( 5 reviews )
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: 05-30-2003
This has the potential to be a very powerful series, but without being able to see the ending of the series I can't give this a full five stars. That being said, what I've seen of this series is excellent if you like anime with a darker, more serious theme to it. If you liked Cowboy Bebop and Jin-Roh, you'll probably enjoy this one as well.
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( 3 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: 04-30-2003
I grew up Asian, with Asian cinema, so my review of this DVD is quite different from some other reviewers. In fact, I am writing this review because of the other reviews. This is a DVD I just received a couple of days ago, and am now awaiting the installments of the other episodes. I love the idea of men being dragons in human form, and the first 2 episodes deal with it. If you don't like that idea, then the whole DVD may not make much sense to you, or have much meaning to you. I guess its part of growing up Asian, and it was always cool if you were a male born in the dragon year, the Asian horoscope year that imbues the most charisma and power to those born in those years. Anyway, this DVD has the first 2 episodes of, I think the 12 part series, and the first 2 episodes simply deal with the 2 older brothers beginning to think that there may be more to themselves but they are not sure what. There are some really unique images, a man sitting by a window by the sea, seagulls flying into the room; the feeling is just a little surreal. Then another scene of a meditation room with a glass floor overlooking a gigantic carp swimming around underneath and the drawing and the loud sound of the carp as it swims underwater is "floating" feeling. I am very new to anime, so the one thing that took me aback is that the 2 elder brothers have the distinct epicanthic fold but their eye colors are Blue, for the elder and green for the second son! This is explained a little later when the eldest son hears that there are 4 dragons, each named by their color. Anyway, this is a drama anime, with a bit of comedy thrown in from their female cousin who appears to help keep their house in order since their parents died. The introduction and ending have two beautiful songs sung in Japanese, with translations, but the picture images seem to be from the manga version or so of the anime, and they are quite wonderful and imaginative. The other reviews talk about the plot etc, but this review is mostly on the feeling you get when you see this DVD. I have not seen the rest of the series at all, and in the first 2 episodes, they don't yet transform into dragons, so I guess, that will come later. Some other scenes in the first 2 episode is a bit shocking that the other reviewers mention, but you can just skip over that part, and enjoy the rest of the DVD which is really great. The DVD is in both Japanese and English dubbing. For some Anime (Fatal Fury, streetfighter-Alpha), I prefer the English version, especially if its set in the USA, but this setting is in Japan, so the Japanese cast sounds more appropriate, and they all sound individual. Also, the Japanese cast are more straightforward in their voicing, whereas the English dubbing seems to have added stress and intonations. I love this DVD. I don't think its for everyone, but those who like it, will probably be waiting for the sequels to come out in DVD too.
