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
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![Macross Plus [Movie Edition] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
Long revered as an anime classic, Shoji Kawamon's Macross Plus: The Movie arrives on DVD in this stunning new edition from the anime specialists at Manga Entertainment. Featuring all new, never-before-seen footage and presented in standard 1.33:1 full-screen, this tale of human survival in the face of alien invasion also features a bombastic Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack with optional English subtitles. As usual with the folks at Manga, this disc is loaded with such extra features as a photo gallery, Japanese production team credits, Macross Plus previews, Manga previews, web links and Manga fan club info.
Customer Rating
5
Amazing Macross action
on August 10, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Mecha, Drama, Romance
Length: 115 minutes
Length: 115 minutes
"In 2040 A.D. on the colonial planet of Eden, the Ministry of Defense is testing a transforming super-stealth aircraft to counter alien attacks. Join in on the action when rival pilots Isamu and Guld battle for aerial supremacy and the affections of the beautiful Myung.
The Movie Edition includes a breathtaking new opening sequence, new scenes that further clarify the relationships between key characters, plus a dramatic new ending featuring extended footage of the haunting concert given by the film's virtual pop star, Sharon' Apple. The end result is a film which spectacularly conveys the director's vision while infusing striking new elements into this gripping story.
Macross Plus scores with its triple-play of dynamic mecha action, dramatic characters and rock music - creating a visual spectacle with whirlwind air combat scenes that will leave you mesmerized."
Macross Plus is a Mech-fighter anime built on top of a love triangle...which is really simliar to the original Macross/Robotech! Isamu, Guld, and Myung are all acquanited with each other from back in high school and after a mysterious separation, they haven't conversed together in over 7 years. Myung's dream was to become a singer, but now she operates as the production manager for the biggest singer in the galaxy, Sharon' Apple. Isamu and Guld both fulfilled their dreams of flying through the skies and are now fighter pilots of the highest caliber. When Sharon's next concert is on the planet Eden where all 3 of them grew up, they all are pulled back together and old wounds are reopened.
One thing is for sure...the description doesn't lie here. Macross Plus takes us back into the hayday of anime that had massive spending budgets and pulled out all the stops. Even by today's standards, this film from the late 1990's is still amazing to watch. Would love to pop this into one of the Sony 4K TVs with upscaling and see what it looks like. Macross Plus was one of the first series/movies to really make use of good CG/computer generated imaging on top of traditional hand-drawn animation. It's done incredibly well and delivers a stunning futuristic look along with fast-paced action scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat.
What doesn't get enough credit here is the soundtrack. Yoko Kanno delivers a monumental performance with the musical score in Macross Plus. The music is the director and narrator for the entire movie. A bit of techno rock to let you know that you're in a futuristic world...fast, high-powered scores for the aerial dogfights. And some stunningly beautiful tracks like "Voices" that can almost bring the tears out. Loved the English rendition of it, too. I've bought two different versions of the soundtrack since I thought it was the best thing since fried chicken.
The movie version also gives several benefits over the 4-episode OVA such as extended scenes, a little bit of fan-service from Lucy, and more background on some of the characters and their relationships. You also have a full 5.1 surround sound option. With such a grand musical score, it's best watched with a sound system!
Buy it! Worship it! It's hard to find anime of this quality nowadays and it's one of my all-time favorites.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
High-tension shoot-out
on August 8, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Gore, Mature
Length: 5 episodes
Length: 5 episodes
""They killed her master. Now she'll kill everyone. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed anime Black Lagoon. Brace yourself for a barrage of hot lead and short shorts in the gun-blazing follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Black Lagoon. This tour de violence was inspired by the masters of mayhem John Woo and Quentin Tarantino -- and brought to you by the studio behind Trigun!
The cutthroat crew of Black Lagoon faces their stiffest challenge yet when a Venezuelan assassination sparks a killing spree that spans the globe. Roberta was a reformed assassin until a clandestine clash between politically backed acronyms claimed the life of her master. In the flash of a muzzle, she goes from maid to murderer on a pill-popping, crimson stained quest for vengeance. When Revy and the gang are hired to stop Roberta's killing spree, they quickly find themselves in the middle of an international shootout starring everyone from the KGB to the CIA. The bullets are flying, the bodies are piling upin the street, and Roberta's painting the town red -- with blood."
August 6th has been a great release day for anime. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II, Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail, and Garden of Words. Haganai also came out, but I haven't picked that one up, yet. Roberta's Blood Trail *RBT* is a total blood-bath that has a seemingly endless number of bodies dropping on the ground. Tons of corpses, severed body parts, foul language, and Revy and Roberta in the shower make for an awesome follow-up to the series.
After Brock's inability to save anyone in their previous adventures, he's out to prove a point when Garcia and another gun-toting maid come asking for his help in tracking down and saving Roberta. He's determined to save someone this time. However, his attempts to save anyone are changing him from the kind, gentle salaryman into someone that fits into the wicked city of Roanapur.
Absolutely loved this follow-up to the Black Lagoon series as I felt Roberta was an amazing character. She seems to be an invincible killing machine until you get further into the series and realize how plagued she is by her past. She gets to the point where she can't recognize friend from foe and you see how she earned the name of the Blood Hound. The amount of death and destruction isn't for the weak of heart. Pools of blood, severed limbs, and smashed-in faces are abundant. These episodes surpass the violence of the original series.
The series ends with on a bitter-sweet note. I was happy because of who lived, but sad in the way that it happened. Brock took a step out of the twilight zone to choose a side, but it may have been the wrong one. Of course, Revy knocks the stuffing out of him towards the end, too. Can't have it any other way. Amazing series that I recommend to all fans...of the appropriate age!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Bloody thriller
on August 7, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Gore, Mature
Length: 92 minutes
Length: 92 minutes
"For three years, Guts believed his mission was to pursue Griffith's dream together with him. But in order to become Griffith's equal and truly be called his friend, Guts realizes he will have to leave the Band of the Hawk. At the same time, a bloody battle to capture the impenetrable Fortress of Doldrey from the Empire of Chuder is about to begin. The Band of the Hawk will face an army 30,000 strong!"
If I had to pick just one word to describe this movie, it would have to be "Awesome!" "The Egg of the King" was my first taste of the Berserk universe and I really enjoyed it, but "The Battle for Doldrey" was even more incredible. The action is non-stop and very-well animated. I disliked parts of the 3D CG animation in the first movie because it looked clunky, but everything flowed very smoothly in Arc II.
Have to say that I absolutely loved the action scenes. You always know that a pretty epic fight is brewing when Guts squares off with just a single opponent. At the same time, when it's a massive army, you're just waiting for the carnage that ensues. Don't watch if you can't stand some blood and gore.
The MA, Mature, rating is justly deserved here and compared to some other animated titles, could almost draw a NC-17. There's no end to the blood and severed limbs. There's also a good deal of nudity with the later parts being pretty graphic in nature.
I felt that the animation was even better for this movie compared to the first. There was no glitchy or clunky CG animation like part 1. At times it was hard to tell when the CG began or ended since it fused so well with the regular art. Blu-ray quality gives you every detail you could want as well. The musical score is a masterpiece, too. The majority of the tracks are orchestral, but the main theme "Aria" is equally grand and inspiring.
Plenty of extras to go around on this disc. Viz is learning how to do previews besides their Neon Alley service, but they're all tied together. You can't select one individually. Stepping stones, I guess. There's a 15 minute interview with two of the Japanese cast members where they talk about what they loved working on the Berserk trilogy and even gave some hints about Arc III, The Advent. And there's also a live performance of "Aria".
Great stuff and I can't wait for the final movie to be released state-side. May have to import a copy just to sate myself!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Wack Album [CD & DVD] [PA]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9229/9229068_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Good, but not great
on August 5, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Picked this album up when it first came out. It can be fun to listen to, but watching the music videos is a lot better, in my opinion. The songs just didn't have the level of hilarity as their first two albums. Wouldn't say there are any songs that I absolutely loved like "J!zz in my Pants" or "Boombox", though.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Saya's true identity
on August 5, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Drama, Supernatural
Length: Episodes 16-20
Length: Episodes 16-20
"The battle continues in BLOOD+ VOLUME FOUR, more adventures as Saya Otonashi battles the evil Chiropterans! A normal high school student who suffers from amnesia, her destiny is partially revealed when a stranger presents her with a katana. Soon she finds herself fighting Chiropterans - ravenous creatures that can changer their form, disguising themselves as human beings. An organization called the Red Shield has been waging a private war to wipe them out. They travel to Ekaterinburg during the continued struggle, but no one's safe."
Well, the desciption doesn't help one bit for this volume! After finishing their fight in the jungles of Vietnam and losing track of Diva, the gang is headed to Russia! It seems to be that the original scientists that started developing the Chiropterans may be hiding out in the Mother Land. But with enemies that can take human form, how can they tell who is friend or foe?
Volume 4 does quite a bit to thicken the plot and throw in the twists. The Chevalier are much tougher opponents than what Saya and the Red Shield think. It seems that a 3rd faction has reared its head as well and caught both sides off-guard. They seem to be vampires, but what could their motives be?
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4
Saya's mission
on August 5, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Drama, Supernatural
Length: Episodes 11-15
Length: Episodes 11-15
"The battle continues in BLOOD+ VOLUME THREE, the next five episodes in Red Shield assassin Saya Otonashi's epic attempt to destroy the Chiropteran race. While tracking the contents of a mysterious container, Saya and her friends stumble upon the ultimate horror: a secret Chiropteran breeding farm hidden deep within the jungles of Vietnam. Featuring an eye-popping blend of cutting-edge 3D and 2D animation, a phenomenal music score composed by three-time Grammy Award-Winner Mark Mancina, plus an intricately plotted storyline jam-packed with astonishing twists and turns, BLOOD+ is the greatest vampire anime of all, a mind-boggling blast of danger, excitement and thrills!"
Little bit of embellishment on the description there...I wouldn't call it the greatest vampire anime of all time, but it's definitely getting better compared to the first two volumes. The action has gotten much heavier, the stakes are constantly raised, and the plot is thickening. The further into Vietnam that Saya stumbles, the more of her past she catches glimpses of. Just who or what is she?
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Great horror anime
on August 5, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Drama
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"Mei Misaki was cute, athletic, and one of the most popular girls in her school. Why should a little thing like death change that? Now, twenty-three years after Mei's mysterious demise, a new transfer student discovers that not only is his school's student body one corpse short of a full-roster, but that some secrets never leave high school.
And what's more, all of this may somehow be tied to his own family past. What is the secret and how does it all connect? And even if Kouichi does figure it out, will that knowledge help save him? As the school bells toll a deadly dirge and students begin to die, things that were never properly buried come back to haunt the high school of the damned in ANOTHER!"
Kept on reading where people were praising this series when it initially aired in Japan, but I decided to pass on it and watch other series. Was always interested in it and decided to go ahead and get the release here in the States. Very glad that I did.
Leave it to Sentai to give a description that actually fits without giving away too much. Every episode leaves off with a bit of a cliff-hanger and just keeps you wanting more and more! The further along the series gets and as more questions are answered, you come to realize that hints have been dropped the entire way. You never know what's going to happen next or who's going to die. Loved every minute of it.
I wasn't a fan of the English cast at all. After finishing episode one, I put it on the Japanese audio. Not much in terms of extras. Pretty standard for most anime series.
Definitely glad I purchased this series as I can easily see myself watching it again.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This action packed release from the classic sci-fi anime franchise Robotech includes two full length movies from the series, one following Scott Bernard as he reteams with the Robotech Expedition to battle the Haydonites, and one following Lieutenant Lance "Lancer" Belmont as he joines Admiral Rick Hunter on his mission to rescue all of human kind from the terror of the Invid race.
Customer Rating
4
Season 3 recap and follow-up
on August 1, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Mecha, Drama, Science Fiction
Length: 3 hours
Length: 3 hours
I didn't have a clue that this was releasing on July 23. Was looking up items for a customer in the store and our horrible search engine pulled up this gem. Said we didn't have any copies in store, but I found one with the Family movies! If one thing will make me happy, it's talking about or watching Robotech.
"Continue the greatest animated saga of a generation with this ROBOTECH 2-MOVIE COLLECTION, which includes these two action-packed features together for the very first time! ROBOTECH: LOVE LIVE ALIVE debuts an expanded presentation of the adventures of an expeditionary soldier named "Lancer" Belmont as he joins pilot Scott Bernard on a mission against a mysterious extraterrestrial race known as the Invid. The two must fight for the liberation of the Earth as well as finding peace between the warring forces. ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES continues the epic battle as Scott Bernard must once again face his tragic past as he joins the returning Robotech Expedition against new mechanized adversaries known as the Haydonites."
I've seen all of the Robtech/Macross series but I had never seen any of the movies before picking this 2-piece set up. It's actually a pretty good watch. If you've seen the 3rd season that covers the Invid invasion, then you've seen the movie. It's a recap. If you haven't seen the series, then the movie does a decent job of condensing 25 episodes into 1.5 hours. You lose out on a lot of character development, but it moves along at a brisk pace and hits on the important parts.
The Shadow Chronicles is a completely separate movie and I really enjoyed it. Humanity was able to force the Invid to flee the Earth, but in reality, it wasn't the humans that did it. The weapons they received were from a race known as the Haydonites, but the Invid refer to them as the Children of the Shadow and they're the ones that destroyed the Invid home world. Now, they're out to destroy humanity after forcing the Invid to flee yet again.
LOVE LIVE ALIVE was obviously made well before The Shadow Chronicles as it's still in the old 4:3 format and the graphics are a bit dated. I noticed a little bit of CG put in towards the beginning as well, but otherwise it's all original art. The Shadow Chronicles looks very new and fresh with CG being heavily used. It's actually used right instead of making it look like a Reboot, though.
Lots of stuff I could say about the two movies, but it's best just to watch them. For only $15, everyone should see these. Also, watch the extras. Be glad that they never did ROBOTECH 3000...
My Best Buy number: 905388050
What's great about it: Classic Robotech
What's not so great: First movie is a series recap
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This riveting release from the fantasy anime series Tsubasa includes all five episodes of the show's OVA's, which expand on and resolve the story from the Tsubasa TV series, finally exposing just who is behind the scattering of Sakura's memories, and Syaoran faces down his greatest foe yet: a clone of himself.
Customer Rating
5
Action-packed tease
on July 24, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Drama
Length: 5 episodes; 2.5 hours
Length: 5 episodes; 2.5 hours
"After visiting countless realities, Syaoran, Sakura, Fai, and Kurogane finally learn the truth behind their shared fate. The shadowy villian responsible for scattering Sakura's memories is exposed, and the four friends endure twists and turmoil unlike any they've ever encountered. Impossible sacrifices, both emotional and physical, must be made.
When Fai is dealt an incredible wound, Kurogane takes shocking steps to save the wizard from death. The warrior's efforts will connect them forever. In a savage urban wasteland, Sakura's survival is far from guaranteed as she boldly takes action like never before. Indeed, nobody is safe - and the quest's noble hero is in the greatest danger of all. Syaoran must face his fiercest foe yet: himself. One Syaoran is a clone. The other is real. When a brutal battle erupts between the two, it is Sakura who suffers most. Prepare for the unexpected. Nothing is as it seems. Everything you know about Tsubasa changes now."
Feeling a little *mindblown* after watching this one. Knew I should have ordered it a long time back when I watched the series, but I kept waiting. With it on sale for only $12.99, I couldn't resist anymore. Same for a lot of others because it keeps going on Backorder! Arrived in only 2 days, too.
For only 5 episodes, it's got a heck of a description...and it still doesn't even do it justice. The amount of plot twists is immense. Who is good and who is bad? Who is even real!? It keeps piling and piling it on and it's just so good! And when it finally ends...you just want so much more, too.
Sadly, these make up the last of the animated version of Tsubasa and they don't provide an ending to the series. I went scouring the net after finishing just to see if there was anything else I could buy to get a proper finish, but there isn't! Guess that means I have to buy all the manga to get it finished, then.
Couple big things with the OVAs compared to the series itself. It definitely felt a bit darker and more violent. The amount of hardships happening to the main cast as well as deaths are a lot higher than before. There's still a little bit of comedy throughout, but it definitely takes a backseat to all the drama and action.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This hard hitting release from the anime series Irresponsible Captain Tylor includes all 26 episodes of the original TV series, following the adventures of Ueki Tylor, a slacker captain in the Planets Space Force, whose plans are abruptly changed when he's appointed captain of the most rag-tag, embarrassing ship in the fleet, and what's worse -- there's an alien threat approaching.
Customer Rating
5
An idiot captain + space cruser = ???
on July 19, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Length: 650 episodes; 26 episodes
Length: 650 episodes; 26 episodes
"Justy Ueki Tylor had his life all planned out: join the military, get a cushy desk job, and then retire with a big fat pension check. The perfect plan... until he wandered into a hostage situation and somehow managed to save an admiral!
Now Tylor - a man who wouldn't know what discipline was if it bit him in the backside - has been made Captain of the space cruiser Soyokaze! The crew of this run-down ship is the craziest rag-tag team of misfits you're ever likely to see, and they're not too fond of their complacent new leader. But they had better learn to work together, because they're about to go head to head with the mighty Raalgon Empire. For better or for worse, the Earth's fate has been placed in the hands of a man who's either a total idiot, or an absolute genius..."
Now Tylor - a man who wouldn't know what discipline was if it bit him in the backside - has been made Captain of the space cruiser Soyokaze! The crew of this run-down ship is the craziest rag-tag team of misfits you're ever likely to see, and they're not too fond of their complacent new leader. But they had better learn to work together, because they're about to go head to head with the mighty Raalgon Empire. For better or for worse, the Earth's fate has been placed in the hands of a man who's either a total idiot, or an absolute genius..."
Where to start with this one!? The Irresponsible Captain Tylor is one of those old school anime series that I saw on the SciFi/International channel growing up. Never got to see it all, but I always loved what I did see. The new Litebox version came out so it's the perfect time to rewatch this masterpiece!
Justy Ueki Tylor is the man all men wish they could be...except for the incredibly dense/stupid portion! He's a natural smooth-talker, always relaxed, and incredibly lucky. He's also incredibly lazy...which is not what you want out of the captain of your space cruiser in the middle of a galactic war. But somehow his magnificent luck manages to keep his crew alive against impossible odds. And if it wasn't bad enough fighting aliens, he's also got his own commanders trying to get rid of him, too!
This series is pure and simple fun. You've got bits of action and drama mixed in, but it's always replaced by the comedy soon after. There's a healthy dose of harassment to the female crew and you fanservice is practically non-existent. Blew through the series in 2 days. A 12-13 episode series is easy in one day, but a 26 episode one is a bit rough. I'd do it again, though!
Tried watching with the English voices, but I just couldn't do it. Had to swap back to Japanese audio with subtitles. 2 trailers on each of the 5 discs with other small extras like character bios. Nothing great. Definitely think everyone should watch this series.
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
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
![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 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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Overall
3 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
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
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.
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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