Customer Reviews

The Big O, Vol. 2

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This animated, action packed, mind-blowing movie is out of this world! Not only is it a movie, but also a cartoon that aired on the cartoon network program, toonami. The cartoon series was just as awesome as the movie. unfortunately, the production of the cartoon was stopped. why stop such cool animation? beats me. Its terrible that they've stopped work on such an awesome cartoon. Let's hope the animators haven't REALLY given up on Big O and that they'll make more of his animation to be seen. But the movie is a movie for people who like action and mystery. This movie keeps you yearning to know more about the past-less city called Paragdim City, and makes you wonder what's around the next corner. All eyes are glued on Roger Smith, a negotiator, who calls upon a megadeus called Big O, when Paragdim City is under attack. This is almost like a "virtual" movie, only without all of the virtual-ness!

I have to admit upfront that I have a (inexplicable) soft-spot for THE BIG O. Probably because of it's balance of action and "cheese." And because of it's strange dialog and seriousness, and because of its absurdly repetitive setting (just how many large robots can attack a city?). I also like the sometimes reductive character design. However, some will consider THE BIG O to be anime-light, at best, and you'd be right in doing so.

While THE BIG O/main character relationship is a near copy from GIANT ROBO, while the plot mirrors that of BATMAN, the theme song totally copies FLASH GORDON, and while the campy jazz soundtrack is almost a direct lift from COWBOY BEBOP, this incomplete (only one season was made) little show manages to have a character all its own.

Really, it does!

I was disappointed they decided to only include 3 episodes on this DVD...it's barely over an hour of material. But the 3 episodes introduce a recurring enemy, show some interesting elements to the Dorothy character, and have another appearance of Angel, where, for no apparent reason whatsoever, she takes her dress off.

If you didn't like the first DVD in the series, this one certainly isn't going to change your mind about the series. But if you appreciate it's quirk, you're certain to find more things to be amused with.

Things just better and better as the second volume of The Big O crashes onto the DVD scene. The wonderful music, voice-acting, story-telling, action sequences, and character development of the first disc are continued here, and the direction of the series is taken to yet higher levels of sophistication. There are three episodes to this disc, and they are all wonderful.

One episode has Roger investigating a police officer who disappeared and is somehow related to mysterious "ghost" sightings and murder of government officials. This episode is so good it could stand completely on its own independent of the entire series. The camera angles, dialog, and use of music and subtle direction make this episode a simple masterpiece of storytelling that I never get tired of. And the emotion expressed at the end of the episode (it's warm heart) had tears in my eyes the last time I saw it despite the fact that I have seen this episode many times already.

Another episode has Dorothy taking some piano lessons so that poor Roger can wake up without a headache (due to Dorothy's mechanical past-paced piano playing). That whole aspect of the show is wonderful, and the character of Instro is also interesting. I'm not too thrilled about Instro being involved in yet ANOTHER giant mechanical monster plot. It just ends in another show-down with the Big O, and I wonder if that whole fight could somehow have been cut from an otherwise flawless episode (I love Giant Robot fights, but it's starting to feel like overkill about here).

The last episode to mention is a masterwork of character development and skillful direction, as the entire episode is told with the viewer jumping backword and forward in time to watch as Roger waits with Angel for a rescue, and we see how they got into the mess in the first place. The whole thing involves the price of fish, a Sea Titan, lost memories, and strange scuba-divers in frog-suits. The real great thing about this episode though is how we get to see more of EVERYONE'S personality. Roger interacts with Angel, we see WHY she's called Angel, we see how Dorothy and Norman spend their day when Roger is gone, and even good old Dustin from the Military Police and the mysterious Alex Rosewater show some of their true nature as the former acts against orders to protect the people of the city, and the latter says to let the helpless be wiped out in the face of another giant monster attack.

Fans of the first disc have every reason to buy this one too. The show just gets better and better, and the whole triangle of Dorothy, Roger, and Angel (to say nothing of detective stories, sci-fi mysteries and fights to the death between Megadeuses) is sure to please any fan of spy films, giant robots, or anime heroes.

This is the second installment of this series, while I didn't like the fact that there were only three epsiodes on this volume, but I wasn't a little sock by this, this was because I have brought two other Anime series that did the same type of stuff.

While the first volume was there to introuduce your the all of the major players, this volume was meant for deveolpment of them to show how each of the singal characters are like and you get to see what other attacks Big O had hidden within it. My rating a little lower than the first one and this was because, while I do enjoy this series, this trio of epsiodes aren't the ones that I like.

As anime goes, Big O! is pretty light. No real hard hitting drama, or bloody shootouts or sex and nudity. the main problem plot of the show is repeated every few minutes when your reminded that thecity lost all memory 40 years ago. But i still like the series, b/c the big o! is extremely cool looking and the main characters and pretty bad ass. 'Specially Norman. The audio and video is very good for tv. THe voice acting(english) fits very well, the extra's are slim pickins. But the character design sketches are cool enuff. Lemme say here, before i get to the ep's themselves. that the solomon guy who rights the rundowns of these discs is a numbnuts, don't listen to him, he doesn't pay attention.

-Episode 1- A policeman killed in a scandal is not really dead. also a ghost is killing government officials(side note- the guy doesnt know why he can control the robot b/c he was given that information prior to when he forgot or it, only Certain people can control the mega deus'. )

-Episode 2- scubadivers are STEALING MEMORIES!(and work for themselves, mr. SOLOMON) from a now underwater subway tunnel. Angel (Rosewaters secretary from earlier episodes, PAY ATTENTION) and roger end up trapped together.

-Episode 3- The only of the 3 with little or no purose, but is still kinda cool. Dorothy learns to play a song from a piano playing robot. The piano robot is a key to a much larger machine.

Sure the series may not be as tight and sequential as cowboy bebop or trigun, but its damn close. you also have to be in the mindset that the series was never completed in order to enjoy it. Mr. Solomon does not do this. and only views them as individual episodes, not a series. He's a dip, don't listen to him. These are 3 pretty good episodes. Buy em' if you liked volume 1.

this cartoon is pretty short but it was good many anime fans will love this cartoon because it is full of many emotions that is why it is a very good anime cartoon Roger Smith and Dorthy Waynrite are the main charecters Dorthy is an androided but she has emotions that is very surpising but soon you'll find out the other episodes

Big-O doesn't have cute girl-cats, outlandish hair-styles or super-deformed characters. Unlike most mainstream anime, Big-O has a lot of heart and a briefcase chock-full of serious style.
Roger Smith works as a negotiator in a postapocalyptic world where in Paradigm City, one of the last known civilizations on earth, everyone 40 years ago lost thier memory. With no clue to stand on as to how they came to be, the people of Paradigm, with Roger as thier protector with the god-like robot named Big-O, must strive to live for the future and willingly forget about the past that they can never remember.
The first season of Big-O introduces a myraid of characters, all slaves in some way to the mysteries of the past. With Roger Smith at the forefront in a battle against inner-demons, Big Brother-like government officials, Zealous truth-seekers and mad scientists, it's no wonder why a second season soon followed.
When scenes aren't action packed, look forward to jazz selections, film noir-like narratives, and dark, gritty mysteries.
Big-O is one anime that breaks the conventions of a typical Japanese animation. It features a hard-hitting psychological roller-coaster ride with every bit of feeling that is portrayed in any one searching for truth.

I'm telling you if you get into one Animation series get into this one. It's got all a lover of solid plot and action could ever want and then some. So buy the DVDs and cross your fingers for a Season 2.

EXCELLENT STORY ...BUT MUST SEE ALL OF THE TO UNDERSTAND HOW GREAT THIS STORY IS .. DONT MISS OUT ON THIS

Those seeking average Anime action (big blocky robots, scantily clad "women", more action, less words) should look elsewhere.
The Big O (ok the title may induce a chuckle or 2) is all about Film Noir and Retropunk. Those liking the movie Dark City, or Batman: TAS should pick all DVD's from this series as soon as they are available.
Even though the series is named after its 50+ ft Action Star, its really about Roger Smith, and his cohorts Dorothy and Norman (his all too 'Alfred'-like butler).
I am quite sad to hear the series was only 13 episodes though (however, Patrick McGoohan's the Prisoner was just as short and as sweet).That, and the fact that there are only 3 episodes on this DVD (and Im assuming the last two as well), forcing those who get hooked to the first DVD to shell out the same (or maybe more) for 3 episodes instead of 4.
That should have reduced the rating to really 4.5 instead of 5 stars, but since I love the series so much, I'll round up!