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
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes3
- First answerSeptember 10, 2014
- Last answerOctober 6, 2014
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
This hard hitting release from the fantastical anime series Fate Stay/Night includes episodes 13-24 of the show, telling the story of powerful mages called Masters, who for centuries have fought a war for possession of the Holy Grail, right under humanity's noses.
Customer Rating
5
Holy Grail Wars finale
on March 28, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Length: Episodes 13-24
Length: Episodes 13-24
"NO VICTORY CAN BE ACHIEVED...without the courage to sacrifice everything...
The Holy Grail War continues to escalate as a series of shocking revelations explains the history connecting Saber to Excalibur. In a lethal game of chess, pawns and knights are expended one by one, slowly whittling down the number of surviving players. And as a massive wave of comas begins to take down the cities, it becomes clear that the only possible path to victory is an assault on the Master and Servants of the Ryudoji Shrine! But when Sakura is taken with the intention of sacrificing her in order to summon the Grail, Shiro is forced to choose between two equally lethal options. Does he let Saber's mana continue at its existing level, almost certainly insuring her death as the battle wages on? Or should he resupply her mana from his own magical circuit, reducing his power below that of the other Magus, and leaving both of them open to magical attack? The price of winning could mean potentially losing everything in the climactic conclusion of FATE/STAY NIGHT!"
The Holy Grail War continues to escalate as a series of shocking revelations explains the history connecting Saber to Excalibur. In a lethal game of chess, pawns and knights are expended one by one, slowly whittling down the number of surviving players. And as a massive wave of comas begins to take down the cities, it becomes clear that the only possible path to victory is an assault on the Master and Servants of the Ryudoji Shrine! But when Sakura is taken with the intention of sacrificing her in order to summon the Grail, Shiro is forced to choose between two equally lethal options. Does he let Saber's mana continue at its existing level, almost certainly insuring her death as the battle wages on? Or should he resupply her mana from his own magical circuit, reducing his power below that of the other Magus, and leaving both of them open to magical attack? The price of winning could mean potentially losing everything in the climactic conclusion of FATE/STAY NIGHT!"
Loved this series as it takes after the game's first arc very well. There's a little bit of a change up with Sakura being kidnapped but I didn't mind that. The game tossed Sakura to the side for the first 2 arcs so it was nice to see her included in the series. I've read some complaints that the story goes too slowly as they sit down to drink tea/eat every couple of episodes, but it fits with the story. Shiro is very old-fashioned and cooks complete meals for every meal of the day. Not to mention, the Holy Grail War is like a chess match. There's a lot of strategy involved so their moves have to be planned out.
The only off-spot I could point out is towards episode 18-19 when there's a bit of a comedy gag in Shiro's house. Just seemed out of place with everything that was going on. Also, Shiro never realises his connection with Archer in this storyline. Pretty sure that Rin does towards the end, though.
Opening theme for the 2nd part is almost as good as "Disillusion" from part 1. Awesome musical scores. Have to love the music "Emiya" that starts to play when Shiro fights Gilgamesh. Bit of techno that gets you pumped. The soundtracks for this series are killer.
Still can't handle the English voices as I'm so used to the original cast. However, I recommend them for the action scenes so you can appreciate the wonderful graphics. The fight scenes are amazing and are definitely done with a higher attention to detail than most of the series. Check out Fate/Zero for some truely amazing fights, too.
Recommend this series to all anime fans. Pick it up. You'll love it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
This hard hitting release from the fantastical anime series Fate Stay/Night includes episodes 1-12 of the show, telling the story of powerful mages called Masters, who for centuries have fought a war for possession of the Holy Grail, right under humanity's noses.
Customer Rating
5
Battle of the legends
on March 23, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Fantasy, Action
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"Raised by a mysterious sorcerer after the horrific death of his parents, Shiro Emiya has only just begun to help others using the small tidbits of magic that he's learned. However, when he's suddenly caught in a battle between two more powerful Magus, Shiro finds himself performing a spell above his expected ability, summoning the beautiful spirit warrior Saber to protect him! But safety is only momentary as Shiro and Saber now find themselves thrust into a secret world of dark magic and deadly challenges: a no-holds barred duel to the death known as the Holy Grail War! At stake: a prize of unimagineable power. But can the inexperienced Shiro and Saber survive long enough to even enter the contest? First they'll have to withstand waves of treachery and assassination, even as Shiro scrambles to learn everything he'll need to know to stay alive as seven teams of Magus and Spirit Servants face off in mortal combat! The ultimate game of death and magic comes to Blu-ray as the Holy War erupts in Tate/Stay Night Collection One!
Fate/Stay Night is one of those legendary titles put out by TYPE-MOON. The series originated as an eroge/visual novel but was made into a 24-episode anime series after achieving very high appeal. The visual novel has never been officially translated and released in North America, but there are fan translations if you can get ahold of the game...and I recommend that you do.
As the title suggests, Fate/Stay Night is about the life of Shiro Emiya as he is thrust into mortal combat against other magus. The spirit servants are legends of the past and they all seek the Holy Grail as it is said to grant them any wish they desire. These heroes were unable to fulfill their desires in their lifetimes and have offered their souls for the chance to have their desires come true.
The series does have a lot of dialogue in addition to the action and fighting. It's to be expected with the amount of information that needs to be explained. Any visual novel turned anime will have to explain a lot...takes a lot longer to read through it all. Some may find it tedious, but there's action in every episode and I found it to be extremely entertaining.
If you were lucky enough to buy this series when it released on DVD, I still recommend purchasing the Blu-ray version as it is much prettier. Original DVD of the series run for over $200 since they're out of print. Full DVD version did just release though with the release of the 2nd Blu-ray volume, though.
I'll admit that I didn't buy mine from Best Buy. Really wanted to, but I wanted to preorder it and there was no picture listed for this release and they also put it under the wrong title of "Saiyuki Gaiden". Found it in one of the Nashville stores on a trip to the area and was shocked to find such an error. Contacted the company through every means available: stores, email, community forums, and phone calls to no avail. Luckily the 2nd volume was titled correctly and I was able to preorder it from BB.
Acting was done pretty good but I still like the original voices as they are the same voices from the visual novel...too used to them. However, the translations aren't the best for the subtitles. Little stuff like "Onii-chan" translated as "Mister" instead of "Big Brother" but it adds up the more you know.
What's great about it: Epic fights
What's not so great: Wrong title listed
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
-2points
2of 6voted this as helpful.
SynopsisYou fought to save the world of gaming once before — now, return to the virtual world of Gamindustri, where corruption, death and despair have again overtaken the lives of the Gamindustrimen. Deceived into worshipping the being known as Arfoire, the citizens of Gamindustri have submitted to a life of moral decay. Venture, if you dare, into the dungeons of this ruined world, battle ferocious monsters and search for the goodness that's been buried for too long. The immersive, imaginative second chapter of the popular PlayStation 3 role-playing franchise, Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 invites you to uncover new secrets and treasures in the world of Gamindustri. Follow the heroine, Nepgear, through the twists and turns of the game world, where you'll encounter terrifying monsters, potential allies and powerful items. Form close bonds with Nepgear's companions, and you'll watch your Lily Rank level rise. When you achieve high ranks, you'll unlock access to new items and redefine your pathway through the game. Build Action and Skill points to unleash combos and skills in battle, but use them wisely, so as not to waste them. Social networking rules our world — and it rules the world of Gamindustri, too. Check up on all of the latest gossip in each nation by connecting to the Chirper communication network. Customize Neptunia to reflect your own personal style by altering her outfits with your own photos that you can load into the game.
Customer Rating
5
Save the GameindustriI
on March 19, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Age:25-34
Gender:Male
Found out about the Hyperdimension Neptunia series after seeing some advertising for the new one coming out called "Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory". Sadly, it doesn't look like Best Buy will carry it except for preowned in the future. Same as with this one :/
Hyperdimension Neptunia MK2 is a turn-based RPG where you control a party of female characters. The world of Gameindustri is in peril because of illegal pirating. The heroines for each territory have been captured in the Gameindustri Graveyard for the past 3 years and now the CPU Candidates are mounting a rescue effort to save the world.
Basically, the game is a slapstick comedy that addresses illegal pirating as the menace bearing over the world and causing it to fall into chaos. I've found the series to be incredibly cute and funny. Highly original even if the names aren't.
The graphics are definitely Asian in nature. The characters have an anime-inspired design that I love. The English dub for the game is awesome as well. Very good voice-acting and you even have the option to use the Japanese voices if you don't like them.
Sadly, I didn't buy the game from Best Buy. Can't order it and the only copy I could find was in northern Florida...not driving 8 hours for it. If you find a copy, nab it as it's not easy to find.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![Living Things [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5512/5512887_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
More new than old feel
on March 17, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Always been a Linkin Park fan. I own all of their albums except for the one with Jay-Z...wasn't a fan of that work. Bought this one the day it came out last year but I really haven't listened to it but a few times. Call me nostalgic, but I still love the raw feeling of the first few albums.
However, that doesn't mean I don't like it. It still sounds pretty good. "Burn it to the Ground" and "Lost in the Echo" are songs that I put as 5 stars in my media player and would toss on repeat. Almost all the other songs got a 4 star rating. Will I jam out and shout my head off singing like I would to "Breaking the Habit", "Papercut", and some of the others? Nah, but I'll still enjoy them just the same.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Classic design compliments all types of home décor. The shelves are adjustable to store a variation of products. Capacity: 240 CDs, 108 DVDs, 132 Blu-Ray.
Customer Rating
4
Small shelving unit
on March 17, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Not going to go into great detail on this unit, but I own two of it. Purchased them about a year apart. No one can say a thing about the space of the unit. It states that it can hold up to 108 DVDs. That's completely accurate. I've got 27 on each of the 4 shelves. If I really wanted, I could cram a 28th.
These units are incredibly easy to assemble. Took me less than 10 minutes each. If you're not familiar with furniture construction, it might take 20-30 minutes. It might not be the sturdiest structure in the world, but it's also only $32. Pay the money for a solid wood unit if you're after elegance and high durability. My first one has worked fine for nearly 2 years.
Bought two of them and I'm likely to pick up a few more in the future if my collection keeps growing like it does. I've got 5 different media racks and it's my favorite so far.
What's great about it: Price
What's not so great: Size
I would recommend this to a friend!
Capacity
4
Durability
4
Share this review:
+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
![Hybrid Theory [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4039/4039150_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
One of the greatest albums ever
on March 17, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Hybrid Theory is one of the defining albums of the 90s. Pure emotion is pumped into every song. Most of it can be described as angst. Lots of screaming and yelling, but it sounds really good! Can't help but to bust out singing every time one of the songs come on.
"In the End" and "Crawling" were the huge hits off of the CD that were played non-stop, but "One Step Closer" was my favorite rage song. Nothing like just yelling out "SHUT UP!" a few times...it gets the blood pumping. And "Pushing Me Away" felt a bit more emo, but it didn't rely on any rage/screaming. Just had a great feel to it. All of the songs are incredibly good and just beg to be listened to over and over.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
![Reanimation [Enhanced CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4716/4716953_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Epic remix
on March 17, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Been a huge Linkin Park fan since their first album back in high school. This album is primarily a remix of Hybrid Theory with more of a rap/techno feel. At first glance, I really disliked it. Loved the hard, gritty rock of the original and I absolutely hated rap. Putting that aside, this album is pure awesomeness.
The remix here isn't just a pure change in beat. The addition of new artists and lyrics nearly makes it feel like an entirely new album. You've also got a couple new songs tossed in which are great, too. "H! Vltg3" gives a good boost to the rock feel and "My<DSMBR" can be called a prelude to more of the slower emotional songs from Meteora.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
![The Most Relaxing Classical Piano Music in the Universe [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6680/6680184_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Soothing music
on March 11, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Not much to say on this one. Bought it on a whim since I go from anime music to hard rock to classical all the time.
Would I call it the most relaxing music in the universe? No, but it is pretty good. The type of music you want to leave disgruntled customers listening to while you have them on hold over the phone or the best music to listen to while waiting in the hospital sounds a bit better. Very soothing music, though. Nothing that really inspires or causes thoughts to arise...just lets you bask in the moment.
Don't be fooled by the website store listings. Pretty much every store has this CD in th value section!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
This TV stand displays most flat-panel TVs up to 50" or weighing 135 lbs. The solid wood frame and legs provide strength and durability and the tempered-glass shelves offer adequate storage for A/V components.
Customer Rating
5
Great medium-sized stand
on March 11, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Bought this stand last year when I bought a 42" TV. Love the overall look of it and I was able to get it at a really good price.
I wasn't in a huge rush to assemble it, and it took me maybe 45 minutes to put it together. Easy assembly. The only part that I disliked was all of the suction cup pieces to hold the glass in place. Just had to beat them into place. Glass shelves aren't coming out without a fight!
Stand looks great fully assembled. Love the medium-dark wood tones that blend with almost anything. Not too light and not too dark. The curved-leg design is what first caught my attention and I love the look. And the dark glass gives it a nice, modern feeling.
I've now got a 55" plasma on the stand and it still works absolutely fine. Even with a thicker frame #Panasonic 55VT50#, the unit overhangs by only about 3 inches on each side. Was slightly worried about the weight as well, but I haven't had any issues, either.
Only downside is that glass seems to be a dust magnet...but it's not like I dust that often. Gives it an antique look!
What's great about it: Value and looks
What's not so great: Dust
I would recommend this to a friend!
Durability
5
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Discover the horrors of love as you dive into Vincent's tumultuous reality. after recently succumbing to the irresistible beauty of Catherine, Vincent finds himself in a treacherous love triangle. The growing anxiety begins to get to Vincent, and his fears, doubts, pressures and growing guilt about commitment and fidelity come to life in nightmarish dreams, Manifesting as horribly disfigured Monsters and a ticking clock. With a host of heavy Moral decisions to navigate through, Vincent will have to answer some tough questions: What is the value of honesty? What is the right thing to do? No Matter which path he chooses to go down, someone is bound to get hurt — or even die. No one ever said love is easy.Experience a whole new type of game that will leave you pondering Vincent's tribulations long after the credits have rolled. Catherine explores themes of free will, the delicate nature of relationships and the choices people Make within them. Produced by Katsura hashino, the director of Persona 3 and Persona 4, with collaboration from famed character artist Shigenori Soejima and Master composer Shoji Meguro, Catherine blends an unforgettable narrative with thrilling visual direction and a Musical score that highlights the dizzying perils of love. Team up with a friend — or just try to escape from one — in local versus and co-op Multiplayer Modes. Just remember, falling for Catherine Might just prove to be hazardous to your health.
Customer Rating
5
Anime puzzle solving
on March 7, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Age:25-34
Gender:Male
Bought this game way back and played it through on my brother's XBOX before I repurchased one for myself. Realistically, I only purchased it because of the anime style...and the great cover art! I was very surprised when I popped it in and started playing.
Basically, the main character has a girlfriend named Katherine...and he ends up cheating with a girl named Catherine...and scary enough, my brother's girlfriend is named Catherine, too! He starts having crazy weird dreams where in our gameplay is involved. In the dream world, you're in a race against time with other sheep who are also apparently other people trapped in their nightmares. Each mission is a puzzle-solving adventure where you have to move, destroy, and climb blocks to reach the exit and wake up. The story progresses the more nightmares you survive.
I loved the fact that there's so much story to the game. Most everything takes place in a bar, a cafe, or in your bedroom. Your decisions affect the outcome of the game based on if you choose Catherine or Katherine. The more points, trophies, and statues you gather during the nightmares gives you a better store which also gives more bonuses in game. I definitely recommend starting the game on easy to get a feel for the levels before putting it into high-gear.
The only downsides would have to be the very mature storyline which should kick out anyone 13 and under. Parents are much more likely to let their kids play a shooter with an M rating rather than one that has a lot of inuendo and such. And the 2nd would be the over-abundance of cut scenes. You watch almost as much as you play which I enjoyed but others may not.
What's great about it: Great story and characters
What's not so great: Limited game play
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
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.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
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
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
This release from the chilling anime series Gunslinger Girl includes all 13 episodes of the show's first season, following the girls of the Social Welfare Agency, who appear from the outside to be orphaned schoolgirls, but are actually trained to be cold blooded killers. Extras with the release include voice director commentary, textless songs, and more.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Killer girls from...
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
"Officially, the social Welfare Agency is a government sponsored corporation that's in the business of saving lives. At least, that's the ruse. In reality, it's an agency on the fringe of technology. They give terminal patients another shot at life using cybernetic implants. This conditioning process then shapes the patient into an effiecient machine for handling all of the goverment's dirty work. They've been given a second change at life, but at what cost?"
Basic plot: Little girls that were about to die have been given a second shot at life, but in return they're basically assassins for the government. The first season here doesn't really do much more than give us a character intro for 6 different girls. The story takes place in Italy which is a huge change of pace for most anime. Plot only got an average score because of the lack of one thus far.
Cinematography: The graphics are very visually appealing. Seeing everything out in the Mediteranean is a good change from the streets of Japan. The character designs themselves aren't very well done, though. They're really kind of normal. However, there's a ton of detail put into the outfits, guns, and scenery. Found it kind of odd, but the Blu-ray version is definitely nice and crisp. No jagged edges around the faces like on DVD versions.
Acting: Loved the English voice-acting and didn't touch the original Japanese. Kind of want to just to hear they're versions of each girl.
Extras: Non-existent. Not a single trailer, commentary, or even a textless opening or ending. Bare bones.
As the first reviewer posted, the story is a little disturbing. If you can get around little girls being used as military dolls, then the action is quite nice and I really enjoyed it. Just not the best series out there. Should definitely pick it up if you like anime, though.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Part 2
January 3, 2013
Completely forgot about the extras on disc 2. There are actually quite a few. The voice-actor commentaries about their own characters are really enjoyable. Would bump the Extras up to 4 stars, but it wouldn't change the overall rating.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
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
20of 25voted 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.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Dval's Questions
Dval has not submitted any questions.
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