Shenmue: The Movie

*Reviewed by Dagger Lee

This movie based on the video game on Dreamcast which is actually an edited version of the long game turned movie.

Story:

Yokosuka, Japan - 1986
source:www.spcnet.tv

Ryo Hazuki returns to his father's dojo and notices that there's a black car parked outside. Ryo enters the dojo and sees his father fighting with a mysterious man in a dark Chinese dress. Hazuki Sensei gets hurt and Ryo tries to beat the mysterious man but couldn't. The mysterious man asked for the mirror or else Ryo would get killed. Hazuki Sensei tells but gets killed because he was accused of murdering a man. The mysterious man leaves with the mirror and Ryo is left with his dead father.

The next day, Ryo decides to find the man who killed his father. During his investigation, Ryo discovers that the murderer's name was Lan Di and that he was part of a gang in Hong Kong. Ryo receives a letter sent to his father saying to find Master Chen if he ever needed help. Ryo finds this man and discovers that Lan Di is now in Hong Kong. Also, he learns that the mirrors Lan Di were looking for were the phoenix and dragon mirror. Apparently, Lan Di has only the dragon mirror. Then, Ryo leaves for Hong Kong by boat and is supposed to meet Master Lishao Tao when he arrives there. The story continues...

Thoughts:
I really despised the CGIs in this movie because it were really scenes from the video game on Sega Dreamcast. I felt like watching someone play a game instead of watching a movie. The graphics didn't impress me and it didn't have any enhancements at all. What makes me more disappointed was that anyone could've made this movie, even bootleggers! I almost fell asleep because of this.

The audio is actually dubbed in English. The dubbing sounded okay to me but I prefer subtitles. I was disappointed that the Japanese version does not have English subtitles at all. To me, watching movies in its original language is better than watching dubbed versions. The audio is the same from the game and is in stereo. So far, the sound seems okay to me.

The DVD comes with Shenmue 2 on XBOX and is a nice treat. I really liked this since I didn't play the first game before and I own an XBOX. I didn't like the features of the DVD. It only has trailers, Japanese audio, English audio, and Japanese subtitles. I was even more disappointed that there weren't any English subtitles since I wanted to watch it in Japanese. Anyway, I still liked this additional package.

Conclusion: I only recommend this to gamers who are about to play Shenmue 2 and have never played Shenmue 1 on Dreamcast. I really despised a lot about this film and can't recommend this to anyone. I heard that there is going to be a Shenmue 2 movie but I won't watch it.

The Legend of Condor Hero

*Reviewed by Blinx

Finally Jin Yong's classic novel has been turned into an animated gem! The cartoon follows the story of Jin Yong's book, "The Return of the Condor Heroes", but I don't know why they named it "The Legend of Condor Hero".

I think the animation quality of this cartoon is impressive, and the charecters drawn are crisp and detailed. The fighting sequences are cheesy but some fight scenes are good, such as when Yeung Guor and Xiao Lung Nu are using 'tinn lor dey mon sai' against the Golden Wheel Monk.

The music is good, espcially the opening theme sung by Andy Lau; the ending song is a soothing Japanese folk type song but it fits in well with the credits. The storyline portrayed in "The Legend of Condor Hero" is brilliant, compelling and addictive, I just couldn't stop watching it!

I thought the last episode was rather sad because Yeung Guor is poisoned by the 'Ching Fa' (Love Flower). It shows Yeung Gor and Xiao Lung Nu heading back to the tomb on a boat and you get to see all the events which follow up to them now. I thought the music in that scene was touching and emotional.

The total length is a bit short to be honest, 26 episodes, 20 minutes each episode -- which I think is rather dissapointing. But I've heard that this is only the first half of the story and Nippon Animation is producing the second half!

This series has lots of action and love throughout it. At first I thought the love would be all mushy and corny, but it proved me wrong, because this cartoon made me feel Yeung Guor's pain when Xiao Lung Nu ran away.

Animation - 8
Sound, Music - 9
Story - 10

Overall, I think this is a great series, with a gripping story line, smooth animation, and good music to make this an all time classic!

Official site:
http://www.nipponanimation.com/
source:www.spcnet.tv

Endless Waltz-Gundam Wing: The Movie

*Reviewed by Dagger Lee

This OVA and movie takes place one year after the end of the Gundam Wing television series. It contains the same main characters from the series and a brand new enemy. The mobile suits, however, are quite different from the ones in the series.

After Colony 196, the Earth and the space colonies have settled down in peace. Having no use of their Gundams, the Gundam pilots send their Gudams to the Sun to be destroyed. Wufei disagrees and disappears without a trace.

Meanwhile, Relena Darlian has become Prime Minister of the Earth and visits the colony X1899. There, she discusses with the members of the colony on who should be leader. Relena drinks her coffee and falls unconscious. Soldiers arrive to take her away.

Heero learns about this and leaves for X1899 with Duo. Then, Relena wakes up in a bedroom and finds a little girl sitting in a chair. To her surprise, the girl introduces herself as the leader of X1899 and the daughter of Treize. Her name is Maremaia and she plans to start a war beween Earth and the colonies again.

Quatre decides to follow the Gundams and Trowa decides to investigate the colony by going there as a soldier. Wufei appears at the colony as one of Maremaia's soldiers and fights for her beliefs.

So what'll happen? Find out for yourself!

Thoughts:
I was really glad to see a sequel of my favorite anime of all time, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I was surprised to see that the mobile suits look different from the ones in the series but this didn't stop me from watching it. I actually thought the designs looked better than before. When I was watching it, I couldn't take my eyes off the television.

What I really didn't like was the plot. It was the same from the series. Couldn't the producers come up with a new plot with the same characters? I really hate it when something good is not done better in later adaptations. I didn't mind this but I still didn't like it. I hope that a sequel to a Gundam series will have a new plot.

The characters were the same as usual. My favorite character, Zechs Merquise, appeared with Tallgeese III and wasn't really dead. I was happy to see this but I was also confused. Didn't he die in the ending of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing? How could he still be alive?! The new characters were okay but I felt that they weren't as interesting as the old ones.

Conclusion:
I recommend this to fans of Gundam Wing. You will be lost if you don't watch the series before this movie, so watch the series!
sourcce:www.spcnet.tv

Rurouni Kenshin

*Reviewed by spcnet

Some Spoilers!
Probably my favorite anime thus far, Rurouni Kenshin (English title: Samurai X), boasts one of the best storylines, character portrayals, and soundtracks. An anime set in Japan's Meiji Period, it tells of the journey for redemption of Kenshin (literally Sword Heart), a warrior who fought in the revolution that brought about the Meiji Restoration. He is the legendary Hitokiri Battousai, a title given to the number one warrior in Japan and also a title that he has won from killing a great many people for the revolution's cause.

The series begins with Kaoru Kamiya, a young girl who has taken over her late father's Kamiya Kasshin Dojo. She is struggling to keep the departing disciples because of a rumor that the legendary Battousai is abound murdering people under the Kamiya Dojo name. Kaoru mistakenly, and ironically, attacks a man, Himura Kenshin, on the streets who has red hair and a "X" scar on his face, seeing that he is carrying a sword. She realizes her mistake when the real culprit shows up and later on, through Kenshin's help she is able to restore her dojo's reputation. Kaoru finds that Kenshin is the true Battousai and when he is about to leave to wander again, she asks him to stay. Tired of traveling, he agrees to stay for awhile.



Characters like Sanosuke the punk haired gangster who becomes Kenshin's good friend, Yahiko the young boy who becomes Kaoru's disciple, Megumi, Aoshi, Saito, and more make their appearances, filling following episodes with a lot of suspense and action.

The way of the samurai, seen as an ancient relic, is no longer needed in the new era, but for many, the warrior code was all they knew and followed. They became outcasts of society and sought their own form of survival in a cruel world. This being a major theme in "Rurouni" made many "villains" in the anime fleshed out and acting with motivation. Each character has a past that is well-drawn out and makes the story that much more engaging.

The suspense build-up and excitement is also terrific before and during major battles--and there are many. One of the aspects that make "Rurouni" stand out is the fact that while there is so much violence, it does not glorify it. Kenshin fights because he has to. It is a story that is wrought around a theme of salvation and hope for many of the characters, and especially Kenshin's.

The animation is sharp and simple, but also very appealing to the eyes. Action scenes are also done excellently.

The music is also beautiful, many of the background music is haunting and fits each mood perfectly. Each major character has a music theme that portrays their personality and inner feelings. Probably this is about the only other show, aside from "Ashes of Time", where I have went out to actually try to buy the soundtrack.



Kenshin's sad past, why and how Kenshin has the "X" shaped scar on his face, and why he gave up his killing and the Battousai, is explained in the OAVs, which is serious throughout, unlike the TV series which throws some comic relief once in a while.

This anime reminds me of how a wuxia story and adaptation should and could be. I could find no flaws with this anime, so I'll make this review brief--if you watch anime and miss this one, it is a great shame.

Fushigi Yuugi

*Reviewed by tiGerPiXie

The Fushigi Yugi series contains 52 episodes. It includes the OVA episodes, which takes place right after the ending of the series. After that there are the Eikoden episodes.

THE GIST:
This a series about a young girl named Miaka Yuki and her adventures into an ancient book called "The Universe of the Four Gods." This book's story is a magical spell itself. When Miaka and her friend, Yui, first find the book at the library, they find that whoever turns the page in the book will become the priestess of Suzaku and will receive three wishes and the story will begin. As you may have guessed, Miaka goes into the book, and finds that she is trapped there in the city of Konan. Her only way of going back into her world is if she carries out her duties as the priestess of Suzaku by summoning Suzaku. By summoning Suzaku, she will be granted three wishes which she can use to go back into her own world. But first, she must gather the seven warriors of Suzaku in order to summon the Suzaku god. A large portion of the story is dedicated to her adventures as she travels to find these warriors. But it's not that simple. Her friend, Yui, also goes into the book and becomes the priestess of Seriyu for the city of Kutou. Since Kutou and Konan are enemies almost at the point of war, this forces Miaka and Yui to become enemies. Nagako, a warrior of the Seriyu, purposely creates misunderstandings between Miaka and Yui. So, Yui begins to distrust and even hates Miaka, even though Miaka still wishes to be friends again one day. Yui's infatuation with Tamahome does not help her relationship with Miaka at all. Tamahome, a warrior of Suzaku, and Miaka had fallen in love early on in the story. Throughout the story, the jealousy-stricken Yui throws many obstacles for Miaka and Tamahome to overcome. Aside from this there are many love triangles in this series. Hotohori, another warrior of Suzaku, and Tamahome both love Miaka. There are plenty of emotions involved. Fushigi Yuugi is story of Miaka and Yui's race to summon their gods to ensure the victory of their empires, Kutou and Konan, which are about to go to war.

OVERALL:
This is truly an amazing story. I LOVE IT!!! Everything about it is great! The plot is very complex with many twists and surprises. There are elaborate romantic relationships between most of the characters. It has everything: humor, action, romance, suspense, terror, sadness, and everything you can think of! Fushigi Yugi appeals greatly to your emotions. (Even I cried at the sad scenes :0) The backgrounds and personality of the characters are so well developed that you feel a real connection with each and everyone of the characters. I love them all, even the evil ones. The art work is fantastic. They are beautifully drawn. The background, clothes and faces are extremely detailed. Each face has a distinctive characteristic so that you can tell one apart from each other.(Except for the twins, of course). I couldn't stop watching the series until I was finished. Each episode made you want to see the next. I seriously couldn't put down the remote! This is my all-time favorite anime! It excels in all areas!

CRITICISM:
There really isn't anything wrong with Fushigi Yuugi. Miaka is really adorable and sweet. She is a strong and good hearted person. I even liked Yui even though she was guided into the dark side for a while. She HAD to act in an irrational way. Otherwise the story wouldn't be as interesting. It's like one of those things where even though you dont want it to happen (like the death of a character), it MUST in order for the story to be solid and complete. So, there's nothing wrong.

I only have one comment for the Eikoden episodes. Miaka wasn't in the story enough. She was barely part of the story! But still, the story was suspenseful and thrilling!!!

RECOMMENDATIONS:
I suggest you start out watching the begining of the series first. (You would be surprised how many people just start watching it in the middle of the story since it came on cable.) If you just jump in, you may be a bit confused with what is going on.

I recommend the book to movie. The movie series is based on the book, so the book IS better. The book is MUCH more detailed and (if you can believe it) the pictures are drawn even better. The pictures in the book are absolutely beautiful with more details and designs in the backgrounds. The movie is GREAT, but you would get more out of the books(mangas).
source:www.spcnet.tv

Grave of the Fireflies

*Reviewed by cherrie

Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka)

Directed by Isao Takahata

Sad. Tragic. Tearjerker. Touching. Realistic. These are the words that crossed my mind when my friend asked me how this film was.

This 1988 anime was about the story of two young children, Seita and Satsuko, and how they dealt with the horrors of World War 2. The story started off in a train station when two roaming policemen found several people scattered throughout the station. At last they came upon a dying young lad, whom they regarded as a “lost soul.” They found a rusted empty fruit box and one of them threw it out carelessly. The fruit box was opened and out came several fireflies.

Seita and Satsuko lost their mother during an air raid by American forces. Their father was a marine. Left with no other guardian, both children were forced to live with their vicious aunt. She often referred to the children as her burden and refused to give them good food. Even when their aunt decided to sell their mother’s kimonos, the aunt still got part of the rice (in exchange of the kimonos). Finally, unable to endure his aunt’s continuous taunts, Seita decided to leave the house with his sister and soon found an isolated shack by a river. During the first few days they lived with total happiness and celebrated their newfound freedom. Soon, Seita became worried about their food supply. He did all sorts of things in exchange for food but with no success. He was reluctant to let his little sister know of his problem. But this became obvious even to little Satsuko when she herself lost her energy and became sick. Here we see how pitiful Satsuko was when she showed how thin she had become and how her whole body was savaged by mosquito bites. The poor 4 year old girl died of malnutrition in her beloved brother’s arms. After cremating his sister, Seita himself lost all his hopes of surviving.

This anime successfully earned the tears of many viewers. The sad fates of the two children were so pitiful. At the same time, the film was so realistic that people, especially those who survived the war, could really relate. I heard that when this was shown to old people in a Home for the Aged, majority of the people there cried even before they reached the middle part of the story. This film was created mainly to convey the anti-war pro-peace message of the United Nations. And this was certainly a success. The way I interpret it, the fruit box and the fireflies symbolized the children’s hopes. Satsuko loved the fireflies because of the gorgeous light they emitted even though the fireflies only had short lifespans. The fruit box initially belonged to Satsuko, who loved candies more than anything. When they finished eating the candies, Seita decided to catch some fireflies, kept them inside the empty fruit box, and let them out of their sleeping net. There, they would think of their dreams and aspiration. In the end, the fruit box was thrown away and the fireflies flew away. For me, it was quite a symbol of lost hope.

When I watched this film, I also cried towards the end. I felt extreme sorrow for the two children. At that time, I thought of the victims of war, not only during World War 2, but in the Iraq-US war as well. Just like ancient times, whenever leaders of states declared war on each other, those who would suffer were none other than the innocent civilians. This film was a real tragedy, and at the same time, a sad reality. I am no fan of anime, but I strongly recommend this film.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

*Reviewed by Dagger Lee

This Gundam movie continues 14 years after the original series Mobile Suit Gundam. The plot still revolves around the rivalry between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable.

Summary:
In Universal Century 0093, Char Aznable has become the leader of the Neo Zeon, descendant of the Principality of Zeon [The bad guys in the original series]. He plans to punish the people of Earth by freezing the planet. In order to do so, he must ram two asteroids to the planet's surface. Opposing him is Amuro Ray, lieutenant of the Earth Federation's Londo Bell unit. Amuro fails to stop Char from sending one asteroid to Tibet and goes off to the moon. There, he meets a worker named Aoi Chan and asks for a status report of his Nu Gundam. It still isn't ready but Amuro ignores that and takes it to Londo Bell for preparation of his next battle with Char. Chan tags along and enters Nu Gundam's cockpit.

Thoughts
I was really excited to see this movie. I was glad to see Amuro and Char fighting against each other again. I thought that this was great since I really liked both characters. The only thing that was annoying was Quess Paraya. She is arrogant and hard headed that I wish I were in a mobile suit and could blow her to pieces! Everything else had what I hoped for: action, drama, twists. I'm really proud that I bought this movie on DVD. It came with other goodies that I liked too.

The action scenes were really good. I liked the mobile suits used in battle. I thought that this is what you would call Robot Wars! The mobile suits looked great and cool as usual. Also, I really liked the cockpit of the mobile suits. It looked like the pilots were actually floating in space! The Nu Gundam is what amazed me. It could survive through the earth's atmosphere, shoot funnels, and be the deadliest Gundam of all. This has the best battles I have seen in Gundam and shouldn't be missed.

The characters were cool as usual. I like Char's personality and Amuro's as well. Unlike other animes, the bad guy seemed likable to me. Char doesn't act like he's crazy and is a cool guy. Amuro seemed different but still likable to me. Now, he is more brave and cunning than before. I'm glad that they got one final battle to end everything. The character that really inspired me was Bright Hathaway. He was willing to look for Quess even if it was too dangerous. This is what I call true love. All the other characters were the same as before in the series.

Conclusion:
I recommend this to fans of Gundam. It has the conclusion to Char and Amuro's rivalry and is the best Gundam yet! Don't miss this at all!

source:www.spcnet.tv