«

Today, DVD Verdict posted reviews of ANGELIC LAYER: DEUS EX MACHINA
(VOLUME 5), GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (VOLUME 2), KALEIDO
STAR: GREAT EXPECTATIONS (VOLUME 3), KALEIDO STAR: FALL FROM GRACE
(VOLUME 4), LADY DEATH: THE MOTION PICTURE, MR. AND MRS. SMITH, MY DEAR
MARIE, PET SHOP BOYS: SOMEWHERE, RED HEAT: SPECIAL EDITION, and SAIYUKI:
NEW WORLD ORDER (VOLUME 12):


ANGELIC LAYER: DEUS EX MACHINA (VOLUME 5) (reviewed by Sandra Dozier,
overall score 92/100):
"Angelic Layer has an engaging story that pulls in many characters, and
a lead character who never seems to lose her determination and optimism.
Misaki may be somewhat formulaic, but her kind and inclusive nature is
endearing, and you know she will go far."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/angeliclayervol5.php

GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (VOLUME 2) (reviewed by Rob
Lineberger, overall score 98/100):
"When you combine Stand Alone Complex's superlative action with its
smart storylines, and then throw in a noble anime lineage, you wind up
with one hell of a series."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/gitsvol2.php

KALEIDO STAR: GREAT EXPECTATIONS (VOLUME 3) (reviewed by Sandra Dozier,
overall score 89/100):
"Sora grows because of the conflict she endures and triumphs over. Along
the way, she makes friends and gains allies as she becomes a more well-
rounded person. It's a positive, strong message that is not heavy-handed
or moralized to death."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/kaleidostarvol3.php

KALEIDO STAR: FALL FROM GRACE (VOLUME 4) (reviewed by Sandra Dozier,
overall score 89/100):
"There is plenty of drama in this volume, and it ends up with Sora's
world being turned upside down, plunging her head first into a new set
of challenges that she will have to overcome."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/kaleidostarvol4.php

LADY DEATH: THE MOTION PICTURE (reviewed by Mitchell Hattaway, overall
score 35/100):
"I can't imagine fans of the comic (which is still being published after
ten years and the bankruptcy of at least two of its publishers) will
even enjoy this. You'd have to reach back to Howard the Duck or that
unreleased (but still widely available) Roger Corman Fantastic Four
movie to find another comic adaptation so badly botched."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ladydeathtmp.php

MR. AND MRS. SMITH (reviewed by Diane Wild, overall score 76/100):
"If you really look, you might see touches of classic Hitchcock. One almost-
sinister scene shows Ann shaving David with straight razor while talking
about trust. If you didn't know it was Hitchcock, you might get a mild
chuckle out of the irony. As it is, you're almost disappointed that she
doesn't slit his throat."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/mrandmrssmith.php

MY DEAR MARIE (reviewed by Joel Pearce, overall score 84/100):
"There is quite a bit to like about My Dear Marie. It's a great deal
more subtle and sensitive than most entries in this genre, and there's
some depth underneath all the physical comedy and fan service."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/mydearmarie.php

PET SHOP BOYS: SOMEWHERE (reviewed by Eric Profancik, overall
score 90/100):
"The Pet Shop Boys may be boring performers visually, but their music
more than makes up for the lack of showmanship."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/pe...ssomewhere.php

RED HEAT: SPECIAL EDITION (reviewed by Joel Pearce, overall score
82/100):
"Everything about the film is so painfully typical that I frequently
found myself very bored, even during the action scenes. I think it's
actually in the wrong genre -- it would have worked a lot better as a
gritty fish-out-of-water cop movie with Denko alone in America, rather
than as a light action buddy comedy."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/redheatse.php

SAIYUKI: NEW WORLD ORDER (VOLUME 12) (reviewed by Sandra Dozier, overall
score 90/100):
"The grace and beauty of the characters is carried over into the
animation, which can be whisper-light or have as much gravity as it
needs, depending on the moment. Scenes of our travelers moving through
the forests and empty land between towns are worth watching all by
themselves. Again, there is much eye candy in this series -- enough to
keep fans happy for hours. "

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/saiyukivol12.php

Mike Jackson
Editor & Webmaster, DVD Verdict
www.dvdverdict.com