Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Young Lovers Review

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(More customer reviews)Well since the only review on here is a huffy rage one-starring a really decent movie they didn't even finish I'll try to provide another perspective. I fived it just to balance the score a bit, but it's not really a perfect movie, 4 out of 5 is probably closer if you put any stock in review ratings to begin with.
Just to quickly address a point that was brought up there is indeed reused animation from the original series, but you're bound not to notice most of it anyway, as it never breaks the flow of the new narrative, and is often even reworked a bit or put into clever or amusing new contexts. Overall the art and animation is exactly what you'd expect of this studio: gorgeous, top-notch stuff, and I'm really pumped that they are actually releasing this on Blu-ray.
SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD
One of the most common complaints about this movie and the one that sent the other reviewer packing is that they've completely changed some of the characters. The thing is that this is done very purposefully as part of the central theme of the new story. This movie actually takes place in a parallel universe to the original series. Because of a brief glimpse into that world which occurred before the events of the movie, many of the main characters in the movie universe, who are in a bit of a dire predicament, end up following a legend based on that interaction in hopes that recreating the events that took place in the world of the original series will help solve their own problems. What they come to find out is that they have to stay true to their own unique lives and experiences and create their own legend, solve their own problems. Part of the reason the movie is so in your face about the changes to key characters is to drive this point home. It's really one of the most clever twists I've ever seen in terms of remaking a series into a movie. Unfortunately such an elaborate plot device relies a lot of talking head scenes which sort of hamper the pacing of the show, which is really probably my one and only complaint about the movie.
As a kind of aside I'm going to just say I thought the pedophilia jab at Dewey that was mentioned was actually a pretty dark and hilarious slight on his persona from the original series, where he had an army of utterly loyal children. Also Nirvash and the END in "pokemon" form are hilarious and adorable, so I really fail to see how that's a downside.
SPOILERS BEHIND SPOILERS BEHIND
Overall it's a really enjoyable movie. It's a very well animated, fun and interesting new adventure with familiar faces and interesting new personalities. Easily the best series->movie adaptation/remake I've seen. Just go into it with an open mind and you'll probably enjoy it.

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EUREKA SEVEN:GOOD NIGHT SLEEP TIGHT Y - Blu-Ray Mo

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Beer Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw beer on tv when i was sick and it was so funny i hasd to stay home another day. a Hilarious movie about a beer company who Does Perverted Commercials, and other various publicizising. this movie is One of the funniest movies of the 1980s.

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Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season One Review

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(More customer reviews)If you already own the Anchor Bay (AB from here on out) release of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" - Season 1 you may want to hang onto it.
This release has only the series. The 5 made-for-tv movie "specials" which introduced the character and truly started the series are *not* included. These were on the AB season 1 release. There is no word on whether these will be available separately.
The AB release had the 13 season episodes on 4 disks while this release uses only 3. This indicates there will be more compression, but the jury's still out on whether or not the episodes have been cleaned up beyond what AB did.
On the AB release, the sound was remixed into a 5.1 Dolby Digital while this release is 2.0 (which was the original sound mix). This may or may not be a drawback depending on your outlook.
The primary draw for this release is the use of subtitles which the AB release did not have (the major drawback of the AB release IMHO). A second attraction is the use of a standard keep-case instead of the massive fold-out digipak AB used.
So... better packaging and subtitles appear to be the "extras" for this release.
If you're a fan and don't already own the AB set this is highly recommended even though the price seems a bit high for only 13 episodes. You may want to seek out a AB season 1 set depending on price as it also includes the TV movies.
If you are looking for a true historical take on Hercules, don't start here as the myth is played very loose with many inaccuracies and *lots* of anachronism. But if you're looking for a good clean (although it *does* have its fair share of innuendo) action/adventure series with lots of campy humor, and ninja-like fight scenes... look no further. Yes, it does have some violence and innuendo, but it's fairly innocuous and frankly less than what I've seen on "kids" cartoons lately. Watching a few episodes of Hercules is a great way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon.
4 stars because the 5 made-for-tv movies, which truly belong with season 1, are not included.

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Through the ages of history and myth, there’s never been another hero like the mighty Hercules (Kevin Sorbo), whose awesome physical prowess is only surpassed by the strength of his heart. Discover why he’s held the imagination of countless viewers with every Season One episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. This compelling TV series from Executive Producer Sam Raimi (Spider-Man movies) follows the warrior from his humble beginnings as a child born to a beautiful mortal woman and Zeus, king of the gods, to his explosive battles against power-hungry immortals, deceptive demons, massive monsters, and bloodthirsty armies. With a special guest appearances by Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), it’s an unforgettable trip into the world of legends with a man who will never rest as long as people need his help.

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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Complete Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)There is certain shows developed in Japan that sort of slip under the radar and upon discovering it, you kind of wonder why you didn't hear of it in the first place (Fate/Stay Night, while admittedly a show with a distinct formula and some character moments cut from the story, instantly became a favorite). Then we have something like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, a 14 episode show that quickly became a hit and could be accurately be described as a sensation. But all that hype and praise brings with it the inevitable "overrated" remarks and people not seeing the brilliance against other projects. Can Haruhi Suzumiya become a victim of its hype or is it a brilliant show regardless? I say brilliant.
In high school, it's hard to develop an identity and stand out without being an outsider but for Haruhi Suzumiya, she enjoys her offbeat sensibilities. Declaring in school that she's not interested in anyone unless they're time travellers, aliens or espers (psychics in other words), Haruhi soon is introduced to Kyon, a sardonic high school student who enjoys just not doing anything. But their world gets changed when in comes Itzuki, Yuki and Mikuru, an esper, alien and time traveller, respectively. Turns out Haruhi is seen as a sort of god-like figure who can bend the universe and possibly even destroy it and start over lest she get bored. Luckily Haruhi is quite...eccentric.
One of the more well-known factors consider the show was that the show's episodes were not presented in chronological order. While this worked in some cases such as episode 6 having all the makings of a "finale" and episode 11 which consists of Kyon narrating over a supremely amateurish movie Haruhi made makes for a unique and also bizarre premiere but then on the other hand, a 2 parter on an island vista is separated by a different episode so the cliffhanger isn't resolved until the following episode. My suggestion is to just watch the chronological order but exchange episode 14 (Kyon's trip for a heater) and 6's place and all will be well.
As for the episodes themselves, they're frequently hilarious from dialogue to Kyon's narration or Yuki's quiet badassness/bookish tendencies and just scenes played straight for comedy or using the moe conventions of nurse/maid/catgirl outfits for humor. But the main plot is also interesting and while Yuki's explanation of Haruhi's existence from her perceptive is Evangelion-level confusing complete with screen-filling text, it's quite intriguing and the idea that the world can literally revolve around you makes for good storytelling. Some episodes are generally good with at least one cool scene while others such as an arts festival, a computer battle or the hilarious baseball episode are definate highlights.
Will everyone like it? Maybe. Some people prefer the romance hilarity found in Love Hina while others are into more lighthearted affairs like Fruits Basket but I loved the show and can't wait for an inevitable second season and I heartily recommend you try the show out.

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I thought that when I entered high school, my days of believing in aliens, time travelers and ESPers were going to be over. That is until she introduced herself. Claiming to be interested in only aliens, time travelers, and ESPers, Haruhi Suzumiya was the strangest girl I ve met in a long time. Before I knew what s going on, I ve been dragged into her weird club, and it looks like I m not the only one who has been drafted into this SOS Brigade of hers, because there are three other students who don t seem to be so ordinary themselves. Either way we ve all found ourselves caught up in Haruhi s quest to search for all things extraordinary. And what s this I hear about us making a movie?

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Rescue Me: Season 5, Vol. 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Rescue Me is a great show - the ensemble cast is excellent, there's a great combination of comedy and drama and although some situations dabble in the absurd, there are also serious issues that are dealt with in a mature and adult light. I have no problems with the show, it's a 5 star program.
But I do have a problem with GREED.
This season started late so they could run all 23 episodes during consecutive weeks. The last episode is airing in three days - the same day this set is being released - but has obviously been in the can along with the other 21 for several weeks if not months. SO WHY SPLIT THIS SEASON INTO TWO PARTS??
Greed.
FIFTY DOLLAR LIST PRICE for eleven episodes?? Assuming Volume 2 does the same for the final 11, that's ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for a season! Now we all know there will be discounts (as I type this Amazon is selling it for $32) but that's still OVER SIXTY DOLLARS to get the fifth season.
I understand that past seasons contained 13 episodes and this one is 22. But would it really have been that much more expensive to add two discs and bump the price a little...instead of creating separate packaging - and passing THAT cost along - and gouging Us? The very people who support the show by purchasing something they already watched faithfully?
The 22 episodes were a complete season. The marketing is a complete sham.

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The men of 62 Truck are back for a fifth season in Denis Leary and Peter Tolan's series.Tommy Gavin is grappling with the death of his father as the season opens, along with the new man in Janet's life (guest star Michael J. Fox). The crew devises a business plan to open a bar, which turns into a lucrative venture, but also a temptation to Tommy, who continues to struggle with sobriety. Sean faces a health issue with no easy solution, while Needles struggles to garner respect and maintain control of the firehouse. Meanwhile, Sheila attempts to purge herself of Tommy and allows Damian to pursue a future as a firefighter. Conspiracy theories about 9/11 ruffle more than a few feathers, brought on by the arrival of an intriguing foreigner. Under the shadow of a haunting past, the crew continues to look to the future and realize that salvation often lies where you least expect it.

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Afro Samurai: Resurrection - Director's Cut Review

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(More customer reviews)Afro Samurai has found vengeance, and has sworn off fighting. You didn't think that would last, did you?
Nope, it didn't. And the past catches up to the silent afroed warrior in a big way in "Afro Samurai: Resurrection" -- a wildly stylized, bloodsoaked, wildly anachronistic tale of what will happen after you get your gory revenge. And Samuel L. Jackson fits into the quiet, butt-kicking titular character like a hand in a fine leather glove.
Afro now lives in a temple where he meditates, carves little statues of Buddha, and thinks on his bloodsoaked past (cue wild flashback scene involving crazy ninjas and a river of blood).
That would make for a boring movie, so suddenly Kumo and the sexy, sadistic Sio appear, and steal both Afro's No. 1 headband and his father's remains. With his sword reforged, Afro sets out to reclaim the No. 2 headband so he can challenge Sio, and stop her from resurrecting his father (just so she can torture him).
But regaining the headband leads to a terrible cost -- a kindly man with a little son, haunted by the headband's bloody legacy. And the path to Sio's lair is riddled with grotesque henchmen who are very interested in seeing Afro dead -- and Sio herself plans to use a terrible weapon to destroy the man she hates above all else.
Like "Samurai Champloo," "Afro Samurai" is a stylized story that wears its hip-hop trappings and period Japanese flavour like badges of honor. Or headbands. Whichever. The actual story is rather thin, but it carries a heavy message about revenge -- one you get it, it will haunt you like a bloody ghost forever and corrupt others along the way. Ninja Ninja provides a little humor ("I'm gonna die, man! Or at least have a stroke... I HATE HEIGHTS!") but it can't lighten the storyline.
"Afro Samurai: Resurrection" doesn't hold itself back on the fights -- neatly sliced bodies, fountains and rivers of blood, savage beatings and some really creepy cybernetic/masked baddies who are unafraid to get dirty. The highlight is a balletic nighttime duel between Afro and Shichigoro, surrounded by deadly chains and glowing lanterns, and framed by fireworks reflected in the water.
And it leaves the way paved for a third "Afro Samurai" story. I'm waiting.
Most regular actors are terrible at voice-acting, but Samuel L Jackson could easily make a living at it if he wanted to -- both the deep, gravelly voice ("Watch... your damn... MOUTH") and the annoying jabber of Ninja Ninja. And Afro serves as an excellent anti-hero, who does some truly terrible things but is willing to pay for them.
Lucy Liu does a solid job as well, giving Sio both sensual viciousness and tenderness, and even a sort of moral core ("History will mourn the atrocities you now commit"), while Yuri Lowenthal and Mark Hamill have good small roles. And Liam O'Brian's gravelly/soft voice gives poignancy to his small but memorable role as Shichigoro.
The two-disc edition has a cluster of extras, mostly in featurette form -- a two-part making-of documentary, an interview with the creator, music composition, video game, commentary, and assorted other stuff. Mainly interesting if you really love the movie.
"Afro Samurai: Resurrection" is a solid sequel that shows what happens when revenge is swung back at you. A good, bloodsoaked anime that opens the way for more.

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Afro Samurai (Academy Award ® nominee Samuel L. Jackson) avenged his father and found a life of peace. But the legendary master is forced back into the game by a beautiful and deadly woman from his past. The sparks of violence dropped along Afro’s bloody path now burn out of control – and nowhere are the flames of hatred more intense than in the eyes of Sio (Lucy Liu: Kill Bill). She won’t quit until Afro is schooled in the brutal lessons he dealt those who stood in his way. There’s no such thing as final vengeance. The cycle of bloodshed spinning around the Number One Headband must roll on. Featuring the voice of Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and fresh production from The RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), the saga that began in the best-selling anime DVD of 2007 continues in Afro Samurai: Resurrection.
The Director's Cut features:

A limited edition art book featuring forwards from the RZA, Bob Okazaki (creator) and Fuminori Kizaki (director) as well as never before seen images from the anime and the original manga.
Over an hour of exclusive behind the scene featurettes including the making of the anime, the making of the video game, interviews with the cast and crew, RZA in the studio, commentary from the creators and much more! Stills from Afro Samurai: Resurrection (Click for larger image)

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The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy: The Complete Season 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)If this ain't Gothic Lolita, I don't know what is !
The 1st season of the hit series "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" is now finally on a two-disc DVD set with a whole lotta episodes on there starring the mean-spirited Mandy, the moronic Billy, and of course, The Grim Reaper himself. Such episodes include:
"Meet the Reaper" - The original pilot episode that started it all. As Grim attempts to reap the soul of a hamster named Mr. Snuggles, the two kids strike a deal with him, which he lost to.
"Fiend Is Like Friend Without the 'R'" - Introducing Nergal, a creepy being from the center of the earth, who kidnaps Billy and Mandy to be his friends. Soon Grim becomes concerned and reluctantly rescues them.
"Grim Or Gregory" - A case of mistaken identity on Halloween night has Grim confused with another kid in a reaper costume !
"Beasts and Barbarians" - A major inspiration to the video game, Grim transports the kids into another dimension where they battle bigger-than-life monsters in order to cure their gaming addictions.
"Hoss Delgado: Spectral Exterminator" - The first appearance of this tough guy who discovers and attempts on capturing the Grim Reaper.
"To Eris Human" - Introducing the sexy Goddess of Chaos, Eris, who takes Mandy as her minion leaving Grim feeling rather dumped.
"Toadblatt's School of Sorcery" - The first "Harry Potter" parody episode with its weird magic and other strange creatures. 'Nuff said.
"Brown Evil" - A two-parter where Billy cooks up some brownies that attracts a humongous horde of zombies ! It's up to Hoss Delgado to stop them.
"Creating Chaos" - One of the funniest episodes, Eris now recruits Billy to spread her chaos upon the globe. Unfortunately, Billy himself is a little more chaotic than her magic apple can do.
"Tween Wolf" - The hapless Irwin transforms into a werewolf which Billy adopts as his new pet.
"Love Is EVOL Spelled Backwards" - Nergal returns and attempts to marry Billy's Aunt Sis. Let's just hope Billy doesn't have that freak as his uncle.
This new set has an overload of bonus features like a commentary and an interview with series creator Maxwell Atoms, plus the "Brains" music video as seen in the classic episode "Little Rock of Horrors". The weirdest special features in the second disc include an episode in "Burp-O-Rama" and a virtual pet Mr. Snuggles. Perhaps the best bonus feature of all in the set is the 2 "Evil Con Carne" bonus episodes with optional "Skarr-O-Vision" feature. (I wish, however, they put in ALL of the "Evil Con Carne" episodes in the set. Then we can have "Grim and Evil" again !)
So if you've been waiting for this set to come by, get it while you still can. One thing's for sure, this is one series that will let you look Death in the eye... and laugh real hard. I really REALLY hope the rest of the "Billy and Mandy" series will be put on DVD real soon. But in the meantime, look for brand-new "Grim Adventures" episodes Friday nights on Cartoon Network's all-new "Fried Dynamite" block.

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Happy-go-lucky Billy and cynical Mandy become best friends with the Grim Reaper after winning an otherworldly limbo contest against the Messenger of Death. Hilarity ensues as Grim adjusts to his new best friends.Bonus Features:Additional Scenes: Three bonus episodes of Evil Con Carne Material from Adam Burton- stills from student films, development art, and story boards. Featurette: Skar-O-Vision: there is a scar on screenInterviews: Interview with the creator, Maxwell Atoms (AKA Adam Burton)Music Video: Brains! music video Other: Burp-O-Rama: Burping commentaryPhoto gallery: Material from Adam Burton- stills from student films, development art, and story boards.

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