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There are a few spoilers I’d like to talk about, but not in this post. I’ll be writing up my thoughts on a few things in another post later on. I’ll add a link here when it’s up.

Story

Light Yagami is on the verge of becoming part of the task force investigating the Kira murders, even though L still suspects that Light may be Kira. Light has to adjust his plans when another Kira shows up. The Second Kira wants to help, but that’s not all.

When L takes someone suspected of being the Second Kira into custody Light has to act fast. Light has to come up with a plan to prove once and for all that he isn’t Kira.

My Opinion

Death Note II: The Last Name picks up where the first live action Death Note left off. Light is a suspect, but also a possible asset to the task force.

Everyone involved did an excellent job. I especially enjoyed the performances of two characters, L and Soichiro Yagami. Ken’ichi Matsuyama as L stayed true to the manga and anime while still being believable. That can’t be an easy thing to do, because L is just so odd. Takeshi Kaga as Soichiro Yagami brought more life to this undervalued character than I expected. I’ll be talking more about Light’s dad in the spoiler filled post.

Even fans of Death Note that have read all the manga and seen all of the anime will have a few surprises waiting for them. This movie takes a different path than previous versions of this story. The ending shocked me, not because it was different, but because it fit so well.

I’m not a fan of any sort of changes to a story when adapting it to a movie. I don’t believe most changes are needed. if a story is good, why change it when you don’t have to? That sort of thing just upsets me. Don’t get me started on changes made to The Lord of the Rings.

The changes made to Death Note didn’t upset me. They made perfect sense and they improved the movie.

Is it worth it?

Death Note Movie II: The Last Name is worth it.

People who aren’t fans of Death Note should see this movie, they might become fans.

Fans of Death Note have to see it, or they will be missing out on one of the most exciting chapters of the story.

Anime, Manga, Live Action, Supernatural, Suspense, Horror, Thriller, Police, Crime, Viz, Death Note, Shinigami, L, Ken’ichi Matsuyama, Soichiro Yagami, Takeshi Kaga

Story

Ban Mido and Genji Amano are the GetBackers, an elite recovery team with an (almost) perfect success rate. they specialize in getting back things that shouldn’t be lost.

My Opinion

I was looking forward to watching this anime. I liked the manga, in spite of all the trouble I had with it. Reading the story out of order was fun, though a bit confusing. Reading the story in the way it was meant to be presented was great. So I should really like the anime, shouldn’t I?

I wish I liked the GetBackers anime, but it just doesn’t measure up to the manga for me. Something is lost in the anime. I can’t put my finger on what it is, but something is missing.

What could be keeping me from liking this anime?

I don’t think the dub is to blame. If it was just bad voice acting, switching to subs would help. It doesn’t work for me. I think it’s something more fundamental. I think it’s the story.

I didn’t notice any major changes to the story on this DVD, but I did notice a lot of small changes. From the way the characters are introduced, to the way the story of a missing daughter was resolved, the changes accumulated. As those changes built up, the shape of the story changed.

DVD Extras

I liked the extras on GetBackers Volume 1. The Special Features included interviews with the voice actors as well as commentary tracks on not 1, but 2 different episodes. I’m a huge fan of commentary tracks on anime. I love anime and I want to know what’s going on behind the scenes.

Is it worth it?

GetBackers is a rental. I can’t recommend buying this one without checking it out first. If all the small changes bug you as much as they bugged me, then you’re gonna want to save your money to buy the manga.

Anime, Reviews, Action, Adventure, Comedy, ADV, Get Backers, GetBackers, Ban Mido, Ginji Amano, DVD, Special Features

Story

Rock and Revy’s mad dash to deliver Mr. Chang’s package to a C.I.A. operative wraps up. Thanks to one of the agents we learn a bit more about Revy’s past. We get a little more info about her in the next story, even though it takes place in Rock’s homeland of Japan.

Rock is home, but it’s not social visit. He’s here on business, dangerous business. Rock is wedged between Hotel Moscow and a desperate Yakuza clan. Balalaika needed a Japanese translator she could trust, but since she doesn’t trust anyone, she chose Rock. Since Rock needs looking after, Revy is along for the ride.

A Yakuza family needs some help from outside muscle. That’s where Balalaika and Hotel Moscow fit in. Unfortunately for the Yakuza that asked her to get involved, Balalaika has plans of her own.

My Opinion

More and more interesting characters keep being introduced in Black Lagoon. This time around we meet some very interesting characters that belong to the Yakuza. We see a girl who wishes to escape the life she knows is waiting for her, but her duty and loyalty may make her accept and even embrace her fate.

We also get to see a bit more into the past of a couple of the main characters. We get glimpses of Revy past. We also see hints of what life was like for Rakuto before he became Rock. People from 2 completely different worlds, but they wind up together leading similar lives.

Is it worth it?

Black Lagoon 004 is worth picking up. Just because there’s a bit of introspection, that doesn’t mean there’s any less action. Between hints of what life was like in the main characters’ past, we get to see a showdown between Hotel Moscow and Yakuza as they both deal with internal shifts of power.

I highly recommend this manga to mature readers.

Manga, Reviews, Action, Adventure, Pirates, Yakuza, Guns, Explosions, Viz Media, Rei Hiroe, Black Lagoon, Rated M, Mature Readers, Violence, Adult Themes, Adult Language

Story

Vincent Law continues his quest to find his past, a past that may not exist. Real and Pino stay by his side. Real for her own reasons, Pino simply to be near him. What awaits the travelers when they arrive at the city that Vincent remembers as his home?

My Opinion

I love Ergo Proxy, but Volume 5 has to be the weakest of the bunch. I strenuously hope it’s the weak link, because I haven’t seen the last disc yet. Maybe the fears I expressed in my review of Ergo Proxy Volume 3 are turning out to be true, but I hope not. I hate to think of this wonderful story turning to garbage at the end.

What makes Ergo Proxy volume 5 weak? A few things combine to undermine this DVD. The travelers reach their destination only to find out that there’s somewhere else they need to go. The most interesting thing that happens back home in the Romdeau Dome is undone by the end of the episode leaving things where they were before. Half of the episodes on the disc are bouts of bizarre introspection.

Don’t get me wrong, I got nothing against bizarre introspection in the right places. These episodes didn’t seem to do much to advance the story though. All they did was point out clues that should have been noticed by now.

I hope the next DVD can get back on track.

Is it worth it?

Ergo Proxy Volume 5, while not being quite as good as the first 4, is still worth it. Even if it’s not as amazing as the other Ergo Proxy volumes, it’s still pretty darn good.

Remember, it’s still available, but it’s released by FUNimation instead of Geneon now.

Anime, Reviews, DVD, FUNimation, Geneon, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Sci-Fi, Vincent Law, Real Mayar

Story

Najimi Osana was talked into helping her friend sell dojinshi at a convention. They met one of Najimi’s childhood friends there as well. Turns out he’s a dojin artist too. After finding out how many books her friends sold, and how much money they made, she decided to become a dojin artist and make a fortune.

It just not that easy though. As she makes progress in her plan she learns how much work, and money, it takes to make a manga. Along the way she gets a job where she can study dojin, and the types of customers that buy it. She also picks up an admirer.

My Opinion

Dojin Work is an odd little anime. The art and a number of the jokes are pretty juvenile, but the show is pretty good. Most of the humor comes from Najimi’s reaction to the dojin. Since most of it is erotic in nature, she’s often embarrassed. She only makes things worse for herself when she tries to hide her embarrassment.

Dub fans might be upset to find out that this title is sub only. There’s no English voice cast here. Doesn’t bother me too much, I like dubs and subs both.

I’ve read a bit of the manga, and I really liked it. Fans of the manga might be a bit thrown off by the anime’s quick introduction of characters. The animators introduced everyone as quickly as possible. That’s too bad, some of the introduction scenes from the manga were good.

DVD Extras

Textless Opening. That’s it. Nothing else. Except…

There are a few “Live” episodes of a couple of the voice actresses taking part in a project to make a dojin manga. They’re listed with the anime episodes, and run after the anime if you select Play All.

The live episodes really should have been included in the extras instead of with the anime episodes. They’re special features and do not advance the anime story. All they do is pad the anime episodes to make it seem like there are more. That’s pretty sneaky. They just don’t belong where they are.

Is it worth it?

I’d recommend Dojin Work to an older audience. A lot of the jokes are a bit risque, and not really appropriate for the kids.

Dub fans, don’t skip this one just because you have to read.

Anime, Reviews, DVD, Dojin, Doujin, Manga, Suggestive, Dojin Works, Media Blasters, AnimeWorks, Subtitle, Subs

Story

Light Yagami finds a strange book. A plain looking notebook with some odd instructions that describe how the notebook can be used to kill. After his initial disbelief, his curiosity and his warped sense of justice get the better of him and he tests the books powers.

Light is shocked when the Death Note works exactly as the instructions claim. While testing the book further he meets Ryuk, the shinigami who dropped it. Ryuk explains a bit more and Light develops a plan to use the Death Note.

Light plans to change the world.

My Opinion

Wow. Live action Death Note. I’m amazed by how true to the manga and anime this movie was. There were some small adjustments made to how the story was presented, due to the limitations of making a movie.

The movie starts with Kira already on the loose. I was a little confused when I saw that, but they did a great job with the explanation flashback. I think it saved time and allowed them to fit more of the story into the movie. They don’t even try to tell the whole story, that would be insane. They do a great job of ending the movie with a cliffhanger that makes you want to see the next film.

I watched the dub to start with since I was watching it with my girlfriend. She prefers them, and I didn’t mind either way since I planed on watching it again.

The dub has some moments that are downright weird, but overall I think they did a decent job. If you’ve watched the anime dub, on Cartoon Network’s [adult swim] programming block for instance, then you’ll recognize the voices. Yep, the movie uses the same voice actors for the main characters.

Alessandro Juliani returns as the English voice of L, with Brad Swaile reprising his role as Light Yagami (Thanks Viz). That makes things a lot more familiar and after the initial shock of the voice and face not matching up, it really helped to get me right back into the story. There was one exception.

The tone of L’s voice during one of the scenes with the police task force triggered a Battlestar Galactica memory. That kinda threw me out of the movie for a few seconds. It didn’t take too long for me to get caught up in the story again, but it was weird. I guess I’m just too used to Felix Geata now.

Extras

The special features are kind of a joke. There are a few clips from a making of documentary, but they’re split into very short segments.

That’s it.

I’m not counting the previews that run when you pop the disc in. They are pretty darn cool though.

Is it worth it?

The Death Note live action movie is most deffinetly worth it. I can’t recommend this movie enough.

If you’re a Death note fan, then you’ll want to add this to your collection. The movie is just as amazing as the manga and anime.

If you’ve never seen Death Note, don’t be afraid to watch the movie. It tells the story in a way that won’t leave newcomers confused. Everything you need to know to enjoy the movie is in the movie.

There’s even more in the anime and manga though.

Anime, Manga, Live Action, Supernatural, Suspense, Horror, Thriller, Police, Crime, Viz, Death Note, Shinigami, Ryuk, Light Yagami, Brad Swaile, L, Alessandro Juliani, Felix Geata, Battlestar Galactica

Story

Nora is a demon, but he’s also a loose cannon. This time he’s pushed his boss, The Dark Liege, too far. His powers have been sealed and he’s been sent to the human world. If that wasn’t bad enough, he has to act as a familiar spirit to a human.

Nora is bound to class president Kazuma Magari. Kazuma takes on the responsibility and sets out to train Nora properly. That means using magic only when appropriate and trying not to hurt innocent bystanders. If anything got out of hand it might make Kazuma look bad, and he won’t let that happen.

Things can get out of hand quickly. There are rebel demons that have put a price on Nora’s head. There are also outlaw demons that haven’t joined the resistance, but are more than willing to collect the bounty.

It looks like Nora and Kazuma have a lot of work to do.

My Opinion

Nora is a pretty good action manga. The battle of wills going on between Nora and Kazuma can lead to some pretty interesting situations. If there’s anyone that can put Nora in his place it’d be Kazuma.

The art is nice and solid. It can go from comedy in one panel to action in the next, and it makes that transition well. The battles with various demons are interspersed with comedic battles of will between Nora and Kazuma, with Kazuma outsmarting him every time. The tone of the art changes appropriately and never seems out of place.

Is it worth it?

Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom is worth a look. There’s plenty of action, great characters and the promise of a cool story waiting to unfold. I’d recommend this manga.

Manga, Reviews, Supernatural, Demons, Devils, Cerberus, Comedy, Action, Magic, Shonen Jump Advanced, Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom, Kazunari Kakei

Story

In the late 1920s, during the end of the Taisho Era, there was a very special tea house. If you could find that very special tea house, then you could speak with a very special person. His name is Hiruko. Hiruko is a Baku, a creature that eats dreams.

People come to the Silver Star Tea house looking for Hiruko. Some of them are different from the people you meet by day, others are just desperate to find a solution to their problem. They come because Hiruko offers a service.

If his price is met Hiruko will help those that are having problems in their dreams. People with nightmares come to him so that he may accompany them into the dream world and help them with the cause of their dreams.

My Opinion

Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun is kind of odd. That’s not a bad thing, I like odd. Odd can be very entertaining, and Nightmare Inspector is certainly entertaining.

The stories, and even the overall concept, reminds me a lot of old sci-fi TV shows like The Twilight Zone. One moment the world seems normal, then there’s a shift and reality becomes different.

Sure, a large part of that is due to the very nature of dreams. Shin Mashiba’s art only adds to the effect. The art work does a good job of bringing out an emotional response. The flow of the panels, sometimes close, other times separated by lots of space, does a wonderful job of managing the intensity of the story.

My only complaint is that the stories seem so short. I feel like I’ve just started a story only to read the ending. That could just be because I don’t want the stories to end.

Is it worth it?

Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun Volume 1 is worth checking out. The short stories pack a lot of punch.

Manga, Reviews, Supernatural, Suspense, Viz, Nightmare Inspector, Yumekui Kenbun, Taisho Era, Baku, Dream Eater, Shin Mashiba, The Twilight Zone