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Fairy Tail Collection 3 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 25, 2015
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Fairy Tail Collection 3

review provide by Luther

Title: Fairy Tail Collection 3 Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Director: Shinji Ishihara

Studio: A-1 Pictures and Satelight

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Jan. 6th, 2015

Genre: Magical Adventure and Comedy

Format: DVD/Blu-ray Combo, 600 minutes, 24 episodes

Age Rating: 14+

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

The last battle was over and Laxus was kicked out of the Fairy Tail Guild, but other members of the Thunder legion have stayed. Now Juvia has stayed as part of the guild, sporting a great new look. Master is still considering leaving, but everyone wants him to stay.
Lucy hadn’t won the Mis Fairy Tail pageant, so she is still looking for a way to pay her rent. When a reporter from Sorcerers’ Weekly comes to do a story, Lucy is hoping that fate is coming her way (in the form of money and romance) and it is time for her big break. The reporter is an enthusiastic fan boy, who is so excited that he continually spouts words like Cool! and Amazing! She does meet a new guy but when someone puts it in her head that she ought to be with Natsu, she begins to read that possibility into almost everything. She is getting embarrassed around him and her thoughts are going crazy.

Juvia is in love with Gray and gets a love potion from a not-so-great shop. It doesn’t go the way she expected and now all of the guys are getting all macho and challenging new rivals. The whole guild hall is in a tizzy.

Lucy’s father shows up. He’s broke and is now traveling to a merchant guild to join. She doesn’t really want anything to do with him, but when she hears that something bad has happened at that guild, she find herself stepping in to help.

The dark guilds have become more active. The light guilds need to stand together. A coalition of magical guilds forms an Allied Force to confront the Orashion Seisu, which is posing a serious threat. Fairy Tail sends Lucy, Natsu, Gray and Erza. They meet the other ally members, which includes The Blue Pegasus team of 3 very charming guys, and from another guild, a kid named Wendy who is a blue haired  girl with a companion, a flying cat named  Carla.

The Orashion Seisu is seeking to release the magic of Nirvana. Part of its destructive power is the ability to change someone who is wavering on the lines of good and evil away from their co nature. As the coalition allied force attempts to stop them, the Orashion Seisu is plowing through them. Erza is the most seriously hurt and is close to death. Wendy and Happy are kidnapped, it seems her type of magic can be the key to resurrect a wizard to unleash Nirvana. The allied force splits up in search of Wendy only to be confronted by minor dark guilds in big numbers.

Nirvana continues its march to destroy Wendy’s guild along with a dark secret. Team Natsu and the coalition – as well as an unexpected ally – go full-force against the top sorcerers of Oracion Seis to expel the ancient city’s evil curse before it becomes unstoppable!
Then, when Natsu goes on a mission to see a woman about a dragon, his trip becomes a trap that could force him to turn Magnolia into ash and rubble! Can his friends snuff the Salamander’s involuntary rampage without torching their friend?

Commentary:

Fairy Tail is an anime that can appeal to a wide audience and I am thankful that is dubbed because that keeps it available to everyone. It has a little of something to fill most wish lists. There is lots of creativity with this anime, seemingly endless on the various wizards characters and their different magic, as well as in the locations and story lines. Occasionally, I thought it was getting a bit formulaic in spots. For example, with the overwhelming foes that they end up beating, but wait, they aren’t quite down yet. There is plenty of dramatic or intense moments, that are woven together with slapstick and silly times. My favorite comedic moment is when Happy answers the question to why he is blue.

One area of strength for Fairy Tail is its cast. It continues to grow. There are plenty of cute characters to go around. I can see that after looking back, there is lots of character growth. They are all getting stronger and developing their skills. Even the relationships are building. Lucy seems to really star in many of the episodes and although she down plays her importance, she has grown the most. Natsu is stronger, but his impulsiveness is his weakness. Some of the characters, especially the villains have some odd characteristics or qualities that only seem to serve the purpose to be odd. Odd for the sake of odd was distracting, memorable yes, but not a plus for the series. One last note on characters, dead people aren’t always dead.

I really enjoy the art work and details. The color alway looks great  and well planned. The visuals match the creativity of the story, the endless ideas and the cool magic techniques are portrayed skillfully. The special effects are great. Since there are all these different types of magic and power, they keep producing new ways to show them. Take time to listen to the music, it does a great job at supporting the story and action.

Fairy Tail continues to deliver a great product. They keep upping their game and still maintain the quality of the story content and action. It is one of those anime that is fun to watch again.  It has definitely gotten to the point where you have to see what happens next.

It is very typical for Fairy Tail to load itself up with action. but this set is overflowing. I was truly assented with how fast this set moves. From the battles with the Oracion Seis to the potential destruction of Magnolia the episodes speed past and leave you breathing heavy at the end.

Well at least they are lots of fun. While watching these episodes I found myself thinking about other long running shonen series and how they always end up on the goofy lead character who manages to sustain themselves in pure righteous indignation and always take up the armor of love and friendship to help defend against the evils that would threaten their families. Several times I saw Naruto saying “Believe It” and then Ichigo going on about friendship but it wasn’t until at one point when the relationships slipped into the classic Naruto vs Sasuke love/hate thing that I almost turned it off. I stuck it out and was not disappointed. I’m sure everyone who watches will see what I am talking about when you reach that point. I guess the point I am trying to make is that even though the plot and structure of the story may be tried and true I guess that it is the way that these characters help bring it together that makes the difference.

Overall Personal Rating: A-

When it is all said and done the final question is if this is fun and entertaining? In the case of these 24 episodes I have to say yes, very much so. I think the only detractor that I have is that the creative staff and even Mashima and Sogo have made Lucy way too much of a wussy. I get that she still lacks a high degree of self-confidence, but she doesn’t need top be that weak. She has plenty of power and to be a full member of the team she needs to be stronger. Other than that I think that Fairy Tail Collection 3 is simply put, just fun.

Any time you can build a full blooded series on top of friendship and love it is almost impossible to miss as long as you are able to keep it moving. Fairy Tail has done that so far and I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the 175 episodes. Still 103 more to go.

Fairy Tail part 14 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 14, 2014
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Fairy Tail part 14Title: Fairy Tail 14

Director: Shinji Ishihara

Studio: A-1 Pictures, Satelight

Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

American Release Date: Dec. 2nd, 2014

Genre: Supernatural, Adventure, Comedy

Format: DVD/Blu-ray Combo, 275 minutes, 11 episodes

Age Rating: 14+

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

The Grand Magic Games is a yearly competition that pits guild against guild in a weeklong battle for the honor of being called the most powerful wizards in the Fiore Kingdom. Fairy Tail may have come in last place for the past seven tournaments, but now that all their strongest members are back in action – and leveled-up – they’re determined to take the number one spot and rebuild their reputation!

Winning the games won’t be easy, though, as Natsu and his selected teammates are forced to navigate enchanted labyrinths, battle wizard saints, and go head-to-head with a host of familiar faces. But with more than one guild targeting Fairy Tail before the competition even begins, the guildmates will be lucky if they even make it out of the opening ceremonies alive.

Commentary:

Fairy Tail is back with a new arc and it seems as though placing them in a situation where they consistently have to battle to prove themselves is more entertaining that other struggles they had to go through. I feel like there is a very heavy hand pushing the difference that 7 years makes. Funny thing about 7 years it isn’t even a quarter of a generation but, based on the level of wizard power you would think they were frozen for 100 years. The friction plays well, but it also comes across a little odd and at times rather awkward.

There is one other thing about this set and the plot line of this arc that saddened me was the return to making a certain individual the focus of attention by the antagonist. I have become tired of seeing similar plot devices from Fairy Tail and it points to a place that tells me that the writer is getting burned out. Now I’m not saying that the action and comedy fails me, but instead it is the way these stories begin to look very similar and basically the same plot woven into a different settings.

Overall Grade: B

Fairy Tail is a solid series with plenty of great characters. This plot is a little tiring and somewhat lacking in creativity and frustrating from time to time. I did enjoy these 11 episodes and am looking forward to the rect of the story. Of course I really want to know what is behind the door. I know it is not unusual for shonen series to follow a somewhat typical progression, but Fairy Tail had made some great strides and recreating the fantasy fighting world and it is very possible that it will again get back on the path of giving us something more entertaining than a magic games and a dark guild after a certain celestial wizard in order to get to a power they should not wield.

Ok, Funimation bring on part 15.

Fairy Tail parts 12 & 13 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 6, 2014
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Fairy Tail part 13Title: Fairy Tail Parts 12 & 13 Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Director: Shinji Ishihara

Studio: A-1 Pictures, Satelight

Distributor: FUNimation

American Release Date: Oct. 28th, 2014

Genre: Supernatural,  Adventure, Comedy

Format: DVD/Blu-ray Combo, 600 minutes, 24 episodes

Age Rating: 14+

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Using a book from the Heartfilia library as a guide, the members of Fairy Tail split up to track down pieces of the Infinity Clock – a legendary enchanted item that could have the power to bring ruin to the entire world. Standing in their way is a secret order of wizards known as the Legion Platoon, who don’t trust the magic time bomb in the hands of the notoriously destructive guild. As the clock ticks closer to doomsday, an old enemy – Oracion Seis – is reborn in a terrifyingly powerful new form. This dark guild has its own plans for the magical timepiece, and if Fairy Tail and the Legion Platoon can’t stop them from using the catastrophic clock, time could be up for the Fiore Kingdom.

Oracion Seis has kidnapped Lucy and is using her to power a clock capable of spreading catastrophic magic cross the world. If Fairy Tail doesn’t stop the dark guild, the entire Fiore Kingdom will fall into a waking nightmare and their teammate will merge with the enchanted timepiece forever. But Oracion Seis isn’t the only group of wizards standing in their way: the Legion Platoon has decided that to save the world, they’ll destroy the magic clock – and Lucy.

While Fairy Tail fights with all their power to rescue their teammate, the truth about Michelle comes to light and a devastating deception is exposed. When the clock begins to chime reality descends into chaos, and in the end Natsu and his fellow wizards might be too late.

Commentary:

Fairy Tail clearly understands what it take to be a long lasting series that can keep the fans interested, but it also falls into the trap that seems to take the fandom for granted. In these twenty four episodes there is a classic trap of relying on the basic aspects of the series to carry it through. This particular arc is something of a rehash of the original Oracion Seis arc and I’m not real sure why they were made the focus of the antagonist. Why not come up with another set of dark guild? I guess it was easy to revive some old foes to fight. The funny thing is that there really wasn’t much of a fight.

Just because I was not entertained by the plot doesn’t mean that these episodes aren’t fun to watch. In fact I found this group to be very funny and entertaining. The writing was slightly above par for the series and some of the gags really stood out for me. For a series like Fairy Tail this is key and is a testament to its longevity.

Overall Grade: B

I think that if there had been a new foe this arc would have stood out as one of the best yet. Bringing back the Oracion Seis really fail the franchise and almost ruined this arc. Overall though, it is clear that the writing is still at the top of it’s game. As the episodes flow they hit at the right moments and keep the laughs coming. There is also a wonder lack of expanded battles. Most of them end up being less frustrating than what is typically found. Unlike One Piece and even Naruto, Fairy Tail takes what is best of those two world and manages to pull it together at one time. Were One Piece is totally meaning less, Fairy Tail provides enough story to keep it going. Naruto ends up taking itself way to serially and Fairy Tail knows that being self deprecating can be a true asset and manages to play along nicely.

I think this group of episodes will prove to be a hit with the fans and continue the strength of the franchise. I just wish the series wasn’t rolled out in 12 episode installments.

Street Fighter Movie: Assassins Fist (Live Action review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 14, 2014
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Street Fighter Assassins FistTitle: Street Fighter Assassin’s Fist

Director: Joey Ansah

Actors: Akira Koieyama, Christian Howard, Mike Moh

Producer: Jacqueline Quella

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: October 28th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / DVD, Feature Film, 143 minutes

Genre: Martial Arts

Age Rating: TV 13

Overall Personal Rating: C+

Synopsis:

The legendary game Street Fighter comes to life with this look into it’s beginning. Discover the trial and tribulations that Ken and Ryu go through to become true masters. See how they must struggle to learn the most secret of technique that they will need in their lives quest. Also, see what happens when you allow the technique control and show you the dark power. Death could always be an option.

Commentary:

Street Fighter is a well loved game franchise that may or may not need a web series that explores the beginnings of the story line, but it exists and the real question that we should ask is if it is entertaining. To be honest, I didn’t find it to be overly engaging and at time somewhat tedious. The story came across as rather convoluted and overly complicated. Ken and Ryu tend to be the focus of the story and then it wavers off to tell the dark secret of their masters life and the training itself. This stream of thought is understandable but, the way it is told come across as over bearing and hyper melodramatic at best.

Even if I find this version of the story tedious that doesn’t mean it wasn’t well made. I have to hand the it to the production quality. For a web series that has been converted into a movie I found the look and production value to be at par with many feature films and because of the way it was shot I was able to follow along and enjoy it for what it is rather than give up early on because it was slow and not well made. This says a lot for Joey Ansah and the vision he had for how this story needed to look. The simple approach to setting and what special effects that he needed to use made good use of the tools he had to work with.

Overall Personal Grade: C+

The story is slow and there were moments when I was wondering why it kept going. I also felt like the editing and storyline jumped around and ended up being rather tedious. On the up side it looks good, but don’t expect any amazing special effects. The production of the film uses what they had to a higher quality rather than trying to push any special effect limits to make it mind-blowing. I appreciate that approach and have to grade the film up for that. If you are looking for an overpowering martial arts film don’t go here. If you are a serious fan of the Street Fighter franchise I believe that you will enjoy it because of the story. If you want to learn more about this popular game franchise don’t get your hopes up. I have to say that it is fair at best.

Hellsing Ultimate Volume 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 3, 2014
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Helsing Ultimate 2review provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: Hellsing Ultimate Volume 2

Director: Tallesin Jaffe

U.S. Distributor: Funimation

U.S. Release Date: November 13, 2012

Format and Length: DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack / 180 Minutes

Genre: Action, Thriller

Age Rating: 17 and up

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Similar Series or Titles: Devil May Cry, Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate Volume 1

Synopsis:

Alucard and the entire gang are back for Hellsing Ultimate Volume Two. Things are heating up between the Hellsing Organization and the crazy Nazi Major, but Alucard is far away on another mission. Whatever will Sir Integra and Seras Victoria (Police Girl) do? They will split up and try to survive until Alucard comes back to save the day. Police Girl and the mercenaries that Sir Integra hired will stay back and protect the Hellsing Manor while Sir Integra and the Iscariot, along with Anderson, try to protect the streets of London from the Major’s vampires and the ghouls that they create. Add in the fact that the Vatican decided to send in the crusaders and things get interesting quickly. Make sure to watch out for flying body parts and blood along the way.

Finally, Alucard comes back to save the day. He is finally allowed to show his true form and that allows him to fight against the crusaders and the Major’s undead army. Of course, the Major had planned for this and it does not faze him in the slightest. But of course, what would Hellsing Ultimate be without the fighting between the Iscariot and the Hellsing Organization? Never fear, Anderson and Alucard will make things interesting and not even give Police Girl a chance to break up their fight.

Commentary:

Once again, I can say that I really enjoyed watching Hellsing Ultimate Volume Two. This time around they decided to add some interesting animation within the episodes as comedic relief. Those short scenes had me holding my side because I was laughing so hard. The music was roughly the same as Volume One, slightly gothic and fit well with the theme of the anime. The ending animation and music was different for each episode. I have to say that this OVA series has worked its way into my heart and I hope that there are more episodes released soon. The animation was better this time around, which was nice.

The character development was greatly improved this time. They focused on Seras’ background mostly, but it added much depth to her character and made me like her even more. She is still the comic relief at times but she also turned into a serious character when the time called for it. It was also interesting to see the past between Sir Integra and the Minister of Defense because it showed their mutual respect for each other. They also gave insight into the Iscariot’s past, for better or worse. The Nazi’s also had their background focused on this time. We learn all about the “special experiments” they did during WWII and the consequences that the world faces due to them.

I also loved the interaction between Police Girl and the leader of the group of mercenaries, Pip Bernadotte. Their story is not the classic boy meets girl love story, but it is romantic in its own way. Thanks to them, we also learn what happens when someone willingly allows you to drink their blood and because of that Police Girl turns into a true vampire. That is the first thing that Alucard notices upon his return.

This anime is available in the Blu-ray Combo Pack and that includes 3 DVDs and 2 Blu-ray disks. All episodes are on the first Blu-ray disk and the extras are on the second. I believe that there are two episodes per DVD and then the final disk is the extras.

Extras:

Hellsing Ultimate Volume Two includes episode commentary, dubbing Hellsing – the 10th year anniversary interviews, Hellsing cast round table discussion, anime Vegas 2010 Hellsing Panel, fans’ questions answered, The Dawn: A Supplementary of Hellsing, textless closing songs, U.S. Trailer, and previews as the extras. Again that is a lot of extras but I do recommend that you watch The Dawn: A Supplementary of Hellsing as it shows the work of Alucard during WWII.

Overall Grade: A-

Hellsing Ultimate Volume Two is a very gory and bloody anime. This volume is much more bloody than the first one, but do not let that deter you from watching, just be prepared.

Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Borders 1 & 2

Posted by :Patches On : October 17, 2014
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Ghost in the Shell: Arise Borders 1 & 2Title: Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Ghost Pain & Ghost Whispers

Director: Kazuchika Kise

Studio: Production I. G.

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: Oct. 28th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / 114 minutes / 2 episodes

Genre: Sci Fi, Action, Adventure, Cyber Punk

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

This set contains Ghost in the Shell: Arise Borders 1 and 2 on Blu-ray and DVD!

Border 1: Ghost Pain
When cyborg hacker Motoko Kusanagi is hired to investigate a devastating bombing, she must fight her way through a maze of phantom memories to unlock her mysterious past – and track down the evil mastermind behind the attacks.

Border 2: Ghost Whispers
Witness the formation of the legendary Public Security Section 9. When a clandestine organization hacks every car in the city, Kusanagi recruits a lethal team of cyber operatives that includes a badass brawler with Special Forces training, an explosives expert, a technology specialist, and a chain-smoking jack-of-all-trades with a sordid past. Together this ruthless gang of enforcers sets out to clamp down on the chaos and make the city safe again.

Commentary:

It has been years since we have been graced with the Ghost in the Shell franchise and it is about time that we are treated to this ground breaking series. The wait is well rewarded. The two episodes in this set are both great in their approach and also  their delivery. Both are imaginative and slick in production. I did find some of the CG to be a little lacking in quality, but overall it really hit the spot.

With the main character being the cold and somewhat calculating Motoko Kusanagi who seems to be on a private mission. In the first episode, Ghost Pain, we are treated to the basics behind the short series and the solid backbone to the stories to come. We see a cyber operative who has no past and no future, but in her own way she is quickly creating a future that she can own all to herself and in her own way she will also begin to give a team of societies tools a chance to work in the shadows and at the same time live their lives in the bright light that they all have hidden fro their entire lives.

Ghost in the Shell Arise, gives a new look at the world that suggest that there might be a time when life will be both improved by cybernetics and darkened by the way both the military and enemies of the state will use these new powers. It also paints a picture of a world that has begun to rely on technology way too much. It may be part of the story and the old Sci Fi genre that has been out there for many years, but with our own move to becoming too attached to our phones / computers the world of Ghost In The Shell feels all to possible.

Overall Grade: A-

Both of these episodes remind me of why I and many others are big fans of the Ghost In The Shell franchise and why they manage to hit the mark in both story telling and a peek into a future that is less than favorable. So, if you haven’t had the chance to see any of the Ghost in the Shell films or series then there is no reason to miss these two. There are another two episodes in this series and I for one am looking forward to seeing them. There is plenty of story left, I just hope they don’t roll through the next too quickly. So, bring it on I am waiting.

Bayonetta Bloody Fate Feature Film (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : October 17, 2014
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Bayonetta Bloody FateTitle: Bayonetta Bloody Fate

Director: Fuminori Kizaki

Studio: Gonzo

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: Oct. 21st, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / 90 minutes / Feature Flim

Genre: Supernatural, Action, Adventure, Gaming Related

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: B-

Synopsis: 

Twenty years after her awakening, Bayonetta is still searching for clues that could help unravel the mysteries of her dark past. Aided in her quest by the clandestine weapon smith Rodin – and his deadly creations: Scarborough Fair – Bayonetta continues to leave a trail of angel corpses in her wake. Her search for answers leads to encounters with a mysterious – and eerily familiar – little girl, a vengeance-obsessed journalist, and a deadly white-haired beauty that seems to know more about Bayonetta than the witch herself.

As she moves through the mystery she begins to discover some rather interesting aspects to her life. Will these remembrances lead her to the truth or will she fall pray to the evil that lies within the secret that has left her without her memories?

Commentary:

Bayonetta Bloody Fate is a slick and fanciful story that gives us an eyeful of a bountiful woman who may not know who she is but she does know that she hates angles and is destine to be the Witch who is out to end the reign of the evil ones. Her re-emergence signals the beginning of the end or is it. She has more power than any angle can through at her and when she comes face to face with another Witch all bets are off.

The story is fast and flows at a furious pace that may be one of its greatest weakness. It told the story so fast that it did allow for any time to digest what was going on and lacked to give any nuances that would have made a big difference. Even with the slick graphics the story fell flat.

I have to admit I did enjoy the look of the film. It was well crafted and Gonzo proved itself as still being a top creator who can take even a weak story and make it look great. If it wasn’t for the heavy stylized animation I feel as though Bayonetta would have been left on the editors floor to become just another anime that never made any difference.

Overall Grade: B-

With the Bayonetta franchise behind the film it might be able to find some reasonable fandom, but I am afraid that once if has time to make the rounds it might be left on the self as just another anime that failed to capture the essence of the game it came from. If you are looking for some great eye candy then give this a chance. If you are looking for a solid story that has a lot to give them maybe you should look else where. Although Bayonetta herself is hot and looks good in lots of black hair.

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

Posted by :Patches On : October 6, 2014
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Dragon Ball Z: Battle of GodsTitle: Dragon Ball Z Movie: Battle of Gods

Director: Masahiro Hosoda

Studio: Toei Animation

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: Oct. 7th, 2014

Format: DVD/ Blu-ray / Feature Film / 105 Minutes

Genre: Shonen, Action Adventure, Martial Arts Battle

Age Rating: TV 13

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Following the events of the Dragon Ball Z television series, after the defeat of Majin Buu, a new power awakens and threatens humanity. Beerus, an ancient and powerful God of Destruction, searches for Goku after hearing rumors of the Saiyan warrior who defeated Frieza. Realizing the threat Beerus poses to their home planet, the Z-fighters must find a way to stop him before it’s too late. Only Goku, humanity’s last hope, can ascend to the level of a legendary Super Saiyan God and stop Beerus from destroying Earth, and possibly the entire universe!

Commentary:

In the world of anime there are some very consistent truths and one of those truths is that Dragon Ball Z will never end. With that thought in mind you might think why would they keep making these movies, well the simple fact is that the fans are all nuts about it no matter how good or bad the movie is. In the case of Battle of Gods I guess you could say it was good. At least better than most of the films. It does everything any dragon ball fan wants to see and then just a little more. There is plenty of high action and Goku on the verge of getting beet. There is a foe that appears to be more powerful than anything anyone except the Kai’s have ever see. There is a mythical story about a Saiyen or should I say a Saiyen God. There is also Vegeta, well being Vegeta.

If there is anything really missing it is that Krillin doesn’t die and also has a full head of hair. For me those are two things that are right out misses for me.  Everybody is there for Bulma’s big birthday bash which give way to some very funny action and also some rather goofy stunts. Honestly I enjoyed the action at the party more than the fighting. It still ends up being the bash to be at for all of the characters.

Overall Grade: B

Even though I enjoyed the film for what it is, I can still say it is not an outstanding film in its own right. If it didn’t have so much history and story behind it I think that Battle of Gods would be a rather average action film at best. Most of the jokes are there because of the series and simply put if you don’t know the series then you won’t understand what is going on most of the time. Of course there may only be 5 people on earth that would sit down to watch this film and not know the back story.

Battle of Gods is a relatively good Dragon Ball Z film and it does one thing that most of the films don’t do, and that is to lead you to the next story. Battle of Gods does everything it can to setup the future for the franchise and look out once it gets hear you better keep your arms and hands tucked in or you might loose something on the ride.

Toriko Collection 1

Posted by :Patches On : September 7, 2014
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Toriko Collection 1Title: Toriko Collection 1

Director: Akifumi Zako

Writer: Isao Murayama

Original Story Created By: Mitsutoshi Shimabukuri

Studio: Toei Animation

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: Aug. 26th, 2014

Format: DVD / 26 Episodes / 650 Minutes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Food Fantasy, Absurdity

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Age: A-

Synopsis:

Welcome to the Gourmet Age, a time when the world is full of deliciously-deadly ingredients that the wealthiest appetites in existence can’t wait to devour. But only a mighty masticating mercenary like Toriko can track down the rarest animals on the planet and put them on a plate! This gluttonous gourmet hunter is one of the four Legendary Kings, superhuman warriors born to battle the likes of Troll Kongs, Gararagators, Devil Pythons, and the ferocious Regal Mammoth! Accompanied by his loyal Battle Wolf and the promising young chef Komatsu, Toriko will circle the globe in search of the mouth-wateringly lethal ingredients that will one day make up his Full Course Menu of Life!

But there’s more than just tasty beasts on the prowl. Toriko faces stiff competition in the form of a GT Robot. This seemingly-indestructible mechanized menace is controlled by an unseen evil, and it wants all the delectable delicacies for itself. To save his friends and quench his heroic appetite, Toriko must level up his punching power and turn the bad guy into a bucket of bolts!

Commentary:

Ok, there are plenty of strange anime out there and plenty that have a crazy plot line. Toriko has to stand out as one of the most unique series that has maintained a loyal following in Japan, but not as strong a following in the U. S..I find this as a real shame because Toriko is a genuine standout as a series and one of more solid comedies out there. In Japan there are 147 episodes and the manga is on volume 30 and still going. This alone should tell us that Toriko has something to offer. Honestly I place it at a level of strangeness in par with One Piece. For me the big difference is that I find One Piece a little silly and lacking in solid humor, whereas Toriko takes a much more direct and solid approach to its comedy and a somewhat over-the-top story line. This combination creates a mixture that both intrigues and satisfies at the same time.

Because of the length of the series there is plenty of story to tell and setting the basic plot in motion at the beginning is rather direct even if it ends up being sidetracked as things go on. This is indicative of the writing style for these types of series where the story is so crazy that it almost doesn’t make any sense. In this case this insanity works well and keeps working throughout.

Overall Grade: A-

Part of the quality of this series is the animation. The high quality and bold approach makes a Toriko stand out and easy to watch. The other strength to Toriko is the absolute stedfast storyline that takes our own effect ion to food and turns it into a battle story with a unusual approach to the characters.

I find Toriko easy to watch and also enjoy the strange quality to the story. All of the characters are rich and fully developed. Once all of these characteristics to are brought together we end up with a series that has a lot to offer. If there is a drawback to Toriko is has to be the strangeness of the story. In its strength is the one thing that can make it hard to follow and connect with. This effect is found in these series that push the boundaries and through reality out the window. Toriko does manage to make itself assessable and enjoyable. So, if you are looking for something that is over-the-top in strangeness but plan out fun to watch you should give this series a try.

Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 2, 2014
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Category: Reviews

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Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash!

Review provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series

Director: Takashi Watanabe

Studio: Artland

Author: Takao Yoshioka

U.S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

U.S. Release Date: July 29, 2014

Format and Length: DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack / 300 Minutes / 12 Episodes

Genre: Action, Drama, Ecchi, Shounen

Industry Age Rating: TV-MA

Overall Personal Rating: C+

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Samurai Bride, Battle Girls: Time Paradox, and Ikki Tousen

 Synopsis:

There was a time when there were amazing ninja serving the powerful, hired for intelligence missions, destruction, or assassination. While the times have changed, the need for ninja has not gone away. However, the type of ninja has changed through the ages. Asuka and her friends may look like any other girls at Hanzo Academy, but they’re secretly studying the ancient art of Ninjutsu! They push their bodies to the breaking point in pursuit of their perfect form while the other students at Hanzo Academy do their homework. Days are spent in sparring session after sparring session until a rival clan of evil ninjas ambushed the Hanzo ninjas and steals their sacred ninja scroll. These evil ninjas are their toughest enemies they have ever faced and Asuka and her friends will have to go further than ever to prove they have mastered the art of the ninja.

 Commentary:

Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series takes ninja anime series to new heights and lows at the same time. The story line was not the best; however it was enough to develop the plot and give a little bit of insight to the characters. The fights that occur between the good ninjas and the evil ninjas were pretty good and showed off both side’s rivalry with each other. Eventually, there seems to be a bigger evil force working behind the scenes among the evil ninjas. However, the premise of the plot was the age old good versus evil ploy and while it gets old eventually it was entertaining to say the least. To be honest, if Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series would have had less fan-service and perverted old men I may have liked it more.

The characters in Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series were your cliché ecchi characters including the pervert (Katsuragi), the timid and shy girl (Hibari), the cool genius (Yagyuu), the willful protagonist (Asuka), and the straight and narrow girl (Ikaruga). However, the girls look very similar and if you know these types of series then you will understand why and how they are similar. But their personalities are all very different. The characters listed above are the good ninjas. We are also given some background on the characters, which I was not expecting in an ecchi anime. Each characters background story is sad and depressing save for Hibari. If I had to choose a favorite character I would choose Hibari followed closely by Asuka. The Ninjutsu teacher is Kiriya and the owner/director of the Ninjutsu is Hanzou, Asuka’s grandfather. Both men are slightly perverted and enjoy watching the girls practice more than they should.

The art was good but they focused far too much on the sex appeal of the ninjas and did not put enough attention into anything else. The voice actors were spot on and brought the characters to life. I usually watch all anime in Japanese with the English subtitles but the English voice actors for this series were not bad. I found myself switching between languages after a few episodes. The opening and closing animations were well done and the music was okay. All in all, if you enjoy this type of anime series then you will enjoy Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series.

Extras:

Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series includes episode commentaries, promotional videos, clean opening and closing animations, Japanese commercials, U.S. trailer, and Funimation trailers as special features. Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series has both English and Japanese with English subtitle language options and both are great options.

 Overall Grade: C+

Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! – The Complete Series is a decent anime and if you enjoy ecchi anime or loads of fan-service then I recommend that you check this series out.