Library
Sorted By: Title
DVDs in Collection: 348
Page # 13

Love Hina: Perfect Collection
Anime.Comedy.Drama Bandai Unrated
Attempting to fulfill a promise to his childhood sweetheart, Keitaro Urashima is determined to enter Tokyo University! After being rejected twice, he decides to leave home and stay at his grandmothers apartment complex to study. But when he arrives, his grandmother is gone and he finds himself under attack by the all-female residents! Will the girls accept him as their new apartment manager? Will his bones ever knit? More importantly, can he concentrate on his studies when he discovers that one of his tenants might be his long lost sweetheart?

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi - Vol 1
Anime.Comedy A.D. Vision NR
The new series from Studio Gainax offers a freefall zaniness similar to "Excel Saga" or "Burn Up Excess", but with more appealing characters and sharper parodies. Twelve-year-olds Sasshi Imamiya and Arumi Asahina have grown up together in Osaka, but when the local shopping arcade closes, the harmony of the four Chinese directional gods is thrown out of whack. Sasshi and Arumi visit parallel universes, each boasting transmogrified Shopping Arcades that parody "Evangelion", "Fist of the North Star", "2001", "Voltron", and "Star Wars". The reluctant heroes attempt to return to their real home, impeded by their relatives and friends, who form a sort of interdimensional repertory company. The voice actors affect Texas accents to approximate the rough Osaka dialect of the original, which takes some getting used to, but the results are outrageous--and hilarious. (Rated 17 and older: gross and risqué humor, brief nudity, violence, minor profanity, alcohol use) "--Charles Solomon"

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi - Vol 2
Anime.Comedy A.D. Vision
Sasshi and Arumi continue to ricochet from one alternate version of a derelict Osaka shopping center to another. "Night Fog" takes them to a Roaring Twenties-style gangland, where speakeasies serve forbidden snails to diners during a skewed Prohibition. Sasshi, incongruously clad in a trench coat and snap-brim fedora, is mistaken for "Rugolgo," a send-up of the assassin in "Golgo 13". "Extinction" spoofs time-travel anime: 12-year-old geek Sasshi gets to display his encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs to the mysterious Eutus. The story pauses in episode #7 for an explanation of how the Arcade was built and anchored against harmful magic with the Chinese gods of the cardinal directions. The filmmakers keep everything fast and funny, noting that many of the heroes' difficulties come from relying on the magic of "goblins who lose to ordinary grade school kids." (Rated 17 and older: gross and risqué humor, brief nudity, violence, minor profanity, alcohol and tobacco use) "--Charles Solomon"

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi - Vol 3
Anime.Comedy A.D. Vision
I must say that this is one of the funniest series I have seen in a while. Whith this volume, the plot continues to develop and the pieces begin to fit together. All 3 episodes on this DVD reveal a little more about this strange and surreal world that Sasshi and Arumi now find themselves in. The conection between Sasshi, Arumi, Eutus and Ms. Mune Mune is also revealed. I highly recomend this to any fan of anime that is looking for a good laugh (well it has a 17+ rating so I guess not for just anyone)
The 4th and final volume of "Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi - There's No Place Like Home" will be released on April 20th 2004. (a appropriate day to release the final volume of this crazy series, if you know what I'm talking about). If you havn't started to watch "Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi" what are you waiting for!! It's only 4 Volumes so the damage to your wallet is minimal unlike colecting some of the other 6 to 8 volume anime series. Just buy them, you wont be disapointed, I promise!
Other Recomendations:
Excel Saga, FLCL, or Burn Up Excess....

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi - Vol 4
Anime.Comedy A.D. Vision

Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden - Summer Special
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
This was a VERY refreshing addition for Mahoromatic series I & II. Taking place before The fight with Management Mahoro decides to wage a war effort to confiscate Suguru's " Secret Stash " of dirty books. All out hilarity ensues when she rectuits the girls, and it's up to Suguru to organize the boys, protect the stash and save the day! The DVD extras are great too, and feature the original Japanese Trailers for Series I and II and the summer special. A new original opening and closing, new artwork and the Mahoro figure that is included with the Box set is incredible and comes with a " angry, I think all dirty thoughts are bad face". A great special for summer indeed!

Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden - Vol 01 - Combat Maid
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
This slapstick jiggle comedy makes Steel Angel Kurumi sound like a feminist tract. Mahoro is a heroic combat android, created to fight alien invaders. As she nears her expiration date, Mahoro's given the opportunity to do whatever she likes with her remaining 398 days: she asks to become the maid of her former commander's orphan son. Middle school student Suguru lives by himself in his parents' old house. Mahoro turns the grungy dump into a spotless showplace, cooks wonderful meals, and bathes Suguru. The presence of what appears to be a cute 19-year-old girl in Suguru's house arouses the jealousy of his voluptuous, alcoholic teacher Ms. Shikijo, and the two women begin a fan service jiggle-off. The adolescent high jinks of Mahoromatic will offend many American females--and bore any male whose voice has changed. (Rated 16 and older: nudity, risqué humor, violence, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden - Vol 02 - Haunting Past
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
Problems rooted in Mahoro's past and the legacy of Suguru's parents come home to roost as this comedy-adventure continues. Mahoro wasn't just a combat android; she was Vesper's most powerful weapon against the alien invaders known as "Saint." The commanders of Vesper send the panther-like robot Slash to help protect her while she's Suguru's maid. Ryuga, the most formidable Saint android, appears at Suguru's school, posing as a teacher. But his real purpose is a rematch with Mahoro to determine who's the greatest warrior-android. And Mahoro's expiration date is rapidly approaching, as the filmmakers remind the viewer at the end of each episode. The fan service humor undercuts the drama of the situation. Alcoholic middle-school teacher Ms. Shikijo keeps jiggling after Suguru and there are lots jokes about breast size and a possible homosexual attraction between Suguru and Ryuga. (Rated 16 and older: nudity, risqué humor, violence, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden - Vol 03 - A Warrior's Fate
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
Up to now and even into the beginning of this disk, Mahoromatic has been a laugh-out-loud comedy with fleeting moments of drama and action. Now, at this point the story takes on a very dark side of Mahoro's life. Continuing the introspective moments, Mahoro decides that she is going to have to battle her old adversary, even at the expense of her own life. Because of this, she hopes to give Suguru one last dose of happiness before she disappears with very little hope of returning.The episodes that follow from this decision are some of the most heart-wrenching moments of the series. Although she still doesn't fear for her own life, Mahoro is no stranger to suffering. The story is kept a little upbeat with some flashback moments to her training and her time spent with her commanding officers. But the majority of the episodes remain dark and often quite violent.The way it all ends up is worthwile for the time being. The story is kept open with anticipation of a second season, while there is also closure of some sort for the current conflict.For me, this first season did not dissapoint me beyond the overt nudity. The comedy, drama, and action was definately enough to compensate for the fanservice pitfalls this series lands in over-and-over again. Any casual viewer would be satisfied as this being the end of the series and develop an overall conclusion to the story in their mind. But.... for me, that countdown timer will never go away.

Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful - Vol 01 - Maid in Training
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
This season picks up after everyone seems to have gotten over the confrontation from the previous finale. Everything seems to be getting back to "Normal". Suddenly a small, silent girl with multicolored hair is stalking Suguru.Introducing Minawa. Every moment she's on the screen I'm reminded of old Buster Keaton films. Her somber expression is as solid are a rock no matter what happens. Add to that her clumsiness and apologetic nature and every moment she's on the screen is an invitation to laugh and feel sorry for her at the same time. She is a tragic comedy all in one.As far as the story is concearned, nothing really happens here that doesn't involve Minawa. If it isn't enough to deal with a secret army called Vesper involved in a hidden war, now we have to deal with a secret society called Management. Minawa is somewhat a creation of this society as their scientits take sick pleasure in tampering with nature.Beyond that, it's mostly episodal comedy from here on out. Mahoro does a good job of disguising herself badly. Minawa seems to trip over everything, even nothing at all. The perverted teacher is still perverted. And all but two girls in the main cast wage war with their... ahem.... insecurities.Most of the episodes on this disk are just for fun. Technically, The Opening / Ending themes are not as enjoyable as the first season. I'm still waiting for the story to develop. But, the series has improved a bit. The humor is less sex oriented (which isn't saying much) and the introduction of Minawa and Management give this season a story without re-hashing the conflicts of the first.Again, Mahoromatic proves to be a fun series with a little bitter aftertaste. With all that's going on with everybody, one could almost not notice the countdown timer.

Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful - Vol 02 - Hectic Holidays
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
Holiday episodes!!! Love'em or hate'em, here they are. All in order and on the same disk of all things.Christmas and New Year's go by with the only revelations being Miniwa's desire for a heart. Beyond that, the episodes are full of overboard celebration and time with freinds. Mahoro especially enjoys the holidays.The real comedy comes to life with the Martial Arts festival. While it is a town tradition that Suguru is quite accustomed to, Mahoro is reluctant to allow him to participate this year. As things turn out, he finds a way to get in the action and accidently drag Mahoro and Minawa along for the ride. The end-result being the most LOL funny moment of the series. Especially for someone who grew up in the eighties.Valentine's day focuses around Suguru who has been ignored a bit lately. Valentine's day involves quite a bit of emotional pressure for guys in Japan, moreso for the ever popular Suguru. There is also a side-story involving Minawa and one of Suguru's friends that makes for some sweet tear jerking moments. It's almost as though Minawa is starting to find some humanity in herself with the coaxing of all of their friends.At this point I got very suspicious of the series because I was already aware that there was only one final disk to finish the story. The countdown timer was still apparent. And with some subtle revelations and a minor cliffhanger the story is ready to get serious again.On the surface, these are mostly throwaway episodes. But upon watching them, I found that I was able to like the characters more than ever before. One by one, each episode is making it more and more difficult to watch that countdown timer advance, even if only one more day.

Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful - Vol 03 - All Good Things
Anime.Comedy Geneon Entertainment
....leave such a deep emotional scar?Just like the third disk of the first season, we get hit with the revelations of battle, the "last date" with Suguru. And the commemcement. Again, filled with flashbacks and introspective moments, this last set of episodes make for an intense experience. As the viewer, many scenes reminded me of moments that occured over the couse of both seasons. After "living" with Mahoro, Suguru, and friends with such enjoyable memories, it all comes down to keeping Suguru away from danger. We get a deja-vu moment of "the picnic that never happened" from the first series. And we are left to our own imagination to decipher what we just saw.Saying much more than that would be too revealing of the plot. Way too many people have spoiled this story in their reviews, here and on other sites. For better or worse, I think it takes a work of genious to seed such strong emotions in an audience. Mahoromatic is that work. To quote another opinion on this series, "Mahoromatic betrays the atmosphere, andmore importantly the carefully constructed character personalities developed throughout the series." That betrayal is the finishing touch on a true work of art that breaks the rules right when everybody expects the norm. The end result being a solid polarization of the audience containing both good and bad reatcions.This series has been over the top in every way. From the beginning, it was aparrent that this story would come out no-holds-barred. Perverse, funny, corny, sweet, and upsetting. This series is an experience that I'm glad I subjected myself to.(Vague Spoiler Warning)To debunk any Television Economics Naysayers. I have seen a scan of the final page of the manga. The story wasn't butchered for the sake of television. In fact, I would conclude that Gainax merely sprinkled a little sugar on it.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Horror Sony Pictures R
Let's be honest: this should be titled "Wretched Excess' Frankenstein". Swooping, wild, bloody, and energetic, this is bad moviemaking from the best, which makes it all the more lovable. Kenneth Branagh plays Victor Frankenstein, a man so obsessed with conquering death that he decides to create life. What he gets, after a protoplasmic mud wrestle, is a Mean Streets monster (Robert De Niro) that isn't particularly happy to be back from the dead or thrilled about all the stitches. Helena Bonham Carter may, at several points in this film, actually be channeling Ramtha. The supporting cast couldn't be peopled with better performers (Tom Hulce, John Cleese, Ian Holm) but they all look like they're ringside at some Ultimate Fighting competition. A must for any midnight movie collector for the shock factor alone. A hoot. "--Keith Simanton"

The Matrix
Action.Adventure Warner Studios R
By following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the codirecting Wachowski brothers--Andy and Larry--annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. Set in the not too distant future in an insipid, characterless city, we find a young man named Neo (Keanu Reeves). A software techie by day and a computer hacker by night, he sits alone at home by his monitor, waiting for a sign, a signal--from what or whom he doesn't know--until one night, a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) seeks him out and introduces him to that faceless character he has been waiting for: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). A messiah of sorts, Morpheus presents Neo with the truth about his world by shedding light on the dark secrets that have troubled him for so long: "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad." Ultimately, Morpheus illustrates to Neo what the Matrix is--a reality beyond reality that controls all of their lives, in a way that Neo can barely comprehend. Neo thus embarks on an adventure that is both terrifying and enthralling. Pitted against an enemy that transcends human concepts of evil, Morpheus and his team must train Neo to believe that he is the chosen champion of their fight. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action, and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Reeves and Fishburne--who both turn in fine performances--much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Moss, who flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semipsychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise--a chapter that is arguably superior to the other sci-fi smash of 1999 (you know... the one starring Jar Jar Binks). --Jeremy Storey

The Matrix Reloaded
Action.Adventure Warner Home Video R
Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, "The Matrix Reloaded" triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made "The Matrix" a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive "Burly Brawl" and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with "The Matrix Revolutions". The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made "Reloaded" an explosive hit with critics "and" hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. "--Jeff Shannon"



Created using DVDpedia