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TechnoTV - Darker Than Black: Starter Set (includes v.1)
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List Price: $39.98
Our Price: $23.58
Your Save: $ 16.40 ( 41% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Funimation Prod
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: DARKER THAN BLACK - STARTER SET (DVD)
EAN: 0704400074509
Format: Animated
Label: Funimation Prod
Manufacturer: Funimation Prod
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Funimation Prod
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-11-25
Running Time: 125
Studio: Funimation Prod
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting Plot
Comment: This was my first true Japanese "comic" full length movie, so there may well be some issues which I do not realize. I noticed there are times when a character is speaking, but the lips do not move (however this could be my DVD player).
The plot revolves around assassins. If you like action, knives, blood, etc. then you'll like this. If you're against it, then I'd suggest you avoid this.
Personally I could not find any problems with the DVD set, or character, plot faults. But with that being said, I could not "get into" the movies. I even re-watched the set, and I was not able to get interested in them. But again, with the plot, I think there will be a good following of "Darker Than Black."
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sort of interesting...
Comment: This was my first exposure to this type of animation and I enjoyed parts of it. I enjoyed the episode about the young lady who starts fires the most. The cityscapes were interesting and beautifully-drawn. The people, however, looked somewhat incomplete and they look very awkward while running.
I thought that these episodes were quite violent and should not be viewed by younger kids.
The whole premise of "Darker than Black" is interesting but I think a concise prologue explaining what contractors, dolls, Hellsgate and other terms are would help the viewer beforehand to know what he/she is going to view. To gather this information through the random dialogues of the episodes was rather tedious.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good...
Comment: This is pretty good, i'm not a huge anime fan but still this was very interesting series, there is drama, and suspense. It starts off a bit slow but then it takes you for a ride. If you like it there will be making another one so you can continue on this interesting journey.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting story plot and decent animation.
Comment: I got this product through the Amazon vine program; I only received the DVD and not the starter box.
The animation was better than average; although not the best I've ever seen. The plot is intriguing. Basically something appeared called Hell's Gate and its appearance has caused two new types of human races. The first race are called Contractors and they have special abilities but no conscience so they are commonly used as killing machines. The Contractors have to pay a price each time they use their powers. The second type of race are called Dolls. These humans are literally like dolls and can have other humans personalities implanted on them.
The first main character is the chief of police and she is trying hunt down Contractors and track their activities. The second main character is a Contractor posing as a college student who is working for an unknown third party.
You never find out exactly what Hell's Gate is. The story line is complex and interesting. The characters intriguing and engaging. Lots of nice action sequences. I really liked it.
Just a warning the last episode of this series totally leaves you hanging. I was groaning at the place they cut out; who knows how long I will have to wait for the next DVD to be released.
Either way this was definitely worth the watch, I will be keeping up with this series for sure!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Honestly, I just can't tell....
Comment: I had hoped to enjoy this new anime series and looked forward to reviewing it, but, after watching this entire disc, I'm sort of at a loss for what to suggest.
First, the obvious -- the animation on this release is rather thin. Two examples will illustrate my point:
1) Many scenes only have mouths flapping with no other animation on the entire screen.
2) The illustration of water, in various forms, on characters became nothing short of annoying: whether pouring rain, a sweaty brow, someone splashed with hundreds of gallons of water, or any other form of wetness one can conceive of, the droplets of water always BEAD on the characters' skin, even if it's in a downpour. The water never RUNS. Simple animation always neglected. Really unimpressive work.
For the potentially positive --
The scenario has a lot of potential, but I can't tell whether the makers have the creativity to use this potential for positive development or not; and, this issue dovetails with the primary issue I view negatively, which is the cost. The episodes are a mere 20 minutes each, and there are only 5 on the whole disc (you do the math on the high cost of this series).
Supposedly, another series of 5 episodes, Darker Than Black: Volume Two will be released in late January, and its cost is lower, but given what I've been able to evaluate so far, I honestly can't in good conscience recommend this series because there just isn't much to go on (in fact, even the 5th episode is greatly disjointed in time from the others and injects new characters and potential plot lines, so it is difficult to tell if it will lead in an interesting direction or not), while investing quite a sum of cash.
Maybe the next set will have better animation, less trite small-talk in some scenes, etc., but I can't justify the cost for this first set, even with the hopes that the next installment will make it all worth the investment. I simply can't tell. And that's my honest assessment.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Everyone Wears A Mask. A new and deadly breed of covert agent walks the streets. Known as Contractors, these assassins and spies wield bizarre supernatural powers to carry out the dirty work of others. They thrive in the underworld, between rumor and reality, their loyalties always in question. One among these operatives is more mysterious than the rest;the masked killer BK201, the Black Reaper. His true identity and intentions remain unknown, but as his path weaves through the shadows and alleys of Tokyo, blood is spilled on both sides of the law. It's a new age of confusion, and the rules of engagement have changed. Starter Set comes in a collectible art box.
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