5 comments about Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Volume 03 (Special Edition).

1. This set contains episodes nine through twelve of the first series/season from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. This third volume is probably the low point in the series; not necessarily bad, but not particularly exciting or interesting - at least at first. Two involve plots with the Laughing Man, one very obvious, the other not so much until the end. Another plot thread involving the AI tanks, the Tachikomas, also comes to the fore and really makes it mark later in the series.
   
   Here is an episode summary (in order, with some spoilers if you hadn't seen the previous episode):
   
   CHAT! CHAT! CHAT!: Admittedly it would be extremely hard to make twenty minutes of animation mostly involving a virtual chat room exciting or even interesting. After the events of the previous episodes involving Section 9's investigation into the Laughing Man, the Major decides to consult with others interested in the legendary hacker figure. Appearing in a virtual chat room at Virtual City Alpha (in a different form), Kusanagi participates in a varied debate over the origins of the Laughing Man, his supposed return, the change in behavior (the assassination announcement), and the phenomenon of the stand alone complex. While the background of the original appearance of the Laughing Man is fleshed out and some questions from the previous episodes are answered, not a lot really happens here and it's just that - a lot of talk.
   
   JUNGLE CRUISE: A serial killer appears in Japan, gruesomely skinning his victims alive in a T-shirt style pattern. Unfortunately for Batou, the pattern is very familiar, bringing up a lot of memories he'd probably rather forget. Even more unfortunately for Batou, two CIA agents show up and really don't help matters any. It is interesting to note that, in a flashback sequence, Batou appears as he did in the original manga (with short, cropped hair). Not a bad episode all around - the CIA agents show up rather unexpectedly in the second season.
   
   PORTRAITZ: Togusa gets assigned an undercover job at an institution for sufferers of closed cyberbrain syndrome - mostly kids but a few adults as well. There are some strange things happening. Parts of the episode can be confusing and may require a second viewing (but you bought it on DVD so you're in luck). Pay close attention the various literary passages, they work on a number of levels. Parts of this episode closely resemble the first issue of the manga.
   
   ESCAPE FROM: The episode title represents two halves of stories involving escapism. The first half involves a Tachikoma who inadvertently activates in the middle of the night and, child-like curiosity taking the best of it, decides to go out on a jaunt. In the second half, the Tachikoma evidently returned to Section 9 where it is underdoing a strict examination. In its misadventures, the Tachikoma managed to shoplift a junk cyberbrain that seemingly traps anyone that dives into it - in a movie theater. Another episode that seemingly doesn't go anywhere, though the oddness of the Tachikomas becomes a new plot twist.
   
   Obviously this isn't the best selection of episodes, and unfortunately in a complete series a limited number of episodes (in order) sometimes isn't the best way to get a sampling of the show. This is one of those circumstances and is the only reason why I'm giving this particular volume three stars. The animation remains excellent though somewhat varied (PORTRAITZ is definitely the best in this volume), and the sound is superb. This volume comes with interviews with the voice talent behind Batou (Akio Otsuka) and the series sound director (Kazuhiro Wakabayashi).
   
   The deluxe version comes with the original release, a second DVD with a DTS 5.1 sound version of the show, and a T-shirt featuring the art from the volume cover (Motoko's online persona, though the art resembles the manga more than the anime).



2. I was hesitant to start collecting Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex because I had watched the first 8 episodes and was not totally convinced to buy it. Well, I collapsed and gave in after seeing the episodes on this disc. The show never ceases to amaze me at how intelligent it is and in the writing. This is quite possibly the best series of anything, ever. And this disc proves it.



3. 
   I'll admit to you that I love to watch Adult Swim, and I'll also admit that I like certain types of anime. No, I'm not one of those nerdy card-trading Poke'mon lovers, I'm a young adult who likes to use my imagination in my down time. I like anime that's made for adults like: Big O!, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Outlaw Star, Tenchi and Ghost in the shell.
   
   I was watching either watching Family Guy or Aqua Teen Hunger Force when I saw previews for this show start to air on Adult Swim, I thought thought it looked cool, it featured what looked to me like a cool futuristic take on robots and the humans that are seamlessly integrated with cybornetics to make them almost immortal, But I didn't know the half of it.
   
   What I got was a cyber-punk version of the old black-and-white film noir mysteries. The series receives its subtitle from a theoretical mental complex attributed to the adaptation of cybernetics into the mass public. In the story, 'stand alone complex' is said to describe copies with no original and is portrayed by copycat crimes with no original criminal, or in other words, an imaginary criminal. It also refers to the structure of each episode: Each episode can be viewed independently of each other, and there is little catch-up (if at all) given in each episode to keep the viewer up to date.
   
   Taking place in a fictional city of Japan called "Niihama-shi" (New Port City) in the year 2030, Stand Alone Complex tells the story of a special operations task-force called Public Security Section 9, or simply "Section 9". The series follows the exploits of Section 9's agents who range from ex-military to ex-police as they address each case and how it affects them on a personal level, eventually leading to the mysterious figure dubbed by the media as "The Laughing Man".
   
   Public Security Section 9 is an elite domestic anti-crime unit tasked with the charge of preemptive prevention of technology-related acts of terrorism and crime. Their duties include response to serious cyber crimes (i.e. Cyberbrain hacking, cyber-terrorism), investigation of unlawful acts of those in public office and of high profile murder cases. From time-to-time they also serve as protection to foreign VIPs.
   
   If you have seen the movie then you know that the TV series differs from the cinema adaptation in its focus upon issues created by the advance of technology. Instead of the intensely focused and personal examination of technology, presented is a look at society and technology as a larger whole. The series of 26 half-hour TV episodes has a larger budget of time to explore the concepts and ideas found in the original manga. In comparison to the film version, the series is considered by many to be easier to understand. Also, in comparison, the series can be found to be closer to the manga; due to the presence of some humor, the usage of the Tachikomas (Fuchikomas in the manga, and referred to simply as "tanks" in the one scene a derivant version makes an appearance in), the design of the characters, and also, the usage of the characters Paz, Bouma and Saito. Stand Alone Complex exhibits the accumulated experience and expertise of Production I.G. in their application of computer generated imagery. This is evident in their digital color grading, environmental effects, and cell-shaded computer models. Their work has been highly praised for its subtle contribution to a scene, which adds greatly to the atmosphere.
   
   I think a lot of people will try to compare this to Cowboy Bebop as with so many other anime and mangas, but that's foolish. Stand Alone Complex is no better or worse than Cowboy Bebop, it's just a different story, different style, different sets of charactors and there places.
   
   if you like anime or manga you'll definitely like this show. It's complex, has views on modern terrorism and how to deal with it, and not to mention the technology! Even if you don't watch anime just give a chance and take it for what it is.



4. 
   I would rate the show as 5 stars, this is a review of the extras and features of the Special Edition issue.
   I recently bought all the Special Edition releases of "Stand Alone Complex" after trying to research what I was going to get as extras not included in the regular edition. I found the listings on Amazon's product details to be a little confusing and incomplete on some of the volumes so I decided to write this guide for others trying to decide. I'm not going to review the "Ghost in the Shell" episodes or the series in general because there are so many excellent reviews already on this site, and most of you probably know about this great anime TV series already. There are various other reviews that say that some of the DVD's and CD's have errors on them and Bandai will replace them with corrected discs if you send them in for exchange. I have not ran into problems yet, although I haven't gone through the whole series either. And I will also state that I love the TV series as well as both movies, but I would recommend the Imported Region 2 version of GITS2:Innocence if you have a region free DVD player. Dreamworks really messed up that release omiting the English dub and putting Hard of Hearing subtitles instead of regular ones on the early issues of that movie. Most people find them very distracting and annoying.
   
   First off the discs themselves, you get two DVD discs in each volume with the same episodes on both discs. Volumes 1-5 have 4 episodes each, 6 and 7 have 3 episodes each making 26 episodes total in the series. Both discs are Anamorphic wide screen encoded directly from the High-Definition Masters. Both Discs also have English subtitles. Each set also has two interviews with voice cast or someone associated with the production of the anime, and a printed DVD insert pamphlet or booklet with different interviews and such for each volume. All discs are Region 1.
   
   Disc one has Dolby Digital 5.1 in Japanese and English, and Dolby Digital 2.0 in English and Japanese.
   
   Disc two has DTS 5.1 in English and Japanese and a Dolby Digital 2.0 English track.
   
   Volumes 1 and 2 include soundtrack CD's of the music of Yoko Kanno, the most excellent and versatile composer of the music in the TV series. Anime lovers know her work from the many fine soundtracks that she's done for countless other anime movies and TV series.
   
   Volume 3 has a Black XL Fruit of the Loom Tee-Shirt with the section 9 logo on the front and a Major Kusanagi graphic on the back. Nice shirt!
   
   Volumes 4 and 5 have a collectable I.D. cards for a section 9 member.
   
   Volume 6 has a Black XL Fruit of the Loom Tee-Shirt with the section 9 logo on the front and a Batou graphic on the back, and another I.D. card. Nice shirt again!
   
   Volume 7 has another Tee-Shirt! This time it's a White XL with the section 9 logo on the front, and the Laughing Man logo on the back! Once again nice shirt! It also comes with a tin box that's supposed to hold all 7 volumes of the DVD set. I was excited about getting the box but when it arrived I was disappointed with the design. It's kind of like the rectangular lunch box that you used to take to school as a kid, without the handle and latch. Its also of a thinner metal that dents easily. It has marketing type of printing on the backside that pertains to vol. 7 only, and the DVD cases stack inside one on top of the other. The spines of the cases are not visible when you open the box, only the front of the last case you put in. So you have to take all the cases out of the tin to get to a specific volume. There's also not room for the cardboard sleves that the DVD's were in when you got the individual volumes, and no room for the soundtrack CD's either. All said, I was disappointed with the box. Because of it's odd dimensions it doesn't stack in well with my DVD library. I would have much preferred the normal five sided box that usually comes with DVD sets.
   
   Overall I'd say it's worth it to buy volumes 3, 6 and 7 new to get the shirts if they interest you and pick up the others used if you can to save some money on the series. That is if you're interested in the DTS soundtrack options. I much prefer the DTS mixes to Dolby Digital and wanted the soundtrack CD's as well. Also the cardboard boxes that come with volumes 3 and 6 are better than the tin box to store your set in when you complete the series, if you stack them on shelves one row of DVD's on top of another row, and you can fit the movies into those boxes as well to fill them the rest of the way.



5. This is what you would expect from the team that makes this awsome film and series! Visuals are as always, Top notch in the anime world, with thought provoking story lines, that make it so you can't wait to watch the next episode in the series. If you like you anime like i do with realistic looking charaters, and just alaround good damn movie. you have to have this in your collection, along with the whole series!

3 comments about Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 03 (Episodes 9-12).

1. This volume gets right to the heart of the plot, and raises important questions. Who really is Gohda? Where is the next refugee threat coming from? Who tried to kill the Prime Minster, and what roll does he play in the Individual Eleven? Is there a terrorist virus causing another stand alone complex? Can Togusa finds his way clear of criminal charges? Also, we all know The Major, but what of her past?
   
   Disc: 4 episodes in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (English and Japanese)
   
   Episodes:
   1. Ambivalence
   2. Trial
   3. Affection
   4. Selecon
   
   Upcoming Releases:
   Ghost in the Shell: SAC Official Log 1 - scheduled release date 10/25/05
   Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2nd GIG Vol. 3 - scheduled release date 1/26/06
   
   NOTE - If you see any anime items for sale that seem to cheap, they are BOOTLEGS. DO NOT BUY!



2. Wow this volume of the second gig series is sweet. There is a ton of action in all the episodes and the CG sequences are better than ever. Furthermore, you also finally get clued-in on the majors past and who Goda is.
   
   The sound/music of this dvd is amazing. In these 4 episodes, more so than the last 8, the producers have heavily mixed in some of the best and mostly unheard of, GITS OST music scores- over the action and over the dialogue, making each episode have more of a movie like flow.
   
   Also what's even more impressive is that for the first time, in a long while, you actually get to see a fully CG animated ghost dive.
   
   Now as for the Tachikoma's, they are in full force in this DVD, however, there jobs are a bit different than usual, they get to help the Section 9 crew ghost dive!, yea and there humor is also intact in this volume as well.
   
   As I said before, very impressive for a continuation of the series, definitely a must see



3. This is what you would expect from the team that makes this awsome film and series! Visuals are as always, Top notch in the anime world, with thought provoking story lines, that make it so you can't wait to watch the next episode in the series. If you like you anime like i do with realistic looking charaters, and just alaround good damn movie. you have to have this in your collection, along with the whole series!

5 comments about Patlabor 1 - Mobile Police.

1. this is a smart mecha tronic movie
   i like azuma shinohara and noah izumi
   this is a brilliant movie,even though i did not see the series
   they say the 'd' word a few times but this movie is so cool!



2. I need to start by saying I have not watched anything but the Patlabor Movies so I have no clue what the series is all about. I also need to say that I bought this film on the heels of watching Macross Plus, my favorite anime EVER, and was expecting an action mech film. Boy was I suprised.
   
   The first time I watched this, I literally fast forwarded through most of it to get the the action. Imagine my dismay when I got there and there seemed to be NONE! I threw down the movie in disgust and left.
   
   Weeks later my friend who got me into Anime saw it and asked to watch it. I told him I thought it was crap but why not. This time...I actually watched the movie and I was blown away with its deep story, amazing imagination and palpable theme of discovery and mystery. For plot line and story, look at the other reviews, I'm just here to give opinion.
   
   Patlabor uses Labors, or mecha, not as show stealing engines of destruction but as obvious evolutions of police enforcement. As such, there is no flashy gundam style energy exchange or more deliberate destruction of the mechwarrior fame. But what you do get is a deep plot of industrial espionage, mysterious dissapearences and a suprisingly realistic look at what future law enforcement would actually look like, detective work too.
   
   In the end, I realized that all anime need not be about amazing action. Patlabor has a pretty good action scene towards the end but that is not why I suggest this movie. I say watch this because it shows what anime can also bring to our DVD players. A well written, well studied movie that would probably crash at the box office because everyone expects it to shoot stuff.



3. I have a small collection of anime which is growing exponentially now, thanks in part to my renewed interest in the genre after viewing this film. What seperates this from many anime is it unique use of the Mecha of "Labors" in its plot, instead of just the same robot battle fair that we've all seen. The movie does not centure around action but around the actual story and the characters as they work together (and sometimes against each other) to solve the big mystery in time to stop the terrible threat to Tokyo and possibly the entire world.



4. This is the way "Patlabor 1" _should_ have been treated in an English-language release. This film is the foundation of Mamoru Oshii's signature style, which would be perfected in "Patlabor 2" and then reach international attention with the later "Ghost in the Shell" and "Innocence" features.
   
   The new translation of the dialogue offers far more detail than the old version from the late '90s by Manga Entertainment, Bandai Visual USA seems to have really wanted to make a mark with this first release for the new company, and they achieved this.
   
   The film itself is a classic Oshii blend of philosophy and action, based upon the characters he helped introduce with the "Patlabor: The Original Series" OVA, but turning the focus of the show from the adventures of the Patlabor cast to an introspective look at where Tokyo (and humanity in general) was heading. Many elements were far ahead of their time; today threats of killer computer viruses are common; all of us deal with them in our email accounts, but in 1989 the internet was in its early public infancy, and the idea of someone creating a virus to spread death and destruction was a fantastic concept. The fact that humanity's inventions could so easily be taken from their pure helpful purposes and turned to nefarious ends was a relatively new idea, one which challenged the prevailing viewpoint that humanity would only be helped and assisted by its new technological creations.
   
   This release sets a new standard for how high-profile titles should be released, and I hope that it is a precedent that will be followed commonly. The documentaries on the extra disc were a little underwhelming compared to the standards set by Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" or even the well-conceived and excuted making-of documenatries that came with Pioneer/Geneon's "WXIII: Patlabor 3" special edition release.
   
   But the 184-page Patlabor Archives book is a treasure for those interested in how and why "Patlabor 1" turned out the way it did, detailing much of the history of the film, why it is so different in tone from the Patlabor OVAs and TV series, and the innovative ways that Oshii used to turn the city of Tokyo itself into one of the central characters of the film. I read the entire booklet before watching the new version of the film, and it changed the way I viewed the movie, made me far more conscious of the social commentary that is in fact one of the film's central themes.
   
   The storyboard is another gem for those who are interested in the process of how an idea for a film is translated into a finished work, and even glancing through it made me more conscious of some of the finer details in the film, things which are so subtle that they may escape detection even after multiple viewings, but because they were specifically laid out in the storyboards were deliberately placed to enhance some aspects of the film.
   
   Is this Limted Edition of the film necessary to enjoy the picture? No, it's not. Get the new version of the basic movie if all you're interested in is a great thinking-man's movie with a few heart-pounding action sequences thrown in for variety's sake (it _is_ a mecha anime on the surface, after all). The basic film of this Bandai Visual USA version is far superior to the old Manga Entertainment one; if you already own that, you might consider picking up this one, anyway, because this translation mentions an awful lot of details that were left out of Manga's version. But the Limited Edition's special features will probably only be of interest to the devoted anime and Patlabor fans, for its illumination of how the anime industry and Mamoru Oshii actually work.
   
   The downside of this, for those who have been following Patlabor for a long time, is that this is the fourth complete English-language cast for the Patlabor characters, a result of four different companies having been responsible for releasing this over time (Manga Entertainment doing the original versions of the first two movies, US Manga Corps doing the OVAs and TV Series, and Pioneer/Geneon doing WXIII: Patlabor 3).



5. Pros: The only Patlabor movie worth keeping, more action, Kanuka Klancy makes an appearance, the robots, and the storyline.
   
   Cons: The finale and Shinobu.
   
   Final Verdict: It's worth it, but don't waste your time on the sequels.

5 comments about Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 01 (Special Edition).

1. Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell- in all of its incarnations- is an exceptionally literate and stimulating franchise. But the best of these incarnations is the second season of Stand Alone Complex, directed by Mamoru Oshii. Even at the most superficial level, the visual and sound design of the series are pathbreaking. But Shirow's vision for the manga was deeply informed by artificial intelligence theory and philosophy of mind. This series continues to explore these themes, even as Oshii has added on layers of international politics, speculative history, diplomacy, systems theory, law, bureacratic infighting, Japanese culture. The final product is even richer intellectual and dramatic material than its closest rival, the new Battlestar Galactica. Unlike the Matrix, this series gets better with each installment, with a bit more of the puzzle revealed in each installment. This is because - also unlike the Matrix- there is a POINT. This is not an endless symposium on the dualing natures of technology and humanity, it is thesis-driven and these questions are ultimately RESOLVED. The stories are so complex and the pace of the series is so quick that many viewers complain that it is impossible to follow. But this is merely an invitation to multiple viewings, and they repay the effort with interest.



2. As a fan of the Matrix, Stargate, and other Sci-Fi type films, I was given as vol. 5 of 2nd Gig, as a gift by a well intentioned, but uniformed family member. I think the person thought it was the entire season, so did I when I opened it, but as you know, or learn, there are 3 episodes per volume.
   
   Review of the story, the concept is not new, but very inventive in the twist on the Bionic Man (6 million dollar man) story from the US series in the 70's, staring Lee Majors. Additionally, with the fame of secret service, government intelligence drama, (Tom Clancy's CIA, Broccoli's 007, the many KGB stories, Israeli Mossad, Japan has entered the mix with its own fictional (or is it) "Section 9" of the Public Safety Ministry. Like their Anglo counter parts, this supper secret agency answer only to the Japanese Prime minister, has lots of high tech gadgetry, even more heavy duty fire power, and more importantly, a very keen nose for high level government corruption and conspiracy.
   One of the more notable plot devices used by the author is the "tochcoma" which is not a fancy car, not an invisible submarine, nor a super plane or helicopter, though Section 9 does possess all those things, what a tochcoma is, only the Japanese could think this up, a "think tank," in the literal since of the phrase. It is a tank, which can think, talk, solve problems, follow you around like a 20 ton puppy, and of course, save the day with a 88mm howitzer when everything else in your bag seems to fail. The tochcoma does provide both a sub plot of its own, and at the same time, becomes a vehicle to move the main along with the story begins to drag. The author, similar to Tom Clancy, likes to have lots of elaborate complex dialog essentially to explain, "why are we here?" The author does take a serious look a possible future of the world and technology in the same vein Blade Runner. If you like Blade Runner, you will probably enjoy this too. The only criticism I can offer is, the author, in an effort to explore the plight of the refugees, does not explain in more detail, the plight of the refugees. The refugee protagonist, is not in fact a refugee, but a mysterious enigma of nobility who was part of the original research in prosthetics, same as the Major, the female good guy protagonist. There are some other minor plot flaws that we could discuss, but not necessarily debilitating to the story. Besides, it is the flaws in literature, that makes it worth discussion. Overall, this is an excellent piece of work for television, home theater that is worth watching, often more than once. Take note of the opening theme, which the lyrics are in Latin, English and Russian, with subtitles, this is novel, and quite interesting.



3. 2nd gig picks up storywise where the last left off. Section 9 is given the opportunity to get another mission. However it has to be executed perfect, because the public hasn't forgot the scandal they were behind at the end of the last series. All the characters from the first season has returned. So far the stories is pretty interesting. I enjoyed all of them even though its not guns blazin every episode. The soundtrack is alot better to me this time. Especially the end theme. I can hear it over and over. The dvd has 4 episodes with some extras. I haven't seen the later episodes yet because this time I'm waiting for the boxset to drop. Usually if I really get into a series I wont wait for the collection. But right now I'm checking out a few different shows that to me are far better than this. If your already a fan, and you enjoyed the last season plus the movie. Then your most likely going to enjoy this one.



4. I own both the Ghost in the Shell movies, and both complete series. They are very intelligent and very well scripted stories. The first movie, especially, is a masterpiece. If you are into linear, simple action ANIME, you may not like these, because (especially in the two GIGs) the story is very complicated.
   
   I purchased the 2nd GIG from eBay, where I ordered a very inexpensive box which included the complete series. I am writing this review mostly to warn you against doing this, or at least so that you know what you are likely to purchase if you do as I did. The box is, I believe, a copyrighted original, which is much cheaper than the products sold by Amazon because the box is an Asian import. The video quality is good, as well as the sound. There is no dubbing, so all the dialogues are in Japanese, but I don't care about this, and actually I think the Japanese versions are much better than the English versions anyway, because the Japanase actors involved in this sort of production are much better professional than the 2nd or 3rd rate folks who dub the US versions.
   
   So, where is the problem? The SUBTITLES... In the cheap complete box I purchased the subtitles of many (fortunately not all) episodes are so bad that you often literally CANNOT understand what the characters are talking about. Sometimes you can clearly infer that the characters are saying the OPPOSITE of what the subtitle suggests. Grammar and syntax are all over the place, and there are sometimes words which are just made up. It is clear that the translation was done by a Japanese with a VERY poor knowledge of the English language, and no one English-speaking professional was consulted. I was surprised by this, because I purchased an equally cheap complete box of the first GIG, and in that case the translation was spotless. But you truly have to consider that if you buy a cheap box for the 2nd GIG chances are you will end up with a hardly comprehensible series, and given the complexity of the storyline, this will seriously affect your ability to enjoy your purchase.
   
   This said, AS FAR AS I COULD UNDERSTAND, the 2nd GIG is excellent, even if I have the feeling that the first had better artwork. Anyway, it's still a very stimulating ANIME story, but just make sure you know what you are buying if you decide to go ahead with the purchase.



5. This is what you would expect from the team that makes this awsome film and series! Visuals are as always, Top notch in the anime world, with thought provoking story lines, that make it so you can't wait to watch the next episode in the series. If you like you anime like i do with realistic looking charaters, and just alaround good damn movie. you have to have this in your collection, along with the whole series!

5 comments about Armitage - Dual Matrix (Special Edition).

1. While not as gritty as the original series, Dual Matrix makes for a good follow up. The animation is crisp and very good. The story was great as well. What got me was some of the extended and drawn out sequences at the end with the evil robots. They just felt too long.
   
   Naomi still knows how to dish it out!



2. As with the OVAs, I feel that there is not a whole lot to this anime. I feel that is could have been much better with more antagonists to be delt with and the ones already there not so easily delt with. I still think that some people could enjoy it thus the three-star rating.



3. Standard man creates monster scenario.
   
   Humans create robot sophisticaed enough to pass off as human, the most advanced ones can conceive a child with the help of a human male. Much like in the animatrix, things escalate to the point were we must question if these robots are just tools, or individuals with minds of their own and our resposibility to them.
   
   Cover ups, sabotage, banishment & discrimination, and love. Love being the strongest point of these stories. Both self preservation and mutual love.
   
   The action is decent, the story line-I believe to be fairly solid and understandable. I tell you about the story because I believe that adds most of the intensity to this movie. I'd say maybe 1/7 to 1/5 of these movies are action sequences, and their done quite well, but that wasn't the selling point for me.



4. As others have mentioned, these two discs/videos stand on their own; it's not necessary to be familiar with the character of Armitage beforehand. The cell work is somewhat average, certainly at this point in time (2008), and the soundtrack/music really don't stand out. English dubbing for both is second-rate: Even though Keifer Sutherland and Juliette Lewis provide voices to the two main characters (Keifer in Armitage III and Juliette in Armitage), they sound like they're reading a passage from a book, and put little, if any, feeling into their lines.
   The script is cliche, and the characters' actions don't reflect their supposed experience/intelligence or capabilities: why would someone who was previously a police detective take his daughter on trip to a conference involving a politically volatile issue (robot rights), when he's already seen the lengths the government will go to in order to suppress information? Potential for assassination or hostage-taking, anyone? I've read reviews indicating that Armitage III is a hack of a four-part anime series, and about an hour was cut out. That might explain the jerky plot, though it doesn't excuse the script



5. Armitage wasn't good to begin with. This sequel was definitly not needed and added nothing new. The only thing this one has going for it is the action. The action scenes to me are far more engaging this time around. And thats the only strength, seriously.
   
   I won't even get detailed with the story or plot because it really doesn't deserve it. The computer animation was way overdone and several scenes were too still. This is truly a movie that should be skipped. I only recommend this to those type of fans who has never seen a bad anime in thier life.

1 comments about Armitage III: OVA.

1. Armitage III is an amazing story that takes many of the themes of blade runner and takes them in different directions, the reviews of the story itself are already out there so I'll make this review of the OVA specifically vs. the movie Poly-matrix. First of all, it's longer, about 80 minutes of footage was cut for the movie across the four episodes, the end result is a series that feels much less rushed and offers a bit more time for character development and further elaboration on certain plot points. There are a few scenes that they added or changed in poly-matrix so if you've seen that don't be surprised if there's something that turns out differently. The biggest difference between the two as far as scenes go is the ending, they both have the same point to get across, but I believe that poly-matrix did it better, just my opinion. Then there's the voice acting, for the movie they got Kiefer Sutherland and Elizabeth berkely to voice the two main characters, and they were fantastic. The OVA unfortunately had to rely on a smaller budget and lesser-known voice actors, who still do a wonderful job, but Kiefer Sutherlands rendition of Ross is, in my opinion, much better than the actor in the OVA. The end result, if you want a more complete, more developed and just overall longer Armitage experience, pick up the OVA, but don't skip the movie just because it's shorter, it is a wonderful experience on its own.

5 comments about Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 02 (Episodes 5-8).

1. the fast pace of the first Second gig dvd has sorta hit a wall with these 4 episodes, while there a must to see to know whats going on in the story...theres alot of talking going on...however there are some action moments and the tachikoma mini series is still funney as ever...



2. I like this installment better than either 2nd GIG Vol.1 or the last installment of the first season.
   The potential of this series can be best illustrated by the use of Hideo Kuze in the "Inductance" episode.
   Strangely, the scope of the entire season seems to be apparent by the 8th episode ( Fake Food ). This is reminiscent of the appearance of Aoi in the 11th episode of the first season. It makes me wonder: is the series going to meander in "stand-alone" type episodes for three installments or so, before finishing with the inevitable conclusion?
   
   There are the usual bumps in the road... I don't know if it's the subtitle translation or what, but I sometimes feel like the script is contradicting itself. For example: a bunch of groups calling themselves the Individual Eleven, who never identified themselves as the Individual Eleven. Huh?!
   
   One more thing: the huge amount of audio "hiss" during the character design features. I don't recall this from earlier chapters. Oh well.



3. this is a great series, its very intense and the story line is great. People complain about the long complicated parts and if you don't like that kinda stuff this isn't the show for you. Although the DVD could have a bit more extra's, but it doesnt matter to most since the show is so cool. The tachicomo robot things are kinda annoying



4. Section 9 is used to being a covert offensive agency, but it seems more and more like they are the lackies of another intelligence service run by the hideously malformed Kazundo Gohda. He's turned them into errand boys and one luciously figured errand girl. When the new Prime Minister receives a death threat connected to the "Individual Eleven" terrorists who want more rights for the refugees in the city slums, Section 9 are called on as a protection squad. Togusa strikes out on his own to follow a hunch about a murdered worker that will lead him into the bombed out ruins of old Tokyo to a government secret involving long forgotten nuclear weapons, which will eventually bring in the rest of his comrades. All the while, the team is looking for any way to track down any of the Eleven, but it seems like forces in the government and military are trying to put a short leash on their investigation.
   
   2nd Gig continues a much darker and less episodic storyline than the first season. Instead of being stand-alone episodes, these four installments help to build up a pretty epic plot which documents a conspiracy which seems to have Section 9 as one of its targets, while using urban unrest to further its secret aims. The awesome animation combined with even more realistic character designs than last season give GITS a filmic or live television feel that is at times humbling. There is a lot of character development, especially in an exchange between Togusa and Batou in which it is revealed that cyborgs can't even eat the same foods as humans anymore, which leads to a subtle discussion of what you lose when you modify your body. The only complaint I have about the show so far is that too much is happening at one time. This show will demand a second viewing when its run ends.



5. This is what you would expect from the team that makes this awsome film and series! Visuals are as always, Top notch in the anime world, with thought provoking story lines, that make it so you can't wait to watch the next episode in the series. If you like you anime like i do with realistic looking charaters, and just alaround good damn movie. you have to have this in your collection, along with the whole series!

5 comments about Patlabor - The Movie (Limited Edition).

1. this is a smart mecha tronic movie
   i like azuma shinohara and noah izumi
   this is a brilliant movie,even though i did not see the series
   they say the 'd' word a few times but this movie is so cool!



2. I need to start by saying I have not watched anything but the Patlabor Movies so I have no clue what the series is all about. I also need to say that I bought this film on the heels of watching Macross Plus, my favorite anime EVER, and was expecting an action mech film. Boy was I suprised.
   
   The first time I watched this, I literally fast forwarded through most of it to get the the action. Imagine my dismay when I got there and there seemed to be NONE! I threw down the movie in disgust and left.
   
   Weeks later my friend who got me into Anime saw it and asked to watch it. I told him I thought it was crap but why not. This time...I actually watched the movie and I was blown away with its deep story, amazing imagination and palpable theme of discovery and mystery. For plot line and story, look at the other reviews, I'm just here to give opinion.
   
   Patlabor uses Labors, or mecha, not as show stealing engines of destruction but as obvious evolutions of police enforcement. As such, there is no flashy gundam style energy exchange or more deliberate destruction of the mechwarrior fame. But what you do get is a deep plot of industrial espionage, mysterious dissapearences and a suprisingly realistic look at what future law enforcement would actually look like, detective work too.
   
   In the end, I realized that all anime need not be about amazing action. Patlabor has a pretty good action scene towards the end but that is not why I suggest this movie. I say watch this because it shows what anime can also bring to our DVD players. A well written, well studied movie that would probably crash at the box office because everyone expects it to shoot stuff.



3. I have a small collection of anime which is growing exponentially now, thanks in part to my renewed interest in the genre after viewing this film. What seperates this from many anime is it unique use of the Mecha of "Labors" in its plot, instead of just the same robot battle fair that we've all seen. The movie does not centure around action but around the actual story and the characters as they work together (and sometimes against each other) to solve the big mystery in time to stop the terrible threat to Tokyo and possibly the entire world.



4. This is the way "Patlabor 1" _should_ have been treated in an English-language release. This film is the foundation of Mamoru Oshii's signature style, which would be perfected in "Patlabor 2" and then reach international attention with the later "Ghost in the Shell" and "Innocence" features.
   
   The new translation of the dialogue offers far more detail than the old version from the late '90s by Manga Entertainment, Bandai Visual USA seems to have really wanted to make a mark with this first release for the new company, and they achieved this.
   
   The film itself is a classic Oshii blend of philosophy and action, based upon the characters he helped introduce with the "Patlabor: The Original Series" OVA, but turning the focus of the show from the adventures of the Patlabor cast to an introspective look at where Tokyo (and humanity in general) was heading. Many elements were far ahead of their time; today threats of killer computer viruses are common; all of us deal with them in our email accounts, but in 1989 the internet was in its early public infancy, and the idea of someone creating a virus to spread death and destruction was a fantastic concept. The fact that humanity's inventions could so easily be taken from their pure helpful purposes and turned to nefarious ends was a relatively new idea, one which challenged the prevailing viewpoint that humanity would only be helped and assisted by its new technological creations.
   
   This release sets a new standard for how high-profile titles should be released, and I hope that it is a precedent that will be followed commonly. The documentaries on the extra disc were a little underwhelming compared to the standards set by Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" or even the well-conceived and excuted making-of documenatries that came with Pioneer/Geneon's "WXIII: Patlabor 3" special edition release.
   
   But the 184-page Patlabor Archives book is a treasure for those interested in how and why "Patlabor 1" turned out the way it did, detailing much of the history of the film, why it is so different in tone from the Patlabor OVAs and TV series, and the innovative ways that Oshii used to turn the city of Tokyo itself into one of the central characters of the film. I read the entire booklet before watching the new version of the film, and it changed the way I viewed the movie, made me far more conscious of the social commentary that is in fact one of the film's central themes.
   
   The storyboard is another gem for those who are interested in the process of how an idea for a film is translated into a finished work, and even glancing through it made me more conscious of some of the finer details in the film, things which are so subtle that they may escape detection even after multiple viewings, but because they were specifically laid out in the storyboards were deliberately placed to enhance some aspects of the film.
   
   Is this Limted Edition of the film necessary to enjoy the picture? No, it's not. Get the new version of the basic movie if all you're interested in is a great thinking-man's movie with a few heart-pounding action sequences thrown in for variety's sake (it _is_ a mecha anime on the surface, after all). The basic film of this Bandai Visual USA version is far superior to the old Manga Entertainment one; if you already own that, you might consider picking up this one, anyway, because this translation mentions an awful lot of details that were left out of Manga's version. But the Limited Edition's special features will probably only be of interest to the devoted anime and Patlabor fans, for its illumination of how the anime industry and Mamoru Oshii actually work.
   
   The downside of this, for those who have been following Patlabor for a long time, is that this is the fourth complete English-language cast for the Patlabor characters, a result of four different companies having been responsible for releasing this over time (Manga Entertainment doing the original versions of the first two movies, US Manga Corps doing the OVAs and TV Series, and Pioneer/Geneon doing WXIII: Patlabor 3).



5. Pros: The only Patlabor movie worth keeping, more action, Kanuka Klancy makes an appearance, the robots, and the storyline.
   
   Cons: The finale and Shinobu.
   
   Final Verdict: It's worth it, but don't waste your time on the sequels.

2 comments about Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 05 (Episodes 17-20).

1. I'll start by saying all those people who think that american animated series are as good as it gets animation wise have been living under a rock since this series started 11 DVDS ago, and it continues with this volume. As for the episodes themselves, They were a good addition to the season because with the next two discs, everything comes to a head and resolves. Looking back on the four episodes, the only perceivable problem was that there was no real explanation as to why the major and batou were compelled to go to berlin with everything that was going on at home in Japan. This was not enough for a point deduction. At the end of the day, anyone who likes a good series or animation that is technically perfect shoud buy this discs and all of the discs from both seasons. You will not be disappointed.



2. The first two episodes of Volume 5 are a little bit uncharacteristic of the usual Ghost in the Shell emotional range. In episode 17, the Major travels to Taiwan in search of more info about Kuze, but instead surrenders to her maternal instincts by stepping in between a teenage boy and a local gang war. The next episode features Batou as the main star as he and the Major are taken away from the Kuze case to help an international effort succeed in nailing an infamous terrorist bomber. Batou begins to become attached to a young handicapped girl who mysteriously seems to be looking right at him, even when he's in camouflage mode, which should render him invisible to the naked eye. Even though Kuze was a member of the Individual Eleven, which wanted to drive all refugees out of Japan, it seems he's switched sides now, and is the main driving force of the rapidly escalating insurrection of the refugees. When Section 9 gets wind that Kuze wants to get his hands on atomic weapons, the stakes get dramatically higher!
   
   This series gets better and better, even outshining the first season since 2nd Gig is dealing with an issue that is really upfront and center in the US right now. If you've made it this far, then you'll know just how amazing the writing is on this show. Even after all the years spent with these characters, you can still find nuances in their reactions and be charmed that no matter how mechanized their bodies become, their "ghost" still remains and makes them human, even the Major, whose body is full prosthetic! The art and animation is the best I've ever seen in a TV anime, and you have to marvel at how they pulled off the budget to make it. Classic stuff.
   
   Extras: Interviews with Japanese voice actors who play Motoko, Batou, Togusa, Borma, and the director Kenji Kamiyama.

5 comments about Armitage III - The Complete OVA.

1. This anime is surprisingly complicated. It opens with a seemingly random act of violence against an android, or "third" who is masquerading as a human. Then when a list of these "thirds" is released, there is a violent outpouring of anti-robot sentiment on Mars, where the story takes place. This series of episodes is interesting, in that it calls into question what defines humanity. Our main protagonist, Ross Syllabus despises machines due to the fact that one caused the death of his partner, and left him crippled. Naomi Armitage, our female lead, seems to react negatively whenever Ross mentions his dislike for machines. Some of the humans in this series are as bad as the supposed machines they destroy. The question becomes, at what point does a machine become greater than the sum of its parts. One of the thirds asks "If Humans don't want me, why did they make me?", this sets up the political undertones for the entire series. Although not directly explained, the seemingly random violence against the thirds is really part of a political power play. If you like good, fast paced action, with stunning animation, watch this series. The soundtrack is appropriate, if a little electronic. The Characters are multi-dimensional and engaging. The political undertones are a little complicated and not directly explained, but if you pay attention, you will be able to piece the whole story together fairly easily. This series is not for children, the violence is about what you would see on an episode of "24". I strongly recommend it.



2. I found myself scratching my head while watching Polymatrix. When I found out that it was a butcher job of a short series, I decided to seek out the original. Now that the whole thing makes sense, I can give an honest review of the actual anime.
   
   The two main characters are great fun even as they explore the underside of Martian society. I very much enjoyed the exploration into what makes someone human.
   
   This series is one that I can't reccomend enough.



3. I had seen this anime a couple of times in magazines and on previews, and it looked pretty good. Big cool looking guy, pretty girl, lots of action. When I watched it it seemed very slow moving and not as action packed as I had hoped. Also, there is not a lot of character development. Maybe if it were a series and they had more time to bring the characters to life it would have been better. Who knows? I think some people may enjoy this, but it just wasn't for me.



4. Sometimes finding the right DVD version of an anime is as important as finding the right anime in the first place.
   
   This is one of those times. I remember watching this anime a long time ago on late at night. On the Action Channel or something like that. I actually watched Dual Matrix, not this. But it inspired me to purchase this DVD. Unfortunately only AFTER I purchased "Armitage III Poly-Matrix (Geneon Signature Series)." That's one of those decisions I wish I hadn't made.
   
   The Poly-Matrix Geneon Signature Series DVD is nothing more than a heavily edited, stuttering bare-bones version of the complete OVA featured in this product. The disk I purchased didn't even have Japanese Language as an option, so unfortunately I had to listen to whiny and often unpleasant and emotionally askew English voice acting by the main character.
   
   Thankfully I found this DVD and rectified that mistake. This is a good anime with a compelling story. It may not be one of the greatest, but it's well articulated and pleasant to watch as well. It's an older anime, but just like watching older movies, you can acquire a taste for such things. It's great to watch the emotional articulation of the main character, and see how the story comes together. It's not as powerful or intellectually challenging as, say, Ghost in the Shell. And it doesn't have the depth and scope and impact of Akira. But Armitage III does have a certain character to it that I think every serious anime fan should enjoy. It's a pleasure to see any film or animation where there is a good story. And Artimitage III: The Complete OVA has that, a good story.
   
   Now just make sure you get the OVA or the Complete OVA so you can actually enjoy that story without it being butchered, chopped up, and served to you fast-food style.



5. First off, the Armitage OVA is the one to get. It has additional footage and it's about 80 minutes longer than the movie. If you saw the movie and hated it. Then there is no reason to bother with this then.
   
   Armitage somehow reached the status of "cult classic" for reasons I never understood. Some people even said it's one of the best ever and thought provoking. Armitage is not even close to the best of it's genre. And it's about as thought provoking as Green Eggs and Ham.
   
   The main character is every nerds wet dream. A young teenage chick half naked, looking like she's ready for a porn shoot and equipped with a pink pistol. How corny could they get? Armitage is a cop and the story begins when she encounters a guy in an airport who has a dead body in his briefcase. Long story short, the guy is responsible for killing robots. These aren't ordinary robots and they actually do have a purpose. That's a real big spoiler so I'll leave that alone.
   
   Armitage does work out and the ending fits really well tying up the story. But I found the story and plot very boring. The action scenes aren't that good. And I just don't care for half naked animated characters for the most absurd reasons. Plus I did not like the soundtrack at all.
   
   I didn't understand the hype behind this years ago and I don't see it now. My guess is, alot of these reviewers haven't seen anything better. Or it must be the little bit of fan service. If you love seeing half naked chicks with guns then get this. I'll even do you a favor and toss together a short list fitting this criteria; Najica Blitz, Divergence Eve, Misaki Chronicles, Burst Angel, & Godannar. The last two are actually good. And here goes more chick anime; Noir(best of the best), Madlax, Gunsmith Cats, Iria, Bubblegum Crisis(original), Gunslinger Girl & The Dirty Pair.