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Now and Then, Here and There (Complete Collector's Boxed Set)

Now and Then, Here and There (Complete Collector's Boxed Set)

List Price: $69.95
Your Price: $62.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Depressingly good
Review: As an anime fan, I tend to lean toward drama stories. The more character depth, the better. NTHT has some of the deepest characters I've seen, and while extremely depressing, it has some lighter moments. This is one of the better series I've seen in recent years, and if you are already into anime, pick this up, if not, then see some other stuff first... then pick this up.

I haven't bought the boxset, though I am strongly considering it. (I work at a Blockbuster, so I've seen the whole series)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Intense, powerful.
Review: As the first episode of Now and Then, Here and There opens, we see Shu, the protagonist, dashing downstairs to eat breakfast, which he wolfs down with endless enthusiasm, until his sister tells him she's heard that he's going to ask a girl out if he wins the day's kendo match, at which point he sprays beans out of his mouth across the table at his father, who, without even looking up, lifts up the newspaper he's reading as a shield.

Soon after, he's sucked into another dimension where children are forcibly drafted into an army and forced by the deranged, Caligula-like King Hamdo to carry out genocidal raids on peaceful villages.

And that's what immediately strikes one about NaTHaT: Shu is an unapologetic, goofy, exaggerated ANIME character, yet he's juxtaposed with a relentlessly grim setting--something that I personally had never seen before; contrast it with Grave of the Fireflies, for instance, a similar work in some ways, except that the characters don't clash with the background, because they're a PART of it.

I fear that this sort of cartoonishness in such a dark show may confuse, baffle, and generally turn off a certain sort of person, and that is too bad, because NaTHaT is certainly the best anime I've seen recently. Shu's resilience notwithstanding, there are parts of the show which are simply hard to take. What a lot of reviews seem to gloss over is that it does have its quieter, happy moments, but these only go so far; NaTHaT is not a show that pulls its punches. It's not always fun, but it's necessary nonetheless, both as an unflinching study of lost innocence (the kidnapped children--one of whom appears to be around six years old--are quite a punch to the gut), and as a powerful anti-war allegory (sadly, more necessary than ever right now)--made all the more powerful by the fact that it's far from one-sided.

It doesn't matter whether or not you like 'anime' as a general concept; you should watch NaTHaT regardless. I saw it subtitled, but from a cursory check, the dubbing seems pretty good. Either way, it gets my seal of approval.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Possibly the best Anime out there!
Review: First off, this isn't like most anime you have probably seen. The subject matter is very mature, and really not for younger viewers. This series describes the events on a different planet ruled by a mad king and his effects on the population on the planet, but mostly the children. A boy from Earth is transported to this hell planet and finds himself in the middle of things from the start.

There are numerous depictions of graphic violence, like killings and torture of children, so if that isn't what you're looking for, this isn't for you.

The story is a powerful one about survival against horrible odds and never giving up ones morals. This anime is similar to Grave of the Fireflies in intensity. I highly recommend this to people looking for more mature anime that has a story that will grab you. You will remember this one for a long time after seeing it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Now & Then, Here & There is a work of art
Review: I have only been an anime fan for a few years. The first weries I bought was Robotech, then Neo Genesis Evangelis, and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I have to say without a doubt that Now & Then, Here & There is the best of all these other series.
A boy (Shu) is transported from our world Japan to a desert wasteland where a psychotic military leader (King Hamdo) chases an immortal girl (La La Ru) that has the ability to store vast amounts of water in a crystal. He is tortured for countless hours as interogators ask him questions he does not know. Eventually escaping, he discovers that to raise the population of his Army King Hamdo kidnaps boys from villages and girls as well who are raped so that they will become pregnant.
This is not an anime for young viewers. It is dark and disturbing. The only part of it I did not like was the ending where Shu returns to our world Japan. After all he had been through, I figured he had found a new home.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Now & Then, Here & There is a work of art
Review: I have only been an anime fan for a few years. The first weries I bought was Robotech, then Neo Genesis Evangelis, and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I have to say without a doubt that Now & Then, Here & There is the best of all these other series.
A boy (Shu) is transported from our world Japan to a desert wasteland where a psychotic military leader (King Hamdo) chases an immortal girl (La La Ru) that has the ability to store vast amounts of water in a crystal. He is tortured for countless hours as interogators ask him questions he does not know. Eventually escaping, he discovers that to raise the population of his Army King Hamdo kidnaps boys from villages and girls as well who are raped so that they will become pregnant.
This is not an anime for young viewers. It is dark and disturbing. The only part of it I did not like was the ending where Shu returns to our world Japan. After all he had been through, I figured he had found a new home.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Now & Then, Here & There is a work of art
Review: I have only been an anime fan for a few years. The first weries I bought was Robotech, then Neo Genesis Evangelis, and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I have to say without a doubt that Now & Then, Here & There is the best of all these other series.
A boy (Shu) is transported from our world Japan to a desert wasteland where a psychotic military leader (King Hamdo) chases an immortal girl (La La Ru) that has the ability to store vast amounts of water in a crystal. He is tortured for countless hours as interogators ask him questions he does not know. Eventually escaping, he discovers that to raise the population of his Army King Hamdo kidnaps boys from villages and girls as well who are raped so that they will become pregnant.
This is not an anime for young viewers. It is dark and disturbing. The only part of it I did not like was the ending where Shu returns to our world Japan. After all he had been through, I figured he had found a new home.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A bit slow at first
Review: I love anime of all sorts. This is no exception. But some might see this anime as too slow in the beginning. Also some of the things just plainly make no sense. Most animes try to explain why things happen in certain ways but this one didnt even try. The story is nice in other ways and the animation with the story board really helps you understand how creation of anime comes to be. This is good for people who watched anime before and developed a taste for deeper animes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My Opinion.
Review: I watched a few episodes of this when it was shown by AXN Asia in Singapore. I decided to buy the DVDs after reading over three or four good reviews. I agree with some of the reviewers that this show is not for everybody. I am not sure how to describe the targetted audience. It can be emotionally draining. I believe I can say that after having watched all 13 episodes back to back.

Subsequently. while I loved the show, I agree with the reviewers who dislike the English dubbing. I don't agree with some of the character interpretations. I may not speak Japanese, but there are places where the vocal inflections do not seem to agree with the original. Based on the available translations and the context, I preferred the original. Furthermore, I found it difficult to put some of the voices with some of the characters. On the other hand, the interpretations may have been for a more "western" audience. I grew up in Singapore, so my point of view is probably colored by this.

Episode 1 - 5
I think these episodes are slow, and spend quite some time establishing the backgroud to the characters and the story. Nonetheless, key events occur in these early episodes that add a great deal to the story.

Episodes 6-7
I believe these episodes have more action and the pace picks up for a while.

Episode 8
This episode has a few conversations between Shu and Lala-Ru that I cannot find words to describe at this time. The title "Night Chat" stands out the most. There is some action.

Episode 10-11
I believe that these episodes return to a slow pace. They introduce more characters and a real twist to the plot. A lot of conversations take place and makes the story shine.

Episodes 12-13
I think these episodes bring the whole story together. I believe things happen very quickly. The speed of it left me with a lot of mixed feelings. It also left me wanting to continue following the lives of some of the characters. I really would like to know how Shu and Sara move on from their experiences.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Nothing exceptional
Review: I watched episodes 1 to 3 and half of 4. The first episode looked good enough to persue the series, but I even neglected to finish watching the fourth one. It is a story in an alternate world which is lacking the essential ressource of water. Everything is very dark: bloody war, insane leaders wanting to "bring peace" to the world, children in difficult war situations. Maybe it gets better later on, but I did not think there was much of a plot or a point this far.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sleeper Hit
Review: I'll keep it short. im not a big anime fan but i am an animator so i buy animation more as a resource. I rarely expect to be impressed with anime but Now and Then, Here and There rocked. It was very,very depressing and violent, and near the end almost too hard to even watch. But anime like this shows the true potential of this or any other medium given a good story and good direction. Get past the goofy childlike designs (which im sure isnt hard for anime fans) and you got yourself one classic anime.


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