Customer Reviews

Cowboy Bebop, 3rd Session (Episodes 11-14)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This DVD contains four episodes (11-14): Toys in the Attic, Jupiter Jazz Parts 1 and 2, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Toys in the Attic is a silly, humor-filled episode with an emphasis on Ed and Spike. The plot itself takes a back seat to the jokes in this episode, and the silliness is good, because they'll be no laughter in....

Jupiter Jazz, which is the first of two 2-parters in Cowboy Bebop dealing with Spike's past. Vicious (from Episode 5, DVD #1) returns and is confronted by Spike. Faye encounters a surprising man...or is it woman...or is it neither? Plus, intrigue and mentions of Julia, the mysterious woman in the credits to Cowboy Bebop. The animation here is superb, the story is complex, and the characters are deep. Quite possibly the best episodes before DVD #6, the last DVD.

Bohemian Rhapsody is a self-contained episode about...chess. Yes, chess. This is a team episode, though it's really more about Ed. The story here is pretty interesting, as is the villain, and the episode manages to have a subtle humor not evident in Toys in the Attic.

While the first two DVDs are introductions to the characters, this DVD is a lot more essential to the storyline and is a must for anyone that wants to understand Cowboy Bebop.

First of all id like to say that after i saw all of Evangelion, including the two movies, I thought that i would never find another anime that gripped me like Eva did. I was wrong. Not only does Cowboy Bebop have great music and detailed and crisp animation, the story is simply amazing. This third volume contains, in my opinion, the best episodes yet: Jupiter Jazz. Cut into two parts, these episodes have everything that good anime should; action, comedy, drama, and the required air battle. Its the best anime out there, just take my advice and get it. Watch the series form the begining though or you may miss a few funny jokes in the later episodes as well as plot threads sewn in the beginning. GET IT NOW!

Stepping from two great DVDs into a third, 'Bebop' still holds well. Only to be expected, of course since it houses some of Japan's finest anime talent and draughtsmanship EVER. Unlike the first two DVDs, this one and all others to follow have only FOUR episodes. Regardless, these four will enthrall as well as any five can. Episodes are 'Toys in the Attic' which is an 'Alien' rip off sorts with rather dramatic and humerous consequnces. 'Jupiter Jazz' parts one and two relate Spike's present to his past love Julia and allow Vicious to re-emerge and redirect events. 'Boehemian Rhapsody' is a nice story exploring the genesis and error in the hyperspace gateway system strewn about the solar system of year 2071.

Each episode is substantially differnt, yet similarly rather existensial in postured events and philosophies. The bitter sweet reality that spaceship Bebop's crew is held together by a rather thin and depressing thread of codependancy gains awareness in 'Jupiter Jazz' part I. Aside from the cool designs there are always the off beat elements which surface abundantly in this DVD. Hermaphrodites, chess games, ancient genius', a city filled with MEN, betrayal, war, uncleaned refridgerators, giant Ganymede lobsters, winter wear, crows, Chinese tongs...good lord, how can anyone be left unfulfilled? Through an entertaining clash of directorial and writting styles the wheel of entertainment continues to revolve along through these four episodes. A must buy for any fans of anime, action, or sci-fi. Parents beware: the violence and sexual oddity may be slightly confusing for you....don't watch this DVD with your kids, just leave the room and let them enjoy some harsh realities portrayed through a sci-fi veneer.

Now, to some people, that may be a crazy thing to say, but ILOVE my Bebop!

So far I have seen sessions 1-3, and I think that the "Jupiter Jazz" episodes in this DVD are some of the most interesting, touching, and heartfelt episodes of any show that I have seen in a long time... except for a certain ... *hurumph* "fellow" ... if you have seen this episode, you know what I am talking about ;-)

The soundtrack of Cowboy is also an amazing element in the story - the music is ALWAYS dead on in it's mix of jazz and other contemporary music styles. In fact I love the music so much, that just yesterday I ordered 3 of the Bebop soundtracks (OST 1, OST 2, and Blue) and I really can't wait to get my hands on them - if you want a taste, just go on Napster and look for "Cowboy Bebop." Great stuff!

I recommend this to ANYONE who likes an amazing blend of John Woo-esque gunplay, deep, involving characters and a dash of humor.

If you liked Bebop, I also recommend the anime "Kite."...

The hardest thing to take about this third volume in the 'Cowboy Bebop' series is that there are only four episodes. We've been spoiled by the producer's decision to make room for all 26 episodes by cramming five stories in each of the first two disks. To make up for this we get some extra materials mostly short interviews with actors, director, and staff. This is all fun, but not the same. I guess my Bebop addiction has grown out of hand.

'Toys in the Attic' is a hygiene lesson in outer space as a mysterious creature hunts down the members of the Bebop crew, spreading an unknown and seriously debilitating disease. It's Spike and Ed to the rescue, or... Achoo!... is it?

In the two episodes of 'Jupiter Jazz,' the crew splits up. Faye absconds with the ready cash and Ed finds references to a woman named 'Julia,' Spike's old lover. He and Jet come to a terminal disagreement over what to do next and head off in their own directions. But all paths lead to the town of Blue Crow. Including some unpleasant visitors from Spike's past.

High tech robberies begin to happen at all the space gates. Despite a gigantic bounty no one has been able to catch the mastermind, just the little fish. Ed's ability to push pawns provides a big clue, but the solution proves to be ancient history.

With 14 episodes out of 26 gone this series has yet to do anything second rate. Character development has been slow, but by now we are used to the team and have come to like them. Even mercenary Faye and madcap Ed the supergeek. The stories themselves show considerable originality with no tendency to be repetitive. Shinchiro Watanabe is demonstrating a sure and capable touch. Take the time to listen to the Japanese acting. It is surprisingly strong and gives you a good sense of the emotional content of the story.

There are so many things that can (and have) been said about this series. But here are the things you should know whether you`re hesitating to try it out or thinking about watching it.
For one thing, this series is not like anything else in or outside of its genre. It has often been called "the anime for anime-haters". One way it feels so different from other anime series is that instead of having one central plot and moving very slowly from episode to episode and also including many irrelevant things in the process, the episodes are more like individual stories. There is a more important sub-plot that is occasionally addressed, but it`s more like the series shows you four characters and then tells you some random stories about their lives before the tragic ending that everything draws to. And because there are only 26 episodes, there is absolutely no junk in those thirteen hours.
And because the episodes are more like single stories, they are all very different. Because of this you should not see one episode and either think that all the others will be like it or conclude that the series is not for you. Some episodes are very funny, some are intense, some are sad, some are deep and meaningful, some are a little creepy, some are suspenseful, some are touching, and some are just plain ridiculous and crazy.
The last thing you need to know about Cowboy Bebop is that it is cool. It is so cool it hurts. Spike Spiegel, the character that the series keeps the closest eye on, is the coolest man you will ever meet. And with the killer soundtrack that brings it to life, the series is like a delightfully blended mix of the styles of West Side Story, Bruce Lee movies, The Crow, gangster flicks, James Bond, and 2001:A Space Odyssey.
This specific DVD has only four episodes in comparison to some others that have five, but because you get both parts of "Jupiter Jazz" you won`t be dissapointed. "Toys in the Attic" is also a popular fan favorite that definitely falls into the category of ridiculousness.

This is a great combination of music, action, great stories and extraordinary characters. I personally sold my VHS and started to buy this series when it came out on DVD. I wasn't disappointed. This disc contains eps. 10-13!

First, the crew must fight against a strange organism that's boarded the Bebop. Surviving that, they move on to find their lost cash, and Spike begins the search for the missing Julia. But it turns out that his old enemy Vicious is involved. Finally, they must solve the mystery of a high-tech crime that seems to have been perpetrated by a ghost.

There are two problems with this the Third DVD in the Cowboy Bebop series.

1) the menus do not work in a DVD-rom drive. (But that is why they created the right mouse button.)

2) There are only four episodes instead of the five that can be found on each of the first two disks. Which means that we get only 2 hours of enjoyment instead of 2.5.

On the other hand there are way too, too many good reasons to purchase this disk to list, but I will mention the first few.

1) Wonderful animation: it seems a lot of post-1995 animation is leaning on the crutch of CG animation to cover the lack of vision and story. This is not one of them. What little CG there is, is used brilliantly and the art only enhances the story.

2) Memorable stories: just trust me on this one, some are funny, some are deadly serious, ALL are good. The director Shoji Kawamori is very talented

3) Haunting music: Yoko Kanno is a genius. Until I can get my hands on the soundtrack, I leave the DVD playing just to listen to the music.

Buy it and figure out the other reasons on your own, you won't regret it. (Unless of course you buy it without buying the 1st two discs as well.)

I would also recommend that you purchase an earlier work by Shoji Kawamori which also has music by Yoko Kanno: Macross Plus.

Cowboy Bebop is hands down the best anime series I've seen in a long time. The Session 3 dvd offers a whole lot of bang for your buck. With two of the most humerous episodes and two of the most serious one's. Get this even if you arn't an anime fan.

Session 11: A mysterious virus has infected the Bebop, and Spike and Ed are the only one's who can stop it.

Session 12: Jet and Spike wake up and find that Faye has left the Bebop and taken all its money. When Ed searches for her, Spike finds where his lost love could be. Spike takes off, leaving Jet to find Faye. Vicious is also involved.(Warning: brief nudity)

Session 13: Spike finds Vicious at the end of his search for Julia, and Jet finds Faye. Now its up to Spike to find where Julia is, and stop Vicious.

Session 14: The Bebop crew sets off after a criminal who commited a gate-hacking crime......50 years ago.

Cowboy Bebop is definatly not for kids. Each of these episodes cointain mild language, and one contains brief nudity.

Another delightful addition to the Cowboy Bebop series.

Episode: 11 Toys in the attic is a strange episode in which the gang of teh Benop are attacked by a slime mold that seems to have been spawned from a lobster that Spike bought a year earlier and forgot about. An interesting episode that shows the inner thoughts of each character. What is odd is that there is not one note of music in this episode. Very Escoteric.

Episode 12 and 13 These two go together. As usual with many other anime series the middle of the series has a bit of spice to it. At the beginning Faye runs away from the Bebop gang and goes to a planet named Callisto. Also we find out that Spike's nemesis Vicious was not killed back in episode 5. He and a partner named Lin are going to Callisto to meet a man named Gren to buy some drugs called Red Eye. Faye is the only woman only Callisto so she draws quite a bit of attention so when she is attacked by a group of men, A sax player saves her. At his apartment, Faye learns that this man is Gren and that he has connection with Vicious. She also discovers the man's sad story about how he became a drug addict and the odd effects of the drugs on him. He grew breasts. A good couple of episodes. The reader can almost taste the bitter hatred between Vicious and Spike. We also learn that Julia was on Callisto not long ago.

Episode 14: the space gateways are acting up, and the gang finds out that the plot was set up by a man 50 years ago. A fun episode. We get to see Antonio, Carlos, and Jobin again also.

A nice DVD. Bebop is a very fun series for anime diehards and those who just like to watch lots of action.