Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful, poignant anime
Review: Actually, I bought this anime completely unaware that I was buying it. I bought a different DVD entitled "Toology." It is an unauthorized biography of the (extremely musical) heavy metal band Tool. When I got home and put the disk in my player, I was quite suprised to find that I was suddenly looking at the menu for an extremely obscure anime named "Spring & Chaos." After the shock wore off, I decided I'd take it back, but I was attracted by the music and strange images. I decided I'd take it back the next morning, but in the meantime I'd make use of my purchase. First (and I recommend doing this), I watched the trailer and the included interviews and biography of Kenji Miyazawa. Those gave me a pretty good idea about what I should expect. Then I watched the movie itself. I was completely blown away. To address the encoding problems, I'll say this: it's not that big of a deal. Sure, the visuals get a little gummed up, and at times I found myself willing the subtitles to appear on time, but those little imperfections are VERY easy to overlook when you compare then to the film itself. I expect it will take a few more spins to really get the whole experience, but from watching it once, I was thuroughly impressed. The images are dazzling, the characters are full and very lifelike, dispite the fact that they're kitty-cats, and the screenplay was just EXCELENTLY written, as are most of the "good" animes. I recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys a good film -- as oppose to a movie or flick. If you like to have to think about your films, this is definately a gold mine for you. The poetry ain't half bad, either.
Rating:
Summary: Right up there with Mononoke!
Review: Actually, I bought this anime completely unaware that I was buying it. I bought a different DVD entitled "Toology." It is an unauthorized biography of the (extremely musical) heavy metal band Tool. When I got home and put the disk in my player, I was quite suprised to find that I was suddenly looking at the menu for an extremely obscure anime named "Spring & Chaos." After the shock wore off, I decided I'd take it back, but I was attracted by the music and strange images. I decided I'd take it back the next morning, but in the meantime I'd make use of my purchase. First (and I recommend doing this), I watched the trailer and the included interviews and biography of Kenji Miyazawa. Those gave me a pretty good idea about what I should expect. Then I watched the movie itself. I was completely blown away. To address the encoding problems, I'll say this: it's not that big of a deal. Sure, the visuals get a little gummed up, and at times I found myself willing the subtitles to appear on time, but those little imperfections are VERY easy to overlook when you compare then to the film itself. I expect it will take a few more spins to really get the whole experience, but from watching it once, I was thuroughly impressed. The images are dazzling, the characters are full and very lifelike, dispite the fact that they're kitty-cats, and the screenplay was just EXCELENTLY written, as are most of the "good" animes. I recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys a good film -- as oppose to a movie or flick. If you like to have to think about your films, this is definately a gold mine for you. The poetry ain't half bad, either.
Rating:
Summary: Right up there with Mononoke!
Review: Actually, I bought this anime completely unaware that I was buying it. I bought a different DVD entitled "Toology." It is an unauthorized biography of the (extremely musical) heavy metal band Tool. When I got home and put the disk in my player, I was quite suprised to find that I was suddenly looking at the menu for an extremely obscure anime named "Spring & Chaos." After the shock wore off, I decided I'd take it back, but I was attracted by the music and strange images. I decided I'd take it back the next morning, but in the meantime I'd make use of my purchase. First (and I recommend doing this), I watched the trailer and the included interviews and biography of Kenji Miyazawa. Those gave me a pretty good idea about what I should expect. Then I watched the movie itself. I was completely blown away. To address the encoding problems, I'll say this: it's not that big of a deal. Sure, the visuals get a little gummed up, and at times I found myself willing the subtitles to appear on time, but those little imperfections are VERY easy to overlook when you compare then to the film itself. I expect it will take a few more spins to really get the whole experience, but from watching it once, I was thuroughly impressed. The images are dazzling, the characters are full and very lifelike, dispite the fact that they're kitty-cats, and the screenplay was just EXCELENTLY written, as are most of the "good" animes. I recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys a good film -- as oppose to a movie or flick. If you like to have to think about your films, this is definately a gold mine for you. The poetry ain't half bad, either.
Rating:
Summary: Stunningly Inspiring A+++++++++++++
Review: don't let other reviews scare u away. this is a brilliant anime. i have the dvd and on my own copy there is one two second part where a section of the screen pixelizes, but it is only in that area. that alone didn't distract me from enjoying this wonderful piece. this is a must own for anime lovers looking for something different with a lot of heart. i highly recommend this to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Incoherent
Review: I agree with the other reviewers about the rich imagination and well written script - something rarely seen in anime. What bothered me with this movie was the excessive use of computer graphics. The CG were completely out of place and unnatural, which almost completely ruined this movie for me. The hand-drawn parts are fine, though. This movie is supposed to be an animated movie, and it doesn't deliver the animation part in a believable way - hence the three stars. You have been warned.
Rating:
Summary: Instantly transfixed by the imagery
Review: I bought Spring and Chaos on a whim, enticed by the promise of experimental animation and some insight into the Japanese culture. Before I watched the movie, I read the reviews that there were "awful" encoding problems. So I started the movie, and expected the worst. If there were problems (oustide of the 2 second pixelation) then I didn't see them. After the first minute I was hooked, and watched with enjoyment til the end.It is a bit short, and while being short and recalled, the pixel problem shouldn't have been. Some parts are confusing in a metaphor sense (the train hallucination) but they're fairly easy to get. A fantastic biographic look at a foreign poet. If you are in any way interested in Japanese culture, foreign authors, or a well made story, buy this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Dud
Review: I got this expecting a fascinating insight into the life of the man who wrote the mythical Night on the Galactic Railroad. I expected to see crazy stories and hijinks of an eccentric man and to discover his inspirations for such bizarre material. Boy was I wrong.
Spring and Chaos is mostly boring with only sporadic moments of innovative animation. It's certainly nothing to write home about and nowhere near as good as NOTGR which is something that I suggest you watch instead. Leave this bore alone.
Rating:
Summary: The problem got fixed...
Review: I had a while back posted a reveiw that told people to stay away from this DVD due to problems associated with awful pixelation and inconsistent subtitles. They have remastered the DVD and the version you are likely to find in stores should work/look fine. For more information regarding this version, consult this
Rating: 
Summary: Recall
Review: I have not been able to see this move and therefore unlike others I will not rate this DVD without seeing it first. But the problems expressed by the other revues as well as some presumptuous critics (whom I personally never listen to I prefer to make my own choices based on what I like) such as horrible video quality, bad duding and subtitling are being addressed in a resent recall which will fix the above problems and if you already have a copy of Spring and Chaos and know what I'm referring to then you can go to tokyopop.com to get details on how to get a new disk to replace the one you already have. However it will take until some time in mid July for them to ship and they're also holding back all shipments of this move until the new discs are ready
Rating:
Summary: Great movie gets abused
Review: I'm like 14 minutes into this visual masterpiece when the video pixelizes! I'm Very disappointed because this movie seems awsome and has (or is supposed to have) incredible visuals! I would have shied away from this if I had known of the horrible treatment this was given by Tokyopop. Be warned! Only get this if you are a huge fan and can put up with it. I'm keeping mine, but I am quite upset.
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