Search - Cowboy Bebop Remix, Volume 4 on DVD

REMIX-VIDEO QUALITY

G. P. Simon | Earth, Milky Way, Universe # 1 | 12/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is (also) a review of the REMIX VERSIONS. I won't go into the awesomeness of Cowboy Bebop other than to say that it is the best anime series ever, I'd even call it one of the best television shows ever!

While it has been universally noted on various postings about the remix versions that the sound is significantly better than the original sessions, there are multiple varying reviews on the PICTURE QUALITY. Some say there is no difference at all, some say it's a bit better, some say it's a lot better, all say they have "checked" both versions. Well, I took it a step further. I watched both versions side by side on an Avid Nitris Professional video editing system with high definition high resolution (HDHR) monitors and here is the DEFINITIVE ANSWER. There is a difference, they lightened it and did a very slight color correction. Basically, the old versions were a bit dark and some of the detail went unnoticed while the remix versions are lighter and there is more visible detail and color. In terms of viewing expeirience this means that a majority of the scenes look noticibly (if marginally) better. There are certain scenes, however, where the lightness works against it. Some of the more noirish scenes look a bit bleedy. Overall I would say that there is a difference in video quality and that the difference is mostly an improvement. But, even to the die hard fan the difference is negligible.

If you don't own the originals, if they're scratched, if you're a huge fan, if you have an awesome theatre system with good surround, or if you have a crappy small tv and can't see the detail in the image, GET THE REMIX. If not, while they are cool, they're not worth the $30 a pop."

I WANT MY MEMORIES BACK

Sesho | Pasadena, TX USA | 05/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Faye Valentine is one of the most mysterious occupants of the Bebop...actually everyone is pretty mysterious because you never get their entire pasts laid out. But that's ok. It's like real life. How many people do you know everything about? Nobody really wants to listen to her story so she's relegated to telling Ein about her past....and even he doesn't want to hear it! We do find out why she has such a humungous debt. Jet takes center stage in the second episode, "Black Dog Serenade", in which his old partner enlists his help in nabbing the bounty of an escaped convict who just happens to be the guy that caused Jet to lose his arm. "Mushroom Samba" continues the spotlight episodes with Ed and Ein being the stars. After the Bebop is a hit and run victim of another ship, it crashlands in the middle of a desert. Ed and Ein venture out to find food for the famished crew and find themselves in the middle of a 70s blaxploitation film setting! Lastly, a strange package is sent to Faye COD so she thinks her creditors have found her again. In typical Faye fashion, she goes on the lam. Jet and Spike discover that the package is a beta videotape but the only way they'll be able to play such an ancient artifact is to find a player on devastated Earth!

The thing that has always made Bebop great is its characters and the spotlight of these episodes is to bring them to the forefront. Instead of Faye coming off as the icelady vamp, after we learn a bit about her past, we can recognize that a part of her heart will always be tinged with sadness. For, you see, she has no memory of her past. She has no memory of her family. She doesn't even know her real name. So unless she gets some help, she'll be doomed to never know her true self. Ein and Ed are the total opposite of Faye. They don't seem to have a past and I doubt this troubles them at all. I think Ed would be fine locked in a prison cell for life if she only had a computer in front of her. "Mushroom Samba" is a miracle of motion, even today, and really brings across the kinetic nature of Ed and is an amusing Japanese take on black films like "Shaft". All in all, a batch of classic episodes remixed in 5.1.



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