Dval's stats
- Review count279
- Helpfulness votes474
- First reviewDecember 3, 2011
- Last reviewSeptember 24, 2016
- Featured reviews1
- Average rating4.5
- Review comment count9
- Helpfulness votes28
- First review commentMarch 9, 2012
- Last review commentMarch 17, 2015
- Featured review comments0
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- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
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- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes3
- First answerSeptember 10, 2014
- Last answerOctober 6, 2014
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- Best answers1
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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A young man with the power to reach into the souls of mortals and turn them into living weapons is forced to choose between a government agency, and a band of rebels.
Customer Rating
5
Original action anime
on November 19, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama
Length: 11 episodes
Length: 11 episodes
"Shu's entire world was shattered after a meteorite crashed into Japan, unleashing the lethal Apocalypse Virus. The chaos and anarchy born of the outbreak cost Shu his family and reduced him to a timid, fearful shell of the boy he'd once been. His life took another unexpected turn after a chance encounter with the stunning pop star, Inori. This mysterious beauty introduced Shu to the King's Right Hand: a genetic mutation that allows him to reach into hearts of mortals and turn them into weapons. The visceral action of this visual masterpiece escalates as Shu finds himself caught in the crossfire between those who desperately seek his newfound strength. On once side lurks a clandestine government agency - and on the other, Inori and the spirited band of rebels known as Funeral Parlor. The choice is Shu's to make - and the world is his to change."
$85? Gotta be kidding me!? That's what I thought when I first saw this series coming out in North America. But you know what? Even without any of the extras, the production quality for Guilty Crown is so high that it's highly justified. We just need to be glad that Funimation somehow got the English licensing away from Aniplex or the cost would have probably been double this and it wouldn't be available through anyone but Rightstuf! That stuff aside, I hesitated a long time before buying this one after my local store completely got rid of its anime section, but all the stores down in the Nashville area have an even larger selection now than before so I picked it up when I saw some of the LE versions left. As a warning, don't read through the books that come along with this one until you've finished all of Part 2! Read through some spoilers that I didn't want to know yet!
The story! Guilty Crown is an original story anime compiled by the big companies in Japan with the primary emphasis being on genetic manipulation. After a viral outbreak left the country on its knees ten years ago, the nation can no longer support itself and is instead operates as a quasi-independant entity with the help of the rest of the world. In the aftermath of this, a military group known as the Antibodies is responsible for maintaining peace and order in Japan. We're introduced to Inori fleeing from the GHQ base after having stolen a vial from them. She manages to escape but is wounded and ends up being blown off of a bridge into the river below. No spoilers as this happens during the very first intro song -_-
The production quality for Guilty Crown is extremely high and is only surpassed by Fate/Zero in the past couple years, in my opinion. If you're not watching it in full HD, you're really missing out. Incredible animation that blends artwork and CG together almost as well as a high-budget movie does and amazing music easily make this a series to remember. "My Dearest" by Supercell is a killer opening theme as well as the closing song. Have to love the opening to episode 1 which features the song Inori sings throughout the series.
I could swap to the Japanese voice cast if I wanted to, but the English voiceovers do an amazing job. Every character is right on queue and I can't find any flaws with their performance. The extras even have a 10 minute interview with 3 of the original developers/directors for the series where they talk about how to develop an original anime and the key concepts they wanted it to follow. Very cool to watch.
I hesitated to get this series at first because of the price, but it's fully worth it after having watched all of Part 1. It's rare to get such great quality for the entirety of a series. Time to start up Part 2!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This creepy crawly release from Rosario + Vampire: Capu2, the second season of the anime series Rosario + Vampire, includes all 13 episodes of the season, following the story of a high schooler named Tsukune who gets rejected from every college he applies to except a school for monsters, where he's the only human in the student body.
Customer Rating
4
Cute and Sexy vampire story
on November 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
I love this series although I am a bigger fan of the manga than the animated version here. Gonzo went just a bit too "boob happy" like they did with Witchblade. Too much of the story got left out in place of fanservice. If you haven't read the manga, then the series will be a must have for any anime fan. Great range of characters #harem# that follow after the main character in terms of their personality. He's a bit of a pansy, but luckily he gets a lot better later in the series. Really liked the English voice-dubs in this one. Probably what I like best about Gonzo is getting quality voice-acting. Not much in terms of "extras" for this.
For anyone that enjoys this anime, I highly urge you to read the manga as well. Season 2 started about 2 years back and it has pretty much thrown out all of the cutesy, playful stuff. Tons of action, Tsukune has turned into a vampire, and the world is on the brink of destruction. Pretty awesome!
What's not so great: Too much fanservice
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This creepy crawly release from Rosario + Vampire: Capu2, the second season of the anime series Rosario + Vampire, includes all 13 episodes of the season, following the story of a high schooler named Tsukune who gets rejected from every college he applies to except a school for monsters, where he's the only human in the student body.
Customer Rating
4
Fanservice with no story
on November 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
After having this one sitting around in the original packaging for about two months, I finally got around to watching the 2nd season of Rosario + Vampire today. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. If you enjoyed the first season, you'll enjoy this one as well. They're pretty much identical with just a touch more drama at the end.
Where to start? The opening theme is decent. If you watch any AMVs on Youtube, you're sure to have seen plenty of them featuring all of the girls from the series dancing. I actually really enjoyed the ending theme.
Don't expect anything from the extras. You've got one trailer at the beginning of each disc and 8 trailers on the 2nd disc as well as a clean opening and ending song.
From the ending of the first season, I was expecting a little bit more action to accompany the 2nd. There is a little bit of action but it's pretty much in the last episode alone. All the other fights end in 1-2 hits. Still the same annoying narrative when the rosary is removed from Moka. Tsukune might add one more girl to his "harem" if a 3rd season ever develops but I doubt one will with how this ended.
From the ending of the first season, I was expecting a little bit more action to accompany the 2nd. There is a little bit of action but it's pretty much in the last episode alone. All the other fights end in 1-2 hits. Still the same annoying narrative when the rosary is removed from Moka. Tsukune might add one more girl to his "harem" if a 3rd season ever develops but I doubt one will with how this ended.
This series definitely delivers in the fanservice department. My twin sat down and watched a few episodes with me and immediately noticed the panty shots every 5-10 seconds. It doesn't stop there, though. There are quite a few topless scenes in here as well. Nothing beats the "Boob missile" scene where Kurumu and Mizori's moms fight against each other.
Loved the humor, too. Even if there were too many panty shots, there was always enough to keep me laughing to ease the pain...All in all, it's a decent series, but I don't see myself watching it again. Great for the lol factor and fanservice if over the top at times.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
What's great about it: Boob missles
What's not so great: Forced ending
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This sexy release from the saucy sci-fi anime series Dragonaut includes all 26 episodes of the show, telling the story of a busy task force of ladies in tight uniforms called the Dragonauts, who help protect the earth from deadly forces like massive asteroids - all while baring as much of their bodies as possible.
Customer Rating
4
Good action
on November 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
First: a brief synopsis. "Twenty years prior to the story's beginning, an asteroid headed for Earth destroys Pluto. Due to Pluto's destruction, the asteroid, which is dubbed Thanatos, becomes temporarily stagnant in Pluto's orbit. Now, in order to avoid Earth's impending destruction, the International Solarsystem Development Agency (ISDA) works on the "D-Project", and secretly creates weapons called "Dragons" after finding a dragon egg under the ocean. However, they soon find out that the asteroid is not their only threat, as powerful, destructive dragons from Thanatos appear on Earth.
After witnessing what looks like a murder by a strange creature, Jin Kamishina, a lonely 18-year-old boy who lost his family in a shuttle accident two years ago, gets involved with the ISDA and their efforts to battle the dragons from Thanatos. Helping him is Toa, a mysterious girl who saves him from falling to his death after the creature attacks him. As they delve deeper into the mysteries of the dragons, they encounter new friends and enemies, and also develop a closer relationship.
Basically, humanity is on the brink of destruction by an insterstaller entity that is going to devour the entire planet...sucks for humanity. Thanatos has sent dragons to Earth to conquer it and humanity has also captured and raised some of their own to combat it. The majority of the series focuses on conflict between humans and their dragons rather than against Thanatos which is good in terms of the character development. Don't get attached to too many of the side characters as some bite the dust.
The only real complaint I have with Dragonaut is the constant up-and-down relationship between Jin and Toa. Seemed like their attitudes changed almost every episode.
Voice acting was pretty good. Never swapped to the Japanese vocals once...which is surprising for me. Extras...meh: the usual textless openings and a few trailers. Good series for the length and price.
The only real complaint I have with Dragonaut is the constant up-and-down relationship between Jin and Toa. Seemed like their attitudes changed almost every episode.
Voice acting was pretty good. Never swapped to the Japanese vocals once...which is surprising for me. Extras...meh: the usual textless openings and a few trailers. Good series for the length and price.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4
Tons of action
on November 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Will have to start off by saying that this one fully deserves the M rating. Tons of fighting, severed limbs, slit throats, and a lot of bare skin. Miraculously, the anime stays incredibly parallel to the manga in case you've ever read or plan on reading it.
Basic premise of the story is that the world has been attacked in the past by extra-dimensional beings called the Nova. No idea where they came from, but it's clear that they want to destroy humanity. The fate of the world rests with altered young women called Pandora. The Pandora have to baptise a young man to be their partner who helps them to fight in battle against the Nova.
Satellizer El Bridgett is the main character who's also called "The Untouchable Queen." The story gets set in motion when she's abruptly introduced to Kazuya Aoi who can somehow manage to touch her and not end up on the receiving end of her sword.
Good points. Because the series follows the manga so closely, there's next to no "filler." There's a slight deviation at the end but that can be attributed to only having 12 episodes to work with and also leaving the possibility for a second season which would be great. There's fighting in every single episode and no one gets left with all of their clothing on. Surprisingly, the language is pretty tame for how gratuitous the series is. There's actually 6 OVAs and a couple episode commentaries to go as extras as well. Blu-ray is always awesome, too.
The bad. The English voices for Satellizer and Kazuya weren't exactly the most motivated. Wish that I could have watched it with just the original Japanese for Satellizer and English for everyone else. Freezing also loses a lot of viewers because of how much skin shows up. Sadly, Kazuya is your typical no-backbone main male character that can't decide between two girls as well.
Definitely recommend this one to any anime lover as long as you're not offended by adult content. I bought it since I've been reading the manga for over a year and greatly enjoyed it. Another good series added to my collection. Also, a 2nd season of the anime has been green-lit and should help with where this season left off.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Are you a go-getting risk-taker who loves to live on the edge and reap the rewards of high-stakes gambling? Or are you a live-by-the-rules, stand-up citizen who finds value in upholding the law and protecting your fellow citizens? Regardless of your priorities, Need for Speed: Rivals has a role for you. Strap yourself in and get ready to ride as you take to the streets of Redview County. An all-out war between racers and cops greets you around every corner as you take street racing to the next level with the fastest cars, mods and technology in a gritty open-road environment. Whether you're risking it all to cross the finish line first or using an impressive array of advanced pursuit technology to bust the ne'er-do-wells of Redview County, your need for speed is sure to be satisfied.Get ready for some adrenaline-pumping, high-stakes rivalry as either a lone-wolf racer out for your own glory, or a member of the police force on the hunt to bust the law-breakers. Each side has their own unique set of cars, technology, play styles and careers. Aren't sure which side you fall on? Need for Speed: Rivals allows you to experience them both with a progression system built for each side. The new gambling scoring system lets you decide if you want to wager your speed points to shoot for a higher multiplier and greater rewards, or play it safe and bank your speed points when you return to a hideout. However, easy come, easy go — if you get busted by the cops, they take speed points as a reward. Design the car of your dreams with access to the latest performance upgrades and technology, as well as custom paint jobs, liveries, license plates, rims and decals to show off your personal style. The thrills never stop with fully loaded technology that's customized for each side of the law. Racers can choose evasion technology, such as jammers and electromagnetic pulses, while the police have access to pursuit technology, including shockwaves, roadblocks, helicopter support and more. Frostbite Engine 3 brings it all together with stunning, high-definition, next-generation graphics that bring every detail of the game to life for a breathtaking, high-speed experience you won't forget. Share it with your friends in AllDrive that seamlessly joins your games online or offline, as friends or as rivals, then connect to the Need for Speed network to compare your progress and share pictures of your best races and chases. Experience the thrill of pursuit as well as the excitement of evasion in one game.
Customer Rating
4
Beautiful racing game
on November 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Went ahead and picked up the new Need for Speed game along with the PS4 with the launch last night and so far it's been the only game I've played on the system. I haven't played any games in the series in years but I'm glad that I decided to nab it. Here's a quick break down of the pros and cons to me (subjective and may be seen differently by others):
Pros: The visuals in the game are beautiful. Crisp, clear, and incredibly realistic visuals make it so easy to sit and play for hours.
The ability to choose between the Cops and the Racers. Cops have to unlock cars by completing missions and the Racers have to purchase them by using points earned for doing practically everything.
Fun mulitplayer features. Not sure what the first reviewer was talking about, but you can certainly race with or against your friends as well as others. Last I was on, I was one of 2 Cops with 4 Racers on the map. You can choose to keep doing missions or go after other players.
Weapons: Haven't unlocked many so far, but the ability to use spike strips, EMPs, Sonic Pulse fields, and other tools adds a pretty cool element to the game. Have to be wary of what might be set up in the road by other players at any time.
The ability to choose between the Cops and the Racers. Cops have to unlock cars by completing missions and the Racers have to purchase them by using points earned for doing practically everything.
Fun mulitplayer features. Not sure what the first reviewer was talking about, but you can certainly race with or against your friends as well as others. Last I was on, I was one of 2 Cops with 4 Racers on the map. You can choose to keep doing missions or go after other players.
Weapons: Haven't unlocked many so far, but the ability to use spike strips, EMPs, Sonic Pulse fields, and other tools adds a pretty cool element to the game. Have to be wary of what might be set up in the road by other players at any time.
Cons: The game can get repetitive. A lot of the missions stay the same and just have you trying for faster completion times. You get rewards, but a bit more diversity could be good.
The maps. The entire racing area is pretty massive which can make trying to find other players, or at least catching up to them, pretty time-consuming. Luckily, the environments are pretty diversive and great to look at. There are also lots of Command Centers and Repair Shops around.
The story: I wouldn't really call it a story here. There's definitely a bit of narration, that you can't skip through, which could pretty much be ignored. Really wish that more thought had gone into trying to make a decent plot.
The maps. The entire racing area is pretty massive which can make trying to find other players, or at least catching up to them, pretty time-consuming. Luckily, the environments are pretty diversive and great to look at. There are also lots of Command Centers and Repair Shops around.
The story: I wouldn't really call it a story here. There's definitely a bit of narration, that you can't skip through, which could pretty much be ignored. Really wish that more thought had gone into trying to make a decent plot.
Overall, Need for Speed: Rivals is a pretty decent game. Not the best that I've played, but I'll definitely keep on playing it.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
THE anime classic
on November 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Length: 124 minutes
Length: 124 minutes
"World War III breaks loose. Then in 2019, in megalopolis Tokyo...
As the leader of a group of young delinquents, Kaneda spends his nights tearing through the urban wastes, racing his motorbike against rival groups. One night, while riding with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange boy - a product of human experimentation - and is injured in the ensuing crash. Shortly thereafter, a military squadron appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo away to an army research lab.
Determined to free Tetsuo from captivity, Kaneda sneaks into the lab. However, a regimen of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and he is now consumed by madness..."
Hard to believe that it's now been 25 years since Akira came out. This is the 25th anniversary edition that has been remastered into Blu-ray format. The story of Akira is a classic one of two friends, Kaneda and Tetsuo, who end up becoming enemies as one is consumed by a supernatural power and decides to use it to reign death down on everyone. The amazing attention to detail, intriguing characters, and violent action scenes have kept Akira alive as one of the all-time anime masterpieces. If you're a fan of the genre, then you should see this movie at least once if not more!
Akira is definitely an amazing movie, but it does have its faults. That mainly lies in the plot. What caused WW3? How did the top secret projects start? What happened to Akira? And a lot of other questions abound but are never answered. This is circumvented a bit by a clean opening and ending which doesn't leave much room for discussion.
The remastering into Blu-ray was done amazingly. The previous remastering from back in 2001 with the audio is used alongside the great visuals. I watched it in Japanese on VHS a long time back, but the English voice casting is so great that I've got no reason to now! The music from the movie really draws out the emotions and feelings of everything as well. The futuristic techno, punkish music is incredibly unique even today.
Tons of extras included on this version including trailers, storyboards, director interviews, documentaries on remastering the movie, and even the story behind every song for the movie are on here. Overall, there's over an hour and a half of bonus features to watch as well. Really recommend it if you enjoy the history of things.
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.
+1point
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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.
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This haunting release from the psychological sci-fi anime series Elfen Lied includes all 13 episodes of the show, following the story of a telekinetic girl named Lucy, who breaks free from the torment and torture of a government research facility and is taken in by two kindly strangers - who have no idea that the sweet girl they've discovered harbors a split personality brought on by years of abuse, along with unfathomable powers toa ct on her rage.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Gore and horror at its best
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
A deadly disease has somehow formed in the human genes resulting in humans with horns called diclonius (sp? Been a while since I saw it). In addition to the horns, these mutants also have supernatural powers in the form of invisible arms called vectors. What's to stop these mutants? Locking them up in a government test facility; testing, torturing, and mutilating them, right...?
Elfen Lied starts out with one of the diclonius, Lucy, escaping from her heavily fortified prison by slicing and dicing her way through waves of armed guards who are powerless against her vectors which can also deflect bullets (from a certain range#. A sniper's bullet to the head doesn't manage to kill her, but it is enough to create a 2nd personality in the form of Nyu who washes up on the nearest beach. There, she's discovered by Kohta and Yuka who had met Lucy many years before but are unaware of her identity.
The series then progresses through gallons of blood, truckloads of body parts, and the battle to stop the spread of the diclonius. Gore, horror, supernatural, and action are the main genre of this anime. You run into a bit of romance (Could refer to Lucy as a tsundere and Yuka is close enough to a yandere) with nothing really ever developing.
Not much in terms of extras besides a few trailers. However, I love the textless opening and closing themes. The opening, "Lilium" is one of my all time favorite songs with its haunting and beautiful melody. Greatly enjoy the closing theme "Be Your Girl" as well.
Despite only being 13 episodes, Elfen Lied has managed to be quite a controversial series. The amount of killing and nudity in the first episode rubbed some people the wrong way. This is one of my favorite series even if it was a bit gorier than I'm used to. Recommend it to anyone who wants a good horror anime.
Elfen Lied starts out with one of the diclonius, Lucy, escaping from her heavily fortified prison by slicing and dicing her way through waves of armed guards who are powerless against her vectors which can also deflect bullets (from a certain range#. A sniper's bullet to the head doesn't manage to kill her, but it is enough to create a 2nd personality in the form of Nyu who washes up on the nearest beach. There, she's discovered by Kohta and Yuka who had met Lucy many years before but are unaware of her identity.
The series then progresses through gallons of blood, truckloads of body parts, and the battle to stop the spread of the diclonius. Gore, horror, supernatural, and action are the main genre of this anime. You run into a bit of romance (Could refer to Lucy as a tsundere and Yuka is close enough to a yandere) with nothing really ever developing.
Not much in terms of extras besides a few trailers. However, I love the textless opening and closing themes. The opening, "Lilium" is one of my all time favorite songs with its haunting and beautiful melody. Greatly enjoy the closing theme "Be Your Girl" as well.
Despite only being 13 episodes, Elfen Lied has managed to be quite a controversial series. The amount of killing and nudity in the first episode rubbed some people the wrong way. This is one of my favorite series even if it was a bit gorier than I'm used to. Recommend it to anyone who wants a good horror anime.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
January 3, 2013
It is in English. Can choose from Japanese w/ English subtitles or English audio.
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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.
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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
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Sony XBR-55X850B 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV ushers in the future of high-definition with 4K — 4x the resolution of Full HD. Catch every stunning detail of the big game, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows with outstanding clarity. Plus, take advantage of Smart TV features like Web browsing, streaming video and social network integration.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Good entry level 4K TV
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Bought this TV in late June after having originally gotten the 65W950B model instead. There are a few things that could be improved upon, but it's excellent for its price range. Here's the round up:
Pros:
Great picture quality. 4K resolution is truely amazing when you have 4K content playing on it.
4K Xreality Pro: Upscaling works out quite well. I only have basic cable set up and it honestly made the picture look like it was HD quality. Sure, it didn't look like 4K, but you can't expect to make a 480p image look close to 4K resolution.
TriLuminous display: This is the big point for me when picking the Sony over the Samsung models. Sony gives better colors than Samsung which tries to focus too much on aesthetics and brightness.
Smart features: Easy to use and navigate. Had it connected to the internet in under 5 minutes after setting up and was streaming 4K videos off of YouTube and Netflix.
Great picture quality. 4K resolution is truely amazing when you have 4K content playing on it.
4K Xreality Pro: Upscaling works out quite well. I only have basic cable set up and it honestly made the picture look like it was HD quality. Sure, it didn't look like 4K, but you can't expect to make a 480p image look close to 4K resolution.
TriLuminous display: This is the big point for me when picking the Sony over the Samsung models. Sony gives better colors than Samsung which tries to focus too much on aesthetics and brightness.
Smart features: Easy to use and navigate. Had it connected to the internet in under 5 minutes after setting up and was streaming 4K videos off of YouTube and Netflix.
Cons:
Audio: Sadly, this model doesn't feature any improved sound qualities. If you want better sound, then you need a separate sound system or you'll want to step up to the X900B series which starts off at 65".
Search feature: Using the search feature within the TV is a pain in the butt. Type something in and it's likely to pull up a few million hits off of YouTube rather than searching for what you wanted on the TV. Had to go to the very end of all the apps just to find the web browser option.
Audio: Sadly, this model doesn't feature any improved sound qualities. If you want better sound, then you need a separate sound system or you'll want to step up to the X900B series which starts off at 65".
Search feature: Using the search feature within the TV is a pain in the butt. Type something in and it's likely to pull up a few million hits off of YouTube rather than searching for what you wanted on the TV. Had to go to the very end of all the apps just to find the web browser option.
While I count audio as a con here, if you're spending this much on a TV, then you shouldn't be in a stretch just to add some form of external speakers. Decent soundbars run as cheap as about $200 while the better quality ones range from $350-$600. If you want some great audio, then you save $300 off of the Sony ST7 soundbar with the purchase of this TV. Usually $1300 for it as it's a premium soundbar option.
I really wanted the X950B model, but alas, $8k is a bit outside of the realm I want to spend on a TV. Aside from the lower quality audio and lower contrast range, this model is a great alternative for almost 1/4 of the cost. Definitely can't go wrong with it!
Dval
Clarksville, TN
August 7, 2014
In regards to the W950B, I have to place it as the best-looking non-UHD TV on the market (not counting the Samsung F8500 plasma). I prefer the picture quality, color, and contrast that it provided instead of the X850B series. The speakers are pretty good and the built-in subwoofer actually rumbles nicely, too. The sheer amount of calibration settings is insane compared to any other TV I've gone into as well. Aside from the 4K display capability, the W950B beats it out in pretty much every department in my opinion. In the end, I was looking for a 4K TV, and the 65W950B was a bit too large for my space, so that's why I settled on the X850B instead.
+15points
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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
5of 5voted this comment as helpful.
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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Dval's Questions
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Dval's Answers
Sony XBR-55X850B 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV ushers in the future of high-definition with 4K — 4x the resolution of Full HD. Catch every stunning detail of the big game, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows with outstanding clarity. Plus, take advantage of Smart TV features like Web browsing, streaming video and social network integration.
Transmitter
I wanted to know if i still need to hook up a 3d transmitter to the tv to get glasses to work with the 3d view? The transmitter that came with the glasses does not have the rite connection to hook up to the back of this tv. this is what the transmitter looks like http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/SKUimages/gallery/large/S190-0101-call04-mm.jpg
That's odd. I didn't get any piece like that in mine and never saw one like it when opening displays in the store either. However, you won't need that to enjoy 3D viewing. You can choose to do the 2D-3D conversion on the television or just make sure you have a 3D Blu-ray player (or PS3/PS4) and 3D content. WIth the TVs being Passive 3D instead of Active, there's no need to sync them with the TVs anymore either.
10 years ago
by
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Sony XBR-55X850B 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV ushers in the future of high-definition with 4K — 4x the resolution of Full HD. Catch every stunning detail of the big game, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows with outstanding clarity. Plus, take advantage of Smart TV features like Web browsing, streaming video and social network integration.
Are the television remotes compatible with my time warner cable box (Cisco 8742 HDC)?
The TV remotes will not be compatible with your cable box as they're not designed to be universal remotes. However, your Time Warner remote should be able to program to the Sony TV.
10 years, 1 month ago
by
Dval
Clarksville, TN