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RG Veda - not all it seems to be >_<

Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie 2

DVD Reviews

well I'm getting there ^_^

Anime Name:	R G Veda	English Sub/Dub? Both	Region? Hyb	Finished or Work in Progress? Finished
Released by: U.S.Manga Corps

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Humm...
Ok, This is one of the first manga's I watched almost 10 years ago on VHS and got me so hooked on Clamp and Anime in general, so this review might be a little bias...
Translation: This is NOT the same translation/Voiceovers as on the 'Manga Videos' UK VHS release. The translation of the actual Background Story is better explained on this version than the confusing older version, also the female voiceovers are great... but that's where the good news ends. The character interaction translation is lacking in it's mirth and they seem to have missed out some of the dubbing, leaving the chara's flapping their lips and looking stupid. Also the emphasis on Ashura being a SHE is really thrust down out throats, mostly by referring to It as Ashurowa's DAUGHTER, not Child. I know we have no translation for IT, but Ashura is neither male nor female. Also the male cast voices are just terrible! Kojaku voice over is enough to make anyone weep in horror, they have tried to modernise everyone's voices and it just doesn't seem to work.
But it's has one little renewing factor to the VHS... On the start of the 2nd episode, There is a little extra bit with the fight between Tishakuten and Ahurowa! Just a shame they didn't throw in the bit just before they fight *grins* not that I'm a slash slut or anything *grins manically*
Also I think my VHS version might be of better quality than the original tape they used for the DVD cause it's mighty poop on the first episode. And the right-up on the back of the cover is just hilarious, and has nothing to do with the actually story, At least the 'Tokyo Babylon' VHS write up makes some sense if you know the story...
All said and done... I recommend new watchers to watch it in Japanese with subtitles, and for old views to keep their VHS's VERY safe and just borrow the DVD of someone to watch the bit that's not on the VHS.
Again... this review IS bias! I cant help it...

90
mins

Anime Name:	Tokyo Babylon [Eps 1 & 2]	English Sub/Dub? Both	Region? Hyb	Finished or Work in Progress? Finished
Released by: U.S.Manga Corps

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This disc threw me at first, It's a double sided DVD and the name of the DVD only appears around the small rim in the middle. the other side is just full of promos.

[ For this proper review just look it up in VHS reviews. ]

12?

Anime Name:	Cardcaptor Sakura - The Movie 2	English Sub/Dub? Both	Region? Hyb	Finished or Work in Progress? Finished
Released by: Pioneer

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This is a great little movie (*Coughs* nothing to do with the fact that Yue's in it) But I imagine for any true-blue Cardcaptor fan (The one on the telly) will loath this version.
The voiceovers aren't the same as in the TV series or even the first movie, but they have done a descant job of it. Also any manga fans should be happy (like me) because in this version their isn't a "Julian" in sight! Yukito has his name back in an English dub!
This movie is set after the 2nd series, and if your a manga or an anime fan, you have to forget some of the plot, but it's a forgivable forgetfulness, mostly cause the animation is just so wonderful!
I'm not a huge Cardcaptor fan, but this movie is just great and well worth getting on DVD for anyone into, or not, this manga! it just warms the cockles ^_^ which is surprising for Clamp lets face it...

I recommend this to anyone!

86
Mins

Anime Name:	X [ TV Series ]	English Sub/Dub? Both	Region? 1	Finished or Work in Progress? Work in Progress
Released by: Pioneer [originally - Clamp & Madhouse]

[Please note: that this Review is from the POV of someone who has read the Manga, So prejudices and comparisons abound.]
[ also my only really complaint... NOT ENOUGH BLOOD!!!! and why isn't everyone depressed damn it!]
Review in General: So Far this Anime is wonderful... The story compared to the manga is different in the telling though sometimes it sticks to the original Manga like glue (if for the lack of blood and chara angst), making the manga come to life on screen. But if your looking for the Darkness, the horror and the gore factor? forget it, this version has been kiddid down for a wider audience. I can only assume this is because Cardcaptors Sakura was such a big hit with the kids. The fight seines are edited to almost nothing and no one sheds much blood, Miss Kanoe cleavage isn't falling out of her dress, Fumma's and Katoris mother died giving birth to the Sacred sword in an operating theatre and their Farther wasn't killed by Nataku but injured and put in hospital... and that only in the first DVD, also Kamui retreats to his small flat instead of Fumma taking him back to his own house. The lack of the Shonen-ai aspect between Kamui and Fumma is excruciatingly lacking... Also Katori doesn't seem to have that heart defect she had in the manga, and actually this is a good thing, they have purposefully made her stronger, this doesn't stop me hating her though.
In these first two DVD's it has already skipped through the first 5 volumes of the manga, but if you take into the fact that all the fight seines and the gory bits have been taken out this is not surprising. I just wonder how they are going to cope with the the rest of the manga when it really get's into gouging and killing and I hope it wont suffer for this fact as I predict it will >_<
For an Anime though it is a nice peace of work, getting bogged down in places with chara development, hell I know more about Sorata than I do about Kamui, Fumma or Katori so far. But Kakyou is in this version and that horrid chara from the Movie is not missed... But the artwork is wonderful and the story does flow nicely (despite the manga hiccups)... I cant really say more for now without sounding REALLY pessimistic!
If your and X fan, or even if your not then this anime is defiantly one to get!
Review Update Dec 03: Well, apart from the fact that by the 7th volume still only 2 people have died out of the dragons on either side have been killed, there series isn't that bad, though it seems to be stamping around on all the nice character plot nicely enough to make anyone cringe, the only volume so far that I thought just inspired interest was Volume 6 with Subaru and Seichirou, but even then it looses all the charm of Kamui saving Subaru and then the sudden disaperanc of Subaru is hardly even mentioned IF at all...
Look of the DVD: OK... Pioneer have done one hell of an astounding Job in the presentation of this DVD!... The DVD it's self comes with a reversible cover with different Anime images. Also comes with an inlay card, one onside Sean info the other the image that's on the front cover, so if your so inclined (like what I am) you can put the inlay card on the outside and reveres the cover *grins* but that's all pointless when you slip it back into the wonderful cardboard Leather look sleeve with it's embossed and chromed name! All in all the presentation of these DVD's is enough to shell out that extra cash for! The Box, CD and everything else is also Colour coded which is a lovely touch :P
Also if you get the first DVD with the boxed series holder then you also get a little 24 page info/chara Book...

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Episodes?

Quick Review:

.16 up	0	An Omen (OVA)	Basically this is the RECAP episode only at the beginning, Kakyou in the narrator! yaay!	95m
	1	A Reunion
	2	A Nightmare
	3	A Pledge

16 up	4	A Sacrifice	If you like Sorata then you will love this DVD. I don't, wasn't all that impressed.	75m
	5	A Destiny
	6	Kouya

Vol 3	16 up	7	Cyber	.Cant you just tell I was so enthused by this DVD I just couldn't think of a thing to say about it.... (sarcasm)	75m
		8	Gemini
		9	Onmyou

Vol 4	16 up	10	Inuki	.Yawn through this one, it's the annoying brat harping on about her dog...	75m
		11	Border	Finally some Fumma and Kamui action as Kamui decides (undramatically) to save humanity after unenthusiasticly watching his last blood relative die infront of him.
		12	Alternative	Ahh Loved this one... Katori bites the sacred sword and Kamui goes tonto, hell we aren't even here in the English manga's yet!

Vol 5	16 up	13	Return	75m
		14	Gathering
		15	Guidian

Vol 6	16 up	16	Slaughter	This is the only chapter that I've even thought there was hope, Subaru and Seishirou finally get it on and fight...	75m
		17	Wish
		18	Newborn

Vol 7	16 up	19	Inferno	75m
		20	Ripple
		21	Current

Vol 8	22	Two Choices		95m
	23	Two Sides
	24	One Future	I Cried... I couldn't help it!!!!!!!!!!

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