Search - Samurai Deeper Kyo - Curse of Tokugawa (Episodes 6-10) on DVD

The Voice of the Wind

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 11/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit that this is one of those DVD series that, while I find myself really enjoying both the acting and the art, I'm not at all sure what the series is really about. First I thought it was the story of a body with a problem - two inhabited by two different enemies that were deadly enemies during the battle of Sekigahara that made Ieyasu Tokugawa that Shogun of Japan. Now I'm not so sure.Demon Eyes Kyo, who is one of the two is 'the killer of a thousand.' He is a cold, calculating, thoroughly unpleasant and deadly samurai. Somehow he has gathered around him a host of 'loyal' companions who would give their eye teeth to fight with him to the death, These include Yukimura Sanada, who wants to rule Japan, Benetora, who is really Ieyasu's son Hidetaka. There are several others whom I haven't quite figured out yet, including a gun-toting lady bounty hunter, and another with a gatling gun for a forearm (Migeira).The early episodes focus on a competition among the Shogunate's foremost fighters, the prize is the cursed spear of the Tokugawa. Before you start to wonder why anyone would risk dying for a cursed spear keep in mind that this turns out to be an important plot device (the spear is one of the 'great' weapons of the Murumasa) and that what the Shogun really wants to do is kill off or zombify the most dangerous men in Japan. Or rather, maybe that's what he wants or maybe it's what someone else wants him to want.Then we are off to search for Kyo's true body, which was hidden away by the man whose body he now inhabits. Once he has it he will gain incredible powers. Whether this is good or bad is still unclear. But it does provide the basis for the classic Japanese picareque journey from battle to battle. The first of these is with Kubira, one of the Jyunishinshou or Twelve Heavenly Generals. One who likes to play with dolls.Confused a bit - so am I. But the show is really enjoyable enough to make it worth waiting until things start to make any overall sense. For now there are plenty of dramatic moments and spectacular fights to keep the viewer's attention. One thing though, whatever you do, do not listen to the English dubbing. They decided to implement some Japanese regional accents with non-Japanese equivalents. So Benitora has a southern drawl and Migeira sounds like Dracula. It's so bad it's embarassing. Otherwise, this is a thoroughly enjoyable series."

Kyo

jennifer | new york | 12/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i think the movie overall is very good if your into the whole samurai thing. i also think that the whole outlook of it was well planned out. it remines me of the book .in all good dvd"

Incredible!

mdizzog | USA | 01/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD really outdoes the last. More characters are introduced, yet you will probably be inquisitive about each one. This series really reminds me of "Blade of the Immortal". Blade had a similar fashion of creating great characters and inventive weapons. The Japanese Voices really did a great job. Everyone sounds perfect. I usually watch both English and Japanese because I want to milk the DVD for all it's worth. The English people though do have a slightly awkward way of talking, and Samurai Deeper Kyo's voice sounds like he is an idiot.The plot thickens a lot and basically establishes what may or may not happen (i.e.- the 5 weapons). The animation is improved vastly as characters move a lot more. Also, as I said earlier, the characters increase in number, and introduce some note-worthy additions. Mahiro just became my favorite character.The problems? Yoko? Yoka? Yoyo? Who is this girl? That girl introduced in the first DVD is the one problem. She is there for revenge. The second episode on the first DVD reveals that she is looking for the guy who killed her brother. Guess who it is. I guessed perfectly because it is so obvious. With the exclusion of Yoka and her flat plot, every character is great."