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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- Featured questions0
- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes3
- First answerSeptember 10, 2014
- Last answerOctober 6, 2014
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![High School DxD: The Series [4 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
This super sexy release from the fantasy adventure anime series High School DxD includes the entire series, following the story of a horny guy named Issei, who becomes entangled in a war for the future of human kind when he's recruited by a very scantily clad demon girl into a club full of big-boobed fantastical fighters known as the Occult Research Club.
Customer Rating
5
Hormonal highschool boy turned devil
on August 30, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Drama, Action
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
Going to assume that the summary on the back ot the box is too risque for Best Buy as my review has been declined twice aleady, so just going to wing it!
What happens when you mix an overly hormonal highschool boy with devilish powers? He dreams of his own harem! At least that's what Issei is thinking. It's never a good thing when you get impaled by your first girlfriend on your very first date. Luckily for Issei, the hottest girl in school just happens to be a devil and wants him for herself. She brings him back to life in exchange for his servitude. The raging power he feels isn't just inside his pants, it's also an incredible power that can destroy the gods! That is if all the girls don't kill him first!
First things first: This edition is the double-wide boxset with a separate case for the DVD and Blu-ray versions rather than the single-wide unit with the Blu-ray + DVD logo across the top header. This is also known as the limited edition version as it's only for the first release. I'm always a big fan of the limited editions so wanted to make sure I got this one instead of the other.
Now, Highschool DxD! It's definitely not a series for everyone. Tons of fanservice with not a lot of clothing and the English version is pretty vulgar, too. If you don't mind some naughty parts, you'll love it. Tons of comedy, some decent action, and a pretty decent plot to it as well. Issei isn't a total wimp like most male lead characters and neither are any of his companions. With all of the character classifications out there, it's hard to say that they're not generic but it didn't feel like a rehash of series that I had seen before.
This is just season 1 and we won't see season 2 in the states for a while. It's currently airing in Japan so don't expect it for at least a year or so.
I'm a huge fan of the music in this series as well. *Trip ~Innocent of D* and *StudyxStudy* are both really catchy and I've made them part of my music library!
Tired of the reviews not going through, so I won't waste an hour writing this one. Buy it! You won't be disappointed.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This high strung release from the comedy anime series Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends includes all 13 episodes of the show, following the story of Yazora, a loud, brash high school girl who befriends a boy named Kodaka, who has a similarly bad reputation - though his is completely undeserved, and hers absolutely is.
Customer Rating
4
Making friends the wrong way!
on August 21, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy
Length: 13 episodes (12 + OVA)
Length: 13 episodes (12 + OVA)
"Yozora's an abrasive loudmouth whose only friend at school is imaginary... She knows she's difficult -- which makes her better off than Kodaka, a new transfer student who picked up an undeserved bad reputation the second he stepped on campus. Inspired by their shared status as social catastrophies, the two loners unite and start the Neighbors Club, an organization dedicated to finding other misfits and making friends. In no time, a third member joins their ranks: Sena, a pretty, popular rich girl who annoys Yozora to no end. With Kodaka in the middle of the chaos, the brash brunette and the blonde boy-magnet go round and round, even as the Neighbors Club begins to grow. Hopefully, the girls can get past their rivalry. Because sometimes the friendship you're looking for is right in front of you. And sometimes the best friends are the friends you never even wanted."
Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends, AKA Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, is a series that I avoided for a pretty long time. All I knew was that it was a show about people that don't have any friends and its covergirl was a big-boobed blonde girl. Just wasn't up my alley on shows that I had to watch. A 2nd season is currently airing in Japan and it's getting even more popular. I probably would have skipped over it completely except that my store got a couple copies in and I decided to purchase it.
All-in-all, the show is about a group of social outcasts that form a club together and embark on silly and stupid everyday adventures from playing games in the clubroom to going to the water park. What it lacks in action, it makes up with comedy and perversion. Sena and Yozora practically have a S&M relationship although they hate each other's guts. Kodaka is smart and a good cook but is pretty dense when it comes to people. Yukimura is a dreaded "Trap"...a guy who you would swear up and down is a girl. And Rika ia the most perverted scientist you'll ever meet. And then you have Kodaka's little sister and their 10-year old club advisor. It's a pretty diverse group of characters.
I enjoyed watching the series and would like to see how it pans out, so I plan on watching the 2nd season soon. I don't foresee it as a series that I'll go back and watch over and over, but parts of it definitely had me ROFLing. As much as I love a little T&A, they focused on the jigglign for Sena a bit too much. Detracted from the series in my opinion. Opening and closing themes were decent but not my favorites. Extras were pretty much clean songs, 2 commentaries, and lots of trailers and promos.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
A bitter-sweet tale
on August 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Slice of Life, Drama (very hard to label it as any particular genre)
Length: 46 minutes with about 75 minutes of extras
Length: 46 minutes with about 75 minutes of extras
"A Chance Encounter... Becomes So Much More.
When Takao, a young high school student who dreams of becoming a shoe designer, decides to skip school one day in favor of sketching in a rainy garden, he has no idea how much his life will change when he encounters Yukino. Older, but perhaps not as much wiser, she seems adrift in the world, and despite the difference in their ages, they strike up an unusual relationship that unexpectedly continues and evolves, without planning, with random meetings that always occur in the same garden on each rainy day. But the rainy season is coming to a close, and there are so many things still left unsaid and undone between them. Will there be time left for Takao to put his feelings into actions and words? Between the raindrops, between the calms in the storm, what will blossom in THE GARDEN OF WORDS?"
Short and bitter-sweet is the best way to describe "The Garden of Words". At just 46 minutes long, it leaves a little bit to be desired, but everything that happens is incredibly impactful and if the ending wasn't quite so bitter-sweet, it would actually be quite fulfilling. I keep reading that it's all about the maturity of Takao at the age of 15 and Yukino's immaturity at 27, but both have the opposite as well. Takao skips classes on rainy days. It's hard to say anything about Yukino without giving away spoilers as we don't even find out her name until later in the movie.
If you've seen any of Makoto Shinkai's works in the past, then you have an idea of what to expect out of The Garden of Words. Aside from the script itself, the artwork and musical score carries tremendous weight and really delivers the big emotional feeling to each and every scene. Almost the entire movie takes place in a single spot in the park but you never see the same scene repeated twice. The detail and effort to make it all unique is tremendous and just adds to the beauty. The music is a little bit of a paradox as the happier tones are played during the rain while it's more somber during the sunny days. The ending theme "Rain" is great as well and kicks in at the most dramatic portion of the movie.
The script itself is very powerful and manage to evoke incredible feelings in the viewer. I truely think that you could watch the entire movie without hearing any of the words and still get a moving experience. However, the way in which Yukino and Takao interact with not just each other, but themselves as well, causes you to be attached at the hip to them both. The final scene is a very dramatic confrontation that practically had me on the verge of tears along with them. I even watched it in both English and Japanese to get the full effect and to see which delivered a heavier punch.
Aside from being on the shorter side, The Garden of Words is a masterpiece that exceeds more than just a tale of love. Even for non-anime fans, I would recommend this movie. Rent it if you want, but I think this is a title that deserves to be in every person's collection! I'll definitely watch it again and again!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The fight for the future of mankind begins in this release featuring the final 25 episodes of Blood +: Part Two.
Customer Rating
5
Classic anime
on August 11, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Length: 25 episodes; 608 minutes
Length: 25 episodes; 608 minutes
"Twin sisters battle over mankind's future in BLOOD+: PART TWO, the explosive conclusion to the greatest vampire anime ever made. As the chiropteran menace threatens to engulf the planet, Saya and her companions fight their way across Europe and the United States in a last-ditch effort to prevent the complete destruction of the human race. Featuring the groundbreaking series' final 25 episodes, BLOOD+: PART TWO is cutting-edge anime action and adventure at its best, a mind-blasting mix of eye-popping visuals and astonishing storylines no fan of the fantastic should miss!"
I wasn't a huge fan of this series for the first 10 episodes, but after that I was hooked for the last 40! Part Two contains volumes 6-10 which covers a TON of ground as the plot thickens and the body count continues to rise. We're introduced to the Schiff which are man-made Chiropteran orchestrated by Amshel for his own ambitions. A group of them have rebelled and now seek to kill Saya as they have limited life spans and believe that consuming her blood will cure them of this.
Over the course of these episodes, there are several major scenes that drive the rest of the series. Just what is the promise that Saya gave to Hagi? What plans do the Chevalier have for humanity? Will Mao finally be able to track down Kai? The last one isn't really important, but I've been supporting her...she might be overly aggressive, but Kai was a bit of a douche with how he just left her in Okinawa without saying a word. The fate of Riku is a huge turning point in the series that I wasn't expecting. Loved every minute of all these episodes.
Have to give props to the music here as well. Being produced by Sony Entertainment, Blood+ had access to a lot of talent and they didn't waste it. Aside from the opening and ending themes, the entire musical score was composed by Hans Zimmer. He's produced some of the best musical scores known to man and he didn't disappoint here. We finally get some Bonus features on the last disc, too. There's about 1.5 hours worth of cast interviews and about 5 previews.
After being forced to watch episodes 21-25 on Netflix, I came to like the English dubs and didn't go back to the Japanese vocals. Got to focus on all the action a lot more instead of reading.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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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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.
0points
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This release from the chilling anime series Gunslinger Girl includes all 13 episodes of the show's first season, following the girls of the Social Welfare Agency, who appear from the outside to be orphaned schoolgirls, but are actually trained to be cold blooded killers. Extras with the release include voice director commentary, textless songs, and more.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Killer girls from...
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
"Officially, the social Welfare Agency is a government sponsored corporation that's in the business of saving lives. At least, that's the ruse. In reality, it's an agency on the fringe of technology. They give terminal patients another shot at life using cybernetic implants. This conditioning process then shapes the patient into an effiecient machine for handling all of the goverment's dirty work. They've been given a second change at life, but at what cost?"
Basic plot: Little girls that were about to die have been given a second shot at life, but in return they're basically assassins for the government. The first season here doesn't really do much more than give us a character intro for 6 different girls. The story takes place in Italy which is a huge change of pace for most anime. Plot only got an average score because of the lack of one thus far.
Cinematography: The graphics are very visually appealing. Seeing everything out in the Mediteranean is a good change from the streets of Japan. The character designs themselves aren't very well done, though. They're really kind of normal. However, there's a ton of detail put into the outfits, guns, and scenery. Found it kind of odd, but the Blu-ray version is definitely nice and crisp. No jagged edges around the faces like on DVD versions.
Acting: Loved the English voice-acting and didn't touch the original Japanese. Kind of want to just to hear they're versions of each girl.
Extras: Non-existent. Not a single trailer, commentary, or even a textless opening or ending. Bare bones.
As the first reviewer posted, the story is a little disturbing. If you can get around little girls being used as military dolls, then the action is quite nice and I really enjoyed it. Just not the best series out there. Should definitely pick it up if you like anime, though.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Part 2
January 3, 2013
Completely forgot about the extras on disc 2. There are actually quite a few. The voice-actor commentaries about their own characters are really enjoyable. Would bump the Extras up to 4 stars, but it wouldn't change the overall rating.
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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.
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