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
![Kerguelen Vortex [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2003/20032098_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
J-Pop album
on March 19, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Trying to explore some different artists from Japan and South Korea and I stumbled across Aural Vampire after watching a photographer's video online.
All of the tracks have a fast pace to them and blend some pop, rock, and techno into one. Personal favorites from the album (just 7 tracks) are "The Repoman" and "Body Checkmate". Could care less that I can't understand the lyrics because I enjoy how it sounds.
Was hoping that Best Buy would have their other albums as well, but this is the only one at the moment. Hopefully they'll import them in the future. Not a bad price at all considering the usual cost of a CD or DVD coming from Japan.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Tsubasa Chronicle: Best Vocal Collection [CD]](https://bestbuy.ugc.bazaarvoice.com/profiles/3545w/static/noimage70.gif)
Customer Rating
4
Great vocal tracks from Tsubasa Chronicles
on March 15, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Fell in love with the Tsubasa Chronicles not just for the storyline, but also because the music is incredible. It's hard to imagine such a great soundtrack(s# being possible when there are so many different artists working on a single anime series.
This album is purely vocal tracks which is a positive and a negative. "Blaze" is one of the best intro songs out there and is very upbeat. "Tsubasa" and "You are my love" are wonderful as well. The other songs all flow very well together and create a stunning album. I'll be the first to admit that I can't read any Japanese #yet# and it's pretty limited in terms of what I can understand from the vocals, but you can always feel the meaning behind each of the songs just from the artists.
Sadly, some of the greatest tracks from Tsubasa are the orchestrals from Yuki Kajiura. "A Song of Storm and Fire" is one of the most epic songs I've ever heard along with "Ship of Fools". I really need to find the albums with them. It's easy and cheap/free to download the stuff, but I'm a firm believer in paying for what you like. These artists bring me a ton of joy with their music and I should pay them for it. $60 is steap for the CDs, though :/ But this is the standard price for media from Japan.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Super powers club
on March 13, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Length: 26 episodes
Length: 26 episodes
"A new and deadly breed of covert agent walks the streets. Known as Contractors, these assassins and spies wield bizarre supernatural powers to carry out the dirty work of others. They thrive in the underworld, between rumor and reality, their loyalties always in question. One among these operatives is more mysterious than the rest - the masked killer BK201, the Black Reaper. His true identity and intentions remain unkown, but as his path weaves through the shadows and alleys of Tokyo, blood is spilled on both sides of the law. It's a new age of confusion, and the rules of engagement have changed."
Part of the Anime Classics series, you go into watching Darker than Black with the expectation that it's a great anime series. I wasn't disappointed in the slightest as this is a series that I've put off watching for a long time. One of my coworkers and I were discussing different series and he was shocked when I said that I still hadn't watched this one so I went ahead and ordered it. Blew through all 26 episodes in 2 sittings!
Darker Than Black is one of those dark, mysterious shows that you just want to keep watching over and over. Hei, the Black Reaper, is cool, calm, and calculating but acts as normal as anyone when he wants to. Contractors make the most effective decisions in regards to saving themselves. However, Hei still possesses human emotions and will often put himself in harms way to save others. His team of a talking cat, a living doll, and an ex-cop informant live day to day by carrying out the dirty work of the mysterious Syndicate.
The plot for this series flows very well and episodes are grouped into twos. In essence, this turns it into 12-13 double length episodes. The story continues to progress in a solid and efficient manner with every one that passes. You don't really learn the full story for Hei until the last episode which leaves you with a few questions throughout the rest. At times, I think they could have left out the police department. Misaki Kirihara seems like a romantic interest for Hei, but it's only hinted at as there isn't any romance in this series. Also, the detective and his assistant are a bit out of place. They do help to provide some comedic relief but I found him to be annoying.
Almost from the get-go, I got the feeling that this series was from the same people that did Black Lagoon. After researching it, that's not that case though. BONES produced Darker than Black while Madhouse produced Black Lagoon. They both are pure action/comedy, no romance, and the violence is just lots of blood and no gore. Black Lagoon was definitely a lot more vulgar.
The English cast is very solid and I didn't have anything to say against it. Jason Liebrecht did a fantastic job as Hei in maintaining a very non-emotional tone when needed but also flipping the switch in more personable moments that showed Hei's humanity. Loved them all! You don't get much in terms of extras here except for several episode commentaries, character auditions, and a few trailers. The standard. Music for the series was done by Yoko Kanno which is always a treat.
Very happy that I finally watched this series. Went ahead and ordered season 2 once I got down to about 5 episodes left and I'll try to watch it next week. The series does possess a good deal of blood, so the young ones may want to steer clear. Enjoy!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Hellsing Ultimate, Vols. 5-8 [5 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
This release from the anime OVA series Hellsing Ultimate includes episodes 5-8 of the series, telling the story of Integra Hellsing, who inherited the top position at the Hellsing Organization following her father's death, unlocking a chain of events that awakens the dormant Alucard.
Customer Rating
5
The Bloodfest Continues
on February 22, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Short and sweet version here: This series is awesome. Maybe not so much for the youngsters, but it's part of a select few series that can have you ROFLing and cringing at the same time. Over the top violence + off the wall comedy. Loved every second of it.
Also, forgot to put this in the review for the first part, but the Warsong Philharmonic Orchestra's ending themes were amazing. Wish they had continued that to this volume.
Volumes V-VIII continues where it last left off. The Last Batallion is about to descend on London and unleash all hell. What should be a "good vs. evil" fight becomes a 3-way battle royale between the Hellsing organization, the Vatican's forces, and Millenium. No one is spared in this series as man, woman, and child are massacred.
The battle at the Hellsing manor, along with every other, is awesome. A woman with guns is always nice, but seeing Seras with two giant gatling guns complete with a backpack ammo pack triple her size was any man's dream come true. Watched this on a sound system and the action was mind-numblingly intense. Musical scores along with every shot and explosion shaking the room was truely an experience.
This isn't the last of the volumes as this one ends with Alucard on the defensive side for once. So did not want it to end as I'm now suffering form withdrawals awaiting volums IX-XII. Sadly, there's still no ETA on the last volumes being released stateside. Apparently the producers changed in between the volumes and Funimation hasn't been able to get the license.
Bookoo amounts of extras to go along with this one again. Episode Commentary, Dubbing Hellsing - The 10th year Anniversary Interviews, round table interviews with English cast, Anime Vegas 2010 Hellsing Panel, FAQs from fans, The Dawn: A Supplementary of Hellsing which is a prequel, Textless closings, U.S. Trailers, and other trailers. Sadly, no karaoke for the major in this one.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This exciting release from the thrilling anime series Heaven's Memo Pad includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of a misfit high schooler named Narumi, who finds a kindred spirit in Alice, a seemingly innocent girl with a giant collection of teddy bears, who isn't in school, but just happens to also be an expert hacker.
Customer Rating
4
Hard to describe series
on February 18, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Mystery (Hard to really put a label on this one)
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"Narumi Fujishima isn't your typical high school student; he's never really fit in and has been becoming increasingly more isolated from his fellow classmates. But he's not alone, and when Ayaka, the sole member of the Gardening Club, introduces him to the reclusive girl who lives above the ramen shop, Narumi enters a whole new secret world. Alice is a NEET, someone who is Not Employed, being Educated or in Training, but as Narumi quickly discovers, that doesn't mean that she does nothing all day. In between tending to her small army of stuffed bears, Alice is an expert hacker and very exclusive, private detective. To his surprise, Narumi finds himself drafted as one of the strange, but elite team of associates that Alice has assembled from her NEET acquaintances. Together they'll battle gangs, thieves, murderers and drug lords. And in the middle of it all, Narumi will find his life changing forever in Heaven's Memo Pad!"
I thought this series looked interesting when it came out over a year ago, but I kept it on my wish list and never bought it. With the sale last month for only $27.99, I finally pulled the trigger. Took a little longer than normal to arrive since it had gone on backorder due to all the purchases, but I still got it within 2 weeks.
Heaven's Memo Pad is a bit of an odd-ball story. It's one of those anime series that is really good to watch but doesn't have a lot of staying power once you're done with it. I enjoyed watching it, but I'll admit that I was going back and forth playing Solitaire for the first 2 episodes and just listening to the show. The main character, Narumi, just isn't that noticeable of a guy. And they let you know it throughout the show as almost every other character comments on it. However, by the end of the series, he's become a pretty cool guy.
The series does lack from not having a general plot to it. You can divide it up into 3 or 4 arcs. None of them really tie into each other, though. It's basically the everyday life of a NEET detective and the trouble that ensues. HMP turns a bit dark for the last few episodes and tries to end on a positive note but whether it succeeds is debatable.
Good graphics and a good audio mix built into here. I didn't notice any animation screw-ups or rush jobs with any of the character's faces. The amount of backgrounds is fairly limited as the number of environments doesn't change much. Very little fanservice except when it comes to Min, the ramen shop owner. There is a bit of blood being spilled as gangs do play a big part in the series. Nothing gruesome, though. The opening and closing songs are catchy but not my favorites. I really enjoyed the real soft song that plays for Alice a lot.
Overall, I enjoyed the series. Otherwise I wouldn't have watched it in 2 days. I wasn't too thrilled at the ending, but I didn't hate it, either. I still recommend this to everyone to watch at least once.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This exciting release from the anime series Btooom! includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of a group of girls attending the Orai Acaedmy to learn the art of Gun-Fu.
Customer Rating
4
Battle Royale part 2
on February 14, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"In the blink of the mind's eye, Ryuta Sakamoto suddenly finds himself transported from playing the hit BTOOOM! video game to being stranded on a mysterious island. He's equipped with a day's worth of provisions, a bag of bombs, a strange crystal embedded in his left hand and a huge gaping hole in his memory. But it doesn't take long to figure out what's going on, especially after the first person Ryuta meets tries to kill him. Someone is attempting to recreate the ultra-violent BTOOOM! game in real life, and the island has been filled with an army of other unwilling players, each armed with one of the multiple variants of explosive weapons called BIM. Fortunately, Ryuta's an ace BTOOOM! player, but this insane version of the game has no reset switch or second lives, and there's only one way off the island: kill seven other people before they can kill you! Can Ryuta repurpose his game-based skills fast enough to survive this ultimate world of warcraft? The action is ultra-violent, ultra-graphic, and ultra-lethal as the ultimate blood sport is unleashed in BTOOOM!"
Wasn't really planning on getting this series, but Bestbuy was running it on sale for $27, and I couldn't pass that up! The description for BTOOOM! fits it pretty spot on except that it leaves out anything about the other main character, Himiko. I won't spoil anything about her or Ryuta aside from the fact that they team up to try to escape the island that they're trapped on.
Plot: It keeps it interesting and fast-paced, but it's also got some holes in it. Whether it's player against player, or just trying to survive against the island's inhabitant kimodo dragons, there's an abundance of the "ultra-violent" action. However, aside from the action, it's hard to get behind a lot else. Ryuta is a shut-in NEET that does nothing but play video games. Apparently that also keeps him in tip-top athletic condition as well. Himiko is sexually assaulted, but they keep using her for fanservice as well. If a bomb bounces off of your breast, I don't foresee the average woman having a flustered/moaning expression. Usually a huge fan of fanservice, but not when the person in question was assaulted already.
The graphics are pretty good here. Ultra-violent is pretty correct. Several people die by the end of it, and the show doesn't try to hide much. Slit throats, blown off fingers/limbs, charred corpses, etc... they're all here. However, it stops from getting to a gore category. There's plenty of blood, but you don't have to deal with someone's insides falling out or seeing the bones popping out. The environments are made very well, too! Nothing like a tropical backdrop to feast the eyes on.
Overall, the series was definitely enjoyable. I watched the first 9 episodes in one go and then finished the last 3 tonight. Sadly, the anime leaves off at a stopping point where I'm sure the manga continues. There's no conclusion here and no 2nd season has been green-lit, yet. I might have to check out the manga to see how it ends up. So far, it feels very similar to Battle Royale except that bombs are the only weapons. Enjoy!
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
2
Random clips
on February 11, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Hentai
Length: 60 minutes
Length: 60 minutes
I usually try to post what's written on the back of the box for reviews, but there's a bit too much obscene stuff on this one to do that! I've got a habit of picking out random titles to purchase and review and this one just happened to pop up in other related titles. Got it for just $5 (after MyBestBuy/RZ Certificates) so I can't really complain!
Typical stuff here. It's hentai and really random. It's a bit of a mixed basket of short clips spanning a few genres. Most of the stuff is pure love/vanilla and toys/bondage. Nothing forced as well. There is no plot to speak of as these clips are basically just the money shots. Each one is random except that the last two clips are from the same OVAs as the first two clips.
There are no Japanese voicings here! Usually that's a complete death wish, but the English voice-acting was actually decent. This will probably the only time you ever hear me say that! The graphics are pretty dated as well. A lot of cheap animation that uses the same 1-2 second clips over and over.
Sadly, with the market pretty dried up in relation to hentai, there won't be much new stuff released here in the States. There are definitely some good ones that I'd love to own in disc form rather than having to steam/download them.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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This haunting release from the horror anime series Another includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of a high school girl who mysteriously went missing 23 years ago, and whose legacy still haunts its halls.
Customer Rating
5
Great horror anime
on February 8, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Drama
Length: 12 episodes
Length: 12 episodes
"Mei Misaki was cute, athletic, and one of the most popular girls in her school. Why should a little thing like death change that? Now, twenty-three years after Mei's mysterious demise, a new transfer student discovers that not only is his school's student body one corpse short of a full-roster, but that some secrets never leave high school.
And what's more, all of this may somehow be tied to his own family past. What is the secret and how does it all connect? And even if Kouichi does figure it out, will that knowledge help save him? As the school bells toll a deadly dirge and students begin to die, things that were never properly buried come back to haunt the high school of the damned in ANOTHER!"
Kept on reading where people were praising this series when it initially aired in Japan, but I decided to pass on it and watch other series. Was always interested in it and decided to go ahead and get the release here in the States. Very glad that I did.
Leave it to Sentai to give a description that actually fits without giving away too much. Every episode leaves off with a bit of a cliff-hanger and just keeps you wanting more and more! The further along the series gets and as more questions are answered, you come to realize that hints have been dropped the entire way. You never know what's going to happen next or who's going to die. Loved every minute of it.
I wasn't a fan of the English cast at all. After finishing episode one, I put it on the Japanese audio. Not much in terms of extras. Pretty standard for most anime series.
Definitely glad I purchased this series as I can easily see myself watching it again.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sony Gold Wireless Stereo Headset: Pinpoint which direction the action is coming from with this 7.1 virtual surround sound headset. Download the Headset Companion app to experience exclusive custom audio settings for supported PlayStation games.
Customer Rating
4
Good headset for the price
on February 8, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Picked these up last night as they just arrived in our stores yesterday. I've never been a big fan of headsets as I usually just listen to my games through a 2 speaker/1 sub system, but when I saw these coming out for just $99.99, I figured that I might give headsets a try. My brother lives and dies by his Tritons, but they also cost me over $200 when I bought them for him a couple years back.
By no means are these a perfect headset, however, for under $100 and being wireless, they're very nice. I've found some things that I really like as well as a few that I'm not as sure about. Keep in mind that I don't really do online gaming much, so I can't comment on the hidden microphone and chat capabilities.
Pros:
Great sound quality. I'd more call it a true 5.1 with a virtual 7.1 system capability. The sounds and music come through very clearly and I can easily tell which side they're coming from. It feels like the vocals are only coming from the right and the music is predominately the left, though.
Sleek, compact design. These have a collapsing design for easy transport and safety. They even come with a nice little satin bag to store them in. Charges through a supplied micro USB cable. I love the black outer cover and the medium hue blue on the inside.
PS3/PS4 compatible. I've got both systems and it works well on each of them.
Great sound quality. I'd more call it a true 5.1 with a virtual 7.1 system capability. The sounds and music come through very clearly and I can easily tell which side they're coming from. It feels like the vocals are only coming from the right and the music is predominately the left, though.
Sleek, compact design. These have a collapsing design for easy transport and safety. They even come with a nice little satin bag to store them in. Charges through a supplied micro USB cable. I love the black outer cover and the medium hue blue on the inside.
PS3/PS4 compatible. I've got both systems and it works well on each of them.
Cons:
Fading sounds. Whenever there's a transition from one background to another in games, I notice that the music goes very low or stutters for about 2 seconds. Almost seems like there's a response issue for it.
Charging cable. The microUSB cable is only about a foot long. Luckily, it's a standard cable and I can just use the one for my phone instead.
Size adjustments. I'm sure it's been tested and it's durable, but the sliding ear pieces have caught a few times when I was adjusting them. Not a huge thing, but it's something I wanted to note. Got 2 years of GSP in case something happens to them.
Fading sounds. Whenever there's a transition from one background to another in games, I notice that the music goes very low or stutters for about 2 seconds. Almost seems like there's a response issue for it.
Charging cable. The microUSB cable is only about a foot long. Luckily, it's a standard cable and I can just use the one for my phone instead.
Size adjustments. I'm sure it's been tested and it's durable, but the sliding ear pieces have caught a few times when I was adjusting them. Not a huge thing, but it's something I wanted to note. Got 2 years of GSP in case something happens to them.
Overall, I'm definitely happy with the headset and I'll start using them over my speaker system for gaming from now on. At this price point, it's definitely worth trying out.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Cats vs Dogs
on January 31, 2014
Posted by: Dval
from Clarksville, TN
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.
My Best Buy number: 905388050
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dval's Review Comments
Eliminate your unwieldy collection of remotes and start using one device. A Geek Squad Agent will program your new learning remote control (such as a Logitech Harmony remote) for easy operation of your TV and home theater components. Perform commands like Watch a DVD or Listen to Music with the push of a single button.* This service takes about an hour to complete. After completing your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail that contains a redemption code. You can then schedule your appointment by calling 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) and following the prompts for Home Theater and Installation.** Please print your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail and be ready when the Agent arrives at your chosen location.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5its work for reciver by wifi bettween 2flooer
By saadcitystar
from nashville
its work for reciver by wifi bettween 2 flooer my reciver in 2 flooer and my tv is doween stires,so its work doween stirs in tv samsung by wifi
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Interpreting
March 9, 2012
I try not to be a grammar-junkie, but I think "saadcitystar" is trying to say that he/she's happy with their remote programming. It sounds like he/she purchased a Harmony remote with RF (radio frequency) instead of IR (infrared) that is capable of sending signals over about a 50' range and can even go through walls, cabinets, etc...
If purchasing a remote programming by itself, the service is $99.99, but if you're having other services done as well (audio setup, wall-mounting, calibration, or networking), the service actually drops down to $59.99.
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![Hide and Seek [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2066/20661297_sa.jpg)
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Throwback album
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Album came out back on Tuesday and it arrived on Wednesday. Love the quick shipping here.
Hide and Seek isn't quite the same as previous albums from The Birthday Massacre. Couple of the songs have a little bit darker feeling to them, but the overall sounds took me back to music from the 80's and early 90's. Really loving it.
Wouldn't really say that there's any songs that just jump out at you, but it actually works out good for this CD. Really enjoying every single song so I can just keep the entire thing going on repeat. Would be nice to have a killer hit like "Blue" or "Red Stars" thrown in, but the whole thing more than makes up for it.
There's also a Vinyl version available as well, but you'll have to order that through other means if you want it. Definitely recommend this one to any fans.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Update
December 4, 2012
Have to update this as I've had this CD going for the past month in my car. Truely great CD. Very little pops out because all of the songs are so good. Should have given this one 5 stars.
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This haunting release from the psychological sci-fi anime series Elfen Lied includes all 13 episodes of the show, following the story of a telekinetic girl named Lucy, who breaks free from the torment and torture of a government research facility and is taken in by two kindly strangers - who have no idea that the sweet girl they've discovered harbors a split personality brought on by years of abuse, along with unfathomable powers toa ct on her rage.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Gore and horror at its best
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
A deadly disease has somehow formed in the human genes resulting in humans with horns called diclonius (sp? Been a while since I saw it). In addition to the horns, these mutants also have supernatural powers in the form of invisible arms called vectors. What's to stop these mutants? Locking them up in a government test facility; testing, torturing, and mutilating them, right...?
Elfen Lied starts out with one of the diclonius, Lucy, escaping from her heavily fortified prison by slicing and dicing her way through waves of armed guards who are powerless against her vectors which can also deflect bullets (from a certain range#. A sniper's bullet to the head doesn't manage to kill her, but it is enough to create a 2nd personality in the form of Nyu who washes up on the nearest beach. There, she's discovered by Kohta and Yuka who had met Lucy many years before but are unaware of her identity.
The series then progresses through gallons of blood, truckloads of body parts, and the battle to stop the spread of the diclonius. Gore, horror, supernatural, and action are the main genre of this anime. You run into a bit of romance (Could refer to Lucy as a tsundere and Yuka is close enough to a yandere) with nothing really ever developing.
Not much in terms of extras besides a few trailers. However, I love the textless opening and closing themes. The opening, "Lilium" is one of my all time favorite songs with its haunting and beautiful melody. Greatly enjoy the closing theme "Be Your Girl" as well.
Despite only being 13 episodes, Elfen Lied has managed to be quite a controversial series. The amount of killing and nudity in the first episode rubbed some people the wrong way. This is one of my favorite series even if it was a bit gorier than I'm used to. Recommend it to anyone who wants a good horror anime.
Elfen Lied starts out with one of the diclonius, Lucy, escaping from her heavily fortified prison by slicing and dicing her way through waves of armed guards who are powerless against her vectors which can also deflect bullets (from a certain range#. A sniper's bullet to the head doesn't manage to kill her, but it is enough to create a 2nd personality in the form of Nyu who washes up on the nearest beach. There, she's discovered by Kohta and Yuka who had met Lucy many years before but are unaware of her identity.
The series then progresses through gallons of blood, truckloads of body parts, and the battle to stop the spread of the diclonius. Gore, horror, supernatural, and action are the main genre of this anime. You run into a bit of romance (Could refer to Lucy as a tsundere and Yuka is close enough to a yandere) with nothing really ever developing.
Not much in terms of extras besides a few trailers. However, I love the textless opening and closing themes. The opening, "Lilium" is one of my all time favorite songs with its haunting and beautiful melody. Greatly enjoy the closing theme "Be Your Girl" as well.
Despite only being 13 episodes, Elfen Lied has managed to be quite a controversial series. The amount of killing and nudity in the first episode rubbed some people the wrong way. This is one of my favorite series even if it was a bit gorier than I'm used to. Recommend it to anyone who wants a good horror anime.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
January 3, 2013
It is in English. Can choose from Japanese w/ English subtitles or English audio.
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This release from the chilling anime series Gunslinger Girl includes all 13 episodes of the show's first season, following the girls of the Social Welfare Agency, who appear from the outside to be orphaned schoolgirls, but are actually trained to be cold blooded killers. Extras with the release include voice director commentary, textless songs, and more.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Killer girls from...
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Action
"Officially, the social Welfare Agency is a government sponsored corporation that's in the business of saving lives. At least, that's the ruse. In reality, it's an agency on the fringe of technology. They give terminal patients another shot at life using cybernetic implants. This conditioning process then shapes the patient into an effiecient machine for handling all of the goverment's dirty work. They've been given a second change at life, but at what cost?"
Basic plot: Little girls that were about to die have been given a second shot at life, but in return they're basically assassins for the government. The first season here doesn't really do much more than give us a character intro for 6 different girls. The story takes place in Italy which is a huge change of pace for most anime. Plot only got an average score because of the lack of one thus far.
Cinematography: The graphics are very visually appealing. Seeing everything out in the Mediteranean is a good change from the streets of Japan. The character designs themselves aren't very well done, though. They're really kind of normal. However, there's a ton of detail put into the outfits, guns, and scenery. Found it kind of odd, but the Blu-ray version is definitely nice and crisp. No jagged edges around the faces like on DVD versions.
Acting: Loved the English voice-acting and didn't touch the original Japanese. Kind of want to just to hear they're versions of each girl.
Extras: Non-existent. Not a single trailer, commentary, or even a textless opening or ending. Bare bones.
As the first reviewer posted, the story is a little disturbing. If you can get around little girls being used as military dolls, then the action is quite nice and I really enjoyed it. Just not the best series out there. Should definitely pick it up if you like anime, though.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Part 2
January 3, 2013
Completely forgot about the extras on disc 2. There are actually quite a few. The voice-actor commentaries about their own characters are really enjoyable. Would bump the Extras up to 4 stars, but it wouldn't change the overall rating.
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Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5meh...
By lobb152
I just didnt like this movie as much as the other two.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
February 13, 2013
Any particular reasons why? Story, cast, etc...?
+1point
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This mind-bending release from the psych-horror anime series Deadman Wonderland includes all 12 episodes of the show, following the story of a high school boy who is unjustly jailed for the murder of his class in a prison system that fits him with a collar constantly injecting him with poison. The poison can be neutralized if he can take regular doses of the antidote often enough, though these can only be obtained through prison work.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Supernatural prison
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Supernatural, Action, Drama
Length: 12 episodes + OVA
Length: 12 episodes + OVA
"Ganta is the only survivor after a mysterious man in red slaughters a classroom full of teenagers. He's framed for the carnage, sentenced to die, and locked away in the most twisted prison ever built: Deadman Wonderland. And then it gets worse.
At Deadman Wonderland, convicts are forced into brutal deathmatches for the amusement of the masses, the cheers of the crowd drowning out the screams of the dismembered. Even when Ganta befriends Shiro, an unusual female inmate, his dark fate crushes all hope – until he discovers the strange ability to wield his spilled blood as a weapon. Ganta learns his new skill might be related to the murderous man in red and uncovers disturbing secrets that could expose those who stole his freedom. He's determined to see justice served – but first he'll have to fight for his life in a prison that holds a million ways to die."
Deadman Wonderland is a decent series that gained attention in America after Cartoon Network aired it on the Toonami animation block when it was reincarnated back in 2012. I caught the first 2 episodes, but never got around to watching the rest. The series is filled to the brim with blood, gore, and action. The English dialogue is pretty racy as well. It does an excellent job with the shock factor. You just know someone is about to die, but it can be a little hard to predict how it's going to happen. Sadly, the series is quite rushed and a ton of knowledge is never made known. There also isn't really a true ending. Red Man remains a mystery, sort of. What relation does Shiro and Ganta have? Don't want to spoil any of the ending, but it pops up just as many questions and doesn't really answer anything. It leave tons of room for a 2nd season, but I haven't seen anything in the works, yet.
I enjoyed the series overall even with the rushed ending and lingering questions. My brother was also a fan and admitted that he was a little confused with the entire thing. This is a great value on a pretty good series. Pick it up!
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Reply
August 7, 2014
That's correct. First two black discs are the DVD version while the last 2 light blue discs contain the BD versions.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Sony XBR-55X850B 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV ushers in the future of high-definition with 4K — 4x the resolution of Full HD. Catch every stunning detail of the big game, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows with outstanding clarity. Plus, take advantage of Smart TV features like Web browsing, streaming video and social network integration.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Good entry level 4K TV
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Bought this TV in late June after having originally gotten the 65W950B model instead. There are a few things that could be improved upon, but it's excellent for its price range. Here's the round up:
Pros:
Great picture quality. 4K resolution is truely amazing when you have 4K content playing on it.
4K Xreality Pro: Upscaling works out quite well. I only have basic cable set up and it honestly made the picture look like it was HD quality. Sure, it didn't look like 4K, but you can't expect to make a 480p image look close to 4K resolution.
TriLuminous display: This is the big point for me when picking the Sony over the Samsung models. Sony gives better colors than Samsung which tries to focus too much on aesthetics and brightness.
Smart features: Easy to use and navigate. Had it connected to the internet in under 5 minutes after setting up and was streaming 4K videos off of YouTube and Netflix.
Great picture quality. 4K resolution is truely amazing when you have 4K content playing on it.
4K Xreality Pro: Upscaling works out quite well. I only have basic cable set up and it honestly made the picture look like it was HD quality. Sure, it didn't look like 4K, but you can't expect to make a 480p image look close to 4K resolution.
TriLuminous display: This is the big point for me when picking the Sony over the Samsung models. Sony gives better colors than Samsung which tries to focus too much on aesthetics and brightness.
Smart features: Easy to use and navigate. Had it connected to the internet in under 5 minutes after setting up and was streaming 4K videos off of YouTube and Netflix.
Cons:
Audio: Sadly, this model doesn't feature any improved sound qualities. If you want better sound, then you need a separate sound system or you'll want to step up to the X900B series which starts off at 65".
Search feature: Using the search feature within the TV is a pain in the butt. Type something in and it's likely to pull up a few million hits off of YouTube rather than searching for what you wanted on the TV. Had to go to the very end of all the apps just to find the web browser option.
Audio: Sadly, this model doesn't feature any improved sound qualities. If you want better sound, then you need a separate sound system or you'll want to step up to the X900B series which starts off at 65".
Search feature: Using the search feature within the TV is a pain in the butt. Type something in and it's likely to pull up a few million hits off of YouTube rather than searching for what you wanted on the TV. Had to go to the very end of all the apps just to find the web browser option.
While I count audio as a con here, if you're spending this much on a TV, then you shouldn't be in a stretch just to add some form of external speakers. Decent soundbars run as cheap as about $200 while the better quality ones range from $350-$600. If you want some great audio, then you save $300 off of the Sony ST7 soundbar with the purchase of this TV. Usually $1300 for it as it's a premium soundbar option.
I really wanted the X950B model, but alas, $8k is a bit outside of the realm I want to spend on a TV. Aside from the lower quality audio and lower contrast range, this model is a great alternative for almost 1/4 of the cost. Definitely can't go wrong with it!
Dval
Clarksville, TN
August 7, 2014
In regards to the W950B, I have to place it as the best-looking non-UHD TV on the market (not counting the Samsung F8500 plasma). I prefer the picture quality, color, and contrast that it provided instead of the X850B series. The speakers are pretty good and the built-in subwoofer actually rumbles nicely, too. The sheer amount of calibration settings is insane compared to any other TV I've gone into as well. Aside from the 4K display capability, the W950B beats it out in pretty much every department in my opinion. In the end, I was looking for a 4K TV, and the 65W950B was a bit too large for my space, so that's why I settled on the X850B instead.
+15points
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Keep your air clean and healthy with this Therapure 90TP50RM01 mini air purifier that is designed for areas up to 5 sq. ft. Stainless-steel collection blades allow easy cleaning and ultraviolet light destroys airborne viruses.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Not what I was looking for, much better
By kakky
from Houston
Came in looking for a new portable radio. Salesman guided me to a blue-tooth speaker to connect to my phone instead. Can also use this with my MP3. Works much better than the radio would have and great sound. Helpful salesman did a bit of technology training to help me get it set up.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Wrong item?
August 18, 2014
Hey there. I think you may have gotten the wrong item for your review. Sounds like you purchased a bluetooth speaker instead of an air purifier.
+5points
5of 5voted this comment as helpful.
This set serves up every episode of the anime series Coppelion.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Great anime!
By ACEACE
from CORONA
Picture and cgi excellent. Story excellent. But I gave it 3 stars because the sound is pcm only. That means stereo not 5.1 dolby digital much less DTS. Why they don't spend the money on the sound affect on Bluray is completely troubling.
Dval
Clarksville, TN
sound in anime
March 17, 2015
It'd be great to have more titles with full 5.1 or 7.1 dolby digital sound, but it's pretty rare outside of the big movies. Really long answer so I'll just paste the response from the animenewsnetwork for you.
Audio is important, and many fans are becoming more and more concerned with making sure that they're getting the best quality audio possible when they fork over the money for a shiny disc of their favorite show. But with so many different formats, which one is best? Which ones should you be asking for? Sometimes the difference is negligible or non-existant, other times it makes a huge difference.
Let's start with the easy one: why some shows have 5.1 mixes for the dub, but not for the original Japanese. I've answered previously on this column that most TV anime doesn't bother with anything more than a stereo (2.0) mix because the Japanese broadcast standard doesn't really support 5.1 audio, and given how big home theater systems aren't as common in Japan for a number of reasons, they generally don't bother remixing for 5.1 when it comes time to release the discs on home video. However, when making the dub, an American publisher might think 5.1 is worth the extra work. If they're already set up to do 5.1, the audio has to be remixed anyway, so it is an opportunity to have a nice added feature for dub fans.
5.1 mixes require special equipment, take a lot more time, and are harder to check for errors (and requires a lot more office space to do so), so it's often not practical to do 5.1 mixes for everything. They can also cost more money. The decision to make a 5.1 mix is made on a show-by-show basis, based on whether the Japanese is 5.1 (usually just movies and some high-end OAVs) and how much the show is predicted to sell.
As for what format in which they're stored on a disc, these days you generally see 4 different kinds of audio tracks:
• Linear PCM (Completely uncompressed, basically just a WAV file. Takes up a lot of space, especially in 5.1.)
• Dolby Digital (AC3) (Lower quality, like an MP3, but takes up a lot less space. Supported by DVD and Blu-ray.)
• Dolby TrueHD (Blu-ray only. The full quality of the WAV file, but compressed to a more manageable size. Still much bigger than AC3, however.)
• DTS Master Audio (Blu-ray only. For the end user, pretty much identical to Dolby TrueHD.)
• Linear PCM (Completely uncompressed, basically just a WAV file. Takes up a lot of space, especially in 5.1.)
• Dolby Digital (AC3) (Lower quality, like an MP3, but takes up a lot less space. Supported by DVD and Blu-ray.)
• Dolby TrueHD (Blu-ray only. The full quality of the WAV file, but compressed to a more manageable size. Still much bigger than AC3, however.)
• DTS Master Audio (Blu-ray only. For the end user, pretty much identical to Dolby TrueHD.)
When you make a DVD or Blu-ray, you are tasked with squeezing a lot of data onto a finite amount of space, so compression can be very important. Wasting too much bandwidth on audio means you might have to sacrifice video quality. The above compression formats are essential ways to get the most quality out of an audio track without having an unwieldy amount of data to contend with.
Audio quality obsessives swear that Dolby Digital AC3 audio has a lot of distortion and they can DEFINITELY tell a difference. I am skeptical. I've definitely heard bad AC3 encodes that definitely affected audio quality, particularly in very early DVDs, but there has never been a double-blind study that shows even audio experts can tell a difference at higher bitrates (and quite a few proving that nobody can tell at all). At any event, the presence of "lossless" audio (in either LPCM, DTS-MA or Dolby TrueHD) has become an important marketing bullet point for Blu-ray discs, so whether people can REALLY tell the difference or it's all a placebo effect, who am I to argue.
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Dval's Questions
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Dval's Answers
Sony XBR-55X850B 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV ushers in the future of high-definition with 4K — 4x the resolution of Full HD. Catch every stunning detail of the big game, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows with outstanding clarity. Plus, take advantage of Smart TV features like Web browsing, streaming video and social network integration.
Transmitter
I wanted to know if i still need to hook up a 3d transmitter to the tv to get glasses to work with the 3d view? The transmitter that came with the glasses does not have the rite connection to hook up to the back of this tv. this is what the transmitter looks like http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/SKUimages/gallery/large/S190-0101-call04-mm.jpg
That's odd. I didn't get any piece like that in mine and never saw one like it when opening displays in the store either. However, you won't need that to enjoy 3D viewing. You can choose to do the 2D-3D conversion on the television or just make sure you have a 3D Blu-ray player (or PS3/PS4) and 3D content. WIth the TVs being Passive 3D instead of Active, there's no need to sync them with the TVs anymore either.
10 years ago
by
Dval
Clarksville, TN
Sony XBR-55X850B 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV ushers in the future of high-definition with 4K — 4x the resolution of Full HD. Catch every stunning detail of the big game, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows with outstanding clarity. Plus, take advantage of Smart TV features like Web browsing, streaming video and social network integration.
Are the television remotes compatible with my time warner cable box (Cisco 8742 HDC)?
The TV remotes will not be compatible with your cable box as they're not designed to be universal remotes. However, your Time Warner remote should be able to program to the Sony TV.
10 years, 1 month ago
by
Dval
Clarksville, TN