A Short Summary: Berserk Review

This is only a short summary
Read the complete review of Berserk here 
 
-Exceptionally good Art
-Massive and extremely nice sceneries
-Very brutal
-Slow releasing schedule (once a month, even rarer due to breaks)
-Engaging and intriguing story
-Bad ass main character, one of the best
-Interesting and imaginative villains / monsters
-Decent side characters
-Definitely recommended

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Berserk 333: Sir irvine, Rickert and Falconia

Recap

After couple of months we finally get to see Sir Irvine shoot the cockatrice with his demon bow. The cockatrice dies only with one arrow. Irvine get praised by soldiers of band of the hawk.

The people in caravan just wonder what is he and one of them says that he heard rumors how Band of the Hawk not only commands men, but legions of frightful beasts as well.

Rickert keeps wondering what's going on with Griffith. Irvine helps the caravan with dead trees on the road so that they can continue their journey.

Rickert reminisces shortly how "That day, on the hill of the swords, Griffith flew off with Zodd the immortal." He notes how Griffith is now different than before and makes a strange impression now.

Some harpies suddenly attack the caravan and they get downed by Rickert and his repeating crossbow. General Laban comes and notices how the little caravan actually managed to survive because of Rickert and his crossbow. Rickert recognizes him and tells that he saw him during the battles of the hundred years' war and says that he's one of the member of original band of the hawk.

The caravan and the soldiers finally come out of the woods to the open and see a miraculous sight. In the open there is "Wing stones" which work like amulets repelling monsters around Windham. Far away they see The world Helix Tree, as they call it.

The land around windham seems fertile and people are living in peace, it's a perfect place for shelter. They say that the ripening lands are because of divine protection of the World Helix Tree. Windham, or rather Falconia can take so many refugees: we get to see how the roads are full of people wanting to get under the protection of the World Helix Tree.

Chapter ends and we'll get to see continuation in Berserk 334.

Comments and Predictions

Berserk chapter 333 was a good one. I'm still wondering what are Griffith's aim for the world and it's people. Of course he is causing most of the evil in the world and appearing as savior when saving some of the people. But I really don't get what he's aiming for in the end.

I wonder why we are following such a minor character as Rickert, but I imagine that them arriving Windham, or rather Falconia serves a bigger purpose. Maybe they'll meet some old characters and obtain some new information for us there.

Also, the Falconia seems too good to be true. I think that the wing stones that repel monsters and especially the world helix tree have some kind of bad meaning behind them. Maybe the Tree somehow sucks life out of people near it or something. I could also imagine that the wing stones are actually some kind of monsters (dragons?) sleeping under the ground. But this is just speculation.

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Seinen Manga recommendation: Berserk Review

Manga with great story? Check
Manga with exceptional art? Check
Manga with likeable characters? Check
Manga with THE MOST BADASS main character? Check

The story tells a tale of Guts (or Gats, depending on translator), who at the beginning of the series joins mercenary group called The Band of Hawk, which is led by Griffith. Guts quickly befriends Griffith and after series of plot developments Griffith basically becomes the main antagonist.

Art is one of the main things which has made Berserk so popular over the years. Right from the beginning, especially considering that Berserk started publishing in 1990, easily over two decades ago it has been continuously excellent. The author Kentaro Miura has made it so that it can be said that it's his trademark to really make every Berserk chapter worthwile from artistic point of view even though they are released very rarely nowadays. Perhaps the only one that can be considered even remotely close to artistic value of Berserk is Vinland Saga.

Characters of Berserk are another excellent thing in the series: as I've often said in my review I resent some characters, especially the main characters who are pretty much pussies who are like children who don't know what to do. Of course there are places and series for that kinds of characters, but I've found a surprising correlation with enjoyment and that kind of characters. Fortunately the main character or even the side characters can't be described like that: Guts is the most badass of them all and the side characters portray very well the attitude that was needed at such "time" in which Berserk's story resides.

As for the story it can also be considered top notch: It may be that I have yet to encounter such a story that could so well combine basically every possible aspect of a story and succeed very well in showing it to the readers: I'm talking about friendships, betrayal, violence, romance, despair, you name it, Berserk has it. What really makes Berserk as good as it is is the feeling of utter epicness: the story is so overwhelming along with its beautiful and detailed art that it undoubtly leaves the reader wanting more.

Berserk is one of my lasting favorites, there's not much to say except that it's filled with testosterone and sense of excitement.

There's really no good way to describe Berserk storylines uniqueness and awesomeness by telling what happens - you absolutely have to experience it. If you haven't read it, you can only imagine one of the greatest adventures awaiting you. If I have to find something bad to say it's that new Berserk chapters are released too rarely. Since making quality takes certain amount of time, it's understandable.

Berserk has an anime adaptation made over decade ago which painfully ends unfinished. There's also NEW anime adaptation, which was released late 2012.

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Berserk Golden Age I Review: Egg of the High King, amazing film

Oh, boy oh boy, where to start! This film I expected like the rising moon on the last days of the year.  The biggest fear before the release was related to Warner Bros's presence: will this be like original Kentaro Miura dark classic manga where the blood and nudity amount is suitable for such a manga or will they actually tune it down because of such companys presence. Did such thing happen as I feared? Fortunately, no.

At the first glance animation looks very promising.. Even though it is computer-aided animation, smooth animation viewing is always a true pleasure, in comparison especially normal Sunday evening Japanese anime are are a bit budget constrained in this area.The difference can be clearly seen in comparison to berserk. I think I like the technology used in the film, such as how Sony's Motionflow technology, to give 23.67 fps BluRay-picture looks like "natural,".

 Berserk movies well made backgrounds do not lose to any previous anime movies I've seen. Backgrounds are mostly manually constructed. In fact, Berserk is one of the few animes which with the background and sometimes people can not be separated. All blends so harmoniously together especially in a few apparently specifically for "scenery poeple" manufactured scenes, except that it is only now, at this writing I woke up to the fact that I really don't have a lot to say about backgrounds in this movie.

Blood, nudity and grotesque artwork is berserk's bread and butter. How did Studio 4C together with Warner Bros manage to do this? Very well. Trailer had received the impression that violence is twisted to a minimum. It doesn't overdo it, but it is certainly enough for pleasurable watch. 

The most important thing: Berserk Golden Age plot arc has always attracted myself specifically because of character development. Berserk movie is obviously not capable of miracles, lasting a little more than an hour, but Griffiths and Guts's genuine friendship and the high degree of trust is evident. All in all, taking into account the time constraint, the character development is carried out well. The film is simply does not have any unnecessary scenes in which there would have been reason to go pick another beer.

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