Now and Then, Here and There - Conflict & Chaos (Vol. 3)

Rating:
Summary: testament to the human spirit - highly depressing
Review: As a viewer of many many anime series, I have to say that this show is the most depressing I have seen. Don't let the character designes fool you, as it contains elements that are often glossed over in war movies...

Unlike the other major depressing anime, Grave of the Fireflies, this show doesn't even let you cry to release the emotional tension it builds. The harshness of battle and war on the young recruits, the psychotic "leader" Hamdo, and the fate of LaLaRu and Shu are all depicted in the gritty reality that is war. It's thoroughly depressing.

The show's reality makes this one totally worth seeing, and I recommend it to those who want a serious anime. That said, don't view this while depressed.

Rating:
Summary: Highly Underappreciated
Review: By the time I saw 'Now And Then Here And There' I was no stranger to anime. This one I found resting on the shelves of blockbuster, that in itself is a rarity, in my neighborhood it is impossible to find anime to rent, it's either purchase or never see it.

And so after breezing through the DVD's I cannot emphasize the quality of this show. The animation is fantastic, the art while cartoony still gets everything across. But what really hits home is the fantastic characters, not one character in the show is perfect, nothing beats a hero who has flaws. Every character in this anime is faced with a dilemma, Nabuca's struggle particularly touched me, as did Sarah who has one of the toughest choice someone could make (I won't spoil it).

Really nothing I can say will do this justice, this is a fantastic anime and it's HIHGLY Underappreciated, there's hardly any fansites out there, and the number of reviews here alone should help tip you off. If you are reading this I plead with you to at least give this a rent, it deserves at least a chance.

Rating:
Summary: Sad but beautiful
Review: That was a spoiler, wasn't it? Well what else can you expect from this show? Here you have, in the midst of war, adults behaving like children, and children acting like adults in trying to comprehend the situation.

If you're used to endings where good always triumphs and evil is punished you will be severely disappointed. The conflict, emotions, and violence in this story are realistic. In real life, good is not always vindicated.

In the second to the last episode there's a standoff scene with children pointing rifles at each other which could shock some viewers. I thought it was well executed. If you have been exposed to unromanticized war stories, then this anime is highly recommended.