Boys Over Flowers – Vol. #6 – The Crime and Punishment of a Kiss

I’ll say forthright that this anime is very feminine.  There’s a lot of romantic and love oriented comedic anime out there that’s equally appealing to both sexes, but this one is strongly geared towards females.  In this volume, lead character Tsukushi is torn between two guys, Rui and Tsukasa, who happen to be friends, and mutual members of the F4 (Flower Four), which is a clique of friends who essentially run the local high school.  As always, this volume contains lots of drama.  The bonus features are sparse, a couple tame profiles and illustration sketches.  It’s hard to pick out a demographic to recommend this title to; but, if you’re interested in romantic anime I’d strongly suggest seeking out the series His and Her Circumstances, a wonderfully done anime with a lot more heart, and none of the drivel.

Overall Grade: C+ 

Power Rangers: Dino Thunder – Vol. #5 – Triassic Triumph

This, the 5th installment of the Dino Thunder series on DVD, is about what you’d expect.  That is to say, there are plenty of outrageous plot devices, lame monsters, bad campy dialogue, and teamwork.  This version of the popular Power Rangers franchise started strong, initially capturing some of the feel and excitement of the very first series (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) but quickly fizzling out and becoming routinely weak.  The core characters aren’t that likeable; especially Kira, the angst filled teenage girl whose rebellious sensibilities lead her to perform her own rock shows on occasion, as well as serve her duties as the yellow ranger.  Not that everything is bad, though, don’t get me wrong, this DVD as well as the series has it’s share of highlights… although personally, I don’t think it compares to some of my favorite past incarnations like Power Rangers: Wild Force and Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue.  The bonus features don’t change much at all from one volume to the next; a couple lame trailers, an atrocious dojo seminar segment, and a sneak peak at the next series Power Rangers: SPD rounds out the bonuses.  Overall, you know what you’re getting into, so if you’re a Power Rangers fan, give it a shot.  If you’re not a fan, find one, and then beat him up… or any random stranger will do.

Overall Grade: B- 

Yu Yu Hakusho Ghost Files – Vol. #5 – The Beasts of Maze Castle

In this DVD second-tier character Kuwabara is showcased primarily, as in 2 of the 3 episodes on this disc are solely dedicated to his battle with Byakko.  This volume of the series is action, action, and more action.  If you’re unfamiliar with the story, I’d recommend starting from the beginning… although, if you’re just watching for fun; it’s not a bad spot to jump in.  Customary with this series, FUNimation doesn’t deliver with the special features; a couple lame DBZ trailers, and a few miniscule Japanese text translations are included.  Overall, it’s moderately entertaining… but not altogether unforgettable.

Overall Grade: B-