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
In this installment of the popular anime series, a simple date throws the Heaven's System Force into complete chaos. Keiichi's younger sister longs to make a match between Belldandy and her big brother, but when her wish crashes the System Force, it's up to Belldandy's older sister Urd to descend from On High and iron out the sticky issue. Instead of solving the problem at hand, however, Urd decides that it would be more amusing to convince Keiichi that the only way to fix the glitch in the System Force is to kiss Belldandy.
Customer Rating
5
More Goddesses!?
on January 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life
Episodes 6-10
Episodes 6-10
"Keiichi's life with Belldandy becomes a tad more complicated with the introduction of Megumi, Keiichi's little sister. She wants to help Belldandy get closer to her brother, and arranges to send them on a romantic date. Unfortunately, Keiichi's wish has caused a few bugs in Heaven's computer, and the System Force crashes! Belldandy's older sister Urd comes down from On High to provide tech support, but decides it would be more fun if she were to fix Keiichi instead. What will happen if she convinces Keiichi that the only way to fix the System is for him to kiss Belldandy?"
The second volume of "Ah! My Goddess" continues the lives of Keiichi and Belldandy living together, but it's starting to get a little more crowded. Keiichi's wish is causing issues with the System Force resulting in a loss of some of Belldandy's powers as well as it not responding when someone tries to come between them. Is this only the tip of the iceberg of troubles?
We actually get some insight into Belldandy's past with the introduction of Urd which is very nice. Poor Keiichi wants to deepen the relationship between the two of them, but he lacks the courage to go further and something always seems to happen right when it seems he might be able to kiss her. On to volume 3!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![Violet [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7290/7290219_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Great album
on January 16, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Another wonderful album by The Birthday Massacre. Each album has its own unique sound. "Violet" tends to focus a bit more on the heavier bass and electronic instruments. Not going to say that every single song is a chart topper, but I like them all. "Blue" is the power house song that is awesome with it's dark and heavy intro followed by the childlike, innocent vocals after. Loved "Video Kid", "Happy Birthday", and "Violet" a lot as well.
Thought there might be a pattern with the songs "Red", "Blue", and "Black" but Red and Black are both instrumental and short while Blue is a full-fledged song.
Great album, buy it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Package Description: Kosuke Fujishima's unforgettable story of every hapless college boy's dream comes to life! Keiichi Morisato is an engineering student, top driver of his campus motor club, and not very lucky with the ladies. While calling for take-out food one evening, a wrong number puts him in contact with the "Goddess Hotline." One misplaced wish later, Keiichi finds himself blessed with Belldandy, the perfect girlfriend and a goddess in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any idea of how to act in the human world, and her presence quickly gets Keiichi kicked out of the dorms. Fortunately for Keiichi, his troubles have just begun!
Customer Rating
5
What could be better than your own angel?
on January 13, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
"Kosuke Fujishima's unforgettable story of every hapless college boy's dream comes to life! Keiichi Morisato is an engineering student, top driver of his campus motor club, and not very lucky with the ladies. While calling for take-out food one evening, a wrong number puts him in contact with the "Goddess Hotline". One misplaced wish later, Keiichi finds himself blessed with Belldandy, the perfect girlfriend and a goddess in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any idea of how to act in the human world, and her presence quickly gets Keiichi kicked out of the dorms. Fortunately for Keiichi, his troubles have just begun!"
Ah! My Goddess is one of the old timeless series that may not be the best in the world, but it's gotten enough exposure that there's few that haven't heard of it in the anime community. In the past, I had seen the movie on the Sci-Fi Channel as well as the International Channel...many years ago. The story is essentially about a young college student who has more than the average amount of bad luck. He attracts it. Those who monitor the world have noticed as much and feel that he is deserving of any wish that he may have. Thus, the fun starts.
Really enjoyed the first volume. The story moves along at a nice, crisp clip. Good character building of Keiichi and a few side characters. We've yet to explore the world of Belldandy which I imagine will come in a later volume. Series is a little dated in terms of looks...maybe a blu-ray release in the future!? Wasn't a huge fan of the opening and closing themes, but they weren't too bad.
The extras were decent as well. A few trailers. The fun parts are the Japanese voice actor interviews and the outtakes. I enjoyed those.
Definitely a good series to pick up if you can. Was going to purchase the complete boxset, but I managed to find a couple of the individual volumes for a little cheaper. Volumes 2, 3, and 6 are the tough ones to get. Unfortunately, Best Buy didn't carry it so I had to head elsewhere.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Customer Rating
5
Big screen Bleach
on January 12, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Drama
Think I may have downloaded this a long time back when there was no English release and not even sure if it had subtitles. Just remember watching it and loving it. Now, I get to watch it and enjoy it with full understanding!
Memories of Nobody introduces a new character named Senna. Won't do any spoilers if you haven't seen it. Really loved her character and I hope that she might reappear in the series at some point...unlikely as the anime has ended. She's got that pure innocence about her that naturally draws Ichigo to her. Main bad guy has a cool, suave appearance, too. Fighting scenes were great as always and a little bit better animated than the series itself is.
Lots of extras built in here. Have a few movie previews built into the first disc. 2nd disc is pure extras. 22 minute walk-through of the Viz studio working on Bleach manga, anime, and movie. Japanese interviews. And all of the different ads and promo videos for the movie. Good stuff.
It's been running on sale for $5 the past month so everyone should definitely pick it up and watch. Don't have to be a fan of the series to enjoy the emotion and action going on.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The 8-Tier Adjustable Multimedia Black Steel Shelving is perfect for storing your CD's and DVD's conveniently and effectively. The modern sturdy metal frame comes in a contemporary black finish, has eight shelves and is ideally suited for a medium-sized music or movie collection. Features: Holds 440 CDs or 228 DVDs or 120 VHS Adjustable shelves Steel construction Finish is Black
Customer Rating
4
Good-looking compact unit
on January 12, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
I've been looking for more CD/DVD shelf systems for the past couple months as I already own the different carbon fiber ones that the stores sell. Ones from Walmart are too cheap and flimsy so I found these units on here.
The system looks good on the website and once assembled it has a nice look as well. All of the shelves that came with mine weren't even which detracts a little bit from it. Assembly was relatively painless. Adjustable feet give you flexibility. And it fits in tight locations where you might not have a lot of space.
On the other hand, I wish it was deeper. Had to adjust the feet to prop the front up as it tried to fall forward when empty. The unit doesn't feel as sturdy as I was hoping. It's holding fine at the moment without the anchors in the wall but I may end up putting them in.
Bought this one as I was considering the larger version of it as well. I think I'll keep this one and look at getting one of the extra large carbon fiber units later on.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Capacity
5
Durability
4
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Customer Rating
5
Spike...nuff said
on January 12, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
Length: 115 minutes
Length: 115 minutes
"Mars. Days before Halloween 2071. Villains blow up a tanker truck on Highway One, releasing a deadly virus that kills hundreds. Fearing a bigger, even more devastating biochemical attack, an astronomical reward is offered for the arrest and capture of the person behind the destruction. On the space ship "Bebop," Spike and his crew of bounty hunters are bored and short of cash. But with the news of the reward, everything changes."
If you've seen the series, you know what to expect from the movie. Guns, knives, and fists fly on Mars as Spike and the gang track down criminals in an effort to eat something besides ramen. It's never for justice...just the loot. The movie could easily stand as 4 episodes of the series together at any point after the cast had all been assembled. Spike dominates the camera for the most part which I've got no problem with. Whether he's pumping someone full of bullets or throwing down in a martial arts battle, I always find him the most fun and entertaining to watch. Mostly because he just doesn't give a darn.
The Blu-ray hi-def can only do so much to an old title. Still looks great, but the art style is still that late 90's early 00's that I grew up with on Toonami. Wonderful soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno again for the movie.
Extras...what extras?
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
This release from the dark and mysterious anime series Corpse Princess offers all 26 episodes of the series, following the story of Makina - a Shikabane Hime who acts as an assassin for the underworld. As Makina reaches closer to the 108 dead bodies she needs to rack up before she can retire, she discovers that she may have an even bigger job to finish, as an unholy apocalypse is threatening to destroy everything, even the spirit world.
Customer Rating
4
Chicks with guns and stuff
on January 10, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Supernatural
Length: 24 episodes. 24th is an OVA.
Length: 24 episodes. 24th is an OVA.
"Makina Hoshimura is already dead., but she can't let go of this twisted world. She burned to death along with her entire family in a fire started by freaks that wouldn't stay buried. Makina knows she doesn't belong among the living, but that won't stop her from unleashing the full fury of her twin MAC-11 maching guns on the rotting remains of those who refuse to die. She's hell-bent on filling every empty grave she can find with the monsters that should be six feet under. Makina is a Shikabane Hime --a Corpse Princess-- and it's her job to finish off the undead leftovers haunting the dark corners of a city that used to be safe."
Series started off really good and carried on very well throughout as well. Essentially, each Shikabane Hime has to form a contract with a "Contracted Monk" which supplies them with energy to fight and recuperate. Shikabane Hime are the "lucky" ones. Most people turn into regular Shikabane who escape the afterlife due to a deep regret (same thought process around ghosts and spirits) that they can't give up. Makina's regret is that she couldn't kill the Shikabne that killed her family and then her which is why she didn't pass on after her death...and it wasn't a pretty one. If a Shikabane Hime can kill 108 shikabane, then they are said to be able to go into heaven at that point which is what the majority of them fight for.
I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Felt very similar to Ga-Rei Zero in terms of artwork and story as well...will have to check on the art directors/producers sometime. I wouldn't say that there was much of any filler except in the first 12 episodes. Series moved slower while it focused on Ouri getting involved with the world of the Shikabane Hime and Contracted Monks. He was that annoying brat that you kind of hoped just might bite it so that the cool characters can keep on fighting without interruption.
I was kind of upset with the ending but won't go into detail. Just be aware that episode 24 is not a continuation of 23...just an OVA.
I was kind of upset with the ending but won't go into detail. Just be aware that episode 24 is not a continuation of 23...just an OVA.
Artwork was pretty good but I really wish that there was a Blu-ray release for it. Colors weren't as vivid. Facial features were smoothed over and lacked a little detail. Still looked good, but you notice stuff when you've been spoiled with Blu-ray releases. No opening or ending songs that really drew my attention, either. Decent but I wouldn't buy the albums.
Acting was pretty good but I disliked parts of the scripts which felt a little too repetitive. Always annoyed when a character has to shout their name to every single other character/enemy so many times that it seems like they're scared we forgot who they were. Voicing for Ouri was a little annoying, too. Pretty sure it's the same guy that did the voicing for the main guy on "My Bride is a Mermaid."
Extras were sparse. Episode 12 and 14 commentaries and the same trailers on disc 2 and 4.
Lots of action going on here to keep the interest level very high. Too many Shikibane Hime were excessively endowed, though. Nice to look at, but the action alone could carry the series without all the fanservice.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Customer Rating
5
WWII survival story
on January 9, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Drama
Length: 1.5 hours.
Length: 1.5 hours.
"As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies. This is the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, two children born at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and now cast adrift in a world that lacks not the care to shelter them, but simply the resources. Forced to fend for themselves in the aftermath of fires that swept entire cities from the face of the earth, their doomed struggle is both a tribute to the human spirit and the stuff of nightmares. Beautiful, yet at times brutal and horrifying."
As artwork, it definitely deserves a 5 star rating. Emotionally riveting in relating to human behavior and a stark reminder of the horrors of war.
As for personal enjoyment, though, I just wasn't as interested. The beginning was the end and the rest just explained how it came to be. Had a feeling of what was going to happen once Keita and Setsuko moved out of their aunt's house. Thought more would be made out of their mom's ring as well since it seemed to have some impact early on.
Perhaps it was just the bleak, doomed future that I didn't want to accept as an ending? The humanity of the characters was spot on as well. Most notably with Setsuko. Wanted to get annoyed at her a couple times and then realized that she's acting exactly as my nieces or other children I know act at that age. Character portrayal in "Grave of the Fireflies" is amazing.
The graphics are quite well-done considering they're from remastered from a 1988 movie. Definitely a masterpiece. The environments always seem to reflect the characters throughout. Indoors, it's always a bit melancholy and toned-down. However, if the windows are open or they're outside, the feeling lightens up considerably. Of course, the further things progress...it doesn't matter where they are.
English cast did a good dubbing. Of course, there's really only three characters that have multiple scenes to talk in.
Extras: You've got the storyboard version of the movie #black & white picture outlines with audio#, two deleted storyboards, and trailers. Couldn't bring myself to rewatch the movie in the storyboard version.
Had heard about this title a bit in the past but had never been one to look for it. Ended up picking it off the shelf at one of the local Best Buys while I was browsing all the anime. I can't say that I'll watch it again, but I think everyone should watch it at least once.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
This release from the chilling anime series Gunslinger Girl includes all 13 episodes of the show's second season and all the OVA's. The show follows the adventures of 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.
Customer Rating
5
Even more action-packed than the original
on January 9, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Drama
Il Teatrino starts out right where the first season ended. There's definitely more plot building and very little character building for the girls. However, we're introduced to Pinochio who is an assassin working for the bad guys who seems to be almost identical to the girls...possibly even better! The lives of Franco and Franga are explored in greater detail as well. The series does a good job at getting you to cheer for both sides. Also, the 2-part OVA is included in this volume which takes a look just after the ending of this season.
Was a little disappointed that Claes and Angelica didn't get more screen time. There was a random episode focused around Claes halfway through this season that was nothing but filler. Seemed odd to do more character building around her with her taking so little of a role. Perhaps for a 3rd season eventually?
Thought from the get-go that the artwork was different from season 1. Art directors changed between seasons. Personally, I thought this season had more character detail but I guess critics felt it was a drop-off of quality. I did notice a bit of "vibrating" text during intros and rough facial drawings at times but it was rare.
Almost want to label this with a romance tag as some of the girls struggle with their feelings towards their handlers.
Absolutely love the intro song to this season by Kokia called "Tata Hitotso no Omoi". One of my favorite anime songs to date.
Extras on this volume are greatly reduced compared to the first. 4 songs and about 8 trailers. Dropped back into the average category.
All around, this series has been awesome. The cuteness of the girls along with all the action help to undercut how disturbing the plot actually is. The issues of international terrorism are tackled head-on as well. Really going to have to read the manga to get more of a fix for this series now.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Customer Rating
4
Follow-up for the series
on January 9, 2013
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Drama
The Gunslinger Girl OVA is a nice follow-up to the anime series and takes place shortly after the end of season 2. It's primarily dominated by the relationships between Jose and Henrietta as well as Jean and Rico.
Episode 2 helps to answer a few questions but leaves and creates more to be answered. Want to assume the manga delves into what happened to Jose and Jean's family.
Graphics are decent, but I watched the Blu-ray version (included with the season 2 set) right after and the visual difference is pretty major. Nab this one on Blu-ray if you can.
The extras have some good previews as well as a 25 minute interview between the Japanese voice actors for Triela and Hilshire. Found it pretty amusing to watch.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted 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