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
![Dance in the Vampire Bund: The Complete 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 dark and sexy release from the fantastical anime series Dance in the Vampire Bund includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of Mina Tepe?, the ruler of the vampires, and her protector Akira, who seek to create a separate place for vampires to live, "the Bund," off the coast of Japan.
Customer Rating
4
Coming out of the closet!?
on March 4, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Fantasy, Action
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"Nightmares creep in the waking hours as Mina Tepes, childlike Queen of the damned, shockingly appears on live television to announce her plans for a colony where her blood-sucking brethren can live in peace. As pandemonium engulfs the globe, Mina reconnects with a handsome face from her past, Akira, a brooding beast whose link to the queen is both powerful and mysterious. Together, Mina and Akira will bare their fangs and fight against an ancient evil. And though the Queen and her ferocious werewolf minions vow that no human blood will be spilled, there are others of her kind who yearn to sink their teeth into innocent flesh. Can Akira maintain his fleeting link to the realm of the living while battling to protect this ruthless and royal beauty? Only one thing is certain. The world's not ready for her reign."
Series was actually pretty good. I remember seeing the series when it arrived in our store over a year ago. I wanted to buy it but being short on cash and after reading only mediocre reviews, I put it off. Watched it in two nights and enjoyed the majority of it.
The series feels like it was split into two almost. I liked Akira because he was portrayed as at least not being naive and stupid. He's got determination and a backbone. Mina is...Mina. Gotta love her transformation...Akira will be a lucky man. For the first half of the series, I didn't like her. Seemed like a total witch. She seemed to turn a bit more timid in the 2nd half. Although, anyone would be hard pressed to stay composed with the shame she was put through. And I was routing for Yuki...but she gave up. Figured there would at least be a love triangle but it didn't happen.
Graphics were good for the most part. I noticed a left-to-right bar going from top-to-bottom at times which was quite annoying as it slightly blurred what it went over. Probably wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't watching the subtitles for the last four episodes. It may have been my television, but I haven't seen that with other series before. I enjoyed both the English and Japanese vocals. Japanese Mina sounds more commanding while the English version matches her loli appearance better.
Extras were the standard promos, textless songs, and trailers. There was also a 1-12 intermission which is portions of the manga that aren't revealed in the anime with Japanese voicing. I really enjoyed this segment and wish that there was more of this done with other series. Sometimes it can offer insight to what happens in the series that isn't explained.
Like the 2nd reviewer, I was a little disappointed that this wasn't the original collector's edition, but for $36, I'm not going to complain too much. Good luck finding the collector's editions over half a year after their release. Most manufacturer's pull them from retailers after a couple months.
What's great about it: Mina's transformation
What's not so great: Too short. 24 episodes would have been better.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This release from the action packed anime series Black Lagoon includes all 24 episodes from the show's first and second season, following the story of a group of cutthroat modern day pirates who smuggle all manner of ill-gotten goods across the Pacific.
Customer Rating
5
Bandits paradise
on March 2, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
Length: 24 episodes
Length: 24 episodes
"Take a twisted trip to the city of your nightmares in this hard-boiled shootout inspired by masters of action like Jonh Woo and Quentin Tarantino.
Rokuro was an ordinary Japanese businessman. A suit hired to entertain corporate high rollers and serve as a whipping boy for the big bosses with the real juice. A mission to deliver a mysterious disk to the deadly waters of China seemed like his big break, but some things just weren't meant to be. A ruthless gang of mercenaries fronted by a gunslinging femme fatale in scandalously short shorts kidnapped Rokuro and held him for ransom. When his company refused to pay, he became their property. To survive, he was forced to reinvent himself as Rock, the brains behind the beauty and brawn of Black Lagoon.: the most cutthroat crew of mercs ever to hustle the mean streets of Roanapur. A nightmare of a metropolis where the bad guys are really bad -- and your friends might be even worse."
Rokuro was an ordinary Japanese businessman. A suit hired to entertain corporate high rollers and serve as a whipping boy for the big bosses with the real juice. A mission to deliver a mysterious disk to the deadly waters of China seemed like his big break, but some things just weren't meant to be. A ruthless gang of mercenaries fronted by a gunslinging femme fatale in scandalously short shorts kidnapped Rokuro and held him for ransom. When his company refused to pay, he became their property. To survive, he was forced to reinvent himself as Rock, the brains behind the beauty and brawn of Black Lagoon.: the most cutthroat crew of mercs ever to hustle the mean streets of Roanapur. A nightmare of a metropolis where the bad guys are really bad -- and your friends might be even worse."
Bought this series back when it came out nearly 3 months ago and finally getting to watch it. Blew through it in 2 days! After seeing trailers and AMVs all over, I had to pick this one up when it was coming out on Blu-ray. Didn't realize that it was 6-7 years old!
Basic premise of the series is that Rock is kidnapped by the members of Black Lagoon and ends up joining with them after his employers write him off as dead. Dutch, Benny, and Revy/Rebecca make up the other members. The crew is nothing but a band of bandits working for everything from assassinations to weapons selling to security or whatever else comes their way. If it pays, they'll do it!
Black Lagoon is pure action. Tons of weapons everywhere! "Two-hands" Revy is always packing her twin handguns or a shotgun on occasion. The Russian mafia is complete with sniper rifles and machine guns. The Germans even have anti-tank missles. Everyone is armed to the teeth and you better have property insurance.
Even with the series being 24 episodes long, there still wasn't much of any plot. There are small mini-arcs throughout but none really tie in to each other except for the characters. Character development is pretty non-existent as well. We never learn what happened to Revy, Dutch, or Benny to cause them to end up where they are. Had a few people die that I was really hoping would live, too. However, it keeps the underworld in perspective in letting you know that someone can't just quit and leave with no strings attached.
Blu-ray graphics are awesome. The extras aren't in HD and you can tell the quality difference so easily. The grainier graphics add to the street life scenes in making it feel similar to Cowboy Bebop, but I like the smooth pictures, lack of jagged facial edges, and vibrant colors a lot more than a gritty feeling. I loved the English voice-acting, too. The English cast took lots of liberty in adding a lots of cursing but it actually works a lot better than the Japanese version, in my opinion. They just aren't as edgy. Not as crude as Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, but close at points.
The M rating is highly justified. Best Buy seems to have an awful blocking system against any "violent" words.
Series was pretty awesome, though. Loved it enough to sit through 24 episodes in 2 nights so I definitely recommend it to all!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Presidential vampire hunter
on February 27, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Ended up having to buy a new 3D Blu-ray player to watch this because mine from last year won't play it :/ Samsung E5900 ftw...
Like others, I was quite surprised by this movie. When I first heard about the movie I just rolled my eyes and passed it off as something absurd. However, it's actually a really good movie. Action from start to finish. Honest Abe lays a serious smackdown on vamps here. The movie takes you through all stages of Lincoln's life as a kid, young adult, and over the hill as he's in the White House. Think he was swinging that axe even better in his 50s than in his 20s!
This was the first 3D movie I've watched at home and I was thoroughly impressed by the effects. Didn't get any headaches or anything. Loved seeing the heads go flying or the hanging blood splatter from an axe to the face.
Extras are apparently on the Blu-ray disc, but I was too lazy to swap the disc out for it and put in some anime instead.
And..."still a better love story than Twilight".
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4
OVA with additional story
on February 27, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Comedy. Drama and Action in the last 30 minutes.
Length: 98 minutes
Length: 98 minutes
"Your wish is her desire. Hiyori's a sweet, shy girl who's used to living in the back-ground. Now, the wallflower is ready to bloom and reveal a big secret: she's totally infatuated with Tomoki! To get closer to the dirty-minded object of her affection, she joins the New World Discovery Club. With Tomoki's lazy love of peace and quiet, he's not interested in accomodating any new club memners and tries to scare Hiyori away with his usual perverted antics. Nonetheless, she remains committed to her crush and starts bonding with Ikaros, Nymph, and the gang - until a sudden, tragic accident changes everything. It seems Hiyori has a deeper - and more dangerous - link to the Angeloids than anyone supected! How is she connected to the Synapse? Why is she trying to kill Tomoki, even afterconfessing her feelings? Find out in the hilarious, super-sexy Heaven's Lost Property movie, The Angeloid of Clockwork!"
Well, it took Best Buy long enough to get this on the website. Had almost given up hope and gone through other routes but it got put up the last week before release. And for the cheapest price around, too! Can't beat that, but I'm sure a lot of preorders were lost because of it.
That aside, just watched through the movie and I had mixed feelings. The first half is pretty much a recap of the rest of the series and I was leaning towards a 3-star rating. It almost felt like a simple OVA. However, the last half manages to evoke a lot of feelings that the series never did. There's actually some real emotion going on between Hiyori and Tomoki which I really enjoyed. Really hoping that some of this might be continued in the announced season 3.
Hiyori is the only new character introduced in the movie which makes it easier to keep up with. New found respect for Tomoki as he isn't a complete pervert here, too. And after what happens, have to hate the guts of the "Master" in Synapse.
Was great to catch this in Blu-ray. Own the series on DVD and can't bring myself to shell out the $60+ for the Forte Blu-ray release in June. Graphics were very nice although there were 1-2 moments of slightly out of place CG scenes. Never enjoyed the English voicing of the series so I kept it on the original audio. However, English is 5.1 surround sound. Japanese is only 2.1 :/ Also, you cannot switch the audio/subtitles during the playing of the movie. You have to go to the menu every time. I found this extremely annoying as I wanted to see what Hiyori sounded like in both versions.
Extras are decent. Full-length English commentary. Original trailers and commercials for Japan and North America. And a few trailers which you've likely seen if you've bought any Funimation titles in the last 6 months.
With the toned-down perviness in this movie, I definitely recommend it to everyone. The last half saved it for me and makes it a definite must-own title. Select stores will have it in stock...although mine did not. Still, I got it on the release date so no complaints.
What's great about it: Great to see the story from another perspective
What's not so great: Lots of the movie is a recap
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This side splitting reelease from the madcap anime series Listen to Me, Girls. I Am Your Father! includes all 13 episodes of the show, following the story of Yuta, a 19 year old college student who takes on the task of caring for his sister's children when she and her husband disappear.
Customer Rating
5
Feel-good story
on February 20, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Slice of life, comedy, drama
Length: 12 episodes + OVA
Length: 12 episodes + OVA
"Whoever said little girls grow up in the most delightful ways wasn't Yuta Segawa! But since his sister Yuri raised Yuta by herself after their own parents' deaths, what kind of brother would Yuta be if he didn't take in her THREE children when Yuri and her husband disappear? Of course, the fact that Yuta's a nineteen year old college student, living in a tiny apartment, with three GIRLS, two of whom aren't related by blood, is bound to cause some issues. Especially when the eldest girl, Sora, is harboring a secret crush on him and would be quite happy if Yuta's social life revolved around the "family," while middle sister Miu is starting to make noises about 'older men' as well. Did we mention that it's a really, REALLY small apartment? Add Raika, the girl Yuta actually likes, as a smoldering fuse and the question isn't IF Yuta's home sweet home is a powderkeg, but rather one of when it's going to explode and how often! Some family ties bind, others may need restraining orders in LISTEN TO ME, GIRLS. I AM YOUR FATHER!"
Ahh, good ol' Sentai Filmworks! Leave it to them to turn a very endearing anime series into what appears to be a potential harem/romance just by a description. It's quite misleading. The series itself is so much better. This one is very down to earth with everything that happens being very plausible.
One of the best single-season series I've watched in quite a while. There's not a hint of action in the entire series which might deter some from watching. Quite enjoyable to just watch cute girls trying to live their lives after going through a tragedy. Have to love Hina the most as she's made to be the most adorable thing in the universe. Kind of sad every time she asks "when are mama and papa coming home?"
Just a couple downsides. This is one series that doesn't need any fanservice. It's not in every episode but it feels out of place. No extras. Not even a trailer, preview, or textless songs. And no English dub. Probably wouldn't have listened to it with English voicing, but this was a pretty cheap release that Sentai didn't do a thing with.
Pick it up if you can. Definitely glad I ordered mine. Actually got it in the mail the day it came out, too!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4
Monster-chopping goodness
on February 14, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, horror, supernatural
Length: Episodes 6-10
Length: Episodes 6-10
"The Red Shield's deadliest assassin returns in Blood+ Volume Two, the next five episodes in Saya Otomoshi's epic battle against the Chiroptorans, a vicious horde of shape-shifting, blood-drinking monsters. In a series of hair-raising adventures that take her from a top-secret military facility to a Vietnamese boarding school haunted by a mysterious phantom, Saya faces unspeakable horrors as she attempts to destroy the Chiroptoran menace forever. A senses-shattering combination of CG and hand-drawn animation, BLOOD+ is grand-scale action and excitement no self-respecting anime fan can afford to miss!"
Eh, the description goes a little overboard. The series is good, but not epic. Definitely watch the first volume if you can find it (on Netflix but I prefer to own) so that you know why they're in a research facility to start off and to get the back-story of everyone. Volume 2 delves a bit deeper into Saya's past as she's somehow connected to the Vietnamese War but can't remember. Also, it appears that there are Chiroptorans with intellect called the Chevalier. And who is this mysterious "Diva" that the Red Shield is searching for?
You get the answers to a few questions here, but the series is 50 episodes and this only takes us through episode 10. The series has a good bit of action in it, but it also has a lot of filler. I really wish that Saya's family wasn't carried along. Kai and Riku are just a waste and tend to just get in the way. They should have taken the hint when the others checked out in the middle of the night and left them...-_-
Must say that I'm not a huge fan of either the original voicing or the dubs. Riku and Kai just lack any sort of emotion and I honestly don't think the voice-actors tried. The Red-Shield members and the villians did the best job with voicing.
Biggest complaint is the lack of any extras. Not even a friggin' trailer or preview...
Started this series up after Blood-C came out in early 2013 and while it's not as up-to-date with the graphics, I like the story better. Time to start volume 3 and see where it heads.
What's great about it: Versatile plot
What's not so great: No extras
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Superb Bond thriller
on February 13, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Been a while since I saw the last Bond film but this one carries on like the others for the most part. Noticed a few small differences (most likely from different directors) that I didn't mind too much.
Bond movies have always been heavy on the action and stunts, but this one has even more than the normal. If you're watching for the women of Bond, then you might be disappointed. First woman is shown for all of 20 seconds. Don't get to see anything with Moneypenny. And I'll let you see how the 3rd plays out. The minimal amount of bedroom antics is replaced with loads of action. Subtle hints at the beginning play out more in the last 20 minutes.
Being such a high budget movie, the filming is amazing. Great detail in everything that goes on. Watched a few of the extras, but not something I buy the movie for.
Golden Eye is still my favorite Bond movie, but this one was definitely amazing. Everyone should watch it at least once.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This fantastical release from the sci-fi action anime series Angel Beats! includes all 13 episodes of the show, telling the story of a group of students who attend a very odd high school - one created as a purgatory for souls not yet ready to release their attachments to Earth, and fully move on to the afterworld.
Customer Rating
5
Innovative drama
on February 12, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Drama, Comedy, Slice of Life
Length: 13 episodes + OVA
Length: 13 episodes + OVA
"It sucks being dead. Sucks even more to be trapped in a surreal afterlife where you're caught between the living and the dead -- where a mysterious, violent Angel is trying to pull you over to...somewhere. What do you do? Well, if you're this group of rough-and-tumble teens, you grab every weapon you can get your hands on and give Heaven hell! High-caliber action and locked-and-loaded comedy meet on a rock and roll battleground in Angel Beats!"
The description hits home for the first half of the series. After that, it goes dirt-biking into the unknown. Essentially, our cast here has ended up in Limbo due to as-of-yet unknown circumstances. Limbo seems to be an ordinary school-life under the watch of "Angel". The Battlefront group fights back against this world and Angel in an attempt to remain there forever. Apparently, once a person has accepted this world as where they want to be, they'll disappear and presumably move onto Heaven. Virtually everyone is angry at God for cursing them with an unfair life and they think that Angel is in direct communication with him.
The story and characters could get a huge desctiption, but that's more than enough. I held off on this series for a long time even though I had heard tons about it. Probably because I knew it was another Key series that are always tear-jerkers. First half is pretty much all action and comedy. They continue to the second half, but the drama really kicks in there. Several scenes/episodes that got me a little teary-eyed. Not quite as much as the death scenes from Clannad but still emotional. The ending is extremely fitting and you're even given a hint of it earlier in the series which I was intrigued by but didn't dwell on.
Graphics in Angel Beats are beautiful. A lot of the scenes are used multiple times as it rarely ever leaves the school. High-key animation is apparent as every character has a distinct look including the extras. Action scenes are fast and violent but always clear as day. Didn't pay attention to who did the higher profile scenes, but they all looked great. I definitely recommend watching with the original voices and sub-titles on. I tried to listen to the English dub, but the voices just didn't match well. Lasted half an episode and didn't come back on.
Extras are a simple 4 trailers. The usual for Sentai.
An awesome series that I should have watched earlier. My only complaint is that some of the humor was a bit forced and really felt out of place. Had a few dramatic moments built up only for it to crash down. Could have been the intent, though. But it, watch it, enjoy it!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Sound of Madness [Deluxe Fan Club Version] [CD & DVD] [PA]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1472/1472127_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Awesome CD
on February 6, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
I'll be honest, I bought this CD purely for "Diamond Eyes". Already purchased the original a while back but I wanted this song on an actual CD. Didn't want to purchase "The Expendables" soundtrack mainly since I couldn't find it as well.
Awesome remix of nearly all the songs. Haven't gone through the extras CD. Definitely worth the extra few dollars over the basic CD. Won't find it in any stores, though. None in my district had them so I had to order.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Silverthorn [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6854/6854173_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Solid rock music
on February 4, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Purchased this CD last month but it's apparently a different version with a bonus CD, booklet, and a super thick casing.
Before this, I had never heard anything from Silverthorn. I saw the large packing in the store and thought it looked kind of cool. And with the coverart, I figured that it might be similar to "The Birthday Massacre" and "Within Temptation" so I bought it. It's not quite what I expected, but I definitely enjoyed it. A pleasant surprise.
Big contrast between the vocals which aren't too heavy or deep and the music which is a bit more dynamic. From the first song, I thought it would almost be similar to "Cradle of Filth" as the tones were pretty dark. However, the lyrics keep it in-line. At times, I was hoping for a really deep voice to take over and get things pumping.
Loved listening to it and it'll be in my car for a while.
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.
0points
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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
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.
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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