Black Lagoon - Season 1 & 2 (Blu ray + DVD) [Blu-ray]

Having watched Black Lagoon before, I decided to replace the set that I lost when this complete Blu-Ray Box came available. I can say that I LOVE the series just as much, if not more so, from when I first saw it on DVD several years ago. So, without further ado, here is my review of the anime series Black Lagoon.A quick note: if you love High School of the Dead (aka HOTD), then Black Lagoon will be up your alley.AnimationAs an avid Otaku, I have noticed that most Japanese Anime seems to fall into two categories. One type is a series with really good, detailed animation; the other is comprised of generic, lazy drawings. Black Lagoon has wonderful animation, and thus falls into the first camp. The details are impeccable, from the environments (which range from a depraved city to the high seas), the mechanical aspects (the gunboat the pirates use is wonderfully drawn and very believable), and to the characters themselves. Each character has a distinct costume, and the facial expressions are varied. While there is a slight tendency for the wide-eyed cliché anime females, by-and-large the renderings of the world of Black Lagoon are realistic and believable.With the above in mind, most of the females are, erm... well endowed, and in some situations, it would be physically impossible for the movement and/or way their endowments are held up (I am sorry, things that large are never that perky). The series does tend to categorize the women into either a highly sexualized depiction (Revy, the main female protagonist in the series, saunters around in a tight tank top and short shorts), or as prude-like as possible (a nun, a businesswoman, or a maid in a very conservative uniform). Even with these somewhat sexist depictions, the personality of these women more than make up for their “idealized” depictions.Plot (Minor Spoilers)The story of Black Lagoon starts out with high-speed action and ends the series with a shootout. The crew of the eponymous Black Lagoon have been tasked with boarding a vessel to obtain certain files from an employee of said Japanese organization. They end up kidnapping the employee, and amid the loud vulgarities uttered by the pirates, the soft-spoken demeanor of the businessman seems comical.From here, the story takes off. Business intrigue, hectic shootouts, Neo-Nazi subplots, and lots and lots of cursing. The characters themselves are modern-day pirates, acquiring jobs from a variety of sources in their home port, a city filled with the scum of the Earth. The police are corrupt; various “cultural” gangs (i.e., “the Russians”, Chinese Triads, Italian Mafia, & etc) are in control. It is the leaders of these gangs who hire the crew of Black Lagoon for myriad illegal jobs.Now what about that kidnapped Japanese employee? Well, he ends up joining the crew of the Black Lagoon, becoming their straight-laced, book-smart, business negotiations manager. I could tell you how he joins, but it would give away the plot of the first couple episodes.Some reviews state that there is no discernable plot to the series, and in terms of an overall, arching plot, this statement is somewhat true. The series is comprised of several arcs, with several episodes dedicated toward the exposition and subsequent resolution within the season. These stories build upon the overall development of both the characters and the world of Black Lagoon. The result is a series that is edgy, funny, and full of action. Fights, explosions, chases on the high seas, dark crime stories, and interesting dialogue comprise the series. There are several veiled political comments made (the Neo Nazi plot, for instance, is one), and some vague historical allusions, which may or may not be accurate (I didn't research them, I'll be honest). Some of the plots may offend some people (if you do not like bloodshed and the Neo Nazi depictions, don't get this Blu-Ray), and the series has tons of cursing. I would not recommend watching this in front of children.Music and Voice ActingThe music in the series is top notch, with maybe the exception of the theme song (a weird rock/techno/J-pop song that makes no sense, lyrics-wise). Most of the action sequences have a rock song playing, and combined with the excellent animation, you will stay glued to your screen. The music suits the atmosphere, and unlike some anime series, fits the content perfectly. I intend to look up the soundtrack!The voiceacting is wonderful, also. The tones and emotions conveyed by the voiceactors is well done, and the lip-syncing is top-notch. Each character has a very distinct voice, from the rough voice of Revy, the soft-spoken businessman, or the baritone captain. Characters with cultural accents also have excellent portrayals without being cliché.OverallIf you want an action-packed series that is a bit unconventional (there is no grand plot, rather, a series of smaller, defined plots), this is for you. Lots of cursing may turn off some, and some of the touchy subject matter will offend others. The great animation, voiceacting, music, and colorful characters give Black Lagoon a very mature setting and topics that will give you pause. It is brutal and as honest as it can be for a fictional world, and in the end you will be rooting for more. If you love action-packed, dark anime series, Black Lagoon is not one that can be beat.

Lets start off, the English voice over for black lagoon is 5/5 simply the best of any show I've seen its just perfectly picked and done. The animation is 5/5, i have no flaws with it at all, its very clean and nice to look at. The plot and character development is 5/5, unlike many shows that you watch the first 5 episodes show you all the back story of all the characters and show you who they are, well not black lagoon with every episode you get one piece of the puzzle into these characters lives and what made them who they are. The story line is very good and violent, if blood, bullets and immorality are your thing then your gonna love this show like i did!Now for this order itself, its an insane deal! When i ordered this i was under the impression i was getting seasons 1&2 on blu-ray for 26bucks, now for two seasons of a good anime thats dam good. But i was wrong, your not getting just blu-ray your getting seasons 1&2 on DVD AND blu-ray for 26bucks, you literally can't get better then this. On top of that i ordered this on a Sunday night and they said it would be here that coming Saturday, well i got it at 1pm that Thursday. Thats 3 days later with free shipping option!

Black Lagoon is simply one of the most unique and interesting anime I have experienced in a long time. Without giving any spoilers, here's my review of Black Lagoon.Package: There isn't much to talk about here, the Blu-rays and the DVDs fit nicely and you don't have to worry about them falling out of the case. There are a fair amount of special features, including a "behind the scenes" which anime releases NEED more of.Plot: The plot and characters are the best part about this anime, creating a world that feels real. The series follows former white-collar business man Rock as he gets involved in the criminal underworld. The way each character acts seems completely natural, and you will become attached to every character in the show on some level. Now, despite all the good in the story, it ends with a very "READ THE MANGA" ending. Even so, it's not at soul-crushing levels so I can forgive it.Sound: The music in this series isn't really anything special, but it fits what is happening on-screen. The dub is fantastic, and makes more sense since only one recurring character in the show is actually Japanese. The opening is really good and memorable, but the same can't be said about the ending theme.Animation: The animation looks really good, especially for the time it came out. It's a treat to watch on Blu-Ray. The fight scenes are hit and miss, sometimes intense, sometimes underwhelming.Overall: I love this series, the characters and their stories are so well written and memorable, and the english voice actors are perfect for their characters. While the combat scenes aren't always all that great, the positives outweigh the negatives.