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4.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, yet very entertaining, June 22, 2006
This review is from: Area 88, Vol. 4 - Wings of the Wind (DVD)
So I've been a big fan of Area 88 ever since the original anime came out in the 80's. It had a gripping plotline, superb character development, and great combat scenes. Too bad they made only one of the three volumes into a DVD.
I was extremely elated at the news that ADV films was going to remake Area 88. After I watched the entire series, I must admit that I was a little disappointed, but found it still very entertaining to watch, and that's the reason why I still give it a 4.
There were a couple of things about the new series that I did not like. First of all, the original series was rated MA, meaning it was meant for the mature viewers. The blood, violence, nudity, and language all added to the dark, desperate tone of the original series. However, with the new Area 88 series, the rating was a TVPG. Not even a TV PG-13. Wow, this change took a lot out from what I believe the original creator had intended. I felt like it was a watered-down version of the original series.
Secondly, the new series had new characters and left out some of the old characters from the original series. I actually liked the new characters a lot. They added a lot to the plot and discreetly revealed some key elements about the main character, Shin Kazama. However, the mere fact that some of the original characters were taken out infuriated me. They had contributed so much in terms of character development and unfolding of some of the mysteries in the story.
Having said that, I do not want to judge this series in comparison to the original series. Instead, I rate it on its own at 4.
I still recommend watching this anime. It's a great series.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
IS SHIN GOING HOME?, September 28, 2009
This review is from: Area 88, Vol. 4 - Wings of the Wind (DVD)
There are only 3 ways out of Area 88. The first is in a bodybag. The second is to serve out your 3 year tour of duty. The last is to raise $1.5 million to buy your way out. You get a bounty for every enemy plane you down, but the pilot's ammunition and maintenence of their jet takes up a lot of money so the odds are stacked against that option. In this last volume, Shin Kazuma has scaled that mountain and only needs to shoot down one more fighter craft. Then he can go home to his beloved Ryoko and live happily ever after, remembering Area 88 only in bad dreams. Shin is usually on the ball when he's up in the air, but knowing he only has to take down one more plane puts a lot of added pressure on him. He also has visions of Ryoko dancing through his mind (not literally). This distraction almost costs Kitri her life during a dogfight and Shin's jet takes some damage. Shin is resigned at first to the delay in his liberation, that is, until he finds out Ryoko is getting married to his former best friend who also happens to be the dude that got him shipped out to Area 88!
Back in the day Viz partially published the original manga upon which this anime is based. It was before the Tokyopop innovation of cheap and original size manga so the Area 88 volumes were those huge trade paperbacks Viz put out for $16 or so. The reason I bring this up is because as I watched the anime I couldn't help but feel that it was only scratching the surface of a much larger story. I didn't think we got much time to get to know the characters or to find out more about the war they were fighting. That's right, even after the series ended, I still didn't know much about the political situation or what brought the conflict about. I don't think I ever even saw the face of an enemy soldier. I guess maybe that was the show's intention, but I doubt that it was the case in the manga. From what the cast and director said about the manga, the original creator was very much influenced by shojo character designs. I would really like to read them, but Viz isn't exactly famous for putting out old series. Maybe under their "Signature" line? I guess I'll see if I can track some of them down on Ebay.
I wish the show had been longer. Even with its brevity, I still really enjoyed it. The mysterious nature brought about by the shortness made the characters even more appealing, if that makes any sense. There is also an OVA collection from ADV that is readily available. I guess I'll be hunting that down next.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
The end ...?, November 2, 2008
This review is from: Area 88, Vol. 4 - Wings of the Wind (DVD)
Wings of the Wind provides the concluding episodes of 2005's Area 88 television serial.
If you are new to Area 88: this is not the best place to start, since you miss all the context for the events in these three episodes. If that does not dissuade you, then welcome to Area 88: a mercenary army, an unforgiving war, a protagonist who knows no end to his troubles. This series is about the effect of combat on the mindset of the people who engage in it.It's all too easy to conceive of war as a thing that flares up, a number of young people go to fight for a few years, and then it's over, resolved, and forgotten -- Area 88 is relentless about painting the picture that, for the men and women who did the fighting, it is never over. Welcome to Area 88.
=== SPOILERS AHEAD ===
If you already have part or almost all of the series: Yes, you do want to see it through to the conclusion. It offers more poignant scenes and more of the same hammy coincidences that make the series possible to work out. What happens with Kanzaki? And with Kitri? And does Shin Kazama finally get back to Japan? See, you know you need to buy it.
If you are busy comparing and contrasting the original movie thing and the modern series: This may or may not be for you. If you are open to seeing a slightly different take on the same premise, then, yeah, this is what you want. If you want either something entirely new OR material that is strictly loyal to what has gone before, then, no, this is not for you. It is in the subtlety of the differences that the deeper meaning can be found: examine not the quality of the animation, but the quality of the story.
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