Ted and Venus

Starring:Woody Harrelson
Studio: Legacy Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

He-man done Anime-style...
A great DVD
A Great dvd for an excellent series
Great DVD set of an average series.
..Why?!!

The New Adventures of He-Man, Vol. 1
Starring: Doug Parker , Scott McNeil , Ted Cole , Campbell Lane , and Venus Terzo
Manufacturer: BCI - A Navarre Corporation Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 2
She-Ra - Princess of Power - Season One, Vol. 2
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Season Two, Vol. 2
She-Ra - Princess of Power - Season One, Vol. 1
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Season Two, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000JLTS76
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Customer Reviews:

He-man done Anime-style..........2007-05-16

...that's the best way to describe this series. This is one of those, if it hadn't been associated with the He-man universe, the concept could have stood alone as its own series. I will admit, the animation is good and the writing is ok, but the bottom line that will always hurt this series is that it's not He-man and should never have carried the title.

A great DVD.......2007-03-31

This is a great dvd for a relatively unknown series. If your a fan of the original show or the Mike Young series give this one a try. It is a well written show that actually has continuity in its episodes. The dvd itself features two of the best documentarys yet one covering the making of the new adventures and the other covering the MV Creations comics/mini comics that came with figures which are well done.

A Great dvd for an excellent series.......2006-12-29

The New Adventures of He-Man is a series that has unfortunately been badmouthed a fair bit over the years, usually by people who watched one episode, decided it was too different, and branded it 'awful'. This has put the series at somewhat of a disadvantage over time, with people judging it without even watching it(and I note this has spread to amazon with two people reviewing this set before it was even released). Admittedly the character desgins are very different to the filmation versions, but if you can get past the characters differences and focus on the storytelling you should be able to appreciate this as an exciting continuation of the lives of He-Man and Skeletor.

He-Man himself is the same character, voiced by the ever excellent Gary Chalk. Skeletor is quite different to the old version, more of a comedian here, he is no longer the bumbling oaf seen towards the end of the old series. He actually manages to defeat He-Man and drive him into exile in a multi part storyline, as well as gaining some other victories(and a new costume). He's comparable to Mark Hamill's Joker from Batman: The Animated Series, and is a very well developed villain who usually steals the show when on screen.

While the old series is a classic, it was weak in many areas. Characters were often toned down and a childish tone taken, while moral messages took over the episodes, not to mention the overuse of stock footage animation and almost total lack of continuity. The New Adventures maintained a strong continuity, with multi part storylines with more depth than seen before. The animated is of a superior quality, while more anime influenced.

There are an abundance of extras as with all the BCI sets, this one featuring a documentary where the writers talk about the creation of the series, and a documentary talking about the various comics of the He-Man franchise. Overall a great set, if you come to this series with an open mind, you'll find it a good continuation of the He-Man series with a different spin and some nice throwbacks to the classic series every so often.

Great DVD set of an average series........2006-12-27

He-man and the Masters of the Universe was my best loved TV show and toys of childhood. I love the fact now that all of the original masters of the universe cartoons have been release on DVD. Now, I get a chance to buy a series that I did not get to watch much of, The new adventures of he-man. I was in High school by the time these came out, so I had little time for Cartoons. I remember trying to watch them when I could, but did not see that many episodes. Well, here's my chance. I must say, the cartoons and drawings are nothing special, a very "japanimation" feel to them, as opposed to the quality of the charaters in the first series. The stories are about the same, good vrs. evil, skeletor vrs he-man. Skeletor in this version is so much more sarcastic, almost sickeningly. I never had seen the first episode before, and I liked the tie into the original story. Alas, I am dissapointed that cringor/battlecat was not brought along into this series, but I'll take what I can get. I give these creators credit for trying to tackle a difficult task of writing new he-man stories, but it just not the same as the original. Included in this DVD set are two more cards for the set (13 & 14), as well as the episode guide. Great DVD set and 5 stars for effort, they are even incoperating the Spine art into the other 4 original he-man sets and using it to bridge over to the she-ra spine art. Hopefully, someone will release the 2002 He-man revamp from cartoon network as well in the future. Check this one out, keep an open mind.

..Why?!!.......2006-12-23

I am a child of the 80's who grew up watching both He-Man and She-Ra's cartoon adventures. Sure, some plots were fantastic, but the writers and producers had always remembered that they wanted their product to make lots of money. They understood that little kids aren't going to gravitate towards the truly horrible. A product without customer support ultimately can't make any money.

It can be argued that the original series itself largely was one big toy advertisement, but this 'update' accomplishes the previously unheard of: It retrospectively makes the ill-fated live-action box office bomb with Dolph Lundgreen now look like a quality masterpiece simply by comparison. Having accidentally seen an episode of this 'new' series, my skin no longer crawls with disgust from having seen 1987's live action feature film!

Sure, lots of extras are included in this package (actually meriting a star), but why was there tampering with something already very awesome in it's original form?

Perhaps the production of this 'new' series actually was supposed to be a form of revenge-punishment against a colleague (or a couple of them) in the entertainment industry? I honestly can't think of another reason why a successful concept was violated in such a blatant manner.

Average customer rating:

New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 2
This series deserves a second chance
2002 Series Next
HE-MAN IN THE FUTURE

New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 2
Starring: Doug Parker , Scott McNeil , Ted Cole , Campbell Lane , and Venus Terzo
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The New Adventures of He-Man, Vol. 1
She-Ra - Princess of Power - Season One, Vol. 2
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Season Two, Vol. 2
She-Ra - Princess of Power - Season One, Vol. 1
Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)

ASIN: B000MKYK2C
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Customer Reviews:

New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 2.......2007-05-07

this took me back to my child hood. it was great.

This series deserves a second chance.......2007-04-08

Back in 1990, I was one of the many who was turned away by the fact that it wasn't "the same He-Man as what I'm used to." I was one of the biggest critics of this series. But now, having seen the episodes, I will admit that it was all nitpicking. The action in this is pretty good, and the continuity is excellent. That makes up for it. The downside is Skeletor being turned into He-Man's answer to Batman's Joker. But it's Skeletor, at least they kept him in it, that's what counts. Him and Flogg are a pretty good team...or so Skeletor would like Flogg to think, anyway. ;-) While I still regard the original He-Man as the superior version, this version wasn't all that bad, if you take the time to watch it.

2002 Series Next.......2007-02-28

The 2002 series better be the next He-man DVD to come out. I mean they better not have wasted time and money on this series, only to have the best of the 3(the 2002 series) not ever see the light of day.

HE-MAN IN THE FUTURE.......2007-01-24

THOUGH THIS PART OF HE-MAN'S STORY WASN'T THAT SUCCESSFULL, IT WAS A GOOD CARTOON TO WATCH & MORE CAUSE IN P.R. WAS NEVER RELEASE. IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HE-MAN & SKELETOR IN THE FUTURE, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY & THE MAGIC & THE MODERNISM MAKES IT KINDA WAY DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD CARTOON,BUT VERY VIEWABLE!!! YOU WON'T REGRET BUYING IT IF YOU'RE A DIE HARD FAN OF HE-MAN & IF YOU'RE NOT YOU'LL LIKE IT.

Average customer rating:

an amazing anime series
Meh
Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection
One of the greatest series out there
still one of my favorites

Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Outlaw Star - Perfect Collection Boxed Set
Escaflowne - The Movie
Rahxephon - Complete Collection
Hellsing: The Complete Collection Box Set
Neon Genesis Evangelion - Perfect Collection

ASIN: B0002VEVW0
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Customer Reviews:

an amazing anime series.......2007-04-09

Escaflowne is, indeed, a wonderful series. It's engaging from the very first episode with a twisting storyline and ever-evolving characters. The ending is something that many complain about, but it reminds me of a Greek tragedy in some ways.

There is an element of the paranormal -- tarot cards coupled with visions of the future -- but this is balanced by the technological aspect of the mechs and the city of Atlantis.

The characters are memorable and the storyline amazing. The unique animation style will leave you breathless. Although it is an older series, it will be a highlight of anyone's anime collection.

Meh.......2007-03-29

My sister wanted this for Christmas. I got it for her. She didn't like it. If you've seen it before and liked it... then get it. If you haven't, she's telling you that you won't like it.

Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection.......2007-02-25

Dragons and Mechs.. Samurais and Knights.. Princes and Princesses.. Story has depth.. Very entertaining and a must have for your collection.. A real Classic..

One of the greatest series out there.......2006-05-20

This anime is a cherished jewel in my collection. Hell I don't even lend it out. So that should give you an idea how good it is. I noticed there is another collection out there with added features but I can't speak on that one because I haven't seen it. And I don't really care about that kind of stuff anyway. This anime combines a solid story, romance, and action. The animation is excellent, however I prefer a good story before that.

The story is about a young girl who finds herself in another land. Where kingdoms are at war with each other. The story may seem straight forward but there are alot of unpredictable twist. The action is not your typical anime gorefest, so fans of tons of blood will be disappointed on that end. However that doesn't drag this down at all. There is way too much to put out on this show. If your new to anime or you haven't seen this by now, you won't be disappointed with this.

still one of my favorites.......2006-03-24

I have seen many animation movies and series. this is still one of my favorites. Do not hesitate to buy.

Average customer rating:

The Precious Strength
Whoa.
A wonderful series.
Dilandau's back!
Great Anime series

Escaflowne - Light & Shadow (Vol. 7)
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne - Forever & Ever (Vol. 8)
Escaflowne - Fate & Fortune (Vol. 6)
Escaflowne - Paradise & Pain (Vol. 5)
Escaflowne - Past and Present (V.4)
Escaflowne - Angels and Demons (V.3)

ASIN: B00005B1VV
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com

In the penultimate collection of this popular series, various conflicts approach their resolution: not only the battle being fought over the fate of the alternate world of Gaea, but the standard rivalry for the affections of this "magical girl" series' heroine, between a dashing, rough-hewn suitor and a more elegant, polished one--in this case, Van of Fanelia and Allen Schezar. Dornkirk, the evil emperor of Zaibach, continues his plan to alter the fate of Gaea using his semi-magical/semi-technological device. Dornkirk's lieutenant, Folken, is pitted against his brother, Van, the pilot of the mecha Escaflowne and a leader of the anti-Zaibach alliance. Much of the struggle hinges on the psychic abilities of Hitomi, the girl from Earth who unwillingly finds herself at the focus of the storm. At times, the story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori seems to be careening out of control, as characters appear, disappear, and undergo radical changes in personality. Suddenly the filmmakers try to build sympathy for the psychotic villain Dilandau, and the heretofore utterly noble Allen confesses to numerous romantic indiscretions. Hitomi sets a new standard for ditziness, even for a magical girl, when she offers first aid to her human-animal kidnapper, rather than escaping from her. Rated 13 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

Hitomi surrenders to the fortune-enhanced soldiers Naria and Eriya, but the fortune-enhancing process has some unpredictable side-effects. After her escape, Hitomi and Van are summoned to the ruins of Fanelia by Folken. There, they face the menace of the dragons and the shadows of the past that have haunted Van's older brother since the days of his dragon-slaying ceremony. DVD Highlights: DVD Interactive Menus, Dolby Digital Audio, English/Japanese audio tracks with English subtitle option, Extras - Club Escaflowne/Staff Interviews/Bonus Materials/Trailers. "An Amazing Show" - Animerica

Customer Reviews:

The Precious Strength.......2003-06-22

Eriya and Naria, Folken's loyal feline warriors, try to kidnap Hitomi but their luck intensification fails. This triggers a grand rescue chase to foil the Zaibach Empire. But the tragic results leave Folken convinced that Emperor Dornkirk may have the right idea, but is going about it in entirely the wrong way.

Van finds himself torn between his childhood loyalty to Folken, and his anger over his brother's loyalty to Dornkirk. When Folken arranges a meeting, Van finally sets out to gain revenge for Folken's desertion of Fanelia. But the struggle between Van and Folken ends inconclusively, and Folken determines to turn himself over to Asturia to bring an end to this horrible war. Now the struggle truly begins in earnest.

Another relationship, that between Hitomi and Allen Schezar also seems to be developing cracks, as the young knight reveals his controlling side. Hitomi's is uncomfortable with this but is even more uncomfortable with Van's angry willingness to fight and kill. This triggers a spectacular cliffhanger of an ending sure to please the most jaded of watchers and leave them grabbing for the last DVD in this series.

As you can see, the fact that this series is drawing to an end means that there will be no lack of plot twists. And no lack of shifts in character development either. This is never a simpleminded series, but a complex weaving of the themes of destiny, human nature, war, and the value of relationships and love. It is always reaching beyond the story line for higher values, even as Evangelion did. Whether the story moves quickly or slows down for an introspective moment, it remains compelling.

Whoa........2002-02-15

I have to say, Vision of Escaflowne is one of my favorite series ever. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. It draws you in from the very first episode. The art and animation is pretty. Great music scores. ^_~

A wonderful series........2001-08-24

While I haven't seen the DVD, I *have* seen the entire series (subtitled), and these episodes are excellent, heck, the entire series is excellent, the music, the storyline, the brilliant animation, the characters, both minor and major contribute to this great series. The dubbing however (i've seen most of the dubbed series) was okay, not excellent like the dubbing in "Please Save My Earth", but it was alright, tolerable. As for what the editorial review says, I don't think Hitomi was being a ditz at all. She saw the good in her kidnapper and offered first aid to her because she's a kind and compassionate human being. Okay, so maybe you wouldn't and shouldn't do that if you were in her situation, then again, who knows. There's always two sides to the coin. But anywho. I highly recommend this series to anyone who's a fan of anime or action/drama/romance type movies.

Dilandau's back!.......2001-07-20

Yey! I was really excited to see the return of the evil Dilandau, he rocks. Anyways, I read a spoiler so I know who he really is.. Then we are at this mysterious scene where one of the 4 generals is looking out at a courtyard. He sees a girl who is innocent and really naive looking. She grabs a flower off the ground that has a snail on it. Then we see her about to eat the snail, like nothing's wrong with that. Well the general sees this and about ..., until this humanoid dog creature stops her from putting it in her mouth and shakes his head at her like "No you're not supposed to eat that.." Well, guess who the girl is..... I can't tell you! You have to wait! Hitomi and Allen get in their first fight over Allen being jealous about Hitomi and Van going to Fanelia the last night. There's a lot of Folken in this one, you discover that he is not all bad, because you find out his cause for all the mayhem. The reason he ran from the dragon wasn't because he was a chicken! hehehehhe..

Well, I am watching this one currently, and I can't seem to get it out of the player. -Seph.

Great Anime series.......2001-07-08

I have seen everything from Bubblegum Crisis to Wicked City. This is a great Jap-Anime for teens and adults. Not as much violence and gore as Bubblegum and no nudity. Has great humor as a girl from earth getts in trouble with everyone on a mistical planet that has 2 moons in the night ski (our moon and the earth). Well stuctured plot will keep adults and 2 girls takeing pot shots and pokeing fun at each other will get the kids. If you see any part of this video you will agree buy one, must have all.

Average customer rating:

"A pain that is deeper than the shadows"
A wonderful continuation of a true anime epic.
A mystical adventure
A Great Series!
Escaflowne rocks!

Escaflowne - Betrayal & Trust (Vol. 2)
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne - Angels and Demons (V.3)
Escaflowne - Dragons and Destiny (Vol. 1)
Escaflowne - Past and Present (V.4)
Escaflowne - Paradise & Pain (Vol. 5)
Escaflowne - Fate & Fortune (Vol. 6)

ASIN: B00004Z4SO
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Amazon.com

Although it didn't fare well on Fox Kids in the U.S., Escaflownehas a large and loyal following, perhaps because it offers the classic ingredients of both mecha and magical girl shows. Hitomi, who's been transported to the parallel world of Gaea, is torn between her attraction to the elegant knight Allen, and to Van, the diamond-in-the-rough king of Fanelia. Allen lives by an elaborate chivalric code of honor, even in treacherous times; Van is less polished, but maneuvers the giant mecha suit Escaflowne expertly.

The story continues to unfold through a series of battles, threats, and escapes. When she isn't whining, Hitomi can see events before they occur, which enables her to save her friends' lives. These episodes of precognition are especially useful against the maniacal Dilandau of the Zaibach Empire, who hunts Van, sometimes aided by Van's turncoat brother Folken. Hitomi is furiously jealous of Princess Millerna's attraction to Allen and the feline Merle's affection for Van, who may be an angel in disguise. On Gaea, anything can happen--and generally does.

An odd interview with four of the Japanese voice actors (Hitomi, Merle, Folken, and Van) is included among the extras. Rated 13 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

Despite his heroic efforts, Van's been captured and is being held prisoner by the evil empire of Zaibach. Can Hitomi and the others rescue Van in time or will Hitomi be stranded forever on the strange and beautiful wold of Gaea. *The Hit TV Series as seen on the Fox Kids network every Saturday morning! *Extensive Print/Online Advertising! (Gamepro, Sci-Fi, Inquest, Wizard, Animerica) *"An Amazing Show!"-Animerica *Created by Shoji Kawamori (Macross Plus, Blue Submarine No. 6) *Written by Shoji Kawamori and Hajime Yadate (Gundam Wing) * Breathtaking 2D/3D CG Animation.

Customer Reviews:

"A pain that is deeper than the shadows".......2003-04-15

One of the things I will probably mention in several of my reviews of this series is that it is really a 'series,' not just a string of episodes with a dramatic ending. Themes and characters are developed over time, story arcs weave together, and each episode builds on the previous. With the kind of production effort that has gone into Escaflowne, success is a forgone conclusion. Not just success, but the kind of richness that makes for greatness.

When Van turns Escaflowne into a dragon and leads off Allen and Hitomi's pursuers it puts him face to face with his brother Folken, who failed the Fanelian test for kingship and fled to the Zaibach Empire. We discover that, as unappetizing as Folken's agenda is, it springs from honorable motives. This dichotomy between to forms of duty will haunt this series, providing as it does the seeds of redemption.

Eventually the flurry of rescues and escapes leads everyone to Palas, the capital of Arturia. But, there is no peace there. The Asturian king is squirming in the grasp of Zaibach and quickly proves his own untrustworthiness. Hitomi discovers that Allen, whom she is falling in love with, has some kind of pre-existing relationship. While this is unclear, Hitomi's confusion over her feelings for a boy back on Earth, Allen and Van is completely apparent. Thus will fate, desire, and duty play repeatedly in these relationships.

Art, animation and music continue to be top grade. I was struck in this DVD with the fine work done to bring Escaflowne to life, reminiscent of Evangelion, but a notch better. The kind of choreography used isn't just a delight to watch, it is expensive to use, underlying Kazuke Akane's commitment again. There is an interview with many of the lead voice stars that, amidst a lot of kidding around, reveals that Akane is not the only one who is determined to make something special of this series.

A wonderful continuation of a true anime epic........2002-12-05

With the first four episodes of "Escaflowne", "Dragons and Destiny" captured our imaginations and prepared us for what could possibly be a monumental anime series. The second DVD, "Betrayal and Trust", expands upon the first DVD in every way and yet still hints that there is much more to be explored along the way.

By now, Hitomi is pretty much a part of the turmoil going on in Gaea, whether she likes it or not. On the run with Allen and Van from the sinister Dilandau, her mysterious powers begin to grow and play a much larger role than with her simple Tarot card readings. And while Van has to contend with the fact that his long-lost brother Folken has betrayed his country, Hitomi tries to deal with her possible love of Allen, who already appears to have a lover in the form of Princess Millerna. And all the while, Dilandau schemes and acts rashly in his unstable and almost insane mood.

Like the previous four episodes, the next four episodes play out at a very reasonable pace. Things slow down enough for back story and characterization to take place, but the plot moves along somewhat faster than most other anime series. Thankfully, the overall effect is a finely balanced series that doesn't sacrifice one thing for the other. And considering there are still 18 episodes left in the series, one can only guess what extraordinary and imaginative ideas this series can come up with next.

Visually, "Escaflowne" is one of the better looking series on the market today. While colors may not be as sharp as many of the series that are coming out these days, the series still manages to hold up on its own with its unique art direction and wonderful character designs. And when the series wants to look good, it can look good. Definately something anime fans demanding quality eye-candy can enjoy.

Audio-wise, you know you can almost always expect greatness when Yoko Kanno does the soundtrack. With her eclectic and mastereful genius, she has crafted music that is a league of its own. From orchestral to choral and back again, she truly knows how to make a great anime series even greater.

As for the English dub (provided by the Oceans Group of "Gundam Wing" fame), this set of episodes reveals where the dub actually starts to get good. While the dubbing of the first set of episodes wasn't terrible, the voice actors failed to completely develop their characters and thus sounded stale at times. With "Betrayal and Trust", they finally manage to get into their roles, and by episode eight they sound emotional and vibrant. Sub fans may argue about certain choices of VAs for some characters, but dub fans and sub fans with an open mind should find the "Escaflowne" dub acceptable.

As for extras, the second DVD has a set of interviews of the four main Japanese voice actors. Any fan of "Escaflowne" would be insane to pass this up, but be forewarned. These interviews contain many spoilers (the DVD even gives a clear warning of this) so it would be best for newcomers especially to watch the entire series before even looking at this.

Overall, "Betrayal and Trust" in an excellent continuation of the first four series. The story is progressing nicely, characters are developing marvelously, and the dub is starting to sound more enthusiastic. Die-hard anime fans would be insane to pass up this epic, and even casual anime fans need to look into this show at least once. There is a reason, after all, why many people call this the "Saving Private Ryan" of anime.

A mystical adventure.......2002-03-27

This is a fun series to watch.
You kind of feel sorry for Hitomi, your sucked into a mystical land where people fight in giant suits of armor called Guymelefs and there's constant fighting and people are dying and theres animal people to.

It took me awhile to get this whole set. I would of prefered to get it as a box set, but still I really enjoyed this series.

My favourie character is Dilandau he's one bad guy totaly vicious he mows through guys on the battle battlefield just to get to Van his main anemy the only one he cares about fighting.

I really recomend this series for all to watch.

A Great Series!.......2002-03-20

A schoolgirl called Hitomi gets transported into another world, where the Earth and moon both hang in the sky. Hitomi soon finds out that the Earth is called "The Mystic Moon" on Gaea. She meets Van, who is a prince, and Merle, a half-cat/half human person.
Hitomi, Van, and Merle try to unravel the legendary power of Atlantis.
A great anime series!

Escaflowne rocks!.......2001-07-26

The first episode I saw of Escaflowne was episode 4 and my first impressions weren't too gr8 but my brother bought this DVD so I decieded to watch it anyway. After we watched the whole DVD I thought too myself "Hey this anime is pretty good after all" so it was this DVD got me into the Escaflowne series. Episode 5 is where Van finds out who his brother is, Episode 6 is when Hitomi meets Milerna and she believes that Allen and her are a couple until the next episode when we find out Milerna is getting married, but not to Allen. Hitomi thinks Allen is available until she is heartbroken from what she see's (it's sad that bit) and to make matters worse, Hitomi is sold off and Van rescues her but then Dilanduo appears, but Escaflowne changes into a dragon and flys them to safety. In episode 8 Hitomi wakes up from a strange dream and near the end of the episode, the angel in Hitomi's dream saves her from near death and so the DVD ends. My fave episode is probably 8 and I recommend this DVD to any1! Go buy it!

Average customer rating:

Still good but.....
Awsome
Be Careful What You Wish Forý
WHAAT???
Nearer the end of the story

Escaflowne - Forever & Ever (Vol. 8)
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Escaflowne - Light & Shadow (Vol. 7)
Escaflowne - Fate & Fortune (Vol. 6)
Escaflowne - Paradise & Pain (Vol. 5)
Escaflowne - Past and Present (V.4)
Escaflowne - Angels and Demons (V.3)

ASIN: B00005B1VW
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com

This popular "magical girl" series reaches its conclusion as the battle between the Alliance and the Zaibach Empire reaches a fever pitch that includes the deployment of deadly and unexplained new weapons. After a brief visit to Earth--where she's reunited with Amano, whom she nurtured a crush on 23 episodes ago--Hitomi returns to Gaea, despite her distaste for its wars. The story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori takes some odd turns and leaves a number of plot points hanging. Its most serious flaw is the failure of any of the heroes to eliminate Dornkirk/Sir Isaac Newton, the evil emperor of Zaibach. Viewers have seen him launch unprovoked invasions, dispatch murderous dopplegängers, conduct sadistic psychological experiments on kidnapped children, and attempt to subjugate an entire planet: a more powerful resolution is needed than a chat about the nature of human desire with Hitomi. The attempt to fuse elements of the magical-girl, mecha, and sword-and-sorcery genres may have been too ambitious an undertaking for the filmmakers, or Dornkirk's real fate--and some of the other unanswered questions--may be dealt with in the Escaflowne feature. Rated 13 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

Wishing to get away from all of the fighting, Hitomi finds herself suddenly transported back to Earth on the very day that she originally left. She has one chance to get back to Gaea, but it will mean endangering her friends again. Meanwhile on Gaea, the war continues unabated as the Doomsday Weapon is deployed. But this means little to Dornkirk, who seems to be on the verge of achieving his goal. The fate of Gaea lies in a white dragon and the heart of a girl from Mystic Moon! DVD Highlights: DVD Interactive Menus, Dolby Digital Audio, English/Japanese audio tracks with English subtitle option, Extras - Club Escaflowne/Staff Interviews/Bonus Materials/Trailers. "An Amazing Show" - Animerica

Customer Reviews:

Still good but............2007-01-13

I loved the whole series, but I really have to take issue with the last couple of episodes. Who the heck were the Nuclear bomb people? Now I know that Japan has war issues, but where did those people come from? They weren't mentioned at all in the series until the last 6 episodes, but suddenly they appear, have uber weaponry and then try to take over. And I hate that.. it's a plot device for someone to say "War is Bad!!"... like we don't know that. There was no other reason for that to happen, save for the 'message' that the creators were trying to convey.

If these guys were mentioned earlier in the series, then fine I would agree with the inclusion at the end, but it seemed to me they were created just to bang us over the head with the 'message'.

A typically bad japanese ending to a great show (would it kill them to have some semblence of a happy ending, I guess I should be grateful that the main cast survived)

Awsome.......2004-12-06

The ending is awsome! I cried so hard when it was over. This is one of the most emotional volumes.

Be Careful What You Wish Forý.......2003-07-12

These are the last stanzas in what is one of the monuments of Japanese anime, a rich fantasy story as memorable as any other notable series. Hitomi, after fleeing Gaea back to earth finds that her experiences have left her with many unresolved feelings. When Van flies Escaflowne across the gap between the worlds to retrieve her she joins him, even though it is to return to the middle of an horrific war. Hitomi realizes that she can run no longer - that if Gaea is to heal, she must do her part.

By this DVD it is clear to the viewer that fate, and its changing, is the underlying theme of this series. Isaac Newton attempts to manipulate it so that the Zaibach Empire will rule the world, nearly repeating the mistake of the Atlantean forebearers of the Gaeans. Tarot cards reveal futures that seem inevitable. And the intertwining of the characters defies the rules of coincidence.

Into this apparent march to cataclysmic disaster and tragedy enters Hitomi, the most atypical of anime heroines. Thin and athletic rather than lush, cute rather than pretty, it is her inner nature rather than any physical ability that gives her the power to challenge the inevitable. Hitomi's special skill is the power to believe. And in doing so, she reveals that fate is far from ineluctable, that simply humans can change outcomes with their minds and hearts.

Hitomi's confusion about her feelings towards Van and Alan Schezar, her hatred of the continuous stream of violence that mars life on Gaea, and the struggle she has to accept what she can do make her a warm and accessible character to the viewer. This is true of all the protagonists of Escaflowne, making what would otherwise be a pompous fantasy concoction into a compelling, life affirming drama.

As endings go, this one starts a bit too slowly and ends too soon. I would have liked to see a stronger focus on the dynamics between Hitomi and Van as they realize their love for each other and must confront the roadblocks in their way. There is room for an entire additional episode, although the movie version of Escaflowne fills in much of this touching connection between two people separated by worlds. Even so, this is a fitting end to what has been a delightful series - one which I will always recommend without question.

WHAAT???.......2003-03-20

My wife and I started getting the Escaflowne DVD's on a whim after having seen the show on Fox Kids. We were blown away by how utterly fantastic and engaging the original version was - so much so that we anxiously awaited each installment (couldn't afford to get them all at once).

The animation and story of this series is easily the best I've ever seen -as engaging as the original Robotech and far surpassing it in intelligence and beauty. The characters are likable, the music is stirring, and the story highly compelling -

UNTIL-

What the heck happened in this last disc? Its like another writer took over. What was a wonderful story gets abruptly ended with some kitty girl pseudo lesbianism (which was kind've a downer considering we were watching the show with our kid and there'd been nothing like this in the entire series up until this point), and a tacked on nonsensical psychobabble ending (think: Akira).

We were VERY disappointed by the conclusion to this series, because the rest of it is HIGHLY recommended. Of course if you've been following the series this long, you've got to get this one too, but man what a let down. And don't bother with the movie either...ugh.

Nearer the end of the story.......2002-12-17

I was almost sad when I put this DVD in because I did not want the story to be over so soon. I was not disappointed in the ending. In these last episodes bonds grow stronger just as they are about to break. More amazing fights bring this story to the end. This series is amazing and is one I feel is quite rewatchable.

Amazon.com

The revelations pile up in this gothic psycho-adventure, as Kyosuke learns that he really is the son of scientist Tsubaki Tokisaka and hospital director Dr. Richard Vincent. He also learns that Shiro's sister, Yui Kirahara, who controls the all-powerful Kirahara Group, has been hunting Flickers to create the SoulAnubis. This composite monster is supposed to help her find Kyosuke's lost twin sister Runa and fulfill her contract with an unseen, Darth Vader-voiced creature. (Runa unconsciously created the Flickers as a self-defense mechanism.) The dramatic confrontation between Kyosuke and the SoulAnubis--who fights using a combination of violence and guilt trips--is awkwardly directed and hard to follow. Soul Hunter offers a staccato, state-of-the-art mixture of computer graphics, odd camera angles, flashbacks, monochromatic imagery, and still artwork, but the story feels like a retread. Rated 16 Up: Graphic violence, grotesque imagery, profanity, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Description

Loyalty and betrayal! Kyosuke meets his mother! Still, the mysteries surrou nding his existence only deepen. After losing his resonance with the Flickers, Kyosuke is forced to turn to his enemies at the hospital for help, but the Kirihara Group attacks! Shiro reveals his ties to the Kirihara Group as the Hospital falls to their attack, but fa cts fail to dispel the mysteries and lead to more desperate moments! Son, Kyosuke faces t he Soul Anubis and must test the ultimate limits of his SoulTaker abilities!

Customer Reviews:

Who's Joe Estevez?.......2003-06-08

This DVD is not an actual movie, rather, it's an anime TV series! There isn't any Jon Stamos look alike nor is there a Tonya Harding look alike in this movie. What some of the commenters are referring to is an old movie, whereas this is an anime that may/may not share the same plot. The story in this anime series has many twists and turns. It's interesting!

Also, the cinematography isn't bad at all! Weird camera angles, colors-- everything you see is so vivid. I like this anime series because it keeps me on my toes and the fact that it's different from other anime in the way it's drawn and animated.

the similarities to Evangelion ends here.......2002-06-28

Yuske starts to find out the truth of his existance. His personality takes a radical change by the end of the DVD. you also find the reasons behind shiro's actions

The Soultaker - The Monster Within (Vol. 1)

Average customer rating:

Pardon Me, But There's a Knife In My Back
SOUL FRICKEN GOOD!
Give Yourself Three Episodes
Erm....WHAT??
Confusing but great!

The Soultaker - The Monster Within (Vol. 1)
Starring: Paul Dobson , Chiara Zanni , Nicole Oliver , Andrew Francis , and Daniella Evangelista
Director: Karl Willems
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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The Soultaker - Flickering Faith (Vol. 2)
The Soultaker - Blood Betrayal (Vol. 3)
The Soultaker - The Truth (Vol. 4)
The Soultaker, Vol. 2: Flickering Faith
The Soultaker - (Vol. 4) (Signature Series)

ASIN: B00005UM46
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Amazon.com

This dark fantasy-adventure borrows elements from Evangelion and Gasaraki and presents them in the style of Lain. Kyosuke Date's life becomes a waking nightmare as he discovers that his mother was murdered, he is a powerful mutant, and fragments of his sister's soul have become humanlike creatures called "Flickers." The Flickers are mercilessly hunted by the cruel vice president of an infinitely powerful conglomerate, the Kirihara Group. Kyosuke takes up with the sardonic Shiro Mibu, the sworn enemy of the Kirihara, and is soon battling giant robots and screeching maniacs. Series director Akiyuki Shinbo uses all the latest tricks: rapid-fire editing, weird colors (including blood-red frames), repeated close-ups of crosses and other objects, still frames juxtaposed with battle sequences, etc. But these flashy visuals can't disguise the slightness of the familiar story. Rated 16 Up: Considerable violence, grotesque imagery, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

Pardon Me, But There's a Knife In My Back.......2004-10-14

Kyosuke Date is not a happy camper. Frankly he's justified in his rage. When we first meet him he's being stabbed in the back by his mother, who then dies. The second time we see him he's being dug out of his grave in which he's been buried alive. No, it hasn't been a good weekend for Kyosuke. To complicate matters he finds that he has a long lost sister somewhere that evil companies are trying to find and he can now suddenly turn into a mutant demon thing that can kick major butt. Not that Kyosuke's thrilled about the transforming into a hideous demon thing, but compared to the rest of his weekend, that's a fairly good point.

The Monster Within doesn't show it's hand very much when it comes to the major plot of the series. All three episodes are mainly concerned with Kyosuke trying to figure out who his sister is and random characters of the sinister variety keep popping up and looking threatening. There's also Shiro, a helpfully homicidal mystery man who looks slightly like a mime who's joined up with Kyosuke.

At it's heart, Soultaker is a gothic horror piece inflected with a good bit of angst and bullets. Kyosuke didn't ask to be put in the position he's in, but he's going to have to live with that now and make the best of it. While it's a little confusing since the audience knows no more than the main character, The Soultaker still deserves a place in anime libraries.

SOUL FRICKEN GOOD!.......2004-02-16

According to Amazon reviewer charles solomon, SOULTAKER is a derivative of anime series like gasaraki & evangelon (does every title have to be compared to evangelon? sheesh!) I strongly disagree!
instead ST adapts elements from the DEVILMAN/GUYVER/GENOCYBER/DETONATOR ORGUN/X-MEN genre but with a touch of DARIO ARGENTO italian horror.
the plot/storyline may be confusing at first, but it your'e patient and suspend your disbelief you'll eventually be taken in
it's refreshing to see something slightly different from the contemporaly anime shows. the colors have a "PSYCHO NOIR" kinda feel and a style simular to Mike Mignola's HELLBOY Comics. the action/pacing is more appealing than the aforementioned series GARSAKI and EVANGELION which to me are very slow and tedious at times. Soultaker also has one of the coolest intro themes. another classic from the legendary TATSUNOKO studios (gatchaman94,Casshan,Hurricane polymar)SOULTAKER is a must have addition for the scifi, anime, comicbook enthusiast.

Give Yourself Three Episodes.......2003-11-27

I was completely confused during the first episode. I too felt that scenes were random, weapons were too strange (Hospital's needles), and any reason for watching was not given. But I stuck through the first DVD and it all came together in the third episode. If you give yourself at least three episodes then you should be hooked into the plot; a plot that is sure to take you strange but interesting places.

Erm....WHAT??.......2003-07-20

the soul taker to me is a running joke with my freinds. What WERE they thinking? The points of view were completely random, people were spitting out dialogue at random moments, it was like the characters were cast in stone, because trhey barely moved. AND WHAT IS WITH THE TEA??? I have never in my life seen an anime that people drank so much tea! The only anime that is more pointless then this was bey blade. One of the things that i really didn't get was..well there was a fight scene, then suddenly, SPARROWS?? There was randomly a flock of sparrows. And the artists, obviously had an odd obsession with stained glass windows because people were being dyed random colours. So my overall review is..DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!

Confusing but great!.......2002-11-09

The very first episode might be very confusing, but the second and third ones are better because then the creators sorta half explain what happened in a weird twisted sort of way. Also, in the credits, I've recognized the Japanese voice actor of Duo from Gundam Wing and the American voice actor of Quatre of Gundam Wing(Kyosuke's voice). I love this series, the animation is great and it has a plotline that actually make a person think!

Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever - From Depths (Vol. 2)

Average customer rating:

Very Good!
akane tendo

Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever - From Depths (Vol. 2)
Starring: Sarah Strange , Venus Terzo , Richard Ian Cox , Myriam Sirois , and Willow Johnson
Manufacturer: Viz Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

$Ranma 1\2$ Ranma 1\2 | Characters & Series | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever - Initiation Nite (Vol. 1)
Ranma 1/2 Ranma Forever - Rock a Bye Ranma (Vol. 4)
Ranma 1/2: Ranma Forever - Someday Somehow
Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever (Vol. 6)
Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever - Kiss Me, Cat (Vol. 3)

ASIN: B000068MBK
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Amazon.com

When a sudden shower transforms Ranma into Ranma-chan (his female alter ego), Sentaro kidnaps her, incongruously riding through town on a horse. Unaware of Ranma-chan's true identity, he plans to train her in the rigors of the martial arts tea ceremony, which she'll use to defeat his sinister grandmother, enabling them to marry(!). When Akane shows up to rescue Ranma, Sentaro shifts his affections, but Akane's attempts at making tea prove disastrous. (Ranma fans know Akane should never be allowed near cooking utensils.) Ranma dukes it out with Grandmama as the episode stumbles to a close that can scarcely be called a conclusion.

Akane is called on to save the honor of the Anything Goes Tendo Dojo when she's matched against a diminutive student from the Good Ol' Days School of Martial Arts. Tops, beanbags, and a cat's cradle become dangerous weapons in this curious duel. Akane and the rest of the Tendo household find they agree with the Good Ol' Days philosophy of preserving old-fashioned toys and games in the era of Pokémon. Needless to say, all ends happily--setting the stage for the crises that inevitably occur whenever and wherever Ranma and his friends appear.

Rated 13 and older for mild sexual humor. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

Very Good!.......2003-02-20

I LOVE Ranma 1/2 it's one of the best animes ever! And this DVD is just as good if you like Ranma and Ryoga episodes this is a good one! Of course I've never been disappointed with Ranma yet!^__^

akane tendo.......2000-07-16

the first episode was like not too bad martial tea ceremony, the next was great! i loved it you should buy this video it is great !

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