'Freedom Box Set' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Ken has reviewed the 'Freedom Box Set.' If you've read his reviews of the HD DVDs, you know he was let down by this series' sudden shift. This Blu-ray features gorgeous video, exciting TrueHD audio, and plenty of supplements. Worth a look.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1952/freedomboxset.html

[Arturo Lugo]

There's an HTML coding error on the review, under the HD Bonus content section, from "Apollo Background" to "Original Booklet", all the text is a broken link. The text leading to it feels incomplete too: "I’m probably a bit jaded since I just reviewed [?] but both shorts [...]"

Hope you can fix that Ken, as well as all the mistakes in the Wall-E review that Peter has, like, totally ignored.

[godofchaos]

Considered getting it, decided rather grab a few different things and save the extra cash.

Had it been a bit less I probably woulda gotten it.

[MaxSteling]

As I was saying on another thread pick this one up. I think the review touches on many of the lackings of the OAVs but i feel they are a bit overstated. Please don't let that disuade you from picking up one of the few good available animes on Blu-ray. Also with the pricing, keep in mind we are getting the show for half the price compared to the same release it had it Japan. When buying anime keep in mind that you should expect to pay a little more than other domestic releases but we are getting cheaper than fans in Japan. As for the show, I'm not sure I can endorse it more than just saying I've been showing it to some non-anime fans and they have been enjoying it and can't wait for me to show the the last couple episodes.

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Arturo Lugo

There's an HTML coding error on the review, under the HD Bonus content section, from "Apollo Background" to "Original Booklet", all the text is a broken link. The text leading to it feels incomplete too: "I’m probably a bit jaded since I just reviewed [?] but both shorts [...]"

Hope you can fix that Ken, as well as all the mistakes in the Wall-E review that Peter has, like, totally ignored.

I just fixed the HTML error (it seems a misplaced ">" was the source of the error). Sorry about that!

Thanks for catching it. Let me know if you find any other errors and I'll correct them ASAP.

[messin18]

Too expensive even at $82.

[nelll]

Magnificent review by our Ken. I was waiting for this Box set review. I will probably wait for a drop in price. Keep it up Mr. Ken.

[messin18]

$61.39 at DD. Pretty tempting at that price.

[Motorheadache]

I know anime costs more than other releases, but seriously- almost 90 bucks for six episodes? 6 episodes is about the length of a long movie.

It also seems ridiculous to have it split on 4 discs. This should be a 2-disc set at the most. Though I know studios like to fudge as many discs as possible- I remember that 8 discs used to be the norm for a normal 26 episode show, because the studios found that 3 episodes per disc was the minimum that most fans would be willing to shell out $25-$30 for.

So yeah, I'm out. I know the Japanese pay a lot more (often their anime DVDs have 1 episode each) but I think they're crazy. If I lived in Japan I would probably almost never buy anime period.

[Faceless Rebel]

The problem in Japan is that many anime fans are getting out of the market too. The Blu-ray pricing is especially outrageous and I heard Japanese anime Blu-ray sales are quite bad. It's not hard to imagine why either with the prices that are being charged.

[godofchaos]

Originally Posted by Faceless Rebel

The problem in Japan is that many anime fans are getting out of the market too. The Blu-ray pricing is especially outrageous and I heard Japanese anime Blu-ray sales are quite bad. It's not hard to imagine why either with the prices that are being charged.

Not quite true.

For a few shows the Blu-ray has actually been the majority of sales, and companies have actually been moving up plans.

Difference in Japan is that disks, especially for more 'fan' based things aren't meant to be 'priced to own'. It's meant that if you are a hardcore fan you go and buy it, because they don't expect just casual fans to buy it, so they leave the price high.

[Mobe1969]

Yeah, I've seen hi def screen shots from Freedom and honestly, I think I'd settle for dvd for it. If it gets released.

Everyone seems to agree the middle part of the story looses steam and pretty well sucks though.

[galex]

The very interesting feature of the supplement on HD-DVD "Freedom" was its PIP with a variable transparency. Does BD also have such tracks?

[Miracleman]

from the review...
"With so many CG films dominating theaters these days, I'd almost forgotten how much I love the quaint realism and emotive authenticity that can be achieved with traditional animation."

Actually it IS all CG.
The software 'draws' a line around the CG character constantly.
The real givaway I knew wasn't quite right were the hand movements.
Like the overrated BEOWOLF, hands moved like they were on hinges.
Freedom was close, but not my also-preferred cel-animation medium.

[Jester217300]

Anyone having issues with this set? I just updated my firmware on my Samsung BD-P1500 and none of the discs will play. First time I've ever had anything not play.