[US DVD] Blade of the Phantom Master

[Chris Beveridge]

http://cdn-www.mania.com/content_pics/000004/32/49/fbac3e91e9bb5dcc_thumb.jpgReview by Chris Beveridge (http://www.mania.com/blade-phantom-master-shin-angyo-onshi_article_114142.html)

Mania Grade: B
* Audio Rating: A-
* Video Rating: B+
* Packaging Rating: B-
* Menus Rating: B-
* Extras Rating: A-
* Age Rating: 17 and Up
* Region: 1 - North America
* Released By: FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.
* MSRP: 19.98
* Running time: 90
* Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
* Disc Resolution: 480i/p
* Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
* Series: Blade of the Phantom Mask


In Summary:
As many problems as I have with the pacing of the film and how it all ties together, it was an enjoyable experience overall. Having the lead character of Munsu with a mission that drives him yet not having it as the centerpiece for the film works well. It keeps it from being entirely predictable even if a lot of it is quite familiar. The animation production itself is solid though it doesn't quite hit some of the levels of other theatrical films and the overall concept is intriguing enough that I'd love to see the original manga run to get more out of it. In some ways this is more of a giant love letter to fans of the manga as it cherry picks some of the early stories but it's done well enough to bring in people unfamiliar with the property as well. While fans are likely to get more out of it than others, it's an enjoyable experience both for its visuals and overall direction. It could have been a lot better however if the stories were tied together in a different manner.

[Damius]

I'm not sure about this one...

[Hayate Kurogane]

While the film is a joy to watch due to its slick animation, it's a tough sell and kind of a let-down because it is very clearly an adaptation of the first story arcs in a much longer manga series. Enough such that it feels like a Gundam F91 situation: a series was started, then aborted, and what was intended to be the first few episodes was quickly mashed and melded and edited into a "movie" for easy viewing. Not that this is what happened in BotPM's case, but still.

Though the film does in a way deserve some credit for not really forcing the source material into some sort of slapdash beginning+middle+end plot frame, the decreasing chances of there ever being more of it animated makes it kind of tough to deal with. I guess it's not that unlike the way that OVA series in the '90s tended to just stop wherever they were at when the money ran out or the staff lost interest or the audience stopped buying; older fans will remember this, not that it means exposure makes it any less frustrating. :sweat:

As long as the lack of an ending or any payoff from story developments doesn't bother anyone, it's an entertaining enough title for a cheap pickup during a sale (or by buying the original ADV release out of TRSI's Bargain Bin). Again, the animation is very pretty, and the action sequences are entertaining to watch. Sando is a character I very much liked from the start, though admittedly for some...uh, less-than-honorable reasons. :nosebleed: Officially, if anyone asks, it's because Sanae Kobayashi is her seiyuu. So there. :P

[Fencedude]

On the other hand I'll perfectly admit that io like Sando because she's fucking hot and wears almost nothing.

She was also my first PVC figure.

[Hayate Kurogane]

On the other hand I'll perfectly admit that io like Sando because she's fucking hot and wears almost nothing.

...

...yeah, that's about it. Her bondage-y introduction also really worked for me.

She was also my first PVC figure.

Mine was Peorth, followed by multiple Kanus, before the spending just took off. Kind of standard choices, I'll admit, but hey, I like who I like.