Search - Crusher Joe - The Movie and the OVAs on DVD

Superb Japanese animated space action in 2-disc set

Brian Camp | Bronx, NY | 12/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The good news about this set is that it contains all the Crusher Joe that's been produced: one two-hour movie and two one-hour OAV episodes. The bad news is that there's no more Crusher Joe to be had. Which is a shame for anime fans, since these four solid hours of Japanese animated space action are as well-written and beautifully animated as any comparable episodes from the Yamato, Gundam and Macross space series.

The 1983 movie (which clocks in at 2 hours and 10 minutes) introduces the Crusher Joe team, led by 19-year-old Joe, whose team of "Crushers," independent civilian contractors, do odd, often dangerous space jobs that can't be trusted to the USF (United Space Force). Joe's team consists of 17-year-old Alfin, a cute blonde; 15-year-old Ricky; and the massive 52-year-old cyborg, Talos. The sprawling plot, which takes us all over the galaxy, involves a cargo--a cryo-suspension chamber housing a female patient--that is stolen out from under Joe's nose, causing him and his crew to be suspended. To clear his name and retrieve the cargo, Joe and his team track down the space pirates behind the theft and get mixed up in internal politics on the planet where the pirates are based. The first half lets us get to know the characters, showing them interact in their downtime so we become involved in their story. The second half is almost pure explosive action and never lets up.

The 55-minute made-for-video episodes, from 1989, are "The Ice Prison" and "The Ultimate Weapon: Ash." Both focus on more concentrated sci-fi storylines and less on the characters and their interactions. The first is about an ice-filled planetoid used as a jail for political prisoners captured during trouble on planet Oro, where the populace is seeking to overthrow ruler Ghellstan. When the prison is knocked out of its orbit and starts to get pulled towards the planet, Joe and his team are called in to set things right. Unfortunately, they soon find they've been set up as part of a power ploy by the planet's dictator. "The Ultimate Weapon" has Joe and his team sent to a distant planet to rescue an army major transporting a lethal, planet-destroying weapon who's been captured by renegade officers seeking to disrupt a peace process between two warring systems. Complicating matters is the presence on the planet of Cloakers, basketball-sized killing machines left over from an abandoned secret project, which are self-replicating and target any and all humans.

Both episodes are well-written and imaginatively designed and generate intense excitement and genuine suspense. The animation, particularly in the action scenes, is just first-rate and the mecha design simply spectacular. There is combat and gunplay aplenty but nothing that would surpass a PG-13 rating. The Crusher Joe films should be better known and more celebrated among anime fans since they easily rank with the top class of Japanese animated space/sci-fi action."

Finally, on DVD at last!

TrezKu13 | Norfolk, VA | 11/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Thanks to Animeigo for releasing this on DVD at last. I owned a used copy of the OVAs on a tape I had bought at a small town anime store, and I didn't expect to ever see a DVD version of this anime ever. Thankfully, Animeigo has started to release some of their older titles onto DVD (including the much desired "Dagger of Kamui").The DVD gives a treat to those of us with not much money: the feature length movie AND both OVAs (only two were ever released) in a single DVD case. There are of course the Japanese and English tracks, and I am surprised at how each has their own quality - the English has a good voice cast (especially involving Dolgo), while the Japanese has a better script. If only the two could have combined.As for "Crusher Joe," this is easily one of my favorite anime titles. The action is as exciting as any summer blockbuster, and the characters are almost like the archetypes of classic Hollywood serials: the dashing hero, the cute heroine, the rough strongman, and the little comedy relief. This merely adds to the fun.As for DVD extras...well it falls a bit short there. As usual, Animeigo feels the need to have most of the information regarding the title on a piece of paper found upon opening the DVD case. I don't think I've heard any one yet who likes that, in fact most people think "Why don't they just put it on the DVD?" I love Animeigo for their treatment of their products and the fact they are now releasing it, but seriously - the purpose of DVD extras is to offer information and stupid trivia about the product. Why don't we see that here? But still, quality overall is good."

I like it for a 1980s flick

Ronnie Clay | Winnsboro, Louisiana | 06/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1983 movie introduced the audiences a group of characters a team of Cushers independent civilian contracters hired out for dangerous space work, led by 19 year old Joe including 17 year old blonde female Alfin, 15 year old Ricky and for muscle, the massive middle-aged cyborg, Talos. The team returned in two 1989 hour long OAV episodes, "The Ice Prison" and "The Ultimate Weapon: ASH." Both are available in the U.S. along with the movie."