Dval's stats
- Review count285
- Helpfulness votes483
- First reviewDecember 3, 2011
- Last reviewSeptember 24, 2016
- Featured reviews1
- Average rating4.5
- Review comment count9
- Helpfulness votes28
- First review commentMarch 9, 2012
- Last review commentMarch 17, 2015
- Featured review comments0
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- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes3
- First answerSeptember 10, 2014
- Last answerOctober 6, 2014
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![Cat Planet Cuties [Limited Edition] [4 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4875/4875484_sa.jpg)
This sexy release from the wacky anime series Cat Planet Cuties includes all 13 episodes of the show, plus the OVA, following the story of a frisky, part-feline alien girl named Eris, who's set her sights on a shy guy named Kio, and plans on setting up an alien base in his living room.
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Initially, I really wanted to buy this series, but after my local store didn't (and won't# receive any in store, I held off my purchase. Read a review on the anime news network website that brought the series back to my attention and recommended it as one of the few fanservice-y anime that does more than just put out.
The original title for Cat Planet Cuties is "Asobi ni Iku yo!" and focuses around a young boy, Kio, who makes first contact with the alien catgirl, Eris. Chaos ensues as radical groups, government agencies, and other aliens want to kidnap or kill Eris and any other Catians. Kio is joined by his friends Aoi and Manami who are both highly skilled operatives/mercenaries. Aoi works for the immigration bureau and uses a highly advanced body suit while Manami is training to be a CIA operative. All three girls are in love with Kio, but things heat up when Eris comes into her first mating season.
While only one season long, I still found Cat Planet Cuties to be a great buy. Sure, it's overflowing with big busts and cute girls, but it actually has a plot and changing characters. Kio isn't a total wuss and asks for training so that he can protect the girls. The girls all have super powers or fighting skills. Manami keeps trying to push Aoi onto Kio while telling herself that she isn't in love with him anymore. And Eris is just so cute and naive that you wonder if she really knows what's going on.
Quote here from ANN review:
"The show also boasts high production values. The budget is apparent from first half of the first episode, with its high concept adventure scenes of boats and space ships. The expensive-to-animate sequences continue in later episodes, as the series takes place across a variety of locations and the characters ride #and explode# a variety of vehicles and participate in chase scenes and numerous fire fights. There are so many action scenes and undercover government agents that I was reminded of Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu.
"The show also boasts high production values. The budget is apparent from first half of the first episode, with its high concept adventure scenes of boats and space ships. The expensive-to-animate sequences continue in later episodes, as the series takes place across a variety of locations and the characters ride #and explode# a variety of vehicles and participate in chase scenes and numerous fire fights. There are so many action scenes and undercover government agents that I was reminded of Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu.
Like Fumoffu, Cat Planet Cuties has cute helper robot/mascot things called Assist-A-Roids. Most of them are identical, but several take on their own personalities, with two of them costumed as samurai, and the most hilarious one, Yun Fat, dressing as the eponymous Chinese action star. In an early episode, Yun Fat fires a gun in slow motion while holographic doves appear behind him #an obvious nod to John Woo#. I laughed out loud."
CPC features 6 different ending themes #although one is also the OP# which actually kept me watching every single ending just to see if something else changed. The extras aren't a lot, but the first disc features 2 episode commentaries and the 2nd has some humorous clips from the series redubbed. Would have loved an outtakes section.
Loved the series and definitely worthwhile. CPC has only been out for two months, but Best Buy has pulled it from their shelves and it's only available from the website, now. Pick it up if you get a chance. Glad I did.
What's great about it: Cute, sexy, and funny.
What's not so great: availability
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Bamboo Blade: The Complete Series [S.A.V.E.] [4 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1945/19456086_sa.jpg)
This release from the sports-comedy anime series Bamboo Blade tells the story of Toraji Ishida, a down-on-his-luck Kendo instructor at a local high school, whose life is turned upside down when a former rival challenges him to a tournament - competing with only girl students.
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Took me a while to get through this one, but I finally sat down and finished off the last half of the series. First off: At 26 episodes, this is a heck of a buy for only $25. Felt it was a really original series that I quite enjoyed...just couldn't do marathon sittings like I can with Gundam/Macross and other action oriented series.
Bamboo Blade starts off a little misleading by introducing us to Yuji. Feels like he's going to be the main character, but it's really Tama that is. I suppose it was a brave step to put her as the main character instead of having a male lead, but I do think that the series might have been just a tad more interesting if Yuji got more screen time.
This series is about the local high school trying to fill its roster for the girl's kendo team. There's really only one member to start with, but over the first 13 episodes, we're introduced to 4 more to complete the team. Awesome thing here is that the girls aren't your stereotypical types that you get in almost every single series. Tama is short and shy, but extremely strong. Kirino is actually very smart and is a great leader despite being a blonde. Miya-Miya seems to be your typical air-head and you're left wondering how it is that such a hotty fell in love with a tiny guy that looks like a penguin, but she's actually quite vengeful and sadistic. Sayako is pretty tall and a red-head. With her hot temper, she's probably the easiest to forecast. And the last one is Azuma who looks like a brainiac but is actually quite dumb and a big clutz.
Story is basically about the coming together of the kendo club and its members overcoming trials and tribulations. It's pretty much a slice of life anime with a bit of sports, action, and comedy mixed in. The kendo scenes and tournaments are animated quite well and I honestly felt like taking up the sport after watching the series. Loved all of the characters in this one which is quite rare for me.
The only drawback is that slice of life genre. When episodes go by without anything really happening and don't leave off with a cliff-hanger, it doesn't really entice you to watch the next one. There's a few (not too many) that were like this and that's why it took me longer than the usual marathon-sitting to get through Bamboo Blade. All-in-all, it was still a good series that I feel is worth owning.
26 episodes, English/Japanese vocals. OP and Ending themes were alright. Ending one was a little catchier, though. Extras kind of blow...but I wasn't expecting much. Only disc 4 has the textless songs as well as about 8 trailers. Oh, and the English voice-overs were really done well, too. Loved the actress that does Tama.
What's great about it: Original and funny. Great value
What's not so great: quite a few low points
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Tenchi Muyo! GXP: The Complete Series [S.A.V.E.] [8 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1977/19776881_sa.jpg)
This wacky release from the sci-fi comedy anime series Tenchi Muyo includes all 26 episodes of the show, following the story of a boy named Tenchi, who has the worst luck until he's mistakenly kidnapped, discovers there's life on other planets, and falls into the ranks of the Galaxy Police.
Customer Rating
4
Lighter side of Tenchi Muyo!
on July 4, 2012
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Seeing how the original Tenchi Muyo! is out of print now and likely to cost you a couple hundred bucks, GXP is a good alternative that exists in the same universe as the original series. The S.A.V.E. bundle is exceptionally nice as you get the entire series for only $25 right now. Buying each of the 8 volumes would wind up costing close to $200.
GXP is set a little bit after Tenchi has done all of his exploits in space but touches on one of his friends from town that has probably the worst luck known to the universe. Seina Yamata is prone to every injury imagineable as everything that can go wrong, does. Even his family is eager to drive him out of the home/shop since he costs them so much in repair/hospital bills. He spends the majority of his time with his best friend Kai and his sister, Kiriko, who he's also in love with. After an accident at Tenshi's house starts him off on a career with the Galaxy Police; Seina's life is turned upside down.
The series definitely has a light-tone throughout and only rarely has moments of drama/real action. Seina faces the same troubles/joys as Tenchi in the fact that he seems to have almost every lady in the universe fighting over him. However, Seina does end up with 4 (possibly 8) wives...talk about a player! Greatly enjoyed the majority of the characters in this series except for his roomates at the Academy. The in-fighting between his love rivals was great throughout.
GXP really lacks a definitive plot, though. It just kind of jumps from volume to volume. One bad guy is kept around the entire time just to make an excuse for a detour in the story and provide a bit of action. People somehow survive explosions in outer space and magically reappear. I still enjoyed it, though. Just wish there was a bit more variation with each volume than there is.
The graphics aren't exactly the best...but what do you expect from a series that is 10 years old and wasn't exactly made for widescreen HD viewing. It's on DVD, but it's still only 480P resolution. Perhaps we'll get a remastered version in the future...? Music is catchy and reminds me of YuYu Hakusho.
Series is 24 episodes with full English/Japanese vocing. Seina's English voice is a little girly/whiny, but it's still enjoyable for the most part. The extras are practically non-existant. Pretty much the same trailers on each of the 8 discs. Character profiles. And the textless songs. Basic.
If you enjoyed Tenchi Muyo! and want a little bit of a parallel story for it, definitely pick this one up. Heck, for $25 I'd pick it up anyways. Humorous and light-hearted, it's defintely a fun series. Mind-blowing amounts of inuendo and adult situations, so it's not for little kids.
What's great about it: Enjoyable characters and lots of laughs
What's not so great: Random plot
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2009]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5044/5044256_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Haven't played the game this movie is based off of, but after seeing the movie, it's time to steal one of the brothers XBOX360 and buy the game, too. I had seen the release for this coming up for quite a while off of Funimation's site, but I had no plans on purchasing it. My store ended up with a single copy by some fluke, and I couldn't resist a new title...
Have to say that this was a great gem to find. $25 for a Blu-ray/DVD combo that's a full 2 hours long. Nothing worth mentioning in the extras except that there's going to be a S.A.V.E. version of Disgaea coming out soon. I'll pick that one up, too. Story starts out with action and ends with action. Thought it moved relatively smoothly with a good story to it.
Basic preview of it: "In a mythical kingdom, the mighty Imperial Knights harness a magical substance known as Aer to power their weapons and protect humanity from the monsters of the forest. But something strange is afoot. The Aer is somehow changing, causing the wilderness to waste away and stirring the woodland beasts to attack with greater frequency. As danger creeps steadily closer to civilization, two young recruits - Flynn, the rigid son of a fallen hero, and the rebellious and brash Yuri - must ride with their fellow Imperial Knights to distant ruins in hopes of uncovering the truth behind the transforming Aer.
Some will not survive the thrilling journey. Some will be betrayed. If Flynn and Yuri cannot overcome their differences and learn to fight together, all will be lost for the people of the realm."
The ending is really just another beginning for the entire story. Humans are often our own worst enemy and this is shown well by the betrayals in the movie. Tales of Vesperia is a pure action/fantasy movie with a little bit of comedy. No drama/romance/slice of life/etc...which I imagine the game includes a bit of (they always seem to). You never really get to know any of the characters, though. As much as Yuri and Flynn were the main characters, very little was told about them. Pair of twin girls appeared to have decent roles in the movie, but nothing ever becomes of them except for damsels in distress. Mysterious child scientist hidden in the forrest that only appears once. Too many characters that I would have liked to have known more about, but I know it's pretty limited in just 2 hours instead of a 12-24 episode series or a 50 hour RPG.
Artwork was fantastic. Every character was a character and not just some faceless figure in the back. Can tell that they took their time and put a lot of effort into a quality movie. Not a huge difference between the DVD and Blu-ray. Great musical score that you'd expect from an RPG type movie/game. Ending theme wasn't really catchy, but it was quite beautiful. Really loved all of the symphonic tunes throughout. Went well with the plot and scenes.
All-in-all, I was definitely happy with this movie and recommend it to anyone. PG13 just because of a bit of blood, violence, no profanity or nudity, and a itty bit of inuendo. A definite BUY.
What's great about it: Everything
What's not so great: Lack of character depth
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works [Blu-ray] [2010]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5044/5044195_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Currently playing through the visual novel/game of Fate/Stay Night at the time of release for this movie so I was super-stoked to hear about its arrival on the shores of North America. What could be better than having a movie reference to go along with a game that is primarily still-picture/voice based? Then, I see that Best Buy has the Blu-ray version on hand and cheaper than the DVD one!
The only real downer for this one is the "cheap" feel. Single disc, no inside liner, and not even a card inside to send back to the manufacturer saying "Hi! I like to purchase your stuff instead of downloading! Please make more stuff!"...
For those that don't know, Fate/Stay Night is about a fight to the death over the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail chooses 7 masters/magus to summon 7 servants that are heroic spirits of the past #and future# to participate in the fighting. The servants can be anyone, but the 7 different classes they may be summoned as are Saber, Berserker, Lancer, Archer, Caster, Assassin, and Rider. Sadly, the movie is so fast-paced that you never get any real attachment to the different servants and get to know who they really are except for Archer. If you want a lot more character development, I suggest getting the visual novel or trying to find the anime series to watch.
What wasn't good with this one? Practically nothing. The visuals were stunning. Can tell that they had a pretty good production budget to work with. The English voice-acting was pretty good, too. Felt like the actress for Saber had a hard time starting out the role, though. Fight scenes were amazing. Tons of weapons, action, blood, everything! I was quite distraught to see what happens to Illya in this, though. Sakura and Taiga disappear after the first couple minutes to never be seen again. Rin appears to be cozying up to Shirou as he doesn't form an attachment with Saber in this route. Definitely wasn't expecting how a lot of this turned out compared to the game.
Someone who has never had anything to do with this franchise will be left wondering a few things since the movie moves way too fast to explain it all. Who is Gilgamesh and how is there an 8th servant? How can Shirou recover from stab wounds to the heart and countless other maulings? How did Kotomine get a servant? Why did that thing #no spoiler# happen to Illya?
All-in-all, I greatly enjoyed the movie and felt it was excellent for only $20. Can't wait to actually watch it on an HDTV next week instead of a computer monitor. If you can get it, buy it. Support the production companies so they keep making more stuff for us!
What's great about it: Visuals, music, plot, price
What's not so great: Too fast-paced
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Shiki: Part 2 [4 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4882/4882432_sa.jpg)
This bone chilling release from the supernatural horror anime series Shiki includes episodes 13-22 of the series, following the story of a young man named Natsuno Yuuki, whose village is being overcome by a deadly plague. The source of the disease is mysterious, but as the body count rises, so does the possibility that it comes from the undead.
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Well, I loved the first season and was wondering what the second season would have in store for me...and I would say that I was blown away. Took a small break to watch the ending of Game 6 of the Spurs against the Thunder, but otherwise I watched the entire season in on stretch. Found it odd that they load 8 episodes onto the first disc and only 4 on the second :/
Well, by this point, you know that it's a series about a vampire invasion. Won't ruin any spoilers of the end. Season two was like the first season with a lot of drama, but the action must awesome this time around. Whereas before it was a horror/suspense series, I'd call the 2nd more of a horror/gore/action type. There's no shortage of blood to spill going on as the streets and sewers literally run red with blood. Mountains of bodies pile up as old friends become new foes and no one knows who they can trust. Definitely not for the weak of heart as I found myself cringing and trying not to mute a couple parts. The graphics are one thing...but the voicing was so superb...it really made all the screaming reach out to you.
I had a hard time trying to find a side to actually go for...humans or vampires. The beginning of the series definitely made me feel more for humanity, but the attrocities they commit in the second half made me wish that the vampires would succeed in their attempt to create a home base for themselves. Shiki was a true masterpiece in this sense. Both sides were just after their own livelihood: "Their survival means your demise" sums it up pretty well. The fear and despair on both sides can be felt so vividly. Really wanted everyone to survive.
The ending was a pretty big surprise for me, but I thought it was actually pretty well done. Shiki goes through more characters than Game of Thrones, so you can't get attached to any characters. There were two deaths that I had a hard time watching. They both experienced extremely graphic and horrible deaths. Even if they were vamps...the humans still put them through pure torture. Hrmm, there's actually a 3rd that was particularly bad as well. Toshio's experimentation on his wife after she comes back to life wasn't pleasant. Especially when he explains some things he did to her that weren't visualized.
In the end, a ton of humans and vamps bite the dust. My only regret is that there isn't anymore to watch. Believe this is a great time to go read the manga and see how it is compared to this adaptation. As long as you don't lose your lunch easily, this series is incredible. Wouldn't recommend Shiki to kids, but the story is top-notch and really drags you in with all the suspense.
Only downside: The extras did kind of blow. 2 episode commentaries, original Japanese trailers, English trailer, and 7 trailers for other series. Oh, and the usual textless opening and ending themes. Did love the music, though. Watched each opening and most of the endings each episode.
What's great about it: Everything
What's not so great: It ended
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Shiki: Part 1 [Limited Edition] [4 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4882/4882363_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Been waiting on this one to come out for a while as I've seen a few AMVs with content from this series. I'll leave out any spoilers until the end of this for those that want to watch the series without knowing anything about it beforehand. Most will already have suspicions by the 1st or 2nd episode, but Shiki does a wonderful job at building the suspense and mystery throughout the first season.
I loved the assortment of characters that we're introduced to here, but there isn't much in the way of character development. Surprisingly, the "Shiki" seem to develop more than the regular cast. Toshio Ozaki, the village doctor, is probably the best developed character so far seeing as how he starts out completely calm and composed but by the end he's lashing out at everyone because of his frustration. He regains his composure in an effort to combat the village's situation.
The artwork and visuals from Shiki are phenomenal #might be something to do with the Blu-ray...#. It's not just about the graphics, though. The character designs run the full range of everything that you'd expect to find in a backwoods village in the middle of nowhere with a population of only 1300. You have the few kids/teens born into the village, a couple "aliens" that have moved from the big city, and the majority of older/elderly residents that comprise the location.
Aniplex/Funimation hit a home run with the voice cast in this one, too. Haven't had any English voices that made me want to box my own ears...#looking at you "Vampire Knight"# and haven't touched the original audio, yet. I enjoy series where I have to read the subtitles, but it's a lot more enjoyable when I can focus on the whole screen instead of trying to read what they're saying.
SPOILER ALERT: SPOILER ALERT:
Now, that's out of the way. Little bit of coverage for the story through the end of the first season.
"The story takes place in a particularly hot summer in the nineties, in a small quiet village called Sotoba. A series of mysterious deaths begin to spread in the village, at the same time when a strange family moves into the long abandoned Kanemasa mansion. Toshio Ozaki, dean of the only hospital in Sotoba, initially suspects an epidemic. But as investigations continue and the deaths begin to pile up, he becomes convinced that they are the work of the undead plaguing the village. A young man named Natsuno Yuuki, who hates living in the village, begins to be pursued and surrounded by death."
The story mainly focuses around Natsuno and Toshio, but occassionally you'll get scenes shown from the point of view of the supporting cast. What's the story really about? Vampires! Actual vampires...not the freaks from Twilight that glisten in the sun. Stake through the heart, decapitate, burn up in the sun Vampires! The village also calls vampires the okiagiri who are a local legend. There is no peace-making between humans and vampires here. It's just kill or be killed. This season pretty much ends on a high note for the vamps as they seem to be knocking off those who suspect them one-by-one. Time to see how season 2 is!
"The story takes place in a particularly hot summer in the nineties, in a small quiet village called Sotoba. A series of mysterious deaths begin to spread in the village, at the same time when a strange family moves into the long abandoned Kanemasa mansion. Toshio Ozaki, dean of the only hospital in Sotoba, initially suspects an epidemic. But as investigations continue and the deaths begin to pile up, he becomes convinced that they are the work of the undead plaguing the village. A young man named Natsuno Yuuki, who hates living in the village, begins to be pursued and surrounded by death."
The story mainly focuses around Natsuno and Toshio, but occassionally you'll get scenes shown from the point of view of the supporting cast. What's the story really about? Vampires! Actual vampires...not the freaks from Twilight that glisten in the sun. Stake through the heart, decapitate, burn up in the sun Vampires! The village also calls vampires the okiagiri who are a local legend. There is no peace-making between humans and vampires here. It's just kill or be killed. This season pretty much ends on a high note for the vamps as they seem to be knocking off those who suspect them one-by-one. Time to see how season 2 is!
Definitely recommend this series to anyone. Little bit of blood but not enough to be gore so far. Fanservice is pretty much non-existant. Tons of suspenseful moments. Will probably be my favorite release this year unless they release "Mirai Nikki" in English. Go, buy it now.
What's great about it: Story, characters, voicing.
What's not so great: Extras
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Shiki: Part 2 [4 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]
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![Dragonaut: The Resonance - The Complete Series [4 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1406/1406052_sa.jpg)
This sexy release from the saucy sci-fi anime series Dragonaut includes all 26 episodes of the show, telling the story of a busy task force of ladies in tight uniforms called the Dragonauts, who help protect the earth from deadly forces like massive asteroids - all while baring as much of their bodies as possible.
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
*cough*first*cough*...considering how well the series sold at my store, I'm surprised that there haven't been any reviews on this one after over half a year :/
First: a brief synopsis. "Twenty years prior to the story's beginning, an asteroid headed for Earth destroys Pluto. Due to Pluto's destruction, the asteroid, which is dubbed Thanatos, becomes temporarily stagnant in Pluto's orbit. Now, in order to avoid Earth's impending destruction, the International Solarsystem Development Agency (ISDA) works on the "D-Project", and secretly creates weapons called "Dragons" after finding a dragon egg under the ocean. However, they soon find out that the asteroid is not their only threat, as powerful, destructive dragons from Thanatos appear on Earth.
After witnessing what looks like a murder by a strange creature, Jin Kamishina, a lonely 18-year-old boy who lost his family in a shuttle accident two years ago, gets involved with the ISDA and their efforts to battle the dragons from Thanatos. Helping him is Toa, a mysterious girl who saves him from falling to his death after the creature attacks him. As they delve deeper into the mysteries of the dragons, they encounter new friends and enemies, and also develop a closer relationship."
Basically, humanity is on the brink of destruction by an insterstaller entity that is going to devour the entire planet...sucks for humanity. Thanatos has sent dragons to Earth to conquer it and humanity has also captured and raised some of their own to combat it. The majority of the series focuses on conflict between humans and their dragons rather than against Thanatos which is good in terms of the character development. Don't get attached to too many of the side characters as some bite the dust.
The only real complaint I have with Dragonaut is the constant up-and-down relationship between Jin and Toa. Seemed like their attitudes changed almost every episode.
Voice acting was pretty good. Never swapped to the Japanese vocals once...which is surprising for me. Extras...meh: the usual textless openings and a few trailers. Good series for the length and price.
The only real complaint I have with Dragonaut is the constant up-and-down relationship between Jin and Toa. Seemed like their attitudes changed almost every episode.
Voice acting was pretty good. Never swapped to the Japanese vocals once...which is surprising for me. Extras...meh: the usual textless openings and a few trailers. Good series for the length and price.
What's great about it: Good action. Price.
What's not so great: Not much
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Store your movie collection in this convenient media storage cabinet.
Customer Rating
5
Small stand with decent capacity
on May 10, 2012
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Purchased this stand several months back but just put it together. Has a nice solid design, looks good, and holds a decent amount for its size. The rotating capability is great as well. One of 4 stands I have now to hold anime and games. Think I might actually order a couple more because I like it better than the others I have.
Only drawback was that the glue packet was solid as a rock. Went ahead and assembled it without glue and it's holding up fine so far.
Only drawback was that the glue packet was solid as a rock. Went ahead and assembled it without glue and it's holding up fine so far.
What's great about it: Great price and looks nice
What's not so great: Glue was solid as a brick
I would recommend this to a friend!
Capacity
4
Durability
4
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![Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos [3 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2011]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4810/4810307_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Never been a "huge" Full Metal Alchemist fan, but I've seen many episodes on Cartoon Network over the years from the original series as well as Brotherhood. The series have plenty of action, tons of characters, and the plot is awesome. Always enjoyed what I saw so when I heard about this movie coming out this year, I was bent on getting to see it.
I'll try to avoid any spoilers even though the description on the back of the box spoils part of it. Basic premise of the story is that the old nation of Milos has been oppressed by two different nations in the past few hundred years and is caught in between the two. Naturally, oppression leads to rebellion and uprising. A rebel group hatches a plot to overthrough the government by attempting to harness the sacred power of magma in the surrounding lands. Add the Elric brothers into any mix and the trouble keeps piling on. Ed and Al head to the far west chasing an escaped convict who has unusual transmutation circles on his hands that they have never seen. Thinking this may provide a clue to getting their original bodies back, they head towards Milos to seek answers.
Greatly enjoyed the movie. Voice-acting was awesome as usual for this series. Actually prefer the English voices...scary! Tons of extras thrown in. Lots of trailers, movie promos, and comedic shorts. Even has a "making of" and commentary from the English cast. Movie is just under 2 hours long which is great. I hate it when they're under 90 minutes...
For only $15-$20, I'd say this movie is a must-own for any anime fan; especially if you like the FMA series or anything fantasy/action oriented. Also, first box-set of FMA Brotherhood #first 33 episodes# just released today along with the movie. Should scoop that one up if you haven't as well!
What's great about it: awesome price, new characters, great story
What's not so great: Needs more Colonel Mustang
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Collection One [6 Discs] [DVD]
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Dval's Review Comments
Eliminate your unwieldy collection of remotes and start using one device. A Geek Squad Agent will program your new learning remote control (such as a Logitech Harmony remote) for easy operation of your TV and home theater components. Perform commands like Watch a DVD or Listen to Music with the push of a single button.* This service takes about an hour to complete. After completing your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail that contains a redemption code. You can then schedule your appointment by calling 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) and following the prompts for Home Theater and Installation.** Please print your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail and be ready when the Agent arrives at your chosen location.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5its work for reciver by wifi bettween 2flooer
By saadcitystar
from nashville
its work for reciver by wifi bettween 2 flooer my reciver in 2 flooer and my tv is doween stires,so its work doween stirs in tv samsung by wifi
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Interpreting
March 9, 2012
I try not to be a grammar-junkie, but I think "saadcitystar" is trying to say that he/she's happy with their remote programming. It sounds like he/she purchased a Harmony remote with RF (radio frequency) instead of IR (infrared) that is capable of sending signals over about a 50' range and can even go through walls, cabinets, etc...
If purchasing a remote programming by itself, the service is $99.99, but if you're having other services done as well (audio setup, wall-mounting, calibration, or networking), the service actually drops down to $59.99.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
![Hide and Seek [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2066/20661297_sa.jpg)
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Throwback album
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Album came out back on Tuesday and it arrived on Wednesday. Love the quick shipping here.
Hide and Seek isn't quite the same as previous albums from The Birthday Massacre. Couple of the songs have a little bit darker feeling to them, but the overall sounds took me back to music from the 80's and early 90's. Really loving it.
Wouldn't really say that there's any songs that just jump out at you, but it actually works out good for this CD. Really enjoying every single song so I can just keep the entire thing going on repeat. Would be nice to have a killer hit like "Blue" or "Red Stars" thrown in, but the whole thing more than makes up for it.
There's also a Vinyl version available as well, but you'll have to order that through other means if you want it. Definitely recommend this one to any fans.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Update
December 4, 2012
Have to update this as I've had this CD going for the past month in my car. Truely great CD. Very little pops out because all of the songs are so good. Should have given this one 5 stars.
0points
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![Elfen Lied: Complete Collection [3 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1964/19643123_sa.jpg)
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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![Gunslinger Girl: The Complete First Season [2 Discs] [Blu-ray]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9835/9835873_sa.jpg)
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.
![Skyfall [2 Discs] [Includes Digital Copy] [UltraViolet] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2012]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7734/7734214_sa.jpg)
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.
![Deadman Wonderland: The Complete Series [4 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6385/6385128_sa.jpg)
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.
![Coppelion: The Complete Series [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3012/3012047_sa.jpg)
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.
9 years, 7 months 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.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
Dval
Clarksville, TN