Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A time for reflection and personal revelation ..., August 5, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Cowboy Bebop - Session 4 (DVD)
Bookended by episodes dealing with Faye's past, this DVD session deals with the lesser extablished pasts of Bebop's more underdeveloped crew. 'My Funny Valentine' gives light to Faye Valentine's recent past, the cryogenic state she was placed in earlier in the century and the pathetic reason she is now in enormous debt. 'Black Dog Serenade' reveals the reason for Jet's lost arm and past betrayals. An extremely graphic and violent episode with a show down on a prison ship during a breakout makes this the least suitable episode for younger viewers. 'Mushroom Samba' pits Ed and Ein in a desert community against a jumble of characters right out of a 70's Blaxploitation movie. The train sequence at the end is truely excellent in draughtsmanship, layout craft, timing and sequencing. Never a dull moment due to destitution, hunger, drug trips, missile guns, and a colorful assortment of charaters. 'Speak Like a Child' delves further into Faye's unfathomable past as a child. When a BETA video tape is delivered to the Bebop showing Faye's life as a young girl, they go all out to find an ancient VCR/TV set up in the bowels of a forgotten underground shopping mall in Japan. This DVD contains 4 stories that bridge the genesis of the series with the lethal finale and flesh out the characters in order to get into more soulful episodes without leaving the viewers detached from the main characters. All the anime art and effort of the earlier episodes in continued in session 4. There are many excellent sequences and situations well shot and timed to give unique perspective on a slightly more mundane set of stories in the Bebop time line. The last two session have some of the most intense stories in modern anime, but they wouldn't have a foot to stand on without these episodes in session 4. I highly recommend this DVD to all anime fans and action buffs. All around this is great entertainment for ANYONE. Period.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life is but a dream..., February 12, 2003
This review is from: Cowboy Bebop - Session 4 (DVD)
You have to respect a director Shinichiro Watanabe for refusing to turn out a vanilla 'rogues in space' series. A bit like Joss Whedon, he lulls the viewer into a comfort zone and then gives the rug a firm yank. Suddenly wide-eyed we are replaying the episode trying to see how it was done. Sometimes the stories are poignant, sometimes they are tough, and sometimes they are hysterically funny, but they are never dull and repetitious. As you will see, all the characters have pasts that keep replaying. Both Faye and Jet get their opportunities on this DVD. Our lady of dubious ethics shares hers (her story, not her ethics) with Ein the data dog. Life, for Faye, is both longer, and shorter, than you might think. Then Jet finds himself back in the middle of a case he thought was closed. We discover that one reason he lost his arm is that he never lets go. Then, leaving the starving Bebop to find food, Ed suddenly turns into a master bounty hunter in a quest for a lunch where one side unexpectedly makes you small. The last episode is the one that completely sideswipes the viewer. Bits of Faye's history keep showing up COD. When an old Beta video tape shows up Jet and Spike go on a snipe hunt that produces an instant replay. Am I being evasive? Yes. You will appreciate why. There is simply nothing here to dislike. If the series never got any better it is already one of the best I have seen. Of course, I have a suspicion that Watanabe has a few more tricks up his sleeve before the series comes to an end.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly my Favorite Bebop Disk . . ., September 3, 2001
This review is from: Cowboy Bebop - Session 4 (DVD)
This could very well be my absolute Favorite Bebop disk in the set. Why? Because of Black Dog Serenade. Not to say that the other episodes aren't fantastic . . . they are. Mushroom Samba in hysterical, and the two Faye episodes are incredible. My Funny Valentine was a real heart wrencher . . . however, I'm still partial to Black Dog. I think it's because SO much of this series is centered around the charismatic Spike, Jet sometimes gets overlooked. This episode really brings him to the forefront and exposes him for the deep character that he is . . . I can honestly say after watching this that I understood Jet a whole hell of a lot better than before. Even though there had been 3 disks full of him, Black Dog really helped me delve into the man who had been a wee bit overshadowed. Bebop as a whole is phenomenal . . . I loved the characters, the music (which is some of my absolute FAVORITE music - go Space Lyon), and the visuals. I would recommend this to anybody - and that's saying something. Before Cowboy Bebop, I was not impressed with too much anime. My introduction to the genre had been a 3 hour marithon of Dominion Tank Police and I thought I would howl in agony. However, an anime' loving friend of mine introduced me to Escaflowne and Bebop - both of these series were done by the same people. Since then, I have gotten back into the genre a bit and have found some true gems. Buy this disk . . . if you're doubting it, buy it and then contact me if you hate it and I'll buy your used disk from you. That's how sure I am that you will get into these 4 episodes. "I close my eyes and I keep seeing things/Rainbow Waterfalls/Sunny Liquid Dreams/Confusion creeps inside me raining down/Gotta get to you/Won't you show me how . . . "
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
