The World God Only Knows Season 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 116 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out 21/1/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

To recap the first season, Keima is considered the god of games due to his practically living in the gaming world even when he is supposed to be in class. He is asked online by a mystery girl to help her, and once he agrees to it, he is recruited by Elsie, a demon into finding lost souls in the real world. In order to find and send them back to where they came from, Keima has to win the girls over with the techniques he has learned from playing online computer games. Once they fall for him, the loose soul leaves the human's body. And he hopes they will fall in love with him, as he only has experience of doing this in games.

Baka and Test: Summon The Beasts Series 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 116 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out 21/1/2013
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

Its girls versus boys starting with a beach episode as it’s summer and they need a break from class F, but none of the guys think they will get off with the girls – they’re too shy for that, or are they? Aki's going on holiday and he's invited some of the girls along for the ride, but if he tells his sister the truth, she'll kill him, so he has to break it to her gently, or face getting his legs broken.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Series 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 116 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out 21/1/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

 Far into the future, Japan has been invaded by Britannia which is comprised of the rest of the known world, and once conquered, it is stripped of its cultural identity had its flag removed and a new one put in its place, and is renamed Area 11. While the hostile takeover is going on, one child, abandoned and on the street vows to his friend he will avenge his people and take down the Britannians for good.

Journey To Agartha
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 116 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Considered by some to be the next Miyazaki, Makoto Shinkai, this fantasy movie's director reminds us of previous movies like 5 Centimeters Per Second and The Place Promised in Our Early Days with the look, high production value and meaningful characters. There is also a look of Dinotopia about it.

Tiger and Bunny Part 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 175 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out 4/2/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:

Heroes club together to rid the evil villains from the streets; Fire Emblem, Rock Bison, Dragon Kid, Origami Cyclone, Sky High, Blue Rose, and Wild Tiger. Whereas everyday heroes would get in their suits and masks and fight for justice, these do all that and more, signing up with Apollon Media so that their daring rescues and villain crushing is televised in front of millions of excited viewers on Hero TV.

Baka and Test: Summon The Beasts Complete Series Two

On DVD 11 Feb 2013

Synopsis:

Yoshii's a good-hearted goofball enrolled at a school where students settle their differences by summoning Avatars, pint-sized stand-ins with battle powers based on academic ability. That academic ability part is bad news for idiotic Yoshii - he's stuck in lowly Class F with the slackers. If these misfits want to escape their dump of a classroom and earn some respect, they'll have to fight their way up the ranks and take on Class A, the brightest students on campus. It's going to be tough, that's for sure, but once the underachievers of Class F get motivated, they don't give up - and Yoshii can't even spell surrender! Contains episodes 1-13 of season 2. Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.

Reign of Assassins

Opens in UK cinemas 15 Feb 2013

Fast sell:

John Woo co-directs an all-star cast in this period-set martial arts actioner that combines the action-comedy and romance of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” with the identity swap thrills of “Face/Off”.

Key talent:

Co-directors John Woo (Red Cliff; Paycheck; Mission Impossible II; Face/Off) and Su Chao-pin (Silk), producer Terence Chang (Woo’s regular producer) and and stars Michelle Yeoh (The Lady; Memoirs Of A Geisha; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Tomorrow Never Dies), Jung Woo-sung (The Good, The Bad, The Weird; The Warrior), Wang Xueqi (Bodyguards And Assassins; The Founding Of A Republic), Shawn Yu (Dragon Tiger Gate; Initial D – Drift Racer; Infernal Affairs), Kelly Lin (Sparrow; Triangle) and Barbie Hsu (My Kingdom).

Synopsis:

In Ancient China, “Drizzle” is the most deadly and ruthless assassin of the Dark Stone gang. After a life of theft and murder, she seeks to atone for her ways and leave the gang forever. Undergoing a drastic procedure to alter her appearance, she changes her name to Jing and starts a new life in the capital.

Even with her newfound life as a shopkeeper and a budding romance to Ah-Sheng, the Dark Stone gang is hot on her trail. She alone holds the secret of the mystical Buddhist monk’s remains, which legend says the possessor will gain control of the whole world. The gang will stop at nothing in their pursuit to control this power.

We like it because:

Nominated for ten Hong Kong Film Awards (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Action Choreography, Best Cinematography), this is far and away the classiest and best-choreographed martial arts extravaganza we’ve seen since “House Of Flying Daggers”. John Woo’s inimitable directorial touch, sumptuous visuals, astonishing action set-pieces and a beautiful and extremely talented cast featuring the cream of Asian cinema, all performing at the top of their game, make this a must-see.

Hot Quotes:

“The beautifully balanced story finds time for humour and a piercingly romantic finale… lush visual treat.” – The Hollywood Reporter.

“A delightful martial-arts romp that makes up in wit and exuberance what it occasionally lacks in clarity and finesse.” – Variety.

“Its scenes of sword-play are wonderful… absorbing and entertaining.” – Screen International.

“Without heavy resort to visual effects, and without going too far down any one stylistic road, the film gives new life to a genre that's been pulled every which way in the past 20 years in search of new thrills.” (9/10) – Derek, Elley, Film Business Asia.

Check out one of the finest novels from Yaoi Press' Yamila Abraham:

Her Twin Brother

Emotionally distant cop Heath Prescott lost his beloved wife and finds her gay twin brother comforting—perhaps a little too comforting. A poignant and heart-wrenching short story presented in one installment.

Here is the Cover.

 

Here is a link to a Free Preview.  

Here are links for Kindle: USA, India, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, or Italy.  Sony/Kobo 

Some Expo news and Manga release date changes for you -
Latest Comic Con News

We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Maeda Toshio (aka @TentacleMaster), the creator of Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend will be bringing his unique take on manga and anime to the London MCM Comic Con on 26-28 October at ExCel.

Visit the Tentacle Master shop at the expo to pick up your own signed and numbered limited edition digital lithographic print. Each AQ2 sized print is on sale exclusively at the London MCM Comic Con and limited to 200 prints.

There will be two unique designs to collect (please find sample images attached). This is a world exclusive. Maeda-san will also be selling a limited number of art books and T-shirts. This is a once in a lifetime chance to meet one the undisputed king of erotic manga illustration and the inventor of “tentacle sex”!
Release Date Changes

Please note the following release date changes:

Clannad After Story Part 2 will now be released on DVD on 3rd December 2012
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 4 OVA will now be released on 19th November 2012

The latest Yaoi offering from Yaoi Press....

Cold Beautiful

The novice prison guard Yolkov was taken hostage during a riot at a notorious Russian penitentiary.  He would have suffered an excruciating death if not for Zhirov, a burly and soulful inmate who protected him.  After the ordeal Yolkov can’t help but seek out Zhirov’s companionship.  He believes that his hero was sent from a higher power not just to protect him, but to save him from the abyss his life has become.  Zhirov may be feared by the other inmates, but Yolkov sees him for his wisdom, depth, and sublime spirit.  He’s put in the precarious position of being willing to do anything for the prisoner.

There’s talk of a Corrective Colony on a polluted arctic island.  Volunteer prisoners can have their sentences reduced if they complete the clean-up.  Zhirov is too extreme a criminal to be eligible, but this is the favor he asks of Yolkov.  He wants to be outside again, even if it’s working with toxic waste.  Yolkov takes his request to the warden.  She’s incredulous, but finally agrees when Yolkov volunteers to go to the island also.

Yolkov has only heard rumors of the disaster at the last Corrective Colony.  He has no idea what kind of chaos he’s signed up for.  He only knows he’ll do anything for Zhirov, and that may mean relying on his protection once again.

A poignant and touching single-installment novella by the author of Maelstrom!

The cover artist is Himitsu Studio.  A copy of the cover is here:
http://www.yaoiprose.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/coldbeautifulweb.jpg

A free preview is here:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/117902794/Cold-Beautiful-Yaoi

People can purchase this story at these links:  Kindle USA, Kindle Canada, Kindle UK, Kindle Germany, Kindle Spain, Kindle France, Kindle Italy, or Kindle Japan.  Nook, Sony, Kobo, iTunes, and Smashwords.

Gunparade March Collection
Released By: MVM
Rating: 12
Running Time: 300 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

The emphasis seems to be on anime that are based on video games lately, so this is no different and is actually a pleasant surprise. Gunparade March, based on the PlayStation game of the same name is a DVD that contains the first twelve episodes for this action-packed sci-fi series. Many have remarked of its similarity to Love Hina and Neon Genesis Evangelion combined, and in part is very true, it has an absorbing sci-fi element complete with dangerous aliens hell-bent on destroying the earth, with humorous undertones from certain central characters.

Set in 1945 at the end of the Second World War, aliens invaded and all the people in the world had to group together, forget their differences and fight for survival against the alien threat. Later in time, after fifty years, too many human lives have been lost, so the military enlists sixteen and twenty-one year olds to fight their battles for them using tanks built like familiar mecha, Humanoid Walking Tanks, as they are called and the anime chronicles the life and times of Unit 5121, a bunch of very daring and strong men and women who have completed their stint at high school and went to fight - yet this series is not so much about the fighting, but the lives of the men and women in question.

Gunparade March has thrills and comedy alongside a sci-fi setting that many viewers will enjoy greatly. The DVD comes as a 3 disc set slim case with wraparound cover art that's catchy and impressive. It contains all 12 episodes in the series and has information on the back cover along with DVD special features and also includes aspect ratio and disc format info. Ideal for children of 12 years and over it contains infrequent moderate injury detail.

This is straight from the director of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Katsushi Sakurabi who gives this anime a very realistic and endearing feel fans will adore. With the DVD box set being in a slim case, it is much easier for the viewer to store away on the shelf along with all the other DVD's in the collection. The extras are a nice bonus for the viewer that they might not have got normally, with text less opening and closing animations being a nice touch, and a production art gallery to go with it it makes for a really exciting set to marvel over.


Bonus Material: Bonus material for this title consists of these DVD features: Text less Opening and Closing animations, Trailers, Production Art Gallery and Japanese TV Commercials.

Verdict: Endearing, funny and captivating - an anime to choose when you want to relax.

Aquarion Volume 1
Released By: MVM
Rating: 12
Running Time: 100 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD5.1
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

After the occurrence of a great catastrophe  a world is in ruins and to rub further salt into the wounds of the people it is invaded by another race, the Shadow Angels of Atlantea. They are dangerous beings from another planet who have just woke from a 12,000 year sleep and have come to earth to harvest prana, a living energy they need to survive. Deava, a special task force there have developed their skills in order to take the Shadow Angels on and try to keep them all at bay.

They use the mecha angel Aquarion, a machine that can assume three types of shape and who many enlist into its rigorous training programme hoping to get a chance to use it. It fuses with the heart, soul and body of its owner inside, ie it becomes a great and equally powerful weapon to use against the enemy. Only three candidates can be selected from thousands of hopefuls. In the Year 0011 several young people want to make it through to the training, desiring to make the world a safer place.

Onto the characters then, or a really special one that is prophesied to be a natural 'element' who was born with an ability to merge with Aquarion.  "Memories of Heavenly Wings" takes the viewer to the beginning of the saga where street kids steal food from a warehouse in order to live as they are being watched by those who believe one of the kids is the true reincarnation of the great Solarwind. They eventually get chance to talk to him, but are out of luck when he is captured along with his friend by the Shadow Angels who want to train him in their evil ways.Silvia, Sirius, Fudo and Rena are the others who along with a cast of many achieve a story that is rich with exciting dialogue.

Get set for a 26 episode mega series that will cause a real storm in the anime world with it animation style and action fueled battles. Mecha fans will enjoy this series written and directed by Shoji Kawamori who also created 'The Vision of Escaflowne' and 'Macross 7.' Volume one is available on DVD containing the first six episodes introduction to a tremendous anime. For the first time seen in the English language in the UK.

For those who like such titles as 'Voltron', and 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' this is a homage to the anime series of the 70's and 80's like popular series 'Battle of the Planets' with an update of CG animation that polishes up this type of series really well. With a production and animation value closer to that of a major movie this will be likened to 'War of the Worlds' due to the realistic graphics. From episode one this is shaping up to be a series that many will enjoy and fans of handsome men and huge, feathery wings will admire.

Bonus Material: Bonus features include; Interview with Director Shoji Kawamori, Tokyo International Anime 2005 Talk Show, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Solar Aquarion Edition, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Cherubim Edition, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Aquarion Luna Edition, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Aquarion Mars Edition, Clean Opening and Closing Animations and Trailers for other anime series.

Verdict: High tech, high spec and spectacular to watch. This is a visual feast,  a fantastically realized piece of anime.

Witchblade The Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 600 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Masane Amaha wakes from an earthquake many years ago with a baby in her arms and no memory of her past. Several years later she struggles to bring up her daughter as the child protection services close in on her saying she is neglecting Rihoko while she goes to work. The real truth is Masane does what she can to provide for her, but the authorities take matters into their own hands when they try to get Masane to give her up to another family saying that they could do a better job of raising her than a single mother with hardly any means of support.