18, 2014
Hey there. I think you may have gotten the wrong item for your review. Sounds like you purchased a bluetooth speaker instead of an air purifier.
+5points
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This set serves up every episode of the anime series Coppelion.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Great anime!
By ACEACE
from CORONA
Picture and cgi excellent. Story excellent. But I gave it 3 stars because the sound is pcm only. That means stereo not 5.1 dolby digital much less DTS. Why they don't spend the money on the sound affect on Bluray is completely troubling.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
sound in anime
March 17, 2015
It'd be great to have more titles with full 5.1 or 7.1 dolby digital sound, but it's pretty rare outside of the big movies. Really long answer so I'll just paste the response from the animenewsnetwork for you.
Audio is important, and many fans are becoming more and more concerned with making sure that they're getting the best quality audio possible when they fork over the money for a shiny disc of their favorite show. But with so many different formats, which one is best? Which ones should you be asking for? Sometimes the difference is negligible or non-existant, other times it makes a huge difference.
Let's start with the easy one: why some shows have 5.1 mixes for the dub, but not for the original Japanese. I've answered previously on this column that most TV anime doesn't bother with anything more than a stereo (2.0) mix because the Japanese broadcast standard doesn't really support 5.1 audio, and given how big home theater systems aren't as common in Japan for a number of reasons, they generally don't bother remixing for 5.1 when it comes time to release the discs on home video. However, when making the dub, an American publisher might think 5.1 is worth the extra work. If they're already set up to do 5.1, the audio has to be remixed anyway, so it is an opportunity to have a nice added feature for dub fans.
5.1 mixes require special equipment, take a lot more time, and are harder to check for errors (and requires a lot more office space to do so), so it's often not practical to do 5.1 mixes for everything. They can also cost more money. The decision to make a 5.1 mix is made on a show-by-show basis, based on whether the Japanese is 5.1 (usually just movies and some high-end OAVs) and how much the show is predicted to sell.
As for what format in which they're stored on a disc, these days you generally see 4 different kinds of audio tracks:
• Linear PCM (Completely uncompressed, basically just a WAV file. Takes up a lot of space, especially in 5.1.)
• Dolby Digital (AC3) (Lower quality, like an MP3, but takes up a lot less space. Supported by DVD and Blu-ray.)
• Dolby TrueHD (Blu-ray only. The full quality of the WAV file, but compressed to a more manageable size. Still much bigger than AC3, however.)
• DTS Master Audio (Blu-ray only. For the end user, pretty much identical to Dolby TrueHD.)
• Linear PCM (Completely uncompressed, basically just a WAV file. Takes up a lot of space, especially in 5.1.)
• Dolby Digital (AC3) (Lower quality, like an MP3, but takes up a lot less space. Supported by DVD and Blu-ray.)
• Dolby TrueHD (Blu-ray only. The full quality of the WAV file, but compressed to a more manageable size. Still much bigger than AC3, however.)
• DTS Master Audio (Blu-ray only. For the end user, pretty much identical to Dolby TrueHD.)
When you make a DVD or Blu-ray, you are tasked with squeezing a lot of data onto a finite amount of space, so compression can be very important. Wasting too much bandwidth on audio means you might have to sacrifice video quality. The above compression formats are essential ways to get the most quality out of an audio track without having an unwieldy amount of data to contend with.
Audio quality obsessives swear that Dolby Digital AC3 audio has a lot of distortion and they can DEFINITELY tell a difference. I am skeptical. I've definitely heard bad AC3 encodes that definitely affected audio quality, particularly in very early DVDs, but there has never been a double-blind study that shows even audio experts can tell a difference at higher bitrates (and quite a few proving that nobody can tell at all). At any event, the presence of "lossless" audio (in either LPCM, DTS-MA or Dolby TrueHD) has become an important marketing bullet point for Blu-ray discs, so whether people can REALLY tell the difference or it's all a placebo effect, who am I to argue.
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