Review: Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (DVD)

[Gibb]

Just got finished watchin quite possibly one of the best anime movies i have ever seen. What would you expect two of the biggest names responsible for both Akira and Ghost in the shell. The story was written by Mamoru Oshii who was one of the story coordinators for Akira i believe. The key animator for Jin-roh was Hiroyuki Okiura, who was also the key animator for Ghost in the shell and the animation director of Akira.

I really cant say anything about the plot without ruining anypart of it. I had no idea what the story was about when i bought the movie. I guess i can tell you a little bit about the main character. His name is Constable Fuse and he is a member of the Special Unit. His job is to eliminate the underground resistance, "the Sect." He runs into a problem during a mission and is emotionally scarred.

Story: 9/10
The story is just fantastic. It's very deep, very complete and leaves you guessing what's gonna happen up until the last 3 seconds of the movie.

Animation: 9/10
This movie is fantastically animated. Backdrops are incredibly detailed and the characters have very fluid motion. Animation resembles that of Ghost in the shell quite a bit.

Sound/Music: 10/10
This is an area that this movie just excels in. This is quite possibly one of the best sounding movies i've ever seen. Sound effects are incredibly realistic. Music is scattered throughout the anime and is quite incredible. The sound is offered in English 5.1, Japanese 5.1 and Japanese DTS. This is notable because alot of anime movies brought over to the US will have an English 5.1 track but will just have a regular stereo japanese track. I sampled the dubbing track and the dubbing is well done, however the sound effects seem a bit worse.

Menu/Extras: 5/10
There are two versions of this movie availble to buy, the regular version for 20 bucks and the special edition for 50. I didn't feel like paying 50 dollars for a movie i've never seen so i got the cheap one. Apparently only the 50 dollar one has extras since this one has none. Only extras offered are 4 trailers. The Special edition dvd has 3 discs so it's jam packed with extras. The menu music is awesome. I found myself sitting there just listening to the menu song loop over and over again.

Overall: 9/10
This movie is a definately must have for any anime collection. Nuff said :)
http://ryan.slackercentral.com/anime/jin1.jpghttp://ryan.slackercentral.com/anime/jin2.jpg
http://ryan.slackercentral.com/anime/jin3.jpghttp://ryan.slackercentral.com/anime/jin4.jpg

[Ambience]

Looks like one to buy. I like Akira, and just finished watching GitS and liked that one as well.

[Ambience]

I just checked out the special edition, one of the CDs included is the soundtrack.

[Gibb]

as much as i like the music i wouldnt wanna pay 30 dollars more for a soundtrack and some extras. Soundtrack probably isn't sold separately either

[batuo]

I now want this DVD even more now Ive read your review, and I collect soundtracks as well but with no UK release I have to get it on import so its gonna cost me :(

Also any thougts on "Blood the last Vampire" also from the creators of GITS is it worth buying?

[Vermillion]

I have Blood The Last Vampire on DVD and it's quite good. It's pretty interesting that all of the American people speak English and all the Japanese characters speak Japanese w/ accompanying subtitles.

The main problem w/ the DVD is that it is too short. I think it's only like 50 min. or so. Too short for my taste.

Animation is still exquisite though, so it's a good buy for $20 or less. If you're paying more than that, it's not worth it considering how short the movie is.

[Gibb]

blood is definately a cool movie but like verm said, it's more like the first episode of a series or something. It's very short and it doesn't finish up (well maybe verm didn't say that but that's what i'm saying). It basically leaves room for whatever other movies/tv series may follow. I can get this movie for around 12 bucks used at a store near here, that's not a bad price but i haven't had the real need to get it.

[batuo]

Its £15 here about $21 and its one of the few new DVD here all the rest I have on Video already.
It wouldn`t be the first time Ive had a anime that felt was too short etc, but I think I will get it as it been a long time since anything this quality has been released in the UK.

[Gibb]

I suppose you cant view region 1 coded DVDs over in the UK right?
seems it would be cheaper to import all yer anime then to get just the stuff they have locally. Most computer DVD players can be set to different regions. I can set mine to any region at most 5 times then it's permanent.

[batuo]

Its not the region 1 DVD`s that are the problem, but no credit card to order them, so I have to buy from shops that import them here to sell and so charge the extra.
For example GITS and MEMORIES soundtracks fro japan both cost me 2x £35 + £3.50 postage =38.50 each or about $108 in total.

Thats why I now only buy things like this if I real want them, but the good thing is then there worth more as a collection.:)

[Vermillion]

Most imported CDs here are roughly $30. However it's easy to find SMC or EverAnime CDs here which makes them a whole lot cheaper, about $15 each which is about 1/2 as much.

*SMC and EverAnime CDs are pirated Hong Kong CDs in which the original producers/singers do not get any money if you buy these. Same goes for most wall scrolls.

[Gibb]

you should get a credit card :)
not sure what you're talkin about verm but if you're talkin about imported music cds i usually order mine from www.yesasia.com
i just got the new Ayumi hamasaki cd for only 18 bucks with shipping a month ago. One of the best cds i've ever gotten too :)
yesasia's prices are pretty cheap and they have really cheap yet fast shipping. I sound like i'm advertising which iguess i am so i'll shut up now.

when i buy anime dvds i usually get em from
www.digitaleyesdvd.com
prices are reasonable and they are very fast. i ordered some dvds once and got em 2 days later, at the low price shipping cost.

you can go to www.dvdpricesearch.com to find cheaper prices if you want but Digitaleyes has always given me great service.

[batuo]

I bought "BLOOD The Last Vampire" and as you said its short but good quality, also there was a trailer on the DVD with scenes not in the film, Iam left wanting more hopefully a sequel.
Also found the low character detail unusal at first, compared to other new anime.
For my next buy Iam looking mabe at X any opinoins.

Most imported CDs here are roughly $30. However it's easy to find SMC or EverAnime CDs here which makes them a whole lot cheaper, about $15 each which is about 1/2 as much.
*SMC and EverAnime CDs are pirated Hong Kong CDs in which the original producers/singers do not get any money if you buy these. Same goes for most wall scrolls.

Ive not seen anything pirated like that in UK, also most big companys like Pionner etc who did CD`s have pulled out of selling in the UK.

www.yesasia.com looks good, the models and other products are interesting but again requires credit card.

[Vermillion]

Let me say first that X is weird. Not as weird as Akira, but weird. It kinda goes on this whole good vs. evil concept. Before you buy X, I HIGHLY suggest you rent it first and see if you like it.

Also, the dubbed version of it SUCKS ASS!! Not really the voices, but the Dialogue. Whoever set up the dialogue should be shot because it is utter crap.

Hope that helps some.

[Gibb]

yea i've also seen X and it's not all that impressive.

I'm still waiting on my KOR DVD set :(
animeigo is taking their sweet ass time.

[batuo]

Hmm X is on VHS Dubbed only I think I will give it a miss then, to be honnest Ive always prefered subtitles myself.

I still have to get the rest of the BGC 2040 collection so I`ll go for them, also Ive only got parts 1&2 of Neon Genesis Evangelion but I didn`t think much of it from the first two.

[Gibb]

*bump*
i just realized that the location i had the images for this review on has disappeared so i fixed it so it works now.