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Berserk - Season One (The Complete Collection)

Berserk - Season One (The Complete Collection)

List Price: $139.95
Your Price: $125.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: good
Review: Berserk has the same problem that many other anime have - a lousy beginning that camouflages an exceptionally well-done middle sequence. Once you get past the murky and muddled exposition, you get to actually meet the cast as more than just the standard fantasy archetypes.

Guts (Gatsu), for example, is more than just the stoic, battle-hardened fighter he seems to be at first. He is a truly interesting head case, a product of years of systematic abuse and ill fortune. He is constantly battling demons, both metaphorical and real, and often wonders aloud about his lot in life. Griffith, on the other hand, is a surprisingly gentle soul, with a mind and wit as sharp as his blade. His beauty seems eerily unfitting for a field of death, and yet when Guts and Griffith fight side by side, covered in the blood of their enemies, it is like they are gods of war, kindred spirits with little else to define their lives.

The rest of the Band of the Hawk is made up of very real people, and it's almost a shame to realize that these are men (and in the case of Caska, women) joined together in the cause of bringing death to their enemies. They are killers, takers of lives, even as they pretend to live "normal" lives as mercenaries.

Even the antagonists, the men of Chuda, are portrayed as very human. Guards wonder aloud when they get to go home, or comment on the weather, in the moments before the Band takes their lives. The incompetent, egotistical Sir Adon struts and pontificates on his family's eternally expanding "tradition", while his troops pay the consequences of his folly when the Band of the Hawk takes advantage of it.

It's a good thing that the plot and writing for this series are excellent, because much of the rest of it is not. The opening and ending themes are two of the least appropriate songs I have ever heard for an anime series. Whiny subpar J-rock in less-than-fluent English simply does not cut it for dark fantasy, or any other sort of anime for that matter. They're terrible! On the other hand, Hirasawa Susumu's (Millennium Actress) background tracks are rather memorable, especially the battle song, "Forces", which seems to be an object lesson in how to use a synthesizer and reverb completely wrong, and yet still come up with something interesting and fresh anyway. Hirasawa's music is an acquired taste, to be sure - people either love it or hate it.

Technically, the animation is just this side of serviceable, but it doesn't need to be great. After all, war is ugly. The directorial staff makes judicious use of dramatic pauses and speed lines for effect, often using cinematographic shots in place of animation that would otherwise be substandard. There is a staggering amount of violence, with blood gouting and spraying everywhere like a classic Kurosawa film.

And much like most Kurosawa films, the lesson here is that, beneath all that metal armor, these soldiers are people.

Berserk, at its core, is a tragedy of immense proportions. Eventually, the Band's fortune will run out - even the best soldiers can only last so long in a war that never seems destined to end.

There is a lot more than can probably be said about this title, and certainly as the series continues to progress, I'll get to writing it down. However, let this be known - Berserk is not an easy series to fall in love with, and perhaps it may not be the sort of series that will sit well with many viewers - but it is extremely well-done and deserves to be looked at by those people who want a fantasy that's more realistic than the idealized questing of Lodoss or the antics of Rune Soldier and Dragon Half.

If you want fantasy that really makes you think, then don't let the name fool you. Berserk is not about turning your brain off. Not one bit.

It took me four years to get past the first two episodes. Don't wait that long - this series really is worth your time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Breathtaking, a Masterpiece
Review: Berserk is a Gothic Fantasy in every sense imaginable. Combining fantasy, horror, medieval warfare, great characters and even some humor into a terrific series.

The story is told from the point of view of Guts, a young mercenary with a tragic past. From his point of view we watch the rise of Griffith... a man who's ambition could crush entire kingdoms in his quest from peasanthood to the throne of Midland. Joining the Band of the Hawk under Griffith's leadership, Guts gains unwanted fame while others revel in it. But there is a true sense of doom and dread as the dark secret behind Griffith's true destiny is revealed, centering around a demonic gift given to him long ago called the Behelit or the Egg of the King.

Based on the manga by Kentaro Miura, Berserk is a series not to be missed. If you like it, be sure to pick up the manga as well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Most Unique and Powerful Series Ever.
Review: Berserk is one of the most unique animes, and just plain one of the most unique stories around. It has a flow and style of plot and character development all its own. The characters are all very realistic and never seem flat or predictible. Guts, himself, is a very different manner of hero. He's far from a moral character, yet not really what you would call an antihero. The story is very subtle at times and does a nice job of juggling action and helping further the narrative, with bits of dialogue that never seem stilted or generic.
The ending, as many reveiwers have already said, is very brutal and quite cruel. Some may be turned off by this, but I found the ending quite a bold move, and upon watching the last two episodes over again, prefer it to a more upbeat one. One of the most standout points I found throughout the series was its music. It's quite beautiful and matches the tone of the series perfectly, especially in the latter episodes. Perhaps the most surprising to me was the brialliant use of cuts and edits the series employs. Whether it goes to its commercial bumper or just recaps the events of the previous episode in the prologue, the series has a sharp eye for cliffhangers and last-minute revelations. Treat yourself to something fresh in the anime world and watch Berserk, you shouldn't be dissapointed.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: My favorite anime series...
Review: Berserk is without a doublt the best anime ever next to Neon Genisis. The show has characters you'll love, enemies you'll hate, love and compassion. This had everything I loved about the series. It is a very dark and some what scary series. It's very very disturbing also. The best thing about this series are the characters that you'll fall in love with and of course......Gutts..

Spoiler ALERT..sort of*

Poor Gutts. This guy has one of the most screwed up life ever. You'll feel for this guy. I mean what ever the poor guy does he always ends up paying for it. He was given birth by his deceased mother(that is correct...deceased)and to make things worse, the man who took care of him tries to murder him and sadly Gutts was at the wrong moment at the wrong time. Then to add some more to the ingriedeant he finally finds friends he can be with and finally share compassion with and see's them as his home and family(the hawks)but sadly they all get torn apart and eatin by demons. Oh were not done yet, the woman he loves and has a child with(Caska)ends up getting raped and tortured by a demonic creature who was once human and his friend(Griffith). But that's not over for Gutts yet...He slices off his own arm so he can prevent the rape of the woman he loves with no success of course and ends up losing his right eye to a demon. Poor poor gutts. SPOILER DONE..

Berserk is a very chilling series. It's dark and not for many people who are looking for something fun and happy like Pokemon. Berserk also has one of the most saddest, darkets and down right depressing endings ever. I will assure you that on the last 10 seconds of the last episode as Gutts is walking down to his next destination to get vengance on those who put him through hell(literaly)you will get chills. I will never forget that ending when he was walking down the desert with a close up on his face and you see nothing except his left and right eye(which is blinded cause of a demon). Very chilling ending.

Berserk is also a very violent series. It holds nothing back and has some really unsettling scenes(some involving his final moments with the Hawk on the last episode). So if you have young one I don't recommend seeing this series as It is recommended to people ages 17 or up. The series has a really great storyline, lots of twist and turns until the final episode. Overall this series is awesome and I recommend it.

The reason I didn't give it a 5 is because of the way it ends. But I will assure you that if you know a store that sells the manga go out and read them! I have read all the way up to Vol 16 and the series is not getting pretty at all(not after what Gutts go's through on vol 13). Overall Berserk is everything I want in a series and is not for the faint and weak ones. In the end I give this amazing series a...

4.9 out of 5 stars.

Again this is recommended to a mature audience. You could maybe compare this with Spawn(hey c'mon Al Simmons go's through just as much pain as Gutts)

Lates

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awsome Series that should of lived longer
Review: Berserk like so many Anime Series is an incomplete one. The tales of Guts and his quest to destroy the Godhand were never told as this series was all buildup to that.

The series is basically the first set part of the story on how Guts eventually came to hate the Godshand and their hords of Demons. The battles are violent and the story is actually very good (with good voice acting as well). It plays off as more of a Fantasy epic that ends with a Holy S--- ending that leaves you craving more. The story is very well told but sadly like so many other Anime series the full tales are never told as the series did not last past season 1. Thus there is a major feeling of incompletness that can now only be fullfilled with the Mangas. However what is here is an incredible series that combines wonderful story telling with gut wrenching violence. Highly recomended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent series but.... incomplete!
Review: Berserk really is a cut above most anime series. All its elements come together to form a very satisfying whole aimed at an older audience.
The one big disappointment that most fans come to face is the fact that the story is imcomplete - a 2nd season that has yet to surface is needed to complete what was begun in the 1st. This situation has arisen due to the fact that the comic book upon which it is based was still running at the end of the series, and thus there was no ending to animate. Hopefully those with the means will give the public what it wants, and produce a 2nd season to complete the excellent work that was begun in the 1st.

These issues should not deter you from viewing what actually has been done though - it is too good to pass up, if you are a fan of the somewhat unusual in animation. Another bonus is that this series has no 'filler' episodes whatsoever, each and every one is essential to the development of the story. Comparisons are difficult, since there really is not much else quite like this. But, if you enjoy quality fantasy, Berserk simply cannot disappoint.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: best tv anime in a long time
Review: Beserk is my favorite tv anime to come along since star blazers, which was 25 years ago. TV anime has to have a strong plot with good character development to be enjoyable since it doesnt have the budget for the same flashy high tech look of motion picture anime. Beserk has an amazing set of characters and an awesome look. Fair warning, this is bloody stuff, there is no comprimise in the gore (which isnt normally done with tv anime) but that's one of the things I like about it, very gutsy for tv stuff. The plot leaves you wanting more and more, and to see what will happen to guts and the band of the hawk. The relationship between guts and his leader gets more interesting as the story moves along. This is definitely worth a look at, check it out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cheapest way to get the set
Review: Despite what you hear , this is the complete series. All 6 DVDs for $125 , thats $40 cheaper than buying them one by one , In other words if your looking for a bargain then get this series

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best
Review: Ever since I saw this whole Berserk episode,it has never been the same.I kept comparing this movie to other series and the worst is I cant find any better like this one.I just hope that they will make the next Berserk.This is highly recommended to all whether you like action or not!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Berserk.....the anime
Review: First of all for anyone who is not familiar with Berserk, it is based upon the japanese manga series. the anime only goes up to volume 12 of the manga series. the manga series is up to volume 28 and it is STILL GOING. when people say that the anime has a bad ending...they really have no idea what they are talking about cause the story has not ended yet. that "ending" that they are talking about is only the end of that chapter or volume. the berserk story is the best story that i have been fortunate enough to have come across. i really suggest getting the mangas which have been translated into english and are being published by Darkhorse comics. currently the translated mangas are only up to volume 6. but you can read them online if you go to thespectrum.net/berserk. berserk is not only the best anime, but its the best manga and story EVER!!!


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