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39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Check out this anime, you won't be disappointed., October 21, 2001
This review is from: Bastard - Complete Collection (DVD)
I first heard of the "Bastard!!" series back in the early 90's and recalled many fans at an anime convention talking about how cool the series was and how funny it was because of the main character's name (Dark Schneider) and the many references to popular US metal bands (from the 80's). After watching all six episodes, I just fell in love with this series. There have been several "Bastard!!" video games available for the SNES and Sony Playstation and the series has yet to be "fully completed", although the six-OAV episode arc is just totally awesome! The series is about an evil warlock named "Dark Schneider" who has been freed from imprisonment and fortunately, the evil warlock has been combined with a very good kid named Rushe which makes him somewhat a hero to aid the people of Meta-Rikana" and take on his old generals and army. The storyline is just awesome but since this anime includes combat, humor and wizardry...the battles can be bloody and too violent for some people. All in all, an awesome anime featuring awesome characters (and character designs) such as Ninja Master Gara, Thunder Empress Arshes Nei and more. Check out this anime, you won't be disappointed.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dark Schneider Owns, October 26, 2005
This review is from: Bastard - Complete Collection (DVD)
I mistakenly stumbled upon this series while drunkenly strolling the aisles at a video rental store. Since I am attracted to profanity, the title alone was enough to convince me to rent the video. I watched the video and really enjoyed the campy humor, violence, nonsensical plot (although I've been told I don't get it because I've never read the manga), and the over-the-top characters.
Sadly, the video rental store only had volume one on tape, and after getting hooked on the series after just a couple of episodes, I was rather upset I couldn't see how things turned out. That is why I was so quick to purchase Bastard - Complete Collection. Finally, I was able to finish this unique and entertaining series.
Dark Schneider, an evil warlock - with an unusually non-threatening name - is released from some kind of prison where he'd been stuck for quite some time. All he wants to do is take revenge on the people that imprisoned him and wreak some havoc like only the world's most powerful wizard could. Unfortunately for him - due to circumstances beyond his control - he is essentially forced to fight for the people who imprisoned him in the first place.
Now, Dark Schneider is sort of forced into being a good guy while being as evil as he can in the meantime. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues. Dark Schneider must now do battle with the evil folks he used to command since they're still pretty devoted to bringing back some ancient, evil deity who will destroy the world.
There aren't many special features on the DVD, but it is still completely worth buying just to enjoy this series in its six-episode entirety. You can marvel as Dark Schneider gives speech after grandiose speech and then gets mangled and mutilated while doing battle (his opinion of himself is really quite high). You'll be thrilled when you catch references to 1980's metal bands, such as Count Dai Amon, a hilarious vampire character who is basically a parody of the squealing, Danish, metal legend - King Diamond. And you can laugh at exquisitely ridiculous dialogue such as "That's right. It's slime!" (Watch for that one, it's brilliant.)
This is a great DVD. What it lacks in length, coherence, and a plot that makes total sense, it more than makes up for with action, adventure, violence, tongue-in-cheek humor, castles, monsters, ninjas, great characters, and a crazy warlock named Dark Schneider.
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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Series for a swords and sorcery lover!, July 28, 2001
This review is from: Bastard - Complete Collection (DVD)
I dont' know if you have ever heard of this particular series, but I recently purchased it while at the local video store. It's pretty cool. Kind of reminds me of lodoss war, in the sense that every living creature is like a giant bag of blood, and if you're cut BAM!!! you spring a leak like a water mane busting. I noted the main character, Dark Schneider, or Darsh, is very intreguing. His character progresses quiet nicely throught the series, going from not quiet pure evil to a reluctant hero. IF you think you;ve seen someone with more ego than this guy, you're probably wrong, but on the plus side this 400 year old mage has the power to back up his mouth. The first (of 6) episode, an annoying mage, with some power, is attacking the town, now Darsh is freed from his imprisonment, inside a small boy to fight this threat. He can only be freed if kissed by a virgin. Fortuantely, Yoko, Rusha's best friend (the small boy who house's this super mage) has been unwittingly prepared for this day her whole life. OF course, being evil as he is, and having been iprisoned for the last 15 years, Darsh decides, as his first act, to kill everyone instead, but the invader gets in the way, and cuts darsh's face, drawing blood. Then Dark's power is unleashed, and the invader (calls himself the invisible.... I can't remember his name) gets a heaping helping of a dish I call severe pain laced with VENOM (watch teh show you'll get why I spelled it in caps). Now the big picture: You see Darsh's old generals, his ex girlfiriend, and his old army have decided to take over the world like he would have if he hadn't been imprisoned. The four generals, are pretty cool. Althought I think they were based off Record of Lodoss War, or it was based on them, one or the other. One, a ninja master, reminds me of Ashram from Record of Lodoss War. While the ex-girlfriend, and Darsh's adopted duaghter. (there's a long story in that one turst me it's better to see than hear) is like Pirotause. The last two guys are a mage of undead creautes is who reminded me of Wagnard, where as the ice mage (a very interesting character who gets very little screen time, and when he is there, it's merely to look good. but when he does act... cool) acts a lot like Ashram as well. Reluctantly Darsh takes them all on (along the way killing a vampire/mage who just seems to cry out for a beating, trust me one look and you'll agree) and being nigh immortal, unleashes a super does of pain to his enemies. A happy ending, but I get the feelign there was supposed to be another series, since the last battle is won, but there are a few lose ends left untended to. If you liked Record of Lodoss War or Fist of the North Star, you would probably love this series. My only true complaint is that this series wasn't longer. Since some stuff seems to be rushed through.
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