Case Closed The Movie - The Time Bombed Skyscraper (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)Case Closed: The Time Bombed Skyscraper is a great introduction to the entire series. It is the first of the Case Closed movies and it does a terrific job of offering a movie experience to fans of the TV program as well as standing up as a independent movie experience. The film and the series use the same terrific cast of English voice actors and feature great writing throughout.
One of the most interesting aspects of Case Closed "Detective Conan" is the duality of the central character. The "MacGuffin" within Case Closed transforms our protagonist into a child, who then must assume a new identify and find unique ways to express his detective talents. This plot device essentially allows Case Closed to explore one of the central issues of being young, of being a teenager with much higher than average intelligence. What a incredible conceit for an anime property! Especially when you consider that this same dynamic applies to the sterotypical anime fan. Every teenager comes up against the struggle of being viewed and judged as a kid while internally they have the motivations and drives which are much more adult than the world is usually willing to acknowlege.
Case Closed explores these dyanmics and surrounds them with unique mysteries involving esoteric motives and plots. Case Closed is a serious mystery drama that just happens to be a surpirsingly funny. The Case Closed movie: The Time Bombed Skyscraper, is a wonderful place to start your exploration of the world of Case Closed.

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The city is in the grip of a crazed bomber and nobody is safe as a crushing wave of terror washes over the innocent citizens. Planes, trains, and massive towers all threaten to light up the night sky; the sick whims of a brutal lunatic played out in sudden balls of fire. Conan Edogawa finds himself in a desperate race against the clock, an explosive game of cat and mouse with a deviant madman… and every second counts. Can he unravel the maniacal malcontent’s scheme before the next timer reaches zero? You never know when your time might come.

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Code Lyoko: First Season (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)Code Lyoko:First Season is a 3-disc set,9 episodes on disc 1,9 episodes on disc 2,and 8 episodes on disc 3---in ENGLISH!!I just received my copy in the mail today,and for those who think "this is Kid's stuff",I'll be 56 years young in December!!

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The existence of our world rests upon four ordinary kids who are supernatural heroes in monster-ridden Lyoko. Hang on for a 26-episode thrill ride and an unimaginable final battle that will determine the ultimate fate of Lyoko and Earth!Boasts 12 never-before-released episodes including the explosive 2-part finale! DVD Features: Character profiles Holomap Vehicle preview Much more!

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Season Two, Part 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)SOME SPOILERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS REVIEWFullmetal Alchemist is an amazing series, but one of its greatest achievements, in my mind, is that it managed to not only maintain its stellar quality over time, it consistently got better and better until it actually hurt to see the series come to an end. Seeing all of the plot threads that have been building throughout the whole series coming to fruition is a great payoff, sure, but it's made all the better by the fact that nothing feels like a cop-out; there wasn't a single moment where I thought "Oh, these guys were running out of time and so they just threw that up there." No, everything flows to a logical, incredibly satisfying and poignantly melancholy conclusion. It certainly isn't a Hollywood-style happy ending, but that was never what the series was about in the first place. And even more gratifying than the ending was being able to look back on how all of these characters had grown and changed throughout the series: Lust springs to mind first and foremost, having gone from being your stereotypical femme-fatale to a multi-layered, incredibly sympathetic and tragic heroine. And I never, ever thought I'd be able to empathize with a psychopathic monster like Envy, but the final scenes of episode 50 made me come really close to doing so, even as he... well, I won't spoil it for you here.
In short, Fullmetal Alchemist is an incredibly well done, superbly animated and acted show. The Japanese and English voice tracks are both equally impressive (one of the RARE few animes in which this has happened, the only other to my knowledge being Samurai Champloo). And sure, if you're reading this product description you're probably going to buy this anyway and you've seen the series before, but in case you haven't, just know that you're about to see some of the finest episodes of one of the best anime series ever. This world definitely goes out with a bang, and not a whimper.

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As the chaos surrounding the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone boils over, Edward Elric is left to face his destiny and bear the burdens of his actions alone. Scar, determined to reenact the horrors of the past, must be stopped at all cost. But when those who sought to save lives are instead sought as fugitives of the State, the Elric brothers will be forced to flee…Alliances shift and factions fracture as undeniable truths glare in the light of day and the rumor of civil war drives unrest. And yet all seek the Philosopher’s Stone. Al has been changed into something impossible to comprehend and as the brothers are separated, his suit of armor begins to disintegrate. Ed has precious little time left to find his sibling. These weary young men have traveled a long and difficult path, seeking to regain what was lost. Enemies have been toppled, friends have been buried and the State will be remade. Even the one inevitable truth will be called into question – The Law of Equivalent Exchange.

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Ouran High School Host Club: Season 1, Part 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)To try and explain Ouran with a basic synopsis does this anime little justice. There's always so much going on, and with a diverse cast of character's including the princely, yet sometimes idiotic, drama-king, Tamaki, or the mischievous, trouble-making Hitachiin twins, there's no end to the variety of often strange activities the club members get into at Ouran Academy, a high school for the rich and prestigious. Add to this, Haruhi, a scholarship student and "commoner" who was drafted into the Host Club after she accidentally broke an $80,000 vase. The twist is, Haruhi is actually a girl and only the club members know it. Being very plain spoken, Haruhi nicely complements the strange behaviors of her rich counterparts and is often the inspiration for many of their adventures, much to her annoyance.
Probably the biggest concern of Ouran fans about this dvd collection is the transition over from Japanese to English. As many fans will argue (myself included), the Japanese voice acting is flawless, making an English dub no easy task. But after getting a recent peek at episode one, I feel Funimation has met the challenge with great success. While I'm not as hard core of a critic as some, I did carry some doubts as to how well they could pull off a decent dub. Let me just say, I'm sorry I ever doubted them. Usually it takes me a little while to adjust when I switch from the sub to the dub, but that wasn't the case for me here. While there is the occasional rough patch, I think each voice actor did an excellent job matching his or her character's personality. I found nothing distracting or out of place about any of them.
My biggest beef, if any, is with the English opening and ending songs. They aren't horrible, but they are a bit weak compared to the originals. Not a big deal, though, as I'm sure you can still listen to the originals on the dvd.
Overall, I'd say this is a must buy, whether you're already a fan or a newcomer. The acting in both versions each have their own charm and you're bound to enjoy a few laughs every step of the way. This anime also has the ability to keep you coming back again and again. I never get tired of watching it, and the ability to have it in two languages just makes for double the fun. Subtract a star from my rating if absolute randomness bothers you. The Host Club members thrive on the out of the ordinary. They are a bunch of rich kids looking for entertainment after all (well, except poor Haruhi).

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Ouran High School. An institution of extravagance and prestige where learning is secondary to luxury.
Bookish Haruhi can't afford to slack, being on a scholarship and out of place among the moneyed. No matter… The Host Club is now open! A group of handsome boys dedicated to selling their charms to their bored female classmates, Haruhi is suddenly in debt to the club after breakingan expensive vase in their lair. The only way to pay for the damage? Haruhi will work as a Host! The only problem? Haruhi is a she! Between the wildly inflated ego of the expert escorts and the potential calamities of constant cross dressing, Haruhi's freshman year looks like it will be one to remember.Wallpaper forOuran High School Host Club (Click to download and save)

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Kaze No Stigma, Vol. 2: Fire Review

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(More customer reviews)This second box set will finally give us a few answers on the questions of what happened with Kazuma during those years after he was banished by the Kannagi clan and his personal war against the mysterious shadow group called Pandemonium. There are going to also be a few more light-hearted episodes with this set as well, one has Ayano, Ren, and Kazuma going to an amusement park on a seemingly important job but there's a little more to it than that especially with the mischievous plots of Ayano's father. There will also be new questions opened up about Kazuma's past as well in this set and hopefully the makers of this great show will release another season later on. The voice cast for the Japanese actors/actresses were of course superb and the cast for the English voice overs that Funimation got were also very incredible for their character roles, if there's any complaint about this series that I can think of than it's probably that it seemed to short you truly wish that there were more than just 24 episodes for this series..

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The only person with a chance to melt Kazuma’s chilly exterior is the same red hot firebrand who incinerated his chances of a happy home life. Ayano is the smoldering redhead that issued a royal beat down to her cousin and staked her claim to the Kannagi Clan’s sacred sword. This stubborn flame thrower is a prodigy when it comes to making things explode, but she fights with an enraged, reckless abandon that could get her burned. Put her in the same room as Kazuma, and there’s bound to be fireworks. Trouble looms on the horizon, and a pairing of Wind and Fire is Tokyo’s best bet to survive the night and see the light of day – provided it can take the heat.

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Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 13: Brotherhood (Episodes 49-51) (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)The trials of the Elric brothers have all been leading up to the events of this volume, which deals with the final, all-out culmination of the struggle between the story's forces of good and evil.
As Hawkeye deals with the madman Archer and Mustang tries to redeem himself by taking personal responsibility for stopping Bradley's reign of terror, the time of Dante's triumph draws nigh. As Ed races to save Al, he finally faces his greatest challenge - an inevitable, to-the-death battle with the psychotic, androgynous shapeshifter Envy - that even his love for Al might not help him win this time.
Although loose ends are left for the movie which follows, alot is wrapped up, particularly Mustang's storyline and the shocking revealation of exactly why the mere mention of any of the Elrics, especially the boys' father, throws Envy (who has some of the volume's most memorable moments) into an unspeakable rage. In a way it almost seems sad that a movie follows, because the ending of the series proper just seems so right.
As a whole, this was an intelligently written and extremely moving series that transcended it's genre.

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At the end of destiny, where will peace be found? The brothers Elric will consider the answers that are left once the Philosopher’s Stone has guided their saga to its end. True sacrifice, the deep love of family, the cruel truths of life and death… these are the realities that will bring the Fullmetal Alchemist’s tale to a close.Episodes: The Other Side of the Gate Death Laws and Promises DVD Features: Character profiles Production art Image gallery Textless songs

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One Piece: Season Two, Sixth Voyage (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)"ONE PIECE" is a popular anime series based on the popular manga series serialized in Shonen Jump by Eiichiro Oda. Suffice to say, "ONE PIECE" is the highest selling manga for Weekly Shonen Jump and its popularity has extended to various anime (via the TV series, OVA and films) and video games in America and also worldwide. The series is so popular, the episode count currently in Japan is over 400 episodes and despite receiving a heavily edited version in North America via 4Kids Entertainment earlier on, FUNimation Entertainment began releasing the original, uncut versions since the May of 2008 with a total of 13 episodes per volume.
"ONE PIECE" is an adventure anime about a 17-year-old boy named Monkey D. Luffy who gained enormous strength (and stretching abilities) after eating a magical demon fruit. He eventually teams up with a group of pirates and have the name "The Straw Hats". Luffy's driven to one day obtain the most sought out treasure known as "One Piece" and eventually become the King of the Pirates.
In "One Piece - Season Two: Sixth Voyage", the group are in the country of Alibasta as each member of the Straw Hat Pirates takes on a member of Crocodile's group while Luffy goes against Mr. Crocodile, Zoro vs. Mr. One and Nami vs. Miss Doublefinger. Meanwhile, Smoker's second-in-command leads the marines to capture Crocodile and Baroque works and also the Straw Hat Pirates.
The "ONE PIECE - Season Two: Sixth Voyage" comes with episodes 117-130 on two DVD discs (note: In Japan, this volume is actually the conclusion of season 4). Here are the spoiler-less summaries of each episode:
DISC 1:
* EPISODE 117 - Nai's Cyclone Advisory! Clima Tart Burst - Vivi uses her new weapon in battle and takes on Miss Doublefinger.
* EPISODE 118 - Secret Passed Down In the Royal Family! The Ancient Weapon Pluton! - Crocodile intends to use the ancient weapon of Pluto to destroy the city.
* EPISODE 119 - The Secret of Powerful Swordplay! Ability to Cut Steel and the Rhythm Things Have! - Zoro vs. Mr. One.
* EPISODE 120 - The Battle is Over! Koza Raises the White Flag! - Koza raises the white flag in order to end the war but Baroque Works have something else in mind.
* EPISODE 121 - Where Vivi's Voice Gets Heart! The Hero Descends! - With a war in Alabasta, the Straw Pirates try to help Vivi get to the center of the city.
* EPISODE 122 - Sand Croc and Water Luffy! - Luffy takes on Crocodile in their second duel!
* EPISODE 123 - That Looks Croc-ish! Luffy, Run to the Royal Tomb! - The battle between Luffy and Crocodile goes underground.
DISC 2:
* EPISODE 124 - The Nightmare Draws Near! This is the Sand-Sand Clan's Secret Base! - The continuation of Luffy vs. Crocodile!
* EPISODE 125 - Magnificent! Wings! My Name is Pell, Guardian Deity of the Country! - Vivi and the Straw Hats work hard to stop a bomb from destroying the city and they receive unexpected help from Vivi's guardian.
* EPISODE 126 - I Will Surpass You! Rain Falls in Alabasta! - As Vivi tries to stop her countrymen from killing each other, the rains fall on Alabasta.
* EPISODE 127 - A Farewell to Arms! Pirates and Different Ideas of Justice - The aftermath of Alabasta and how Tashigi, Smoker and the Marines must deal with what has happened in Alabasta.
* EPISODE 128 - The Pirates' Banquet and Operation Escape from Alabasta! - After the Straw Hat Pirates recuperate, it's time to eat and celebrate and leave Alabasta before the marines catch up with them.
* EPISODE 129 - It All Started On that Day! Vivia Tells the Story of Her Adventure! - Vivi must make a decision...to stay in Alabasta as princess or to fight among the Straw Hat pirates.
* EPISODE 130 - Scent of Danger! The Seventh Member is Nico Robin - Nico Robin chooses to join the Straw Hat Pirates.
VIDEO :
For most television series, because they are created nearly before they are aired on television, unlike film and OVA's, there typically is not much detail involved in a Japanese animated television series. "ONE PIECE" is probably one of those rare exceptions in that it has really cool character designs and very detailed artistic backgrounds. Of course, since it is on DVD, you will see some artifacting and edge enhancement but it's not so noticeable unless you are really looking for it.
The anime series is presented in standard 4:3 definition but for a television series, "ONE PIECE" sports cool and unique character designs and beautifully painted artistic backgrounds. Definitely one of the better looking anime series that has remained consistent and has not downgraded since it first aired on television. Character designer Kazuya Hisada (who worked on the "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball GT" series) and Noboru Koizumi (who worked on "Giant Robo", "Dragon Ball GT" and "Tenchi Universe") have been very good of capturing "One Piece" creator Eiichiro Oda's unique style.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
As for the audio, the series is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, English Stereo and Japanese Stereo. Of course, the English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound is the better audio choice to listen to, although one who has a receiver that can set their audio to all channels can definitely enjoy the Japanese stereo track as well. But both audio tracks are done very well and I have to admit that "ONE PIECE" has one of the most solid English dub tracks for an anime TV series. Very well done on both audio tracks but again, have been very impressed by the voice talent for the series thus far.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"ONE PIECE - Season Two: Sixth Voyage" comes with the following special features:
DISC 1:
* Audio commentary for EPISODE 119 - The Secret of Powerful Swordplay! Ability to Cut Steel and the Rhythm Things Have! - Director Scott Sager joins voice talents Christopher Sabat (Zoro) and (Brett Weaver) Mr. One.
DISC 2:
* Textless Songs - Textless Songs for the opening and ending theme.
* Trailers - FUNimation Entertainment trailers
JUDGMENT CALL:
I absolutely love "ONE PIECE". The characters, the action, the involving and well-written storylines and of course, the wonderful voice work via Japanese and also the English dub tracks and the refreshing and unique artwork. But what I enjoyed the most about "One Piece - Season Two: Sixth Voyage" is that it has literally been a long stretch between the introduction of Vivi, the trip to Alabasta and now this volume finally gets to the final battle between Luffy and Crocodile, while Nami takes on Miss Doublefinger and Zoro takes on Mr. One, and also the Straw Hats have a new member of the group.
Although nearly every volume has its share of action, this time around the opponents are deadlier than ever before. Before it was a team taking on various opponents but now we have one-on-one battles especially an exciting first battle between Luffy and Crocodile. With the events that are featured in "One Piece - Season Two: Sixth Voyage", for those who have seen the movie "ONE PIECE MOVIE 8: THE DESERT PRINCESS AND THE PIRATES - Adventures in Alabasta" will be familiar between two of the battles that take place in this volume. But of course, the television series features more of the actual battle.
So, for those who have kept up with the adventure to Alabasta will be happy with this volume as the war in Alabasta and the battle between Crocodile and his henchman versus the Straw Hat Pirates reaches its final conclusion. No doubt that Luffy, Nami and Zoro fans will dig this latest volume. Actually, with all the action that takes place in this volume, any "One Piece" fan will dig this latest volume!
Overall, "ONE PIECE" continues to be a fantastic anime series that has a great combination of humor, action, artwork, great voice acting and cool animation. Another thrilling, action-packed volume that is highly recommended!

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Monkey D. Luffy emerges from a death-defying dirt nap to rejoin his mates on their mission to save Alabasta from the clutches of a sinister sandman. Crocodile is on the prowl for the world’s deadliest weapon, and his Baroque Works bombers are about to blast Vivi’s kingdom into oblivion! Only the Straw Hats can protect her people from their reptilian oppressor, but no one survives this battle without getting a little blood on their hands. Be on the lookout as Nami unleashes the power of thunder and lightning, Zoro tests his swords against a man made of steel, and Luffy goes underground to settle the score with Crocodile – once and for all!

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D. Gray-Man: Season One, Part One Review

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(More customer reviews)If Tim Burton were ever to attempt a steampunk horror story, then I imagine the results would be something like "D.Gray-man."
And the first thirteen episodes of this gothic, deeply quirky anime attempts just that kind of atmosphere. "D.Grayman: Season 1 Part 1" starts off relatively slowly as it introduces the main storyline, the akuma and the sweet-natured Allan Walker. But the story really blossoms as our likable, haunted hero begins his new life among other exorcists.
Two cops are investigating an abandoned church when Officer Moore encounters a strange boy with a deformed hand, Allen Walker. After her partner is killed, Allen manages to save Moore from an akuma -- an enslaved human soul under the control of the evil Millennium Earl. When Allen is placed under house arrest in Moore's home, he reveals that the akuma is nearby... and its origins lie in a horrific tragedy from Moore's own past. Only Allen can stop it.
Later Allen arrives at the clifftop Exorcist Headquarters to introduce himself as an official exorcist. But things don't go very smoothly -- he's mistaken for a spy, the exorcists are weirdos, and the place is governed by mad genius Komui and eerie Hevlaska. But Allen finds out just what "Innocence" is, and why the exorcists are racing to find it.
His first missions are no less stressful: first Allen is called to accompany antisocial swordsman Kanda to an abandoned city haunted by a "ghost"... and a shapeshifting akuma. And he encounters a young boy determined to fight the akuma, but unaware that someone close to him is one -- and a face-to-face encounter with the Earl reveals the horrifying reason Allen became an exorcist.
Then Komui's sister Lenalee is sent with Allen to a town that is repeating the same day over and over -- and only the pitiful Miranda Lotto notices. But their mission is complicated by a mysterious human girl who has come to locate the hidden Innocence... and take it for the Earl.
Cyborg demons, cross-embedded magic arms, virus-filled biobullets, giant glowing worms with collagen lips, and a mountain fortress filled with eccentric exorcists out to save the world from a grinning, rotund demon who looks like a Blue Meanie and may (or may not) have rabbit ears. Yup, "D.Gray-man" is not your typical manga series, even as quirky horror goes.
And "D.Grayman: Season 1 Part 1" does an excellent job sticking to Hoshino Katsura's manga series, introducing a gothic Victorian world and introducing the akuma, the Earl, and the exorcists. It also lays the groundwork for what the Earl's plans are, and what the exorcists are doing. It's a pretty standard "get the artifacts before the bad guys do" goal, but with a couple interesting twists.
And along the way, we're given plenty of explosive, horrific action with macabre creatures, graveyards, little shadowy towns, and the tragic, horrific origins of the akuma. But lest the series become too grim, we get plenty of funny stuff as well -- including an entire episode devoted to Komui's deranged robot rampaging through Headquarters, trying to operate on the exorcists.
Allen is a pretty endearing hero from the start -- polite, apologetic, selfless and courageous, even when people are nasty to him. But he becomes truly striking character it's shown how got his cursed eye, white hair, and ability to kill akuma. He's backed by a solid supporting cast -- the snotty Kanda, sweet-natured Lenalee, eccentric Komui and frenetically depressed Miranda. And the Earl is a very creepy villain -- not just because he wants to kill God, but because he smiles cheerfully even as he destroys people.
"D.Grayman: Season 1 Part 1" has a few episodes that don't quite reach "superb," but it's an excellent start to an outstanding anime series. Absolutely brilliant -- and promises to get even better.

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A Hero is only as good as His Enemies
Darkness is moving in, and young exorcist Allen Walker is humanity’s greatest hope against the wicked forces conspiring to bring civilization to its knees. Akuma – cruel spirits born of tragedy and lost souls – lurk in every shadow, willing and eager to do the bidding of their leader, the dread Millennium Earl. With an eye cursed to see evil in its truest form and blessed with an arm to slay soul-devouring demons, Allen stands ready to confront the gathering storm. Should he fail, Innocence will be lost forever.
Stills from D. Gray-Man (Click for larger image)

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Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - Season One, Part One Review

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(More customer reviews)Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple is a simple action comedy that is very entertaining. The character himself is the nice guy underdog who is completely isolated at the beginning. Since his strength is lacking and he has no friends he is often mocked at the very least and beat on the very worst. I don't want to talk about key points in the plot but its engaging to see Kenichi evolve to become both physically and emotionally stronger. His training and the various interactions between characters are quite humorous and the fights are well done.
When he fights a tough opponent it is plausible he is able to be a contender because his training is not only sadistically harsh and long but also he learns counter moves. They go into great detail about the fighting styles in this anime. What they are used for, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they are learned (performed). I hope my review was helpful and I hope enough people enjoy (purchase) Kenichi that funimation will license the rest of the show (they licensed 26 out of 50 episodes to test the product.)
This DVD Contains 13 Episodes and B will have 13 Since Funi only licensed the first 26. Trailers and clean opening/ending are the only special features included here... standard/generic special features only. Total Run time for the 13 episodes is 312 Minutes.
Edit: Part Two is Available Now.

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Yeah, Kenichi’s a total wimp. He’s always getting picked on and doesn’t have a lot of friends to stick up for him. The guy needs motivation if he hopes to graduate in one piece.
Well, Miu’s the perfect motivation. She’s hot, she accepts him, and she just so happens to live at a dojo with six martial arts masters. You could say fate has led Kenichi to their door, or you could say he was just following the hottie. Either way, he’s about to get whipped into serious shape. If he can survive some hard-core training, he might survive another day at school. He might even score with Miu. Yeah, you could call Kenichi a wimp. But let’s go with underdog instead.
Stills from Kenichi (Click for larger image)

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Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - Season Two, Part One (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)After buying the first season box set I instantly became a fan of the series and knew I had to see the series through to the end and bought these last two box sets to do it. Like one reviewer said with the previous season one box set I could have waited until Funimation released the second season in one box set but I had the money and just felt I had to get it now. The stories main character Kenichi Shirahama who after being bullied at school for sometime even from some of the students of the martial arts club he tried joining to defend himself finds a young well endowed female transfer student by the name of Miu Furinji being set upon by some of the bullies fears for her safety but feels he can't do anything about it, but as he finds out she herself is quite a skilled martial arts fighter after seeing her defeat the pack of bullies easily, after trailing her unknowingly to her dojo home he sees the martial arts masters she lives with and after a somewhat forced pushing from one of the masters becomes their student. But after a few fight wins he now finds himself being faced with new opponents who are looking to reach the top by knocking off the stronger fighters that Kenichi has unknowingly placed himself in. The series is pretty funny with some drama of course in the series as well but luckily they don't saturate the series with it so it doesn't become to dramatic because of it. The series animation and soundtrack fit perfectly together both done pretty well and the voice cast for the Japanese and English cast fit their characters pretty well too. So if you like fighting animes or comedy animes here's a good combination of both...

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When we last saw Kenichi, he was making the transition from wimp to warrior – okay, maybe no warrior, but he was definitely taking steps to man up.
Well, the world is starting to notice, which is good and bad. On the plus side, he’s making friends and getting more respect. In the minus column, his rep is growing faster than his skills, which is tricky now that every thug in town wants to test his new techniques. That means between street brawls and trying to score with Miu, Kenichi still has to hang tough with the six Martial Arts masters. Lucky for him, the training is getting more intense – because before Kenichi can finally stand tall, he’ll have to beat his fiercest opponent yet!

Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - Season Two, Part One contains episodes 27-38.

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Yu-Gi-Oh: The Complete 2nd Season Review

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(More customer reviews)The complete second season set of Yu-Gi-Oh! That's episodes 50-97 on seven DVDs - hours and hours of heavy dueling action to keep you glued to the TV when you're not playing the card game or getting some shuteye. Join yu-gi and his buddies as they face down everyone, including bandit Keith, the Rare Hunter, the ESP Duelist, Marik and Bakura and all the rest!
EPISODE 50: The Mystery Duelist - Part I
EPISODE 51: The Mystery Duelist - Part II
EPISODE 52: The Past is Present
EPISODE 53: Steppin' Out
EPISODE 54: Obelisk The Tormentor
EPISODE 55: Stalked By the Rare Hunters
EPISODE 56: Yugi Vs. Rare Hunter - Part I - Battle City Begins
EPISODE 57: Yugi Vs. Rare Hunter - Part II - Up Against Exodia
EPISODE 58: The ESP Duelist - Part I
EPISODE 59: The ESP Duelist - Part II
EPISODE 60: The Master of Magicians - Part I
EPISODE 61: The Master of Magicians - Part II
EPISODE 62: The Master of Magicians - Part III
EPISODE 63: Playing with a Parasite - Part I
EPISODE 64: Playing with a Parasite - Part II
EPISODE 65: Mime Control - Part I
EPISODE 66: Mime Control - Part II
EPISODE 67: Mime Control - Part III
EPISODE 68: Legendary Fisherman - Part I
EPISODE 69: Legendary Fisherman - Part II
EPISODE 70: Double Duel - Part I - Yugi and Kabia Vs. Lumis and Umbra
EPISODE 71: Double Duel - Part II - Yugi and Kabia Vs. Lumis and Umbra
EPISODE 72: Double Duel - Part III - Yugi and Kabia Vs. Lumis and Umbra
EPISODE 73: Double Duel - Part IV - Yugi and Kabia Vs. Lumis and Umbra
EPISODE 74: The Rescue
EPISODE 75: Friends 'Til the End - Part I
EPISODE 76: Friends 'Til the End - Part II
EPISODE 77: Friends 'Til the End - Part III
EPISODE 78: Friends 'Til the End - Part IV
EPISODE 79: Shadow of a Duel
EPISODE 80: Lights, Camera Duel
EPISODE 81: Let the Finals Begin!
EPISODE 82: The Dark Spirit Revealed: Yugi Vs. Bakura - Part I
EPISODE 83: The Dark Spirit Revealed: Yugi Vs. Bakura - Part II
EPISODE 84: The Dark Spirit Revealed: Yugi Vs. Bakura - Part III
EPISODE 85: Rage of the Egyptian Gods
EPISODE 86: Awakening of Evil - Part I
EPISODE 87: Awakening of Evil - Part II
EPISODE 88: Awakening of Evil - Part III
EPISODE 89: Awakening of Evil - Part IV
EPISODE 90: Mind Game - Part I: Mai vs. Marik
EPISODE 91: Mind Game - Part II: Mai vs. Marik
EPISODE 92: Mind Game - Part III: Mai vs. Marik
EPISODE 93: A Duel with Destiny Part I: Kaiba vs. Ishizu
EPISODE 94: A Duel with Destiny Part II: Kaiba vs. Ishizu
EPISODE 95: The Tomb-Keepers' Secret
EPISODE 96: Showdown in the Shadows -Part I: Marik Vs. Bakura
EPISODE 97: Showdown in the Shadows -Part II: Marik Vs. Bakura

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The Battle City Tournament Begins….! Kaiba learns of the existence of the three most powerful monsters…the Egyptian God Monsters! So powerful and dangerous, Pegasus had them buried only to have two of them stolen by underground duelists known as the Rare Hunters. Kaiba throws a new Battle City Tournament to draw out these Rare Hunters, so the Egyptian God Monsters can be returned to their proper resting place. The Complete 2nd Season contains over 1000 minutes of Yu-Gi-Oh action on 7 discs!

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Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - Season Two, Part 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)The basic information of the series is this The stories main character Kenichi Shirahama who after being bullied at school for sometime even from some of the students of the martial arts club he tried joining to defend himself finds a young well endowed female transfer student by the name of Miu Furinji being set upon by some of the bullies fears for her safety but feels he can't do anything about it, but as he finds out she herself is quite a skilled martial arts fighter after seeing her defeat the pack of bullies easily, after trailing her unknowingly to her dojo home he sees the martial arts masters she lives with and after a somewhat forced pushing from one of the masters becomes their student. But after a few fight wins he now finds himself being faced with new opponents who are looking to reach the top by knocking off the stronger fighters that Kenichi has unknowingly placed himself in.
The second season deals more with Kenichi having to face the Eight Heavy fist of the gang called Ragnarok in battles as they try in dissolve this problem to their group that Kenichi has caused with his heroics, and as with each of the Ragnarok fist he faces proves to be more powerful than the previous one forcing Kenichi to train harder in order to defeat the next challenger of Ragnarok. Also as he reaches the final fighters he'll meet a person in his past whose joined Ragnarok because of their past with Kenichi and who holds a deep grudge against Kenichi for their past together. The series gives a nice closing of the anime somewhat but also leaves it open as it still leaves some questions too so it looks like we may see another season of Kenichi which I do hope for. Again the animation and soundtrack for the series fits perfectly and the voice cast for both the Japanese and English crew did their parts very well too playing their character roles perfectly. The video is standard format in the set comes like the usual Funimation box sets now a days with two dvd slim cases put into a paper sleeve, the extras aren't anything to shout about just the trailers and textless intro/ending songs.So if you already got the first season box set than finish the collection right away and if you're still not sure about the series check out the Funimation website for a few episodes you might be shocked about how enjoyable the series is for you....

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KENICHI:MIGHTIEST DISCIPLE SSN2 P2 - DVD Movie

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Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn Review

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(More customer reviews)It's tough to review movies because you don't want to give away too many details. But at the same time, with Dragonball Z movies, they all seem to follow the same pattern (A *monster* comes or is formed, is dealt with, then powers up to a level beyond the heroes, but the heroes somehow band together and find a way to win, etc.) anyway. This one to me was one of the best DBZ movies. In a nutshell, the movie's about a mistake taking place in the underworld by a bit of a slacker that has dire consequences, bringing the dead back to life while combining loads of negative energy into one being named Janemba (or Janempa - can't remember which form was the fat one vs. the sleek one). After the fat one is dealt with, the sleek one's more than a match for the powered up Goku and Vegeta sucker punches the villian to save his life, etc. etc. (you've seen it before). This time, Fusion's the only thing that may be able to save the day. It was interesting though - you even get to see Freiza & the Ginyu force come back to life in this one, along with another movie villain (albeit briefly... if you blink you miss it) - Bojack and some of his minions.
This movie lines up with the Buu saga and as such, some of the same concepts take place (Fusion, Saiyaman, etc.) So you know what relative power the villain would have - although this one had a sort of teleportation power that was pretty neat, and that it would take a Fusion of Goku and Vegeta to stand a chance. The action was pretty good and I really liked how unlike previous movies, this time the powered up villian didn't spend 50% of the movie beating up the heroes and Goku/Vegeta got a few shots in - leads more to the imagination - I liked that Goku did somewhat okay against the monster before the sword was deployed.
There were a few negatives though to the movie. As for the movie, I wish they didn't worry so much about time, as they couldn't done a few more interesting things with Freiza coming back or Cell or whoever. 2, I like how funimation does voice-overs. But in this movie in particular, they changed the dialogue a bit too much from the original japanese version. You can tell in the end of the movie - the Japanese/American version had Trunks/Goten joking about completely different things. And then at the end of Fusion, the dialogue between Goku/Vegeta, which wasn't fitting to Vegeta's personality. Throughout the argument with Goku/Vegeta - the USA version took away from Vegeta's dejection, eliminating a pretty important piece of their relationship which would eventually close the series, let alone when Janempa's sword crumbled and why (which stems from that). Finally, funimation did a pretty lousy job at distributing this to outlets.
Still, it's a good movie that I definitely recommend for any and all Dragonball Z fans - maybe the very best (not sure if there's another one left), and Funimation was smart to include the Japanese version. Check it out!

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An industrial disaster in Other World has unleashed a gargantuan monster, and the Z fighters are taking action! Janemba's arrival has thrown the dimensions into turmoil, leaving the door between worlds gaping open and the dead are rising from their graves. To combat this juggernaut, Goku must power up to his race Super Saiyan 3 form, but shockingly the move is not enought. It's a battle on two fronts and teamwork is the key! As time runs out, Goku stumbles across a weary Vegeta and devises a risky plan that might be the universe's only hope...Fusion Reborn!

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Dragon Ball Z - Bardock: The Father of Goku (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)...I really enjoyed this one. It MUST be watched in its original language to be really appreciated and that's the strength of this DVD. It has the original version with English sub titles!
The reason I was unsure about the story line is that it was about Bardock, I mean, who cares about Goku's father, right? It's Goku and Vegeta and Piccolo we all care about, right? But despite my reservations this was a rousing good story giving us a rare glimpse into the past and the lives of the Saiyins. In the Japanese version Bardock comes across as the trained soldier that he is, ruthless and single minded until he is granted the chance to see things from another point of view and therefore begin questioning for the first time in his life.
In the English version they try to whitewash him a bit and it just doesn't work. The beauty of the story is Bardock's realisation of what he and his people have allowed themselves to become in the service of Frieza, making the destruction of his race all the more poignant.
I recommend any anime title that has the original Japanese version on it anyway, but this one really illustrates the differences between the original and Funimations condescending makeover. Watch the two versions one after another and see if you agree with me!

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Yu-Gi-Oh - The Complete First Season (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)As you might have gleaned from other reviews on this page, there are in fact two completely different products that present the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh:
1) Yu-Gi-Oh: The Complete First Season (henceforth called TCFS)
2) Yu-Gi-Oh: The Perfect Collection (henceforth called TPC)
What's the difference? Well, several things.
1) TCFS is listed on Amazon, TPC is not.
2) TPC is the original, uncut episodes, dubbed by a foreign distributor. TCFS is an edited set, put out by 4Kids Entertainment in the US, with some violence and language removed, and also has different voices than TPC's dub. You can see several reviews here complaining about the scenes cut out in TCFS. The reason why this was done is that TCFS is a Kid's version, TPC is the original adult version.
3) Most importantly, TCFS, for one reason or another, retails for about $40 more than TPC.
Now, most people would normally love to have uncut episodes of a show over cut ones. And if the uncut episodes are less expensive, it should be a no-brainer. UNLESS you're buying it for a Kid. If you're buying for a kid, you may want, and be willing to pay more for an edited version. And in any case, the kid is going to want the version that has the voices that he's heard on TV. He's not going to get why everybody sounds different.
Whichever version you want, these are the facts. There *are* two different versions, they are not quite the same, and their prices are very different. And this is where the potential for abuse comes in.
(...)
If you should see an ad like that, and be thinking about buying, check the fine print first, and look to see if it contains the words "International Version". If it has those words, then the seller is going to substitute TPC for TCFS, (despite the fact that TCFS is the product being listed), and try to claim that they're really the same thing (despite having different titles).What is a fantastic price for TCFS is not all that great a price for TPC. You could do better elsewhere. But be that as it may, just be aware, that if you place such an order for TCFS, TPC is what you're going to get. If that's what you wanted, fine. But if you deliberately ordered the Kid's version because you WANTED the kid's version, be aware that you're not going to get it, despite what it says on your receipt.

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Yugi and his friends Joey Tristan and Tea can\'t get enough of Duel Monsters a new card game craze. Employing a variety of strange and fascinating creatures the game draws players into battles beyond the wildest imagination. When Yugi\'s grandfather gives him an ancient Egyptian puzzle he uncovers the secret that will forever change his life and his status in the game!System Requirements: Running Time 1100 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre:CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating:NR UPC:704400055256 Manufacturer No:FN-05525

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Season 1, Part 2 Box Set Review

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(More customer reviews)As I am lazy and my sentiments are pretty much the same as when I reviewed the first boxset, I pretty much c/p'd that review and just added necessary changes.
If you love the Fullmetal Alchemist anime, this is a great box set to get. This box set comes with DVDs 5-7 of the series as well as booklets/inserts for each DVD. Each booklet contains beautiful artwork from the show, character profiles, and comments from production staff. The main box and the boxes that hold the discs and inserts are really well done; they keep everything safe and have great artwork.
I noticed the product description didn't have a rating. I, personally, wouldn't recommend this for those under 13-14 years of age. Things get violent and there are several adult topics prevalent (war, murder, politics, racism).

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Weary of limb and sore of heart, the Elric brothers return to the village of the childhood after four long years. And despite much needed auto-mail care, this homecoming proves bittersweet as the boys sift through the ashes of their innocence. But as Ed refocuses on the future where a startling secret waits to be uncovered, Al begins to worry about his loss of the past…While memories fade, shocking information about the true nature of the Philosopher’s Stone is revealed. And the deeper Ed digs, the bloodier that truth becomes. How are the brothers to reconcile their desperate desire to reconstruct ruined bodies against this knowledge of the stone’s gruesome cost? Deep within the confines of a secret State laboratory, Ed’s morality will be put to the ultimate test, even as elsewhere Al is left to battle for his life and sanity both. And as rumors of military corruption and conspiracy draw others into the investigation, those closest to the Elrics look to suffer the most.

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Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box Two Review

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(More customer reviews)I used to be one of those individuals that would criticized the dragon box because of the lack of Bruce Faulconer music and because the price was significantly higher. Since I'm a fan of the series I couldn't help myself and I found my self pre-ordering the first Dragon Box to find out what the big deal was. I knew deep down that I wasn't gonna be to happy with the Japanese music.
Once I received the box I realized how incredibly well packaged everything comes. It already made the orange bricks look cheap and I had yet to open the box. The dragon box was about the size of two orange bricks (remastered sets) and the smaller boxes inside were beautifully build. The booklet that's included with the set is very handy when watching the episodes and its hardcover and not held together with a single staple like in the orange bricks.
The quality of the video is superb, its near perfect and the colors are beautiful. I found my self looking at all the vivid colors and seeing detail I had not seen before. It was truly like watching a different version of Dragon ball Z. This is the way Dragon ball Z should have been released from the start!
Now on to the music, when I first started watching the series I wanted the American music! Since I couldn't have it, I just stop complaining and decided to watch it and appreciate it. I found my self loving the Japanese music. Before I knew it I just couldn't go back to the American version. It's almost like watching an entirely new show. Try the Japanese music and it will grow on you after each episode.
I also want to mention that I did own the orange Bricks, but now that I own the First dragon box I've sold all the orange bricks on Amazon.
Now as a conclusion if you have the orange bricks, sell them and get your self the real definitive Edition. Watch the series the way it was originally intended. For those who don't own the Dragon Box, don't give the box bad review's, just because you didn't acquire this version first instead of the orange bricks. This is the best release of Dragon Ball Z to date! Appreciate its release! Buy the dragon box you wont regret it.
The Dragon Box shows you the series as originally intended and you won't miss the American music.
Dragon Box Volume 3 May 4, 2010!
Until we meet again guys!
For those who are still curious about the quality and aren't completely sure whether they should make the jump, well check out my youtube channel I posted up two videos demonstrating the quality of the first dragon box. Search for xxtrustxx on the search menu in youtube.

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Originally produced in limited quantities in Japan, the incredibly rare Dragon Box has long been the ultimate prize for the most avid Dragon Ball Z collectors. Now this coveted collection has been reproduced for the first time in the United States, giving hardcore fans the definitive Dragon Ball Z experience.
The battle to harness the power of the seven Dragon Balls explodes in vivid detail like never before. The Dragon Box twofeatures episodes 42-83, remastered and restored frame by frame, rendering the legendary action in pristine clarity. Each episode is presented in Japanese with the complete opening and closing credits and includes the original episode previews.
Truly the essential edition for Dragon Ball Z purists, this set isn’t an addition to your archive – it is your archive. Your wish is finally granted. The Dragon Box is here.

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