Customer Reviews

Arc the Lad - Alliance (Vol. 4)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All right, so first (I'm doing things backwards today), I will start out with the DVD/technical stuff. The DVD only contains 3 episodes, as did the first one, and while I understand the series is only 14 episodes, did they have to be released on 6 DVDs? Nor does this DVD have any extras to speak of. It doesn't even pretend, by counting the DVD credits as an extra. Pretty lame, and not worth much money. Luckily, when you buy the DVDs new, they are pretty cheap (between $5-$10), and the complete collection has been released which is also much cheaper used.

As far as dubbed VS subtitled goes...I'm generally not faithful to one or the other. I admit that I often try the dub first, but on my second run through (assuming the dub was good enough to keep watching) I try the subtitled version. The dub of Arc the Lad is not bad. It's just...not that good. The actor's voices aren't annoying, which is a plus, since they quite often are. But, they just deliver their lines without emotion, or with the wrong emotion for the scene. The subtitling is much better. And if you watch the dub with the subtitles, the conversion is actually pretty acurate. There are a couple of things here and there, but nothing glaringly obvious.

OK. Now for the episodes. Since the first DVD was just picking up by the end of the disc, I assumed that the 2nd DVD would go right into the action. And while, in a way, it did, I still found it a little too slow paced for me. At least in the begging of the disc. Even by the end of the 1st episode it had picked up, but I find the quick start/stop pace of the action a little jarring. The animation is gorgeous. This is my favorite kind of animation. Big faces, big eyes...not at all realistic looking, but nice to look at. The music is OK...nothing too spectacular. The other plus to the series is that it is (at least so far) only rated 15+ for violence. There seems to be no sexuality, or mature content to speak of.

With the length of the series not requiring too much of a commitment (under 6 hours long), funny particulars such as midieval dress in the modern world, a few good fight scenes, a decent plot, and moments of humor, I would say that Arc the Lad is an anime that is worth a shot. As long as you don't expect too much from it.

Another amazing volume of arc the lad. All the action you've been waiting for is realeased in this incredible volume. Action, action and more action. And it's a lot better then the action in the other volumes. He finally uses his spear instead of saying "come to me fire... AND BURN EVERYTHING IN MY WAY!!!!"
In all the other volumes I questioned the rating. It says 15+ on the back but on the other volumes it could have been rated PG. But in this one it goes into dark territory. It started out as a sort of cutesy film but now its filled with blood nudity and things that just look plain wrong.
Well my point is that this volume is great and you should buy it. That's right, Cough up the dough and hit that add to shopping cart button.

The first one was excellent but the second one is even better. Arc the lad just keeps getting better. In this one elk confronts arc but doen't do a very good job, I won't tell you any more because I'd ruin it.
In some parts the people talk really fast like they're trying to sqeeze a bunch of stuff in one episode. It's actually kind of funny to watch.
Well my point is , if you liked the first one you'll like the second one too.

I've been a fan of the video game series for a while. Compared to other series that were originally based off a game I think Arc The Lad is one of the greatest. I have only watched the Japanese version but I loved the music and the character designs and I've heard that the dub is pretty good. I personally like the later episodes better though, however one should watch the entire series to understand it. :)

By the way, I believe the series is of 26 episodes, not 14.

Again just like the first DVD volume, this contain only three episodes. Most likely because the entire series is mere 14 episoeds. In this volume, Elk meets Arc and more of Elk's past is uncover. There was not much figting scenes as hoped, but the story is progressing slowly. Not to spoil,but one could probably tell who the real villain is in the serie from this volume. I'm still looking for something that'll hype up this Anime, but none here. Hopefully, in the next volume the story will be more intense and more fighting action scenes. Just like the first volume, the extra consist of some previews and a ADV compilation. Overall, this volume is satisfactory. This serie needs to start a moving to the point.