Customer Reviews

Outlaw Star Collector's Box 1-Vol. 1-7 [VHS]

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

 

 

Do not pass up this opportunity to own one of the best Anime series available on the American market. The price is a bit on the steep side, but here is an extremely good reason for it: It's worth it! Especially because you'd pay over $200 for theese tapes individually. And you'll want to buy all theese tapes, especially when you take into account the fact that the seven volumes in this collection only add up to FOURTEEN episodes! Breaking tradition with the format most Anime series are presented in(Four episodes on the first tape and three on each subsequent release), you only get TWO episodes. That's right, only two episdes per tape is what's keeping this collection from a five star rating, because the content deserves five stars. Somebody really shot themself in the foot over this one.

But with that only real gripe aside, lets talk about the series itself. If an Anime series could be judged soely on it's theme song, then Outlaw Star would rank in the top 5%. Instead of the peppy sacchine-sweet J-Pop that fronts most series, Outlaw Star has an insanely catchy hard rock tinged soundtrack and theme song that make you want to sing along even if you can;t figure out what the guy is singing.

The story is your typical Space Adventurer premise. Gene Hawking, a young Outlaw (kind of like a Pirate, but without all the murdering and pilaging and stuff. Think Han Solo.) and his even younger (like, twelve years old) hacker/co-pilot/best friend Jim Starwind, are stuck in a dreary, dead end existence on their home planet and are constantly in debt. They take on an assignment as bodyguards for a mysterious women and the even more mysterious cargo in her care. After massive doses of action it turns out their employer is not who she seems to be, and the "cargo" turns out to be a young women with an unknown past, who's link with the fabled "Galatic Leyline" sets the stage for the future adventures to follow. Things really pick up after the "aquisition" of the show's namesake, the space ship Outlaw Star, and the inclusion of the new crew members like the quiet and skilled female assassin and the somewhat underdressed and rambunctious alien cat-girl intelligance officer.

Action packed and with a big dose of comedy, an incredible soundtrack, and the obligitory scantily clad cat-girl, Outlaw Star doesn't quite deliver enough bang for your buck at two half hour episodes per tape, but is definately worth it when purchased as a collection like this (and viewed in one sitting!). While you're making some big purchases, better get the second collection, too(you'll want it!)!