Gun X Sword – Volume 7: Last Rites
Picture: B- Sound: B Extras: B- Episodes: C
At the
far ends of the universe on the prison planet named Endless Illusion, Van hunts
the clawed man for the murder of his bride. Journeying with Wendy, Carmen99, Joshua,
Pricilla, Ray and the Eldora Four the face impossible odds, out numbered and
outgunned, they have come together. Both
Van and Ray fight for their lost loves, while Wendy searches for the reason why
her brother turned to the other side, the battle turns into not only for their
survival, but for the entire planet. As
they finally approach the enemy stronghold, will their dreams be realized or
will they be destroyed?
This is
blend of mix action combat series with both old fashion and new mecha with a
western twist with sword swinging and gunslinger action. The characters are uniquely drawn as long with
their various mechas, some old some new making it sometimes comical *but always
heroic* appearance. While each character
has their own reason for joining the group, it is hard to say if they are
'friends' but more like a rag tag group of people that each has their own
reason and ties to the mysterious 'clawed man'. But with each episode, it draws in more the
story and the viewers...
This
series when I first watched is like a mix Cowboy
Bebop and Trigun, especially the
main character Van, a man who has lost everything and is just only trying to
even the score. But as the series
develops both comical episodes that will leave you laughing and dramatic
episodes you are sitting on edge from the tension. The final DVD comes with an awesome packaging
but Gun X Sword-san ep. 13, Dave's
Wedding Proposal, Creditless Openings and an art gallery.
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Episode
24: End of a Dream
The enemy
stronghold is finally within sight, turns out to be a gigantic floating fort
that is prepping for global reformat *literally*. As the team approaches, Ray gets his chance to
face the Clawed Man, but where is Van?
Episode
25: Fool Comes by Armor
The group
manages to delay the global countdown and buys a little time. Van finally returns and rush joins in the last
minute, but is he in time? Will he be
able to save everyone?
Episode
26: Tuxedo Blowing in Tomorrow
Things
come to the final showdown, what will happen? The final episode, what will happen to
everyone and what will everyone do after it is all said and done?
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is a mix of
hand drawn and some computer animation, but lacks the tired “beaching white”
look of so many bad Animé series. Color
is not bad, with graphics only somewhat simple.
The sound is here in the usual Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo in Japanese, but
the English is only here in Dolby 5.1.
Best of all is the Japanese DTS 5.1 mix, which remains up there with
Geneon’s Gungrave as their best-sounding series release to date, from
the dialogue down to the music and sound effects. The series is technically one of the best if
nothing else.
- Ricky Chiang
