Fist of the North Star, New Volume 2: The Forbidden Fist - Ascully.Com
- Ascully.Com
- Mental
- 11/29/04
- click here
Cover Art, Menus & Extras:
Continuing the story that we started last week (read New Fist Of The North Star: Volume 1 to get caught up) of Kenshiro crusading against Sanga and his army of thugs in Last Land to protect the people of the Village of Freedom. In the second installment, he finds himself facing a much deadlier menace, Seiji, who has mastered a similar technique as Kenshiro.
The extras for this DVD are interviews with voice actor Gackt, martial arts and self defense instructor of Jai Yen Yen, behind the scenes footage in the recording booth, more character bios, and ADV previews. This second disk in the series has as much bonus material as the first, about 30 minutes of material in all and it is actually pretty interesting to watch.
Art, Audio & Voice Acting:
The CG and animation are still as pretty as before with both elements blending together fluidly. In this second installment, the plot actually thickens quite nicely and leaves a bit of a cliffhanger at the end even though it got off to a rocky start. The viewer gets some more insight into the state of the world as well as the hierarchy of the multiple 'fists' that exist.
The Movie:
The Last Landers are still in uproar over Kenshiro's appearance in their town. He leaves the city and heads out into the desert. Two more strangers show up on a motorcycle. They are known as Clifflanders, and they are pursuing Seiji, a master of their secret techniques bent on using them for his own ambition. Seiji kills the men in a similar manner to Kenshiro's Hokuto Shinken and then announces that all that was Sanga's is now his. He proceeds to imprison Sara and resume Sanga's tyranny. Kenshiro it seems, is headed in the opposite direction, he encounters the Clifflanders at their home with a somewhat less than welcome reception. Kenshiro is only wanting passage through their area so that he can get a serum for Bista's injuries. Their arrogance proves to be their downfall. Their master finally appears and realizes who Kenshiro is and welcomes him. The master tells Kenshiro of Seiji's betrayal and subsequent flight from the Clifflands to find and kill his father... Sanga. Kenshiro begins his journey back to Last Land to deliver the serum and pass judgment on Seiji for betraying precepts of the Fist of the North Star.
Value:
Overall I think this OVA is turning into a cool trilogy. It isn't terribly intellectual and it is action packed; both good qualities in an anime from this genre. Volume 2: The Forbidden Fist won't break the bank at $29.99, and can be found wherever ADV films are sold.
Posted on Monday, November 29, 2004 (Archive on Wednesday, December 29, 2004)