Anime Series/Movies Reviews
4-27-03 In this section, I'd like to provide you web surfers with reviews from myself or visitors from my website on anime series/movies and DVD's. I wasn't going to really start this today but I do have to say one thing about the DBGT DVD's that were just released. I downloaded all of my DBGT off of Kazaa,www.kazaa.com. (japanese versions). I can't believe how bad they massacred the series here!! They cut out alot...too much!! I have heard and also agree that buying DBGT is a waste of money!! The only way to see this series is to download the original series off of sites or shareware programs!! If anyone has any reviews about an Anime series/movie, you may e-mail it to me: mprincevegeta@yahoo.com. And yes, even if I don't agree with your review, it will be posted. I may just edit if for spelling and grammar. I will post it on my website and just try to watch the language....thanks! Please provide me with a name and location (i.e. Majin Prince Vegeta, CT) so I can give you credit for your review! (it doesn't have to be your real name!) Also, it would be helpful if you would include who owns and produces the anime that you have written your review on. I will accept any reviews on any anime series or anime movie!! Also, your e-mail address will not be posted in this section unless you give me permission!!
**Note--Reviews and opinons on anime series or movies do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the web host!
Yu Yu Hakusho-The Movie: The Poltergeist Report 90 mins NR
This movie does not tie in with the TV series. It has all the main characters but different villians. One thing that I didn't like about this movie is that they don't use the voice actors from the TV series. But you can't have everything, right?!
The movie has a simple plot...easy to follow. Demons are trying to take over the world and Yusuke & friends must prevent that from happening! Everyone (Yusuke, Kuwabara,Hiei, and Kurama) fight individual battles against a team of demons. Movie does however, give you a peek of Kurama's background before he teams up with Yusuke, but not the whole background. (You have to watch the TV series in order to find out about the rest of Kurama's past). It might help to watch the beginning of the Toguro Saga (i.e. "Rescue Yukina") to find out who Yukina is. It's not necessary since you are told in this movie who she is.
But basically it's like the TV series. You see where the movie is going...no surprise endings. The usual plot for YYH....demons are running around and Yusuke and team must battle them! --MPV,CT
**Ratings (out of 5):
Action rating: 4
Plot rating 3.5
Overall Rating (as a whole movie): 4 
**All YYH characters are owned and controlled by Yushihiro Togashi/Shueisha Fuji Television Studio Pierrot.
Hellsing Series (whole series-4 DVD's) 5 hours 15 mins Rating 16+
If you like vampires,guns,explosions,blood and gore, you'll love the Hellsing series. This series has not been released on TV in the U.S.(not yet anyway). The only way to see this series(right now) is to buy it. It's a short series being only 13 episodes long.
The story takes place in London. In London, there is a secret organization called the Hellsing Organization. Their mission is to protect London from vampires and other hellish night creatures. The Hellsing Organization is run by Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing. The secret organization has a secret weapon for getting rid of vampires and other vile creatures....and that's ANOTHER vampire named Alucard.
The story line is pretty simple except for a few things (You'll know what those few things are when you watch the whole series). I have heard that in order to find out the things that aren't explained in the series...you would need to read the manga. Not all the episodes are action packed...but most are.
The reason why this series is rated 16&up is because of the violence,gore, and foul language (wait till you get a load of Yan-bad vampire with a very bad mouth!) Hellsing rates right up there with Vampire Hunter D. If you liked VHD.....you'll love Hellsing!! --MPV, CT
**Ratings (out of 5):
Plot rating: 3.5
Action rating: 4.5
Overall rating: 4.5
**Hellsing was based on the manga by Kouta Hirano. Hellsing is (c) Kouta Hirano-Shonen Gahosha Co.LTD/Hellsing K.G.
**Vampire Hunter D was produced by Shiego Maruyama and Yutaka Takahashi.
Rurouni Kenshin TV Series 95 episodes Rating 13 & up
Rurouni Kenshin takes place during the Meiji era in Japan. It's the story of a man known throughout Japan as Hitokiri Battousai, an extremely skilled assassin. He has lent his sword to the cause of bringing down the former government, and to bring about an era of peace.
Now that the war has ended, Battousai the Man Slayer is gone and in his place stands Kenshin Himura. Kenshin is a man at odds with this peaceful nature. He can never make up for all the lives he took and ruined in the name of a peaceful era. He has vowed to never kill again and to use his sword to protect those trying to live a peaceful life. He is now a wanderer and throughout his travels he meets many people and changes many lives. An important person he meets is a young female swordmanship instructor.
Although Rurouni Kenshin is somewhat of a love story, it contains many little subplots and a lot of violence and well drawn battles. It is not an anime for everyone, but if it is given a chance, it will grow on you. The show starts out kind of slow with little action and some humor. The first 12 episodes pretty much is set up for characters who will become mainstays for the series. After these episodes, the fighting becomes more pronounced and drawn out.
All in all, this series is a fantastic view which never leaves you bored. It has excellent violence for the guys, and a solid love story for the ladies, and an all around great story line for everyone. If you like the characters from DBZ and YYH, you'll love these characters. As far as I can tell, there is nothing wrong with this series and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys anime. --SSJ3 chibi Goku, CT
**Ratings (out of 5):
Characters: 5
Action: 4
Plot: 4.5
Overall rating: 4.5
**Rurouni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki/Shueisha. The series is copyrighted by Fuji TV,SME Visual Works Inc.
Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal 2 DVD's 60 mins each (unless you have the Director's Cut, then it's 1 DVD) Rating 17 & up
These 2 movies follow Hitokiri Battousai from childhood till the end of the revolution. They explain the reason Battousai, the Manslayer, became Kenshin Himura, the peaceful wanderer. It also shows how a young man could grow up to become a vicious assassin.
The movies start with a young boy named Shinta. A young boy who was sold into slavery. After bandits attacked and slaughtered all the others in the slave traders camp, a man came to Shinta's rescue. The man was Master Hiko. He then took Shinta and changed his name to Kenshin. From then, he taught Kenshin the sword style of Hiten Mitsurugi, which still serves him today.
After breaking away from his master to fight in the revolution, he was recruited as an assassin. Kenshin made a name for himself as Battousai, the Manslayer, for the quick ruthless way he dispatched his targets. He also gained many enemies. During one of his outings, he helps a young woman named Tomoe. Her kindness and love started showing Kenshin a way of life he had no idea existed. Can her warmth change his ways, or is it destined to end horribly wrong? (I won't spoil it for you!)
What I will tell you however, is that although they are drawn different (characters) than the TV series which spawned these movies, they are well drawn and plotted out. A must see for anyone who has enjoyed the TV series, Rurouni Kenshin. They also supply some much needed background for understanding Kenshin in the TV series. If you like Kenshin the TV series, you should buy these movies. --SSJ3 Chibi Goku, CT
Ratings (out of 5):
Characters: 4
Action: 4
Plot: 5
Overall rating: 4.5
**Kenshin's original story is credited to Nobuhiro Watsuki. The movie was produced by SPE Visual Works.
Samurai X: Reflection 60 mins Rating 17 & up
Reflection takes place 15 years after Rurouni Kenshin. The times may have changed, but the people are the same. All your favorites are here, Kenshin,Karou,Sanosuke,Yahiko and a new character, Kenji. Kenji is Kenshin's and Karou's child.
This story is told almost exclusively through flashback. Don't let that fool you though, some of these flashbacks are new for those who never read the manga. One of these is a piece of the story about Enishi, the Jinchuu Arc. To really understand this movie, you should watch Samurai X:Trust and Betrayal.
This is a fantastic movie. It brings closure to the Rorouni Kenshin story. There is one downside however. This movie should not be seen if you haven't already seen Trust and Betrayal and some of the Rurouni Kenshin TV series. --SSJ3 chibi Goku, CT
Ratings (out of 5):
Characters: 5
Action: 4.5
Plot: 4
Overall rating: 4
**Kenshin's original story and characters are owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It was produced by Fuji TV,SME Visual Works Inc.
Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma Episode 1 of 2 90 mins Rating: Mature Audiences (Subtitled Format is titled: Curse of the Undead Yoma)
**This is just a review on episode 1of 2. I will add review on episode 2 soon. Title of first episode is: Hikage in an Evil World.
The movie starts out with a field of dead warriors and doctors (maybe) checking on the fallen warriors. You are then introduced to the 2 main characters of the story, Hikage and Marou. They appear to be the only surviving warriors of the gruesome battle. Marou leaves Hikage.
Hikage is on a journey to find Marou. He was told by his new Master that he wants Marou stopped, to quiet his mouth for good. Hikage is then forced to hunt down his former childhood friend, Marou. One of the places Hikage finds himself at, is a strange village inhabited by travelers. While at this village, he thinks he sees Marou. Strange things start happening and the people in the village and surrounding the village aren't what they seem. Soon after Hikage arrives in the village, it seems something evil has followed him which result in a lot of gruesome deaths. Will Hikage be able to find,stop, and kill his childhood friend, Marou? Is Marou a regular person or a strange powerful beast in disguise?
This is somewhat a strange and complex anime movie. This movie needs your full attention to understand what exactly is going on. You get thrown in to this movie and things don't start making sense right away. I liked the complexity of the story and the action is very good...strange but good. I have seen lots of anime series/movies....but I can't think of one to compare it to. It seems to be in a category of its own. I would suggest this movie (both episodes come together on the same VHS or DVD) to people who really love anime and can give it the full attention that it deserves. There aren't a lot of characters....the storyline, at first, appears complex. Some of you who choose to see this movie may have to watch it a couple of times. So if you have some time to kill, watch this movie(s). --MPV, CT
Ratings(out of 5):
Plot: 3.5 (you probably won't like the first time you see it...low rating for complexity of the story)
Action: 4
Overall rating: 4
**Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma was produced by Harou Sai,Masaki Sawanobori,TOHO CO. LTD MPS. The original story is owned by Kei Kusunoki (Shueisha's Ribbon Mascot Comics).
Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma Part 2: Marou with Crazy Fang
The story starts out with Hikage sitting by himself on a beach. It has been 2 years into his journey of chasing down his childhood friend, Marou.
As he was sitting thinking, a ninja female comes running being chased by three other ninjas. The ninjas were accusing the female ninja, Aya, of killing their leader. They have the intention of killing Aya. One of them has to be stupid and draw Hikage into the fight. One of the ninja's gets slashed across his eyes and walks stumbling into the ocean. Aya goes to chase him and Hikage tells her no to and that he sense something wrong. Out of the depths of the ocean, a white horse comes galloping towards the temporairyly blinded ninja. The horse, named Majuumi, runs the ninja down and comes onto shore. He sees the other 2 ninjas dead on the beach and he starts licking up their blood. Then he speaks to Hikage. Hikage wants to know about Marou which angers Majuumi. Majuumi attacks Hikage and they end up in the ocean. Majuumi bites Hikage (he's a flesh eating horse with fangs) and Hikage uses his tiger claw and stabs him inside the mouth and Majuumi sinks into the ocean.
Back on shore, the girl Aya is upset about the deaths of the ninjas. Hikage tells her "Stop your cying, so like a woman." She insists on following him.
What does Aya want with Hikage? Are the rumors true? Was Marou born of the ground or just a madman? And why is a fellow ninja stalking and trying to kill Hikage? Who is Yoma and what does that have to do with Marou? When the time comes, can Hikage kill his childhood friend Marou or will he be sucked into Marou's dark world?
Things start making sense once you see this part although what happens to Aya is weird and so is the ending...totally unexpected. Again, this part of the movie flings you in the middle of nowhere but the loose ends get tied up in the end. I think the hardest character to understand is Marou. At one point you think you know who he is and then everything you think you know about him changes!! I have watched this movie a couple of times and it takes a couple of times to get the complete story. But like I said before, you have to pay attention to all that is said and give this movie your total attention to understand it. If you do those things, I'm sure you will like it!! --MPV, CT
Ratings (out of 5):
Plot: 3.5 (again you probably won't like it at first because you get flung into it not knowing completely what is going on)
Action: 4
Overall rating: 5 (because then you know the whole story and it's great!)
**Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma was produced by Harou Sai,Masaki Sawanobori,TOHO CO. LTD MPS. The original story is owned by Kei Kusunoki (Shueisha's Ribbon Mascot Comics).