A-kun and TharzZzy's Anime Review 4
The Good, The Bad and the Worst
BTW, if you're wondering where we stand on Dubbed versus Subtitled, it doesn't matter much to us. The first one you hear is the one you'll like the most anyway, because you feel it fits better. The main thing we think about is cost versus having to watch the subtitles. Some people can follow the subtitles fast enough while others can't.
Besides, it doesn't matter much. No matter which you buy, the opening and ending songs will be in Japanese anyway, save for the Fatal Fury saga, Tekken and a few others.
Anime Ratings: These are our opinions on these Anime. You may object to the ratings given. 0 means don't even bother with it. ***** means you've gotta see it at least once.
Mixing Codes: If there are two things that conflict, such as Romance and Combat, this means there's a little of both. The proportions may not be fair. When there's something like Combat and Blood, that means the fighting may vary. Some fights may not get as brutal as others.
Main Codes: What's listed under Main is the main theme of the series or at least what we felt was the main theme. The others are varying.
Rating Codes:
[Silly] - There's at least something that'll make us smile. Silly moments what everyone can enjoy. If this is the Main Code, that means that if you don't get or don't like most of the jokes, don't bother seeing the rest of the series. It's probably not your thing.
[WAFF] - You get a Warm And Fuzzy Feeling when you see this movie. WAFF means the stuff that may follow some angsty scenes and it should get you the feeling that everything turns out for the better.
[Angst] - There's some depressing/serious scenes. If this is the Main Code, then there's a lot of angst in the story. Don't expect too many happy moments.
[Combat] - There's conflict in the story. Whether it's purely physical like hand-to-hand fighting or just competing in sports, there's a conflict. If this is the Main Code, then the world is probably surrounding fighting.
[Blood] - Expect some REALLY violent fighting. Weapons will most likely be used to draw blood. Sometimes, it won't be much, but it will be there. If this is the Main Code, it's probably pretty violent all throughout the story.
[Violence] - Ultra-violent stuff here. Those with weak stomaches should NOT watch this. If Main Code, expect some rather excessively violent scenes.
[Romance] - Ah, love. Not for those of iron stomaches. They'll rust. If this is the Main Code, don't expect much of anything else.
[Underwear] - There are a lot of shots of underwear/tight swimwear or people in states of partial dress. They might have torn clothes or it might be that a girl's skirt gets blown up. In some cases, you'll get Crotch Camera, which, depending on your preferences and the gender of the person with Crotch Cam, may make you either get a nosebleed or retch. If this is the Main Code, then get used to the butt-shots and Crotch Cams.
[Nudity] - *blush* Yes, there's probably some topless girls running around or at least you'll see the nude back of a girl. Nudity can appear separate Underwear.
[Sexual] - *AHEM*, there's some more-than-obvious sexual interactions or more than subtle hints to that angle. It may be cut short before they get going or they might decide to fade out just as it's begun, but there is definitely sexual scenes suggested. If this is the Main Code, then people under the legal age should probably not view this unless it's for a sexual education course. In other words, you can see some positions often found in the Kama Sutra.
[Twisted] - If Twisted is ANYWHERE in the code, then expect sick or perverted things. Example: Tentacle beasts, horny space monsters, ogling of women, strange fluids, etc.
[Bizarre] - Expect the strangest things. Cats turning into coats then back to cats, creatures too bizarre for words, and just unusual/unnatural things. Monsters, demons, and genetically-made freaks are included.
[Sci Fi] - This is either super high-tech stuff or unusual vehicles that would not normally appear on Earth. Aliens also fall into this category. Unless in the Main Code, the world doesn't revolve around this super-tech.
[Magic] - These are usually magical worlds. They may not be heavy in magic, but there's usually at least a spell or a chant. If the Main Code, well, you get the picture. This category also works for anything that involves psionics, spiritual energy or any other form of super-natural attack.
[Religion] - It's usually a presentation of another Religion, most likely one familiar to Japan such as Buddhist, Taoist, Shinto, Christianity, etc. If it's the Main Code, there's stuff within that may be stuff that may be offensive to those who are heavily religious as this will probably present a new form of religion that may contradict yours. Close-minded people beware.
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Princess Minerva (subtitled)
Main Code: [Silly][Combat][Bizarre][Magic]
Secondary Code: [Underwear][Nudity][WAFF][Angst]
A-kun's Review: When the opening starts with an explosion that claims a large chunk of a mountain and the narrator objecting to having to read that Princess Minerva is wonderful and great and compassionate and such, you know it's going to be a weird anime. Princess Minerva is one of those spoiled brats you detest seeing, but she's a happy-go-lucky sort of person most of the time. It's only when her bodyguard/best friend Blue Morris tries to convince her otherwise that we see most of her insensitive nature. Minerva almost seems insensitive to Blue Morris' feelings until you see that she is concerned, but she wants more freedom than her father allows. So basically, Minerva is rebelling against her father, but Blue Morris is taking the brunt between the overly aggressive father-daughter war. It's unfair, but it all works out in the end. Everyone learns a small lesson of some sort and surprisingly, no one dies. A true rarity among these sorts of anime. From the looks of it, there might be a manga of this, but it's probably not going to reach the U.S. for some time, if ever.
Anime Review: ***
TharzZzDunN's Review: N/A.
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Dirty Pair Original 1-4 (dubbed)
Main Code: [Sci Fi][Silly][Combat][Blood]
Secondary Code: [Bizarre][Underwear][Religion]
A-kun's Review: Kei and Yuri, The Lovely Angels, are some of the top trouble consultants in the 3WA. What's the 3WA, you may ask? The 3WA is sort of like a Galaxy-wide FBI team. Trouble consultants like Kei and Yuri go to planets and help them solve their problems. Of course, with top consultants like them, they usually get sent on Lose-Or-Die missions. You've heard the phrase, "It's not our fault!". Well, the poor Lovely Angels can't be psychic, so they don't always know what's going to happen when they finish a case. They can't lose, but sometimes the people they were helping can.
In numerous cases, satelites, cities, planets and entire solar systems can be destroyed because the bad guys use a redundant back-up to make sure that something bad happens no matter what, or the pursuit of the criminal causing lots of destruction. Only once have they suceeded in finish their mission without causing mass chaos and mass destruction. It can't be helped. Unfortunately, much like scandals, even if it wasn't really their fault, they have earned the nickname "The Dirty Pair". Grown men have wet themselves when hearing that Lovely Angels were being called in. In these videos, we see them facing some of their hardest cases. Other videos involving the Dirty Pair include Project Eden, Affair on Nolandia, and Flight Conspiracy 007, but we'll review those later.
Anime Review: ***
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Gude Crest (subtitled)
Main Code: [Magic][Combat][Blood]
Secondary Code: [Religion][Angst][Bizarre]
A-kun's Review: This is one of the few BAD fantasy videos out there. Basically, take the Dirty Pair, give them medieval outfits, swords and some magic, then set them up in a classic story of 'destiny'. Because of the very poor and obvious story plots, I gave this a low review.
Anime Review: *
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Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer tapes 1 and 2 (dubbed)
Main Code: [Combat][Blood][Sci Fi][Religion]
Secondary Code: [Underwear][Nudity][Bizarre][Silly][Angst]
A-kun's Review: The confusing thing about this series is that they decided to make it sort of a collage work. At times, they'll stop the story to toss in a flashback or they'll put in a part that won't be understandable until later. There are a few moments that make little sense or seem irrelevant to the story. The biggest thing about this is that the Gainax Bounce appears more than ever. If you're wondering what the Gainax Bounce is, take a large breasted woman and have her bounce hop from one foot to the other. That is the effect of the Gainax Bounce. Most of the girls in this video can do that Bounce just by jumping or turning, which makes it a little weird and incredibly perverse. The art and the philosophy behind the story holds the together more than anything else. Hell, we barely understand most of the relationships between the characters. We know their motivations, but not how the characters themselves relate to each other.
And once again, as in all Anime, the U.N. is useless.
Plus, the guys were statue-esque. Good gawds! Body builders can't get that sort of balanced physique!
Anime Review: **
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Gowcaizer: The Movie (dubbed)
Main Code: [Combat][Blood][Sci Fi][Religion]
Secondary Code: [Underwear][Nudity][Bizarre][Silly][Angst]
A-kun's Review: The two Gowcaizer tapes fused into one, but this time, things are cleaned up and a scene is added. The U.N. is ignored this time as they didn't do anything more than get blown up in the other tapes. I felt that the Movie was a lot better, but the underlying story and connections are still unknown.
Anime Review: ***
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Panzer Dragoon (dubbed)
Main Code: [Combat][Blood][Sci Fi][Religion][Bizarre]
Secondary Code: [Nudity][Angst][Magic]
A-kun's Review: If you like the video game, you'll hate the Anime. If you don't like or don't have the video game, you'll hate the Anime. This is probably the crappiest anime yet. Next to Battle CanCan, that is. Apparently something appears and some flying ships that were investigating it get blown up. Later, some more flying ships are heading to investigate the something (with the same captain of the first investigation team that somehow survived) and THEY all get blown up. Then something happens that I forced myself to forget. The rest of the Anime I've stuffed into the toilet of my mind and have tried to flush repeatedly. I could telegraph the entire story upon seeing the first minute. Not that the ads for it tell you how crappy it is. Classic 'black' for the 'villian' of the series, if you can call a rather brainless dragon a villian. It had maybe three skills and all of them were pathetic when you look at them. How this actually became a game is beyond me, 'cause I don't have the game. Avoid this like the plague unless you can get it for fifty cents in a bargain bin. And you'll probably STILL wind up feeling ripped off.
Anime Review: 0
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Angel Cop Perfect Collection (subbed)
Main Code: [Combat][Blood][Sci Fi][Religion][Bizarre]
Secondary Code: [Ultra-Violent][Angst][Nudity]
A-kun's Review: This series is underrated, but it's also not for the squeamish. If you can stand Akira, you can handle MOST of the stuff in here. A bunch of psychics try to wage war against a corporation and a special team of investigators is sent in. In a bizarre twist that'll have everyone blinking in surprise, the two teams join together to battle another psychic who's gone psycho and is registering far above the previously recorded levels of psionics. Of course, the psycho psychic is what's referred to as a techno-psychic. She can use technology in her favor and amplify her power by using it. If you can handle some of the rough/disgusting scenes, this is a damn good story. The Perfect Collections are pretty much the entire series slapped together, but scenes are cut out to make the video shorter. The original series was about five tapes long.
Anime Review: ***
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3X3 Eyes Perfect Collection (subbed)
Main Code: [Combat][Blood][Magic][Religion][Bizarre]
Secondary Code: [Angst][Silly]
A-kun's Review: Tetsuo was an ordinary high school student, with some good friends, a job that required him to crossdress, an apartment, a motorscooter, and a semi-famous father. What more could a boy wish for? Well, when news reaches him that his father is dead via a girl named Pai, Tetsuo was shocked. Both by the death of his father and the fact that the girl wants to become human. She looks normal enough, but Pai is actually a triclops (tryclops?), which means she has three eyes, the third being in the middle of her forehead. It's a little disturbing, but the third eye actually makes Pai immortal and when open, she gains a mystical ability far above that of anything in the rest of Anime. This also means she has a split personality. Her unenhanced self is exactly like a young girl, but the enhanced self is cold, callous and determined to see her quest through to the end. Tetsuo doesn't get to see much of the enhanced personality unless they're in danger.
Well, apparently, Pai loses her staff and a bum, finding the staff after Pai and Tetsuo have left, takes the item and looks at it, accidentally unleashing the demon hidden within the staff. The demon goes on a rampage as Pai realizes she's missing her staff. Tetsuo and Pai go searching for the demon, which doesn't take long with it's path of destruction. But the demon continues it's tactics and attacks Pai and Tetsuo. Tetsuo pushed Pai away from the demon only to be crushed by the demon's claws. Pai, shocked at the sudden demise of the only person who could help her, absorbs Tetsuo's soul before sealing away the demon back into the same staff it was in before. Losing his soul is both a good and a bad thing for Tetsuo. It's good as, after the demon vanishes, his body is fine. However, he's now a Void. He can't die, no matter what happens to him (or at least until his soul is returned), but he also has the mark of the Void on his forehead.
The now invincible Tetsuo finds himself wanting his soul and his semi-normal life back, but as he finally realizes that complaining to Pai won't do anything, he sets his sights on the Statue of Humanity, which will allow Pai to become human and she'll give him his soul back. Unfortunately, all sorts of demons want the Statue because it holds special powers of some kind, but the baddies don't seem to be able to figure out what to do with the statue, so it's pretty much a game of "Keep Away from the Triclops". Like the Angel Cop, 3X3 Eyes was a five video collection.
Anime Review: ***
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Reviews coming soon: Golden Boy 1-6, Fatal Fury 1-2, Fatal Fury: The Movie, Street Fighter: the Movie, Street Fighter TV series volume 1, Blue Seed (complete), Blue Sonnet tapes 1 and 2, Revolutionary Girl Utena tapes 1-4, Irresponsible Captain Tylor (complete), All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku tapes 1-4, Cutey Honey tapes 1-4, Gunsmith Cats tapes 1-3, Ushio and Tora tapes 1-5, Burn Up, Burn Up W tapes 1-4, Devil Hunter Yohko 5 and 6, My My Mai tapes 1 and 2, Ellica tape 1, Legend of Crystania: the Movie, El Hazard OAV 1-4, El Hazard2 tapes 1 and 2, El Hazard: An Alternate World tapes 1-4, El Hazard TV series 1 (complete), Ayane's High Kick, Maison Ikkoku tapes 1 and 3, Battle Skipper tapes 1-3, Zenki 1-6, Project A-ko 1-4, Project A-ko: Grey Side/Blue Side, Capricorn, Tenchi Muyo: The Movie, Tenchi Muyo: The Movie 2, Tenchi Muyo the first TV series 1-6, Dirty Pair Flash (missions 1-3), Dirty Pair: Affair on Nolandia, Dirty Pair: Conspiracy on Flight 007, Dirty Pair: Project Eden, Oh! My Goddess vol. 1-5, Ninja Scroll, Ninja Resurrection, Galaxy Fraulein Yuna tapes 1 and 2, Return of Yuna, BASTARD!! tapes 1-4, Bakuretsu Hunters tapes 1-7, Those Who Hunt Elves 1-4, Saber Marrionettes J tapes 1-3, Clamp School Detectives tapes 1-6, Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, Battle Athletes 1, Iczer 1 vol. 1-2, Iczer 3 vol. 2 and 3, Iczelion, Knights of Ramune (Lamune 40) tapes 1-2, Aika tapes 1 and 2, Video City Ai, Ruin Explorers 1 and 2, Golgo 13, Ninja Cadets, Cowboy Bebop 1-3, Haunted Junction vol. 1, Fushigi Yuugi tape 1-8, Sakura Wars vol. 1-2, Slayers NEXT (complete), Slayers Explosion Array, Slayers Dragonslave, Battle Angel Alita, Debutante Detective Club, Silent Service (the one with the nifty submarine), Armitage III: the Movie, Dragon Half, Zeguy part 1&2, Dangaio tapes 1-3, Sailor Victory, Gunbuster tapes 1-3, Appleseed, Ghost in the Shell, Princess Mononoke, Pokemon the First Movie, Bio Booster Armor Guyver tapes 1-6, Bio Booster Armor Guyver: Out Of Control, Sukeban Deka tapes 1 and 2, Ultimate Teacher, 8th Man After, Wicked City, Suikoden: Demon Century, Dark Warrior 1: Genesis, Genesis Survivor Gaiarth tapes 1-3, Megami Paradise tape 1 and 2, Bubblegum Crisis 1-8, Bubblegum Crash 1-3, A.D. Police 1-3, R.G. Veda tape 1-2, Bean Bandit/Roadbuster, Super Deformed Scramble Wars, Robotech (end?), Luna Varga 1 and 2, Starlight Voyager Odin, Windaria, A Wind Named Amnesia, Gall Force 1-3, Gall Force: New Chapter 1, Gall Force: Earth Chapter 1, Nadia: Secret of Blue Water vol. 1, Plastic Little, MAPS tapes 1 and 2, Sol Bianca 1, Heroic Legend of Arislan tapes 1 and 2, Sonic The Hedgehog: The Movie, Iria Zeiram tapes 1-3, Iria Zeiram live-action, City Hunter: The Movie, Firetripper, Rumic Forest, Mermaid's Flesh, Mermaid's Gaze, Ronin Warriors (complete) That fucking piece of dung, Voltron, Powerdolls tape 1, Cyber City Oedo 808 tape 1, Orgus (who the fuck cares?) tapes 1-6, Final Fantasy tapes 1 and 2, Akira
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