Rating: 
Summary: Spike and Jet hook up with Ein and Faye on Bebop
Review: It is pretty much impossible to start watching "Cowboy Bebop" and not think of this anime as an imaginative synthesis of some of your favorite films from the past. I would start off by characterizing it as "Blade Runner" with a "Pulp Fiction" attitude, but I can easily add another dozen films to that list. But what strikes me the most about the five episodes collected on this first DVD is the stylish use of montage, which is more inventive than you will find in standard film noir. You will also find that not only does the show rely on composer Yoko Kanno's jazz soundtrack, but that the style of jazz is spread throughout most episodes as well. The lead character is Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter who is too caustic to be too laconic, aided in his efforts by Jet Black, an ex-cop who is now part-cyborg, and Ein the genetically enhanced Welsh Corgi. In the third episode space gypsy Faye Valentine, who does an even better job of finding trouble than Spike, joins the group just to make things really interesting. The standard joke is that good deeds might go unpunished but they also go unrewarded as well, which is not a good thing when you are an intergalactic bounty hunter. The first episodes of the series from 1998 are included here. Basically we start with the team of Spike and Jet, after which Ein and Faye are added to the mix and our futuristic dysfunctional family is formed. Episode 1, "Asteroid Blues," has Spike and Jet on the trail of Asimov Solenson who is involved in the "Bloody Eye" drug trade. Episode 2, "Stray Dog Strut" has the boys going after Abdul-Hakim and his big bounty on Mars but ending up with a new crewmember instead. Episode 3, "Honey Tonk Woman" is the most memorable of the set because it introduces Faye, who meets Spike over a friendly game of blackjack. Episode 4, "Gateway Shuff" is the best of these early episodes, with the target being Twinkle Murdouch, whose Space Warriors are going to either save the endangered species of the universe or turn human beings into monkeys by unleashing a virus. Episode 5, "Ballad of Fallen Angels," has Spike meeting up with a character from his past named Viscous. We can argue about which episode is the best, but these first five are all above average. As to the style versus substance debate, my perspective would be that there is nothing really new here on the macro level, but that on the micro level where style reigns there is a great deal of inventiveness. Each story is tweaked in ways that make the storyline seem rather fresh, and not just because it is set in the future. For example, this is a futuristic world where drugs are still around, which is no surprise, but the type of drugs are certainly different from what we have seen before. However, the art, with its combination of cel and CGI, is of higher definition than what television viewers usually see with anime. For me the only significant point of contention with this first set of episodes is that the dubbed voices have the stylistic flatness you usually find with anime on this side of the ocean, which does not work with the visuals. Consequently, my vote is for listening to the original Japanese voices and going the subtitle route. You can do both, but the original is a whole lot better and adds another dimension to the reputation of "Cowboy Bebop" as the best Japanese television anime.
Rating: 
Summary: Episode 5 is the best in this volume!
Review: I was amazed with the last episode in this volume. The story definetly got darker with the appearance of Vicious and Spike's past. Otherwise the first 4 eps were a bit slow for me but overall a nice introduction. The reason why I gave it a 3 is because the intro part (1-4) didn't take my breath away. However, I can't wait to watch volume 2 just to find out more about Spike's past. That part of the story looks really promising. =) Also, the dubbing is actually pretty good. The music and animation is great. The animation is consistent rather than how some animators get lazy (ex/ Fushigi Yuugi).
Rating:
Summary: Great Anime!
Review: This is a favorite anime of mine that aired on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network until this week. For all of you that want to get into anime, I believe this is a great place to start. The animation, the plot, the action, even the romance... all of these qualities makes Cowboy Bebop great!
Rating: 
Summary: The beginning of a landmark
Review: From long Jazz Riffs to bloody gunfights, Cowboy Bebop has, as many others have, redefined Japanese Animation. The most amzing fell you get is from the music that has been put in this anime. In fact, the producers thought the musical part of the series so important, they inserted 'Bebop' into the name. Bebop is the musical term for a series of comlex harmonies and melodies. There are times that you just can not believe the music. Overall, this anime takes a look at the darker side of the future. A bounty hunter, Spike Seigel, gangs up with faye valentine and a retired cop to make a living as a joined group of bounty hunters. I could liken the plot to a roller coaster, some of the episodes are just one-shots, they have no meaning or any real relevance to the overallstoryline, they just buff up the jazz and gunfights. But every few episodes an episode creeps along that actually does something, like defines the character's pasts. The basic animation is drawn in a much higher definition than most (I speak of most of the gundam series, and many other choppy animes) and when combined with computer animation, makes extremely detailed backgrounds and foregrounds. This peice was done very well, with good expertise and good employees. As a final note to promote all of you doubtful peoples, the ending epidodes of this anime are perhaps the most well done and filling ones I have ever see in an anime. They will leave you more. But if you ever do finish watching all of the episodes, your in luck, there has been some recent work on the Cowboy Bebop movie, Knockin on Heavens Door, which is already out in Japan and there have been arrangements to have it be e made in english.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific
Review: This was my first introduction to anime. This got me hooked right from the first episode. The character development is amazing, awesome music and great fights. Best among the episode was the "Ballad of fallen angels". The flashback of Spike (the lead role) with a background song and music when he falls through the window to his almost death was superb. Nothing in my recollection even comes close to this kind of an end. This DVD is among my collection now. Give it a try, you will love it...
Rating:
Summary: Route 66 in Outer Space
Review: In 2071 A.D., outer space was the real frontier. Leaving Earth's troubles behind, a chaosium of people headed out to the stars, creating an untamed society where lawless was a commonplace and bounty hunters often were the means to justice. In the middle of all this, Spike Spiegel, and his partner Jet Black, pilot their ship, the Bebop. Always broke and often disreputable, the one thing we can count on is that they are never very far from deep trouble. This first set of five episodes serves primarily to introduce use to our protagonists. Spike Spiegel is a syndicate man - young, brash, and a top-notch fighter. Jet Black is and ex-cop, older, calmer, and more inclined to worry about their eternally low bankroll. In the second episode (Stray Dog Strut) we meet Ein the Welsh wonder corgi. In the third (Honky Tonk Women) Faye Valentine appears. Faye is pretty, intelligent, and a good match for Spike, but she is even more likely to find trouble than he is. All of the stories except the fifth (Ballad of Fallen Angels) are picaresque adventure stories with a slightly noir, 1970's retro twist. Whether the bad guys are wanted for dog nabbing or trying to infect whole planets with a virus that turns humans back into apes, the team wins the battle, but never seems to get the cash. The last episode is darker, taking up back into Spike's history when Faye runs afoul of Vicious, one of Spikes old enemies. The general mood is jazzy and upbeat, though, with comic lines keeping the sometimes-grim violence from overwhelming the script. What makes this series really sparkle is the high level of production values. The art is a snappier version of Blade Runner, with a fine sense of the graphic and a lot of in-jokes buried in the backdrops. Animation and fight choreography are solid with all the necessary violence. In addition, the series features Yoko Kanno's music throughout. That alone makes the episodes worth viewing. She shows herself capable of working in multiple styles especially the jazzy theme work. If the plots are a bit empty-headed, it is no worse than the 'Route 66' and '77 Sunset Strip' shows that the stories seem to be derived from. I found this an eminently rewatchable series, and intent to follow up with the rest of the DVD's when my wallet is healthy again.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best stories ever begins here...
Review: The title is mighty high praise to give any story, but Cowboy Bebop is one of those works of art that continues to awe you long after you finish. That tremendous journey starts with this DVD. My friend started me off on anime from his quite sizable collection. Having been awed by things like Ninja Scroll, Ghost in the Shell, and Neon Genesis: Evangelion, I also watched and mostly didn't like anime like Fushigi Yuugi, Battle Angel, and Sin. Then I was stuck. None of my friend's remaining anime appealed to me, so I struck out to find something new that neither of us had tried yet. I had heard Cowboy Bebop mentioned once before and took a chance on the first DVD...basically just on a whim. It was the start of an incredible journey that I place in the lofty company of Lord of the Rings, Final Fantasy 7, and Hamlet as my favorite stories. Each of the first four episodes on this DVD are great and entertaining in their own right. In the end though, it was the fifth that hooked me forever. "Ballad of Fallen Angels" is in a class of its own. Something about the title, the music, the art, the characters...it just resonates. Amazing. Have you ever seen a cooler entrance for the ultimate villain than emerging from shadows while someone sings Ave Maria? It's AVE MARIA!! Vicious isn't the usual wishy-washy, misunderstood victim of society you see everywhere these days. He's just so cold...so evil. It will make you shiver. Give this show a chance. If you like this first DVD, you'll be hooked straight through all six. If you find you don't like the show after episode 5 (is that possible???), I don't think you'll enjoy the rest.
Rating:
Summary: boogy woogy feng shue
Review: cowboy bebop is a sweet series its just plain good i have the complete set, all of them are just great. Quite frankly it pi$$ed me off the show ended i wanted to watch more and still do
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, the apotheosis of modern anime
Review: Cowboy Bebop is a captivating series that anime fans (and even non-fans) love. It's incredibly entertaining -- and yet there is a substance to the series that many lack. Comedy, action, and drama at their best. Characters develop, pasts are revealed, and it all clamors to an emotionally charged climax over two closing sessions. I highly recommend this; I would urge you to obtain the entire series, but for this one I hope you do it on your own after you watch the first few. My ONLY negative point: I hate dubbed anime. Admittedly, Cowboy Bebop's is done much better than most, but the voices do not do the characters justice. Please, watch this in Japanese with English subtitles! Cries of a purist, perhaps, but what's an actor with someone else's voice...? Give the original voice actors some respect!
Rating:
Summary: Great start to a great series
Review: Cowboy Bebop is something of an enigma among anime, combining a bizarre mix of offbeat comedy and drama, explosive action, and avant-garde plots, all set to the excellent jazz music of Yoko Kanno. All 5 episodes on this disk are interesting, especially 1,2, and 5. The animation quality is excellent, and combines CG into some of the scenes. Amazingly, the English audio track is remarkably well-synced, with voices that come plausibly close to matching the japanese voices. With intuitive animated menus as well, this is a professional-quality anime that no true fan should be without.
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