DVD Verdict reviews: LIGHTNING BUG, ELFEN LIED: VECTOR TWO (VOLUME 2), and more!

Today, DVD Verdict posted reviews of APPLESEED (UMD MINI FOR PSP), ELFEN
LIED: VECTOR TWO (VOLUME 2), FUSHIGI YUGI: THE MYSTERIOUS PLAY...THE
RETURN HOME (VOLUME 2), FUSHIGI YUGI: THE MYSTERIOUS PLAY...TRIALS OF A
PRIESTESS (VOLUME 3), GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (VOLUME
7), LIGHTNING BUG, THE LOCALS, MADLAX: THE RED BOOK (VOLUME 2), and THE
SILENT STAR:


APPLESEED (UMD MINI FOR PSP) (reviewed by Adam Arseneau, overall
score 75/100):
"Brightly-lit sequences are simply jaw-dropping on the tiny PSP screen,
the resolution so crisp and luminescent you could swear the image was as
close to portable perfection as humanly possible. There are times when
Appleseed will actually reach into your throat and take your breath
away, it looks so spectacular. Unfortunately, during dimly-lit sequences
(like the butt-kicking introductory sequence), the PSP screen's
performance is poorer."

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

ELFEN LIED: VECTOR TWO (VOLUME 2) (reviewed by Mitchell Hattaway,
overall score 90/100):
"Sure, the rampant decapitations and bloody fights are still fun, but
there's now a genuinely engaging emotional undercurrent to the
proceedings."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/elfenliedvol2.php

FUSHIGI YUGI: THE MYSTERIOUS PLAY...THE RETURN HOME (VOLUME 2) (reviewed
by Adam Arseneau, overall score 56/100):
"Right around the introduction of the Dragonball-esque plot goal of
gathering the Suzaku Seven to summon the giant rooster Suzaku to grant
any wish, or something like that, my brain took an extended lunch break
and has yet to return. Note: Suzaku probably isn't a rooster. He might
be a phoenix or a dragon or something...but he just sort of
looks...roosterish."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/fushigiyugivol2.php

FUSHIGI YUGI: THE MYSTERIOUS PLAY...TRIALS OF A PRIESTESS (VOLUME 3)
(reviewed by Adam Arseneau, overall score 59/100):
"The Return Home contains seven episodes, which is an even better
offering than the previous volume of six. If all anime series coughed up
seven episodes per disc, we'd all be happy, happy otaku."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/fushigiyugivol3.php

GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (VOLUME 7) (reviewed by Rob
Lineberger, overall score 96/100):
"As these last few episodes unfold, you might notice some kludgy
writing, or last-minute revelations that move the story, or even
outright ruses meant to mislead you. But you probably won't care,
because your ass is being kicked through the wall."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ghostinshellvol7.php

LIGHTNING BUG (reviewed by David Johnson, overall score 90/100):
"I would highly recommend Lightning Bug. It is a thoughtful, lovingly
crafted, great-looking piece of independent filmmaking, and any
drawbacks that I've mentioned are small in comparison to all the good
stuff happening here."

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

THE LOCALS (reviewed by David Johnson, overall score 88/100):
"On paper, the plot of The Locals does seem like that of every horror
film made since the Earth cooled. But folks, take it from me, this film
is the real deal."

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

MADLAX: THE RED BOOK (VOLUME 2) (reviewed by Mitchell Hattaway, overall
score 88/100):
"I'm still not sure exactly what the hell is going on in Madlax, but I
continue to enjoy the series immensely."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/madlaxvol2.php

THE SILENT STAR (reviewed by James A. Stewart, overall score 87/100):
"Watching a Cold War film made behind the Berlin Wall takes some getting
used to. The United States is portrayed as an evil aggressor which
threatens the world with its atomic bombs, and the film's script takes
every opportunity to show that the Eastern Bloc does things
differently."

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

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

DVD Verdict