DVD Review – Neon Genesis Evangelion

What they say:
At the turn of the century, the Angels returned to Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind’s last remnants moved underground to wait for the day when the Angels would come back to finish the job. Fifteen years later, that day has come… but this time, humanity is ready to fight back with terrifying bio-mechanical weapons known as the Evangelions. Now it’s up to Shinji, Rei, Asuka and the rest of the mysterious shadow agency NERV to save Earth from total annihilation!

What this Librarian says:
It’s been 15 years since the Second Impact occurred, nearly wiping humanity out of existence. Cities were destroyed and lost as the seas rose from the melting of the polar ice caps, but people survived, moving inland and rebuilding. Now 14 year old Shinji Ikari has been called to the revolutionary city Tokyo-3 by his father and his organization NERV, and the teen is expected to do something nearly impossible. He must learn to pilot the Evangelion along with Rei and Asuka to defend the earth from creatures known as Angels in order to prevent the occurrence of the Third Impact.

But there are organizations behind NERV, controlling things from the shadows and what you know might not be the truth. As full of intrigue as it is giant robots, this series is one of the best to ever come out of Japan. Evangelion can be tough to watch; the use of some extremely detailed Biblical references can be missed, and often are because of how they are presented during the course of the series. However, Evangelion is worth the effort, though the final two episodes may come off as a bit disappointing and more confusing than the rest of the series put together. There is a follow up film to further explain the final two episodes, but due to content it’s rated for 17+ or R.

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rating: 15+
Year: 1995 (Japan), 1998 (USA)

DVD Review – Naruto : The Lost Story

What they say:
Naruto and the others arrive at the Village Hidden in the Waterfall on an escort mission for Shibuki, the young leader of the village. Things seem peaceful until Kakashi leaves on urgent business and the village is attacked by Suien. Suien is a former Hidden Waterfall jonin, and his band of rogue ninja are after the village treasure, Hero’s Water. Now Naruto must join forces with cowardly Shibuki and show him what it means to be a hero!

What this Librarian says:
A short side-story, this film is just more Naruto, and if you are a fan of the series, you probably should see it if you haven’t already. In the style of most anime films based off of running TV series, The Lost Story really doesn’t fit anywhere easily. Meaning it doesn’t tie into one particular moment in the run of the TV series, only that it most likely occurs before the Chunin Exam arc of the series.

But for any fan of Naruto, seeing the teen ninja pull off his usual last minute miracle can make for a fun time. This is one of several short Naruto films or OAVs from the Jump Festa series.

Information:
Runtime: 40 minutes
Rating: 13+
Year: 2004 (Japan), 2007 (USA)

DVD Review – Gurren Lagann Part 3

What they say:
Seven years have passed since the final battle against Lordgenome and the Beastmen. Mankind is now thriving on the surface of the planet. Lordgenome’s fallen capital has now become humanity’s new capital, Kamina City, and lead by Simon and the other members of Team Dai-Gurren. The suffering of the people forced to live underground seems like a distant memory.

Instead of struggling to survive day after day, Simon now finds himself dealing with civic duties of keeping the residents of the metropolis happy. However, true to Lordgenome’s final words, when the population of humans on the planet reaches 1,000,000 people, an even greater threat falls upon mankind. Now, up against an unknown enemy and obstacles in every direction he turns, Simon must fight against destiny to save the woman he loves and all of mankind once again in the process!

What this Librarian says:
Seven years has past since Team Dai-Gurren beat Lordgenome and freed the underground cities. Simon has managed in those few years to build a new city for all the people, but now the young man is trapped as the head of government, a situation that leaves him feeling bored and stifled. As peaceful as things are Lordgenome’s final words about how the population can not exceed 1,000,000 or destruction will follow still haunt Rossui and other members of the old team.

When the population suddenly hits 1,000,000 with the birth of one new baby, the warning suddenly becomes reality when the moon itself starts to fall toward the planet surface. To make matters worse for Simon; Nia just as suddenly disappears, only to reappear on the side of the Anti-Spiral races, the people who are causing the moon to tumble to earth. Simon now must fight a war on multiple fronts against both the people he once saved, but now blame him for the current mess, and against the Anti-Spirals, who wish only to wipe humanity from existence. And if Simon is going to have any hope of winning, he’s going to have to rely on the very people he fought so hard against, Viral and Lordgenome.

Series information:
Episodes: 27
Rating: 14+
Year: 2007 (Japan), 2008 (USA)

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be December 16th from 5-6pm. We’ll be watching episodes 13 and 14 of xxxHolic.

About episodes 13 and 14:

Transfiguration
Watanuki begins investigating a classmate, whose behavior has grown strange. But Watanuki  is the only one that can see a odd pair of wings that have suddenly sprouted from her back. Do these have anything to do with her outbursts and do Watanuki and Doumeki have a chance to save her from her inevitable fate?

Seal
Out helping Yuuko with some shopping, Watanuki sees twin girls. Watanuki senses something slightly off about the two teens. Later, Yuuko explains that words have incredible power.  Have the twins been harming each other with the power of their words on purpose or accident. Later, Watanuki and Doumeki run into the twins and agree to a double date.

DVD Review – Shonen Onmyouji Volume 4

What they say:
Amidst the apparitions and spirits of dead people running rampant in the middle of the city, Masahiro finds the ghost of a border guard wandering about. When he tries to put him to rest, Masahiro ends up getting possessed instead. Meanwhile, Mokkun has been acting strange – and the timing couldn’t be worse, since the demon Mokkun had failed to capture kidnaps Masahiro’s niece!

What this Librarian says:
The spirits of the restless dead are wandering the capital, and only Masahiro and his grandfather Seimei have the strength needed to deal with this many ghosts. While Masahiro, Guren, Tenitsu and Rikugo head out to save Toshitsugu, one of Masahiro’s fellow students at the Onmyou dorms, from one of the more powerful ghosts woken by Kazane, the strange woman from the previous volume. While Masahiro’s team is busy trying to exorcize the powerful and angry spirit without harming Toshitsugu, Seimei is working to guard the capital with the help of his remaining shikigami.

Once the hard work is done, it’s up to Masahiro and Mokkun to resume their nightly rounds in the city, looking for any remaining ghosts from Kazane’s trap. But when Masahiro makes a rookie mistake he ends up possessed by one of the spirits he was attempting to help! And to top off all this craziness, Mokkun has been acting really weird, avoiding Masahiro’s elder brother, Narachika, and his new baby. What could Mokkun’s problem be?

Series Information:
Episodes: 26
Rated: 13+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2007 (USA)

DVD Review – Gurren Lagann Part 2

What they say:
In their battle against the armies of Lordgenome, Team Dai-Gurren has suffered a crippling blow. Simon must now pull himself together and emerge from the depths of depression in which he finds himself wallowing. Will a chance meeting with a beautiful Nia, found inside a discarded crate, be the key to getting Simon back on his feet? And who is the mysterious girl and what is her connection to Lordgenome?

What this Librarian says:
The second part of this series starts with a tragedy, and Simon is left weary and without direction. In an effort to make amends for his mistakes in the battle to steal the battleship Dai-Ganzan, Simon throws himself mindlessly into each fight, putting himself and all of Team Gurren at risk. When Simon finds the beautiful, if slightly ditzy, Nia locked in a box, will this be the catalyst he needs? And just what is Nia’s connection to the Spiral King, Lordgenome?

As Team Gurren makes their way to the Beastman capital, Teppelin and closer to the final conflict with the Spiral King, Simon is continually locked in combat with both Lordgenome’s Generals and with the Beastman known as Viral, who constantly attacks Simon, thinking that Kamina is still piloting Gurren. Fending off daily attacks, will Team Gurren be able to pull off the victory of a lifetime and save the underground cities?

Series information:
Episodes: 27
Rating: 14+
Year: 2007 (Japan), 2008 (USA)

DVD Review – Shonen Onmyouji Volume 3

What they say:
Masahiro desperately looks for Kyuki as Akiko prepares for her upcoming examinations. As he wanders the city day and night he ends up collapsing from exhaustion. While he is recovering, he has a vision where Kyuki forces him to make a choice: work for him and he will grant his deepest desire. The decision is his to make, will he take the path of least resistance or choose the higher road

What this Librarian says:
The final battle with Kyuki and the foreign demons has arrived, and both Masahiro and his grandfather must work together to keep his devilish trap from destroying everything Masahiro has worked so hard to protect. But will Masahiro’s fledgling skills be enough to stop Kyuki once and for all? And who is this woman, skilled at onmyou spells, and what would possess her to start waking the spirits of the restless dead?

Series Information:
Episodes: 26
Rated: 13+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2007 (USA)

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be December 2nd from 5-6pm. We’ll be watching episodes 11 and 12 of xxxHolic.

About episodes 11 and 12:

Confession
Watanuki has made ohagi as a summer treat for Yuuko. Yuuko saves one box of the sweet rice for Watanuki to give to someone important. Planning on giving it to Himawari, Watanuki instead runs into Doumeki first, who eats the whole thing. While the two are arguing, a strange girl appears out of nowhere and takes Doumeki’s soul!

Summer Shadow
Watanuki, Yuuko, Doumeki, and Himawari head off for a vacation together at a small cottage on the beach. When strange things begin happening, Watanuki is willing to write them off as just his imagination. That is until he wakes up in the middle of the night to strange  noises. Will Watanuki chose to investigate alone, and just who or what has been hiding in the house all this time?