| DO NOT RENT THIS ONE |
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| written by dyy1 |
March 10, 2005 - 7:28 PM PST |
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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samurai jack is awesome, but if you are going to rent, get the season 1 discs. Since they are available now there is no reason to get this movie. It is simply the first and second episodes, and the bonus episode is also on the 1st season dvd's.
get the 2 disc complete 1st season, and you get all of the animation on this movie, plus about 8 other episodes. |
| So I flung him into the future, where my evil is law.... |
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| written by bignovas |
January 20, 2004 - 10:30 AM PST |
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5 out of 5 members found this review helpful
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First off, consider this DVD merely a primer for the Samurai Jack series (which Cartoon Network should really be releasing on DVD by now). Secondly, if you really want to do a primer night for this show - break out all of your favorite samurai, spaghetti western, comdey, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi flicks. You see, this show just isn't for kids. The writing is excellent. References (and visual shots) are borrowed directly from the finest scenes of nerdom. For example, in one episode, Jack's opponents rise from traps in snow, and he quickly defeats them ala Lone Wolf & Cub. One episode is a complete homage to Romero and Raimi. Twice I've even noticed subtle jokes to classic video gaming! (a Dragon's Lair/Space Ace Joke in one episode and a Centipede crack in another - which also featured a Key Stone Cops meets Alice in Wonderland plot!)
In the best episodes dialogue is sparse, allowing its unique animation, imagery and action lots of time to weave the story. Visually, the show is a masterpiece. Unlike traditional animation, the art in Samurai Jack is done without black outlines. Art is very "square" and at times the backgrounds have a very weird '70s Fritz Freleng kind of feel to it. The action is smooth and epic - utilizing lots of (non-matrix) slow-mo, split screens, clever usage of framing, and other great visual techniques. If it wasn't for the fact that Jack's enemies tend to be robots (complete with oil and wires that stand in for blood and guts) this would be one damned violent show. He's a stoic hero, think Mifune and Eastwood.
As for this particular DVD. The quality is excellent and it includes a short, but sweet documentary on the creation of the show, along with a bonus episode (#XI Scottsman meets Jack).
The premiere movie itself is a fine intro for Samurai Jack. It opens with a sort of origin story complete with his training and an epic battle against Aku. Once in the future, the story does get a bit weak with some side plot involving talking dogs. Stick with it and you'll be treated to a very impressive final battle.
Consider this DVD an intro, because as this show progresses, it grows more and more superior (and even more serious, take for example "The Birth Of Evil" which chronicles the origin of Aku!!).
Highly recommended. |
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