Gungrave
Publisher
Geneon / MVM
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
24 eps/25 minutes
Year
2003
Gungrave Volume 3: Undead War
By otaku_kei
4th Aug 05  This title has slowly been earning my respect and admiration. After a rather disappointing opening volume this show has just kept gathering momentum, dragging the principal characters deeper into the murky depths of the criminal underworld. And this volume is no different. Focussing on both Harry McDowell and Brandon Heat equally, we get to see how both of these men are progressing in the Millenion organisation and how their rise to power is changing and hardening both men. But as with all criminal organisations there are rivals just waiting in the wings to take their piece of the action. Harry and Brandon have to draw a line in the sand and protect Millenion's interests - but are they capable? Now onto its third disc, we really start to see how the two principal characters are fitting in to their new lives in the criminal underworld. Brandon has become the organisations no 1 sweeper, and Harry is the rising star set to reach the top echelons of Millenion. A fact that then precipitates these two being the ones tasked with bringing an end to attacks on the leaders of Millenion by a group who have started using zombified humans as there dogs of war. And this is where it all links back to the very first episode: do you all remember that in the future Millenion will be using undead monsters as enforcers. This necrolysation process is in its fledgling stage here, and being used against Millenion by one of that criminal empires rivals. Yet more pieces of the puzzle are falling into place as to what will happen that leads to the falling out of Brandon Heat and Harry McDowell. But whilst this threat falls mainly to Brandon and his team of sweepers to deal with, Harry's path takes him to the source of these monstrosities, and recruiting the men behind the horror. Harry McDowell continues to come across as a generally likable man, but once again the vicious, mercenary streak inside him still comes to the fore. Harry's ambitions continue to raise questions as to how this story will turn. Will it be Harry that turns on Brandon, or the other way around? Both characters have changed across this show, but as the episodes go on it is Brandon who is changing faster, abandoning his values whilst Harry seems to keep to his path. The interplay and possibilities of the forthcoming betrayal and fallout are what has now hooked me into this show. This show has come a long way from its opening volume, when unfortunately the main problem was Brandon Heat's lack of personality. A major flaw for any show when the central character is little more than an emotional vacuum. The developments from this release has seen growth in several characters who are only now starting to really engage the audience. Alongside this, Gungrave continues to deliver exhilarating action set pieces to keep the show forging ahead and never allowing the audience to feel bored. With the next disc being the halfway point for the series I am sure it is time that some of the actions of the principal cast are going to have lasting repurcussions on friendships and bonds long established. In the traditions of the best mafia stories, I am sure we will find that it was nothing personal - just business!
R2 DVD Notes
Features: Japanese Language 2.0; Japanese Language DTS; English Language 5.1; English Language Subtitles; Production Art Gallery; MVM Trailers
Release information: COMING SOON - 15th August
Notes: MVM clearly made a very wise move when they contracted their DVD authoring to Madman Entertainment. This cooperation has resulted in MVM turning around the quality of their discs to some of the finest on the UK anime market. Always good to see 5.1 & DTS soundtracks appearing on releases (and one of these days I am going to have to get an audio setup that supports high-end audio tracks). The visual quality is also superb as you can expect from such a recent show. The extras though are the victim of any multiple disc release: you end up with very little spread across a lot of discs. Hee we get yet another Production Art Gallery, and the obligatory trailers.
-- otaku_kei 4th Aug 05
Gungrave Images  
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