Afro Samurai: Resurrection Anime Movie Review

Afro Samurai: Resurrection
Afuro Samurai
Funimation
Movie - 90 mins. - 1 disc
$39.98 (2010) Complete Murder Sessions w/First Season Blu-Ray
$34.98 (2009) Complete Murder Sessions w/First Season
$34.98 (2009) Director's Cut
$39.98 (2009) Director's Cut Blu-Ray
$29.98 (2009)
ISBN 704400079924
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Fuminori Kizaki/Jamie Simone
Studio - Gonzo

Synopsis: Afro has found his revenge and claimed the Number 1 headband from the man who killed his father.  His fight is over, but he languishes with no purpose and no friends.  It seems he is just marking time while his life slowly continues.  He has made too many enemies along the way to have any chance at a peaceful life and a new enemy soon appears.

Afro languishes after finally getting revenge for his father's murder

It's his old friend, Jinno, and his sister, Sio, who easily defeat Afro, take the Number 1 headband, and steal the remains of Afro's father, Rokutaro.  Sio is working her own revenge angle on Afro because he destroyed her brother's life.  She plans to resurrect Rokutaro and torture him.

Sio and her brother Jinno return to seek their revenge on Afro

Once again Afro is set into motion as he must track down the Number 2 headband to challenge Jinno and Sio.  She uses an evil scientist to maintain Jinno's upkeep and sets him to resurrecting Rokutaro with the goal of setting him against Afro.  He faces his greatest challenge yet as he wades through another eclectic set of warriors on his path to confront Sio, but will he be able to face his resurrected father?

Sio's creepy henchmen (and woman)

Pros: Stunning visuals (on par with the first series), great soundtrack, Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of Afro (and the annoying Ninja Ninja) along with Lucy Liu as Sio, tons of hardcore action, nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, art director Shigemi Ikeda won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation

Afro challenges the man who has the Number 2 headband

Cons: Plot is weak and predictable, less character and feeling than the first series, suffers from typical sequel curse of not being as good as the first, Ninja Ninja is still in the story

Not too happy to see this guy again - he's super annoying and apparently
a figment of Afro's mind (maybe his inner monologue or something)

Mike Tells It Straight: I watched the first series of Afro Samurai and reviewed it here.  It was a slick Japanese anime blaxploitation film with great visuals and action, but lacking a solid story.  The sequel is more of the same and didn't go anywhere new.  It still looks cool with neat character designs (a fusion of futuristic technology, modern hip-hop, and feudal Japan) and great animation.  The story is still very simple and predictable.

Gonzo gives us some truly stunning visuals

While I was glad to see Jinno return since I thought he was the best supporting character of the first series (it's the giant bear mask).  I was disappointed in his role in this sequel.  Sio runs the show and she's a truly bland villain.  I didn't think the plot could get any weaker, but I was wrong.  This movie is all about action and looking cool.  It worked for the first series after all.

Afro and Jinno in younger, happier days

This movie was nominated for an Emmy and the art director won one.  Not bad for this popular sequel although a surprise to me due to the lack of solid story.  I'd say watch this show if you liked the first one and/or want to find out what happens afterwards.  It's got all the same action and a little less story to get in the way.

Can Afro confront his resurrected father who is little more than a killing machine?

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Afro Samurai Director's Cut Anime Review

Afro Samurai Director's Cut
Afuro Samurai
Funimation
Complete - 5 episodes
125 mins. - 2 discs
$29.98 (2008) Director's Cut Blu-Ray
$24.98 (2007) Director's Cut
$12.98 (2007)
ISBN 704400079801
English Audio
Directors - Fuminori Kizaki & Jamie Simone
Studio - Gonzo

Synopsis: The Number 1 headband is worn by the greatest fighter in the world and can only be challenged by the fighter with the Number 2 headband.  Number 2 can be challenged by anyone and is under constant attack.  In a battle on a snowy mountaintop the Number 2 decapitates the Number 1 and claims his headband.  The former Number 1's son is witness and vows revenge.  His name is Afro.

Afro is one bad mofo

Fast forward many years and Afro is under constant attack as Number 2.  He's on a collision course with Number 1 and cuts down all opponents in his path.  We learn the details of his heart-breaking journey.  Can he defeat the unkillable Number 1 to claim revenge for his father and the friends he sacrificed on his unrelenting journey?

Ninja Ninja is always hanging around Afro, but no one else can see him

Pros: Great packaging and lots of extras - including 15 minutes of additional footage, hip hop/samurai theme is slick, Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of Afro, some nudity, great visuals and tons of hardcore action

Afro is final battle with Justice, the man who killed his father!

Cons: Storyline is flimsy, one trick pony filled with one-liners and scenes with two macho guys staring each other down, Afro's sidekick Ninja Ninja is really annoying, Afro has no personality

Let it not be said a path to revenge does not include a sexy detour

Mike Tells It Straight: Revenge! Pure and simple. This show (movie if you want to call the episodes chapters) is an unflinching revenge tale with gruesome deaths and betrayals galore. Not very deep and singularly focused, but the visuals are pretty good. Mindless entertainment if you're in the mood.

Afro's former childhood friend - a samurai who wears a bear head

Based on a manga (doujinshi) by Takashi Okazaki it's basically a Japanese blaxploitation film.  Samuel L. Jackson adds a little street cred, but he was in the Shaft remake.  RZA of Wu-Tang Clan produced the soundtrack which is pretty good.  The melding of hip-hop, feudal Japanese culture, and futuristic technology is unique to the series.  The fact many high level stars (Jackson, RZA, Lucy Liu) attached themselves to the property is a testament to the author's concept.

This guy...is super annoying

Gonzo does great animation and visuals, the character designs are cool, and the soundtrack works really well.  It's a slick show, but the plot is really simple and Afro's imaginary friend Ninja Ninja is incredibly annoying.  I guess he's supposed to be comedy relief, but he quite possibly ruins the entire show (along with Afro's complete lack of personality).  I tried to like this show, but it was more flash than substance.  Not much replay value for me and I recommend it if you're looking for something cool to play in the background.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Infinite Ryvius Anime Review

Infinite Ryvius
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 26 episodes
650 minutes - 6 discs
$59.98 (2005) $49.98 (2006)
ISBN 669198210334
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Goro Taniguchi
Studio - Sunrise
TO BUY: Infinite Ryvius

Synopsis: In 2137 AD a massive eruption from the sun flooded the solar system in a sea of plasma.  The effect is called the Geduld and exhibits intensely high pressure/temperatures at varying levels (similar to pressure/cold in deep sea diving).  The year is now 2225 AD and despite the Geduld phenomena mankind has populated the solar system with space travel being commonplace.  Many seek careers as astronauts and schools have been set up in orbital training stations.  One such station is the Liebe Delta. 

Kouji Aiba is training on the Liebe Delta to become a Level 2 pilot along with his flight training partner Ikumi Oze.  Kouji's childhood friend Aoi Housen is also on the station learning to be a flight attendant along with his brother Yuki.  The Aiba brothers hate each other due to their parents difficult divorce and Yuki's resentment of his older brother Kouji.  Yuki often loses his temper and beats up Kouji. 

During a school break the Liebe Delta was sabotaged and began submerging into the Geduld where it started disintegrating due to the crushing heat/pressure.  In a desperate act the remaining instructors sacrificed themselves in an attempt to save the students.  Ultimately the space station was destroyed, but the 495 students were saved by the discovery of a mysterious deep-dive vessel hidden within the station's structure. 

The students are stranded aboard the Ryvius deep within the Geduld and must discover its incredible gravitational power to survive the constant attacks by clandestine military vessels attempting to capture the ship (formerly known as the "Brattica"). A smaller ship and giant robot (called the "Vital Guarder") are found to house the majority of the Ryvius' offensive and defensive capabilities. Attempts are made to seek rescue, but each is met with failure as the Earth politicians falsely label the Ryvius as a terrorist vessel.   

Pushed to the brink and desperate to find safety the students on the Ryvius must deal with their situation.  Some rise to the occasion, lash out at others, fall victim to self-preservation anxiety, or attempt to control the people around them. All must cooperate in order to survive. 

Who is the strangely dressed girl appearing on the ship like a phantom? Can the students survive each subsequent battle while their forced society strains closer to the breaking point?   

Pros: Lots of extras including mini-episodes titled "Infinite Ryvius Illusion" on each disc ("Together with Neya" shorts are hilarious), good production values (no overt CG used) and tons of plot/characters, satisfying ending

Cons: Neya's character is completely random and confusing for most of the show, Kouji is a stereotypical anime weakling (like Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion) and his plight can be frustrating at times, brother-sister love backstory for one of the characters (a common theme in many Japanese anime), zero nudity

Mike Tells It Straight: Complex, emotional, and pronounced Ri-vy-us, this show is essentially Lord of the Flies in space.  Well-received by Japanese audiences when it first aired back in 2000, it gained a lot of attention due to a fusion of American urban culture into it's soundtrack (R&B/hip-hop/J-pop) and graphics (graffiti).  Possessing an ambitious cast of characters (nearly 500 total) with complicated motivations and backstory, this show forces you to sit down and really pay attention in order to enjoy the series.  At times it was painful viewing Kouji's lack of strength and constant beat downs, but the ending was worthwhile.  The whole Neya/Vaia sub-plot was downright confusing, but I liked how the space battles were methodical and slow (adding more realism). I'd give this a cursory recommendation if you're looking for character-driven sci-fi -- it's good quality, but definitely not for everyone. 

TO BUY and Recommendations:Last Exile Summer Wars