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Ai Yori Aoshi - My Dearest (Vol. 2)

Ai Yori Aoshi - My Dearest (Vol. 2)

List Price: $29.98
Your Price: $26.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Series!
Review: At first many people who look at it may say it looks like another Love Hina,which I also collect,but let me tell you it isn't really.The characters are great.The stories are more original.In some ways it is much better than Love Hina.I fully recommend this series to any anime fans who love romance animes.Believe me you won't be sorry.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: sappy romantic comedy
Review: Continuining on from volume 1, 'My Dearest' maintains the pace set. If you enjoyed volume 1 then 2 won't disappoint. it may not be the best romantic comedy created but the character designs are quite pleasing.

one word of caution - do not expect to receive the limited edition post card. i preordered mine and did not receive one :( booo!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Precious Things
Review: I finally found out what "Ai Yori Aoshi" means: Bluer Than Indigo.
Adventures with the Photo Club, a clutsy live-in maid with a lousy sense of direction, an American girl in a foreign land, and a girl who is the truest representation of traditional Japan, all together for this heartwarming series.
Be it the taming of the new pet ferret, or coping with personal fears alone at night, this is a series for those who like their anime with heart.
You can't go wrong with this one, folks.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Precious Things
Review: I finally found out what "Ai Yori Aoshi" means: Bluer Than Indigo.
Adventures with the Photo Club, a clutsy live-in maid with a lousy sense of direction, an American girl in a foreign land, and a girl who is the truest representation of traditional Japan, all together for this heartwarming series.
Be it the taming of the new pet ferret, or coping with personal fears alone at night, this is a series for those who like their anime with heart.
You can't go wrong with this one, folks.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The vote is still out...
Review: I keep flipping back and forth on this anime. It came highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good romantic comedy anime, and can stomach a fair amount of fan service. I know that the amazon.com review says "for Love Hina fans" but it's not quite in the same ballpark. Love Hina (IMHO) was much more lighthearted, with a fair amount of slapstick humor. Ai Yori Aoshi seems to take itself a little more seriously. (Although the 2nd disc is WAY more lighthearted than the 1st) There seems to be a message out there, although I haven't quite figured out what that is.


In the interest of time saving, and in an attempt to not repeat (too much) what other reviewers have said, here is a brief diatribe on the pros and cons of Ai Yori Aoshi thus far:
1. The fact that it is more serious at heart is appealing at first, but I find it hard to reconcile this sweet love story with Tina's chest grabbing, and panty shots galore.
2. While it is interesting to see a "traditional Japanese beauty" in Aoi, and to get a look in the more traditional Japanese culture (most animes portray Japan in such a way that you could almost imagine it taking place in the US), in this day and age, it may seem a little outdated. In one of the episodes on disc 2, Aoi goes to the university and doesn't know how to act, or speak, in the slightest. Personally, while I wasn't able to empathize with her character much because of the culture gap, it was her voice that I found most annoying. (I think it is acually the VA who did Chi in Chobits)

3. Also in the cast of characters is an American, and a Japanese girl from England. While it is cool to hear Mayu actually speaking English in the sub version for a minute, and to have a broad background in the characters to get a bigger perspective, I feel this show falls victim to promoting sterotypes.

4. The music is pretty, but doesn't draw you in the way that Steel Angel Kurumi or Love Hina do during the theme songs.

5. The show, thanks to Pioneer is released on 5 discs, which at 26 episodes, is 5-6 episodes a disc! However, there isn't really much in the way of extras, though the inserts have some small amount of information in the way of japanese culture, architecture, etc.


All in all, I would say this is worth a watch. There are some funny moments, though I don't think I've done more than chuckle or snicker. There are some touching moments as well (I'm in love with that ferret! That was the most moved I've been the entire show!). I would recommend it over Please Teacher and His And Her Circumstances (which is a great series for the 1st 2 of 5 discs...then it falls apart and there is absolutely no satisfaction in watching it). But if you can only but a couple of series, buy Love Hina and Steel Angel Kurumi before you give this a shot.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Together for the first time?
Review: Not really. While Kaoru and Aoi ARE living on the Sakuraba Mansion grounds, most of the time they can't even see each other. And when they are together, there is also Miyabi, Tina and Taeko, who also get in the way. Add wild parties, ghosts, ferrets and an evening alone with the WRONG woman and you have one of the funniest series around. Yet don't let the humor throw you, sometimes it can be VERY serious.
FIVE episodes plus tons of extras, makes this DVD, and all the DVDs in the series, great buys!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Together for the first time?
Review: Not really. While Kaoru and Aoi ARE living on the Sakuraba Mansion grounds, most of the time they can't even see each other. And when they are together, there is also Miyabi, Tina and Taeko, who also get in the way. Add wild parties, ghosts, ferrets and an evening alone with the WRONG woman and you have one of the funniest series around. Yet don't let the humor throw you, sometimes it can be VERY serious.
FIVE episodes plus tons of extras, makes this DVD, and all the DVDs in the series, great buys!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A growing cast adds panty-shots and not much more
Review: This portion of the series offers enough character development and endearing scenes between the main couple to remain enjoyable. The comedy offers nothing new. Yes, it's funny, but we all know what panties look like by now.

Taeko is one of the most enjoyable character aside from her clumsiness. Her drive to be "good enough" is such a strong aspect of her character, it seems that everybody could learn from her will alone. And, typically the only reason to bury a girl's face in those huge glasses is to make her a beauty in disguise. Once those frames come off, she may become irresistable to the male characters... If her.. ahem.. "assets" aren't impressive enough.

Tina's character also grows as certain events give clue to a possible inferiority complex. One could only hope here character is given more depth as the series continues.

All-in-all this is still an enjoyable series which has greatly lightened up after the first disk. The story still shines best when Kaoru and Aoi spend time together or express their desire to do so. Episode 10 makes for the nicest misty-eyed experience.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A growing cast adds panty-shots and not much more
Review: This portion of the series offers enough character development and endearing scenes between the main couple to remain enjoyable. The comedy offers nothing new. Yes, it's funny, but we all know what panties look like by now.

Taeko is one of the most enjoyable character aside from her clumsiness. Her drive to be "good enough" is such a strong aspect of her character, it seems that everybody could learn from her will alone. And, typically the only reason to bury a girl's face in those huge glasses is to make her a beauty in disguise. Once those frames come off, she may become irresistable to the male characters... If her.. ahem.. "assets" aren't impressive enough.

Tina's character also grows as certain events give clue to a possible inferiority complex. One could only hope here character is given more depth as the series continues.

All-in-all this is still an enjoyable series which has greatly lightened up after the first disk. The story still shines best when Kaoru and Aoi spend time together or express their desire to do so. Episode 10 makes for the nicest misty-eyed experience.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: For Love Hina Type Fans
Review: This Series which had an excellent first few episodes degrades quickly to traditional lite anime plot devices. The pet, the clumsy person, the letchers, the ghost stories, etc. There are still occasional moments of a growing love relationship between the two principal characters, and that makes it fair. Unfortunately the original promise of the series does not reappear until near the of its 26 episode run. Fans of the romantic genre should wait for upcoming release of Maison Ikkoku.
If you have to buy everything romantic thats out there ok, but remember this is simply light fan fair for most of the remaining episodes. You get the obligatory crushes, beach episodes, and road trips. If you skip to the last DVD in the series after buying the first and just get those two you really won't miss much in between.


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