Product Details

• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Anime Works
• DVD Release Date: November 19, 2002
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006IUFT
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,673 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

For over 100 years the great armies of chuder & midland have clashed upon bloodstained battlefields. Only the impenetrable stronghold of doldery keeps the empire of chuder afloat as the storm of war rages around them. Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 11/19/2002 Run time: 100 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is where things really pick up -- best of the 4 discs, December 9, 2002

By 

Fat Elvis (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berserk - Devil's Advocate (Epi. 14-17) (DVD)

(warning: this review may contain spoilers of previous Berserk discs, but excluding disc 4)

Also note, this is a review by someone who has seen only one other full anime (Cowboy Bebop, which is god),and the first discs of a handful of other animes, as well as a few movies. So I'm no "anime expert", but I know what's good, and Berserk is good.

In terms of interest, Berserk, a terrific anime, is one that picks up rather slowly. It wasn't really until the third disc that I became truly absorbed in the goings-on of the plot and the characters. In fact, if it weren't for all the praise I've heard of the anime (and the really interesting turn it took at the very end of the second disc involving the assassinations), I may not have even bothered with the last two discs. Episodes 8 and beyond, however, certainly made up for the lack of interesting plot developments before. Not only do we get some very exciting battles, but also insight into each character's past, what each of them wants from life, interesting and surprising relationship developments between them, and political intrigue and deception between The Hawks and the royalty.

Episodes 14-17 (disc 4) builds upon this with The Hawks' most triumphant battle yet, another peak at the demon from an earlier episode and a hint of his involvement in things to come, watching as Guts comes to terms with his lack of a 'dream' and his subsequent decision regarding his involvement with The Hawks (which doesn't entirely flesh out in these episodes), seeing whether or not Griffith attains what he'd been dreaming of all these years, and a cliffhanger at the very end of the disc that will leave you breathless and absolutely craving the fifth DVD (which won't be out for a while......darnit).

Basically, this is the disc where things really start to get interesting, and after viewing it I can finally understand how all the praise that got me to watch this anime in the first place is justified. It is a real downer that the disc ends on such a cliffhanger with no following disc available, but I try not to hold that against these episodes themselves, which are truly outstanding in their plot and character developments. I also feel the need to mention the rather unforgivably cheap and mediocre animation used much of the time, which in my opinion does damage most during battle scenes. But it's certainly not terrible and is something that can be forgiven, and perhaps forgotten, once you're immersed into the rich plot. The art direction is also pretty cool.

In summary, you have no excuse not to get this DVD if you have a morsel of interest in the previous episodes. It is certainly the highpoint of the show thus far, and will leave you hungry for more.

p.s. If you happen to get this DVD, do not miss out on the outtakes located in the 'extras' section. It lasts about five to ten minutes and some of them are just hilarious.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Commoners and Peers, January 5, 2003

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Berserk - Devil's Advocate (Epi. 14-17) (DVD)

One of the most unique aspects of this series is that while it purports to be a high testosterone, kill or die trying series with the battle going to the guy with the biggest sword, it is actually much, much more. Both Guts and Caska have become strongly delineated characters with personalities and stories that extend far off the battlefield. Even the bit players take on lives of their own. And there really are stories 'off' the battlefield (or, perhaps, the battlefields are not all occupied with swordsmen. I have become increasing wrapped up in the series as it has been told, and suspect that most other action anime fans will feel the same. Definitely the best set of episodes so far.

The first episode 'Bonfire of Dreams' wraps up the previous DVD's cliffhanger ending as Caska gathers herself together for one last effort and Guts does his famous imitation of a human lawn mower. The most important development is that this changes their relationship to mutual admiration and even friendship. While Griffith does not play much of a part in this episode, he does manage to demonstrate his genuine concern for his two lieutenants, which greatly boosts morale among the White Hawks.

In 'The Decisive Battle' and 'The Conqueror' Griffith and the White Hawks do what a hundred years of battle on the part of Midland has never accomplished before - The retaking of Castle of Doldrey, from which Chuder has continually harried the Midland forces. Since the Hawks must overcome a 5,000 to 30,000 disadvantage and gain control of the heavily defended castle, this is no trivial accomplishment. It will end the struggles on the battlefields, but thrusts Griffith into a more deadly conflict - court intrigue - as many of the Midland nobles are fiercely opposed to his rapid rise.

Finally, 'Moment of Glory' finds the White Hawks welcomed as heroes, celebrated and feted. True to their natures, both Guts and Caska are uncomfortable as courtly figures. Griffith, of course, fits right in, but not as well as he would wish. At the end, we find that everything he fought for is at risk, leaving us waiting impatiently for the next DVD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This series just keeps getting better and better!, June 18, 2004

By 

Robert evans (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berserk - Devil's Advocate (Epi. 14-17) (DVD)

Berserk hasn't let me down yet and these set of episodes are a great. Gutts is thinking about leaving the Hawks!!! Yikes!
Also the violence has gotten a bit stronger lately.

Caska is getting mixed feelings towards the two and the Band of Hawk are soon to meet there fate. I don't want to spoil anything for the people who haven't seen these episodes But I will tell you that they are great. This is why I love this series. It has everything. Drama, Violence and lots of it, the story it self is great, though these are pretty much flash backs.

Still it is a must have for any fan that likes sword and sorcer with lots of violence and a really good story.

I can't wait for DVD 5.

This series is getting better by the minute!

Later...