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Berserk - War Cry (Episodes 1-5)

Berserk - War Cry (Episodes 1-5)

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $26.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Captures the darker side of anime but....
Review: To appreciate Berserk, I think it is necessary to understand that it is based on an on-going comic series in Japan. In Japan, each "chapter" of any comic is published in numerous weekly or bi-weekly comic magazines, each geared to a certain audience. It will come no surprise to any reader of the comic that Berserk is published in a bi-weekly comic magazine called "Young Animal". Young Animal is largely an adult oriented (as in nudity & sex) comic magazine and therefore you have to realize that Berserk was never intended to for an young audience. Trust me when I say that the anime does not even come close to portraying the graphic sex and violence that can be found in the actual comic.
However, Berserk is not a comic carried by either sex or violence but rather the depth of its story. Berserk is about the tale of the protaganist, Guts, living in a period of times that can only be equated to mideval England. There are no guns (but there is gunpowder) and largely there is supposed to be no magic, e.g. fairies, dragons and such. The story revolves around the growth and adventures of Guts, providing deep insight and detail from the time of his birth, his life as a mercenary, all the way to his fateful meeting with Gryphus and Gryphus ultimate betrayal of Guts (this is not a spoiler).
To compare this animation to the Record of Lodoss Wars would be a mistake as this is a far darker anime. This is a dark fantasy with a slight romance. Themes of homosexuality, rape and violence permeate the comic and to a lesser extent the animation. However, these themes are not used to to shock or carry the story but are actually worked in quite seamlessly.
My first criticism against the anime is that it does not go all the way in capturing the dark feel of the comic. Of course, even though it was a "midnight" anime, that can only be expected.
My second criticism is pretty much along those lines in that the series ends prematurel but that probably could not also be helped.
Overally, I would recommend this animation for a more mature audience as the story line is truly gripping and Guts is simply a "cool" protoganist. However, for those who have the option, I would recommend reading the comic book even before.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Berserk is powerful and amazing!!!!
Review: I absolutely love Berserk. Guts is full of passion, pain, and heart wrenching memories from the past. I was enthralled with him from the beginning. Now this anime has quite a bit of violence but the violence is warranted and necessary for the story. A story that is wonderful full of mystery and hidden secrets that are just waiting to be unveiled. I will be watching this over and over again. The massive power that Guts wills with his equally massive sword is amazing to watch. Finding out who and where Guts came from really interested me.
Guts is a character to remember for all time. I have to mention that in some of the fight scenes the spray of blood is amazing to watch although it is gory and may make some squeamish at times. I was not squeamish at all. I thought the blood and all the other scenes were beautiful and fantastic to watch.
Watch this anime with caution for younger viewers under age 16 who might be disturbed by the gory violence. For the rest of you out there get this anime! Berserk earns it's name and more. It has a great story, great character development, and scenes full of animated passion that will amaze you.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Where's my stuff?
Review: Has anyone received this item? I ordered it back on May 19th and I've still not received it. For the last week the status has said "ships in 24 hours" Well, I've been waiting 3 months when do I get mine?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BERSERK-WAR CRY
Review: All I really have to say is this is one of the best anime movies out there.It's a must have for your DVD collection!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A little slow but well worth it.....
Review: Personally, I enjoy anime that takes it's time and that doesn't feel the need to have a big battle at the end of EVERY episode. Some of you, however, may not. That is what you might find tedious about this DVD. I, for one, love the slow pacing and you will too if you just let it grow on you.

Anyways, I'm not going reiterate the plot yet again but I must say that everything from the music to the story to the extras on this DVD are great. The outtakes by themselves are probably worth the money!!

Do yourself a favor and pick up this DVD (with the box!!) ASAP.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Most Exceptional Anime on Earth
Review: Anyone who calls this series anything but amazing should have their head examined. Granted, I'm talking about the entire series, not just the first five episodes which only scratch the surface of the entire series. The first five are mostly battles and setting up storyline for later episodes, however are still very good nonetheless. Very mature subject matter and extreme violence makes this series not meant for many anime fans out there...at least not the Escaflowne or Slayers crowd. It is NOT cheesy kiddy Dragon Ball Z [stuff]. It has, besides violence, a strong plot and character development. This may not be apparent from the first few episodes, however later on it gets much more in-depth. It has the perfect mix of drama, violence, romance, and everything else that makes anime good. When I was finished with this series I knew that no anime series would ever match it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The best Anime series on earth yet!
Review: Berserk is the best thing yet since it's own video game(for the dream cast). A man named Guts tries to find the significence of his existence by battleing men and armys. He my seam like some mere mercenary, but once he starts to swings his sword every man will know true fear. Don't let his fake arm make you underestimate him, it does have a few hidden tricks. There is no such thing as magic to these guys, it's all about skill. The strong are born to prey on the weak in the world of BERSERK...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Brilliant but could have been better
Review: Berserk: the immortal sodier tells a story of a one-armed wandering swordman, Gatts, who possesses incredible physical strength and gory past. The plot of Berserk is not what you would find in conventional anime or manga. Here, you're not going to see a wizard smite dragons with magic. In contrast, the setting of berserk, in spite of being a fantasy advanture, is very realistic. There is no sorcerer or magic sword anywhere. The concept of a "dragon slayer" here is just a big blunt sword that so heavy that it would crush anything in two within one strike. However, the essence of Berserk is not about killing monster but rather the achievemnet in complex development of characterization. Something that has rarely been equally achieved by manga or anime.
!!SPOILER!! :Gatts, as a child born amid the fierce fighting of medival battlefield, has to struggle to learn how to fight in order to survive in a cruel world. He becomes a strong warrior and later join the Band of Hawk which is led by Griffith, a charming mercenary leader. By following Griffith, Gatts has experienced the glorious moments in his life. The Band of Hawk is invincible. They keep on winning and the unbreakable friendship between the two has firmly formed. However Griffith's unfathomable ambition leads to the destruction of the Hawk. And when Griffith decides to choose path of his dream before friends who would fight and die for him, the bond of friendship is forever turned in to hatred and despair.!!END OF SPOILER!!
I find the plot of Berserk so perfect that it could have easily become a bestseller novel if it were written as novel at the first place. This is no silly cartoon! The story, however, based originally on manga written by Kentarou Miura. To my dismay, the anime series only span up to around volume 13-14 of manga version (currently achieved the 22nd issue). Thus, the more exciting part of the story is left out just like that. Well, at least until somebody makes a sequel series which is unlikely...The only problem of this anime is that it wasn't produced on very high budget which is a shame. There are a lot of budget saving techniques here and there and that is why I give it only 4 stars. It may sound weird but I have to say that action in the manga look much more power than in the anime. I only wish that one day it may be remade as a high budget movie or OAV.
Anyway, that was just a tip I tried to give for those who are interested in manga format but cannot find it outside Japanese version. Overall, this is a brilliant series which worth checking out. If you are thinking about picking it up, please don't hesitate to do it right away.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pure Genius... Genius... GENIUS, YOU HEAR ME!?
Review: Berserk is one of those rare gems in modern day anime. It is pure gold. After watching, Takahashi Naohito automattically became one of my favorite anime directors.

This series is most enjoyed when you step into the series know that the first episode is a prequel, and the rest of the series is just explaining how everything happened.

I must say, the beggining of the show is a little slow. It progesses as it moves along. The entire series is still spectacular.

That was really too short. *_* This series deserves more. *_* Sorry, folks! Oh, and I just thought I'd warn you, the last episode is onlyfifteen minutes long... *_*

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THIS SHI*& IS WICKED
Review: it s the best anime done in a long time there love,violence,betrayel,blood and blood and more blood hahahahah and many other life drama thats what makes this anime one of the best there is


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