Product Details

• Actors: Tsutomu Isobe, Daisuke Namikawa, Hiroaki Hirata, Megumi Toyoguchi
• Directors: Sunao Katabuchi
• Format: Animated, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD, Limited Edition, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen
• Language: English, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: GENEON [PIONEER]
• DVD Release Date: May 22, 2007
• Run Time: 130 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000MTDREU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,557 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Black Lagoon V.1 Limited Edition" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In a criminal underworld just out of sight, April 4, 2007

By 

M. Joseph Swanson "Sensei" (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Lagoon V.1 Limited Edition (DVD)

I don't even recall how I first heard of Black Lagoon. Having watched the series on YouTube, I was hooked from the first episode. The animation is stunning, especially the beautiful shots of the South China sea. This disk contains one of my favorite parts of the series, from the beginning of episode one, where we meet Rock and see the life he escapes from, to the beginning of episode three, when we first see Rock "on the job" and attempting to reason with the freight ship until Revi uses an RPG in her own particular method of persuasion.

Black Lagoon teases us with a world so close to our own that we are never quite certain if we are dealing in supposed reality or not. Though the city of Roanapur doesn't really exist, it very easily could under another name, it seems, and the geographic locations are mostly accurate. Back stories set in real history (such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan) provide a realistic setting for some of the characters as well. Weapons depictions are also almost startlingly accurate.

On the other hand, the use of those weapons and the capabilities of the characters often reminds us that we are indeed watching an anime, with various characters (mostly female) who are able to wield their choice of weapons with nearly supernatural finesse and ability.

It's all in good fun, and the series isn't afraid to poke fun at itself, while sometimes thoughtfully raising questions of moral perspective.
There is some mature content, which while often unnecessary is also part of the criminal underworld backdrop that is reinforced throughout the series.
These are not nice people, they live by violence and crime. Yet still we develop an unshakeable attachment to them: The capable and dangerous Balalaika; the murderous, hot-headed, yet somehow endearing Revi; the reluctant but ultimately courageous Rock; and many other characters, developed to varying extents but all interesting.

I look forward to the rest of the episodes being released.
Like everything else, this series has its flaws, but is intense, compelling, and ultimately satisfying.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Promises to be an Entertaining Series at the Very Least, June 30, 2007

By 

Jonathan McCartney "Musician" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Lagoon, Vol. 1 (DVD)

At the onset, although little has been revealed about the characters, this promises to be an engaging series. The gunplay is quite impressive as is the animation and the pulsing soundtrack's style is unique in anime. The story revolves around four mercenary sea pirates, one of whom, Rock, was recently recruited after he was kidnapped from Japan, where he was working a white-collar job. It's amusing to see Rock trying to adjust to his new, criminal lifestyle while he is surrounded by already hardened, brutal cohorts...but it's Revy that steals the show. Her savagely casual way of slaughtering her enemies is quite chilling to watch, yet she retains a human quality that seems to come out when she deals with Rock. Despite her shockingly nihilistic violence, Revy still emerges as one of anime's sexiest "heroines". (wait, is she a heroine?) Fans of Cowboy Bebop-style action and drama will enjoy this. Recommended!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, violent, sure to please!, June 16, 2007

By 

chumash "chumash" (CT, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Lagoon, Vol. 1 (DVD)

TOKYO, Japan: Meet Rokuro Okajima, a young Japanese businessman...in a town full of young Japanese businessmen. He's just another working stiff who's trying to claw his way up the corporate ladder--until it's kicked out from under him.

ROANAPUR, Thailand: Rokuro is kidnapped by the "Black Lagoon" company, who are after the valuable CD-ROM he's carrying. Now dubbed "Rock" by his captors, he is dragged into a world of mercenaries, mobsters and corporate malfesance. If he's going to survive, "Rock" will have to learn how to play by their rules.

BLACK LAGOON CO.: Led by the burly Dutch, supported by trigger-happy Revy and expert computer-hacker Benny, the Black Lagoon Co. will take on any job--for price. And God help you if you don't pay up!

DVD notes: The theme song is actually sung in English, but heavily accented and badly slurred in places. Special Features include English & Japanese dialogue, English subtitles, preview trailers & DVD credits.