Search - Elfen Lied: Diclonius Report Complete Collection on DVD

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The Anime Adict | St. Cloud Mn USA | 12/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I gave Elfen Lied a five star rating and from the title you know what i think of the series.
Before i start my review let me say three things. First of all this series is most definitly not for children. There's lots of nudity and alot of vivid and gore violence. Second I know what your thinking I'm another one of those new comers to anime and got star struck. I'm actually a veteran have seen over two hundred fifty series so keep that in mind. Lastly this series is one of the darkest series of come across, on the level of EVA and Samurai X, not pointless brainless dark but truly dark, in other words meaningful.

Now for the review. What is there to say about elfen lied? It's perfect that simple. The plot is interesting but not over powering as it slowly reveals the truth. The pacing if smooth and even, even the flash back episodes aren't a bother as they are in most series. The art work and animation is flawless and smooth and fluid. The music is haunting and sorrowfully but easily stands beside my .hack/sign, Escaflowne and Cowboy Beebob soundtracks, meaning some of the best you can find anywhere. Now the characters, this were Elfen Lied really stands out. Everyone and i mean everyone from pit characters to the main characters have a reason for their actions and act according to their personality. The show has a way of betraying a character as a complete monster then giving a really good reason for them being the way they are, in a way that you can simpathize with them. For intince the main female lead, Lucy, she first appears to be a demonic murdering monster but later when you learn of her past you can't help but feel sorry for her and wish her happiness. It also has a fasinating philosophy and look at human nature behind it all.

Now is when i usually say what is wrong with the series. Unfortunately Elfen Lied is one of the few, i can think of three or four that i can't find anything to even nit pick at.

In other words if you have the money are over eighteen you have no good excuse not to buy this series. BUY THIS SERIES IT'S WORTH IT!!




Before I go a review of the actual box set itself. The box set is one of ADV's new thin pack packages. Best thing about the box set is the cases are small and don't take up much space. The box for the case is sturdy and well made with nice art work. But that's really all the good things I can say about the box set. In the end I wouldn't recommend getting the box set, like most of the thin box sets. Why you ask? Well for a simple reason is ADV goes threw each disc and removes all of the extra content with the exception of a few trailers on the first disc. This means the textless opening and closings, cast interviews, insert pages even the reversible covers are all gone which sucks big time. So if you have the money use it to buy the disc separately and keep the extras it'll cost you a little extra but I think its worth."

Thinpak of the original series...

David Stilley | Santa Cruz CA USA | 10/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I believe that this is a thin-pak release of the original series and not anticipated new material. ADV is releasing bargain thin-pak versions of popular titles like they did with Neon Genesis Evangelion. This is the first release of this material as a complete set.

O.K., I pre-ordered this set and got it yesterday. They've remastered the discs into a three disc set, they forgot to write episode 5 on the disc 1 cover, but it's there. So there's 5 episodes on the first disc, and four on the other two. There are no extra's other than some previews of other ADV releases on disc 1, no comentary tracks or anything else. But the picture and sound are excellent with a 16:9 anamorphic picture and Dolby Digital 5.1 in English or Japanese w/subtitles."

A dark anime that shines in places and lacks in others.

P. Dasher | USA | 08/09/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Let me start like many others by saying that this is a very gruesome series, with very, very graphic violence. It will make even the most seasoned viewers squirm, if only a little. If you don't think you can stomach watching a little girl (albeit an animated one) get dismembered, then you don't want to watch the series. That's just one among many atrocities commited in it.

That being said, this is also a fairly well executed series. It has very dark overtones, questioning the boundaries of right and wrong, and tests the limits of human forgiveness and sanity, all the while throwing in just enough comedic relief to keep from shattering your outlook on the world.

At the same time, the series does come across very ham-fisted at times. I attribute this to the shortness of the series. At thirteen episodes (half the length of many animes) it barely has enough time to develop it's characters properly. Because of this, the creators sometimes have to hit you over the head to convey elements of the characters' personalities, and most of the plot happens all at once.

I also think that there are too many subplots for a series of this length. While I like the fact that everybody has a reason for being the way they are, there is simply too much going on. It's almost as if the creators had ADD when they were making Elfen Lied, because they jump around. ALOT.

They also mangle the plot twist in their haste. They draw the connections far too early on, so the reaction to the big "OMG" moment on the train is lessened to pure shock at its gruesomeness rather than an exclamation of, "WOW I TOTALLY DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!" I knew it was going to happen in some form a couple of episodes before it actually did.

I also don't like the way they deliberately left holes in the plot, such as the situation with the director. I understand that they were possibly setting up for a continuation of the series, but I think that it just comes off as sloppy and uncaring.

Like a couple of other reviewers I've seen, I'm torn on how to rate this anime. One part of me wants to give it a high rating because the moments when it comes together and works, it REALLY works. But another part of me just can't get past all the shortcuts that were taken in the making of the series, robbing it of the title "masterpiece" that it so easily could have had, if it had just been better executed.

In short, I think that Elfen Lied is definately a worthwhile experience, as long as you don't think about it too much. Suspend your disbelief and get swept up in the story, and you will love it; watch it critically, you'll find it leaves alot to be desired."

Fabulous Psychological Thriller of an Anime

Jennifer B. Rollins | Cincinnati, Ohio United States | 12/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I give this series 4 stars only b/c it is short and there *are* aspects of the plot that are not completely resolved by the end, but it is DEFINITELY worth watching.

A warning to the faint of heart - there is plenty of graphic, bloody violence throughout the series, and there is also nudity (though not overly explicit or sexual in nature), but I think that the nudity and violence are well executed and well placed. It is almost always artistic and purposeful. The cutesy animation and clothing worn by the characters contrasts artfully with the bloodshed, and the nudity is used primarily to show the de-huminization of particular characters, rather than as random fan-service (although there *are* a couple of humorous scenes with pointless nudity, but the humor helps to ease the tension!)

I am annoyed that the product description is completely wrong for this product, so I will attempt to correct it - Lucy, the main character, is not *bred* by the government, but rather discovered and studied by them. She does not "lose her memory," as is a common misconception concerning this anime series, but rather suffers from split/multiple personality disorder (which, you *should* realize when watching the series begins when she is a child).

The story is dramatic and tragic. Very sad - a definite tear-jerker in the end with an ambiguous conclusion (though the ending IS satisfying, I feel).

Primary themes are the ever-popular "who is the monster and who is the man/human?" quiery and also regret and forgiveness.

I will say once again that this series is well worth watching. It is deeply moving, thought-provoking, and entertaining."