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Reviews (2)
06 January 2007
Bloodlust Review
5 of 5 found this helpful I looked through the reviews here on ebay and I must say that they were somewhat lacking. So, I decided I would write a review for those of you still not sure if you're going to buy the dvd.
Now, when I first watched the movie, I wasn't entirely sure what I was about to see. The only taste I had gotten of the movie was from the dvd extra about the history of anime in the animatrix. While it did look interesting, I'm always a bit wary of vampire movies. They tend to have no plot and just pile on the sex and violence, which isn't something I exactly think warrants a purchase. That said, I was pleasantly surprized by this movie.
Definetly the first think you'll notice in the movie is the animation. Very beautifully done. Great character design, I must say. This is probably the best looking anime movie I've seen after Gin Roh. So, if you're going on style alone, definetly buy the movie. I was pleased that you see very little of what I like to call "animation short-cuts". The movie seems to have benifited from a nice budget for visuals.
For whatever reason the movie's original voice over was done in english rather than japanese. This is nice, at least in my opinion, because then you don't get all the problems commonly associated with anime dubs...such as lips / voice out of synch or weird sounding phrases used to match the lip movements. The acting is pretty good too. I was impressed with D actually, who has very little dialouge. His voice almost borders on monotone, which would've been horrible, but there is a sort of lonelyness in his voice that I felt was appropriate for the character. A few things seem a bit strange, like the name "Dunpeal". Dunpeal is the word for half-vampire half-humans in the story. For some unknown reason it sounded odd to me, so I looked it up and apparently it was a mistranslation. The original term was supposed to be "dhampir" which makes a bit more sense from an english perspective.
The story line is interesting, but I felt that sometimes, there were elements that were not explained fully enough. I certainly could make logical guesses and more or less figure out what was going on, but at times, it seems characters exhibit unexplained powers, that leave you asking "where did that come from?"
I did find myself caught in the semi plot twist I must admit...but I enjoyed it. I didn't really expect it at all really. One moment I'm rooting for the heroes...and then they're not the heroes I thought they were the next. The story isn't exactly life changing, but it did get me thinking.
Now, anime seems to be notorious for odd endings. Now, I think this is a cultural thing. Western movies tend to resolve everything at the end of the movie as if saying "and they lived happily ever after", and eastern movies tend to leave the ending unresolved as if to say, "the story doesn't just end here..." I personally liked the ending, but on this point, I'm thinking it's really a matter of individual taste.
So, my actual score would probably be a 94/100 if eBay's review system wasn't so limited. Hopefully this review helped you make a decision. Sorry if I made a few grammar / spelling mistakes...it is 2 a.m. after all.
-EC
P.S. I have not included anything about the quality of the DVD extras or quality of the transfer...but I'm sure you could find those sorts of things on amazon if you really still aren't sure.
21 August 2008
Eva Review
1 of 1 found this helpful Okay, So I'm going to review the Eva perfect collection. You know, this is something that's probably been done a million times before, so I'll try to delve into some areas that aren't usually tackled.
I think people reading these reviews would either be:
A) Already have seen the show and be curious about the package itself (content, extras, video quality)
B) Unfamiliar with the show and deciding if they should invest the time it takes to watch it.
As far as "A" goes, it's a mixed bag. The video quality itself is good, and 8 discs for 26 episodes isn't really needed (anime series tend to be around 5 or 6 discs from my experience), but I guess that ensures a cleaner transfer. There's really not much to the "extras". Character profiles, and previews of other anime series is about all you'll get. Language options and subtitles work fine, no problems with them.
With "B", the answer is also dependant on what you're looking at (or perhaps who is looking, as it were). Evangelion is a mecha anime with pseudo-christian themes in a "end of the world is approaching" type environment...but all that is just backdrop, it's not really what's happening.
Sure it's entertaining, but it's really not what makes Eva unique. What Eva is really about is how people relate to each other and themselves. The series does have a good amount of action, but it's very thoughtful, and slow. If you are looking for thought provoking material (whether you agree with the philosophy or not), you really can't go wrong with Eva. Don't go in expecting a traditional story with a climactic battle, etc, etc. Not to worry, it's not completely dry though, there are some really great moments of action (and a little humour mixed in early on).
The animation itself is varied. There are some incredible sequences, and also some which are quite bland. Eva can look a little dated at times, but amaze you in the next breath. The character design is (as far as my opinion goes), quite good, with the exception of the main character whom I felt looks somewhat bland, but perhaps that is intentional.
Another note I should add for those unfamiliar with the series, is that many fans found the last two episodes quite unsatisfying, so a movie (End of Evangelion), was made. The movie I wouldn't get until you've seen the series and decide if you enjoy it. It's visually stunning, but at times (deliberately) incomprehensible. Definetly worth it if you come to enjoy the series (and it does provide the action fans with a climactic battle).
Hope this was of some help!
-EC