Toon Zone Talkback - One Piece of Advice: "First Voyage" Rocks

[Classic Speedy]

This is the talkback thread for One Piece of Advice: "First Voyage" Rocks (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=24325).
http://news.toonzone.net/images/2008-06/splash_onepieceset1lg.jpg

Here's the eagerly-anticipated review of One Piece's first set!

[D Dubbs]

One Piece is a fast-paced, colorful, and rather cocky action adventure: a sparkling jewel for any professional or amateur pirate's treasure chest. Oo-ar indeed.Fast-paced? Eh...I guess these first handful of episodes kinda are, but some of the later arcs are really dragged out. Alabasta & Skypiea come to mind, with like, 35 to 50 episodes each. Heck, even the Kuro arc seemed a bit too long for my tastes.

Otherwise, good review, although it seemed to focus more on the DVD details than the series itself.

[Daxdiv]

Finally. It here and it a pretty good review. Glad to see yet another fan of One Piece. Though James did say the same thing about the DVD extra feature that other reviewers said, it can be overlook since, if you're reviewing the same thing... You are bound to run into the same problems.

[GWOtaku]

The character [Luffy] is—as many have already discovered—a fascinating blend of brute honesty, uncompromising honor and a rich dab of mild psychosis.Ha, now that is well said.

This is a very nice review, good effort clearly went into it. Taking a paragraph to compare it to the manga was a nice and useful idea. I strongly agree about the commentary, it was fun to sit through and it left me hoping there would be more like it in every set.

I'd agree the release is pretty lean, but that's a function of the series' sheer length. Any more would raise the cost and make collecting the series dauntingly expensive. As long as commentaries are thrown in and the marathon feature stays to make for easy viewing, I'll be content.

I enjoyed the early episodes, especially up through Zoro's introduction & the fight with Axe-Hand Morgan since Zoro is one of my favorites. I think set 2 will clearly be a drastic improvement though, as that'll settle the Kuro arc and bring Usopp and Sanji into things. The Buggy episodes are enjoyable enough, though like with Morgan you get the sense that One Piece is going through the standard shonen phase of pretty straightforward introductory fights to establish what the characters are capable of doing. Starting with Kuro's arc though things start getting serious, and One Piece really starts to find its footing then.

[James]

Fast-paced? Eh...I guess these first handful of episodes kinda are, but some of the later arcs are really dragged out. Alabasta & Skypiea come to mind, with like, 35 to 50 episodes each. Heck, even the Kuro arc seemed a bit too long for my tastes.

I was referring to the specific release. I leave to your more knowledgable judgement as to the pace of the show in general. ;)


Otherwise, good review, although it seemed to focus more on the DVD details than the series itself.Well the review was for the release of the first boxset. As I said in the review, I'm not someone who has had great exposure to One Piece, I'm simply someone who reviews whatever comes his way.

Personally, I would avoid angling a review of a product too much on a show in general because that's not what we're here to do. Reviews of specific products are there to assess that product for the consumer, not use it to soapbox their knowledge or opinion on the larger scheme, for instance, a show in general.

In the end, with shows like One Piece, you are either talking to people who know the show well, or don't know it at all. The former group don't need to be told about the show, the latter simply need the baby step introduction into the show - what it's about, what the DVD is like and maybe a warning it's a looong series to invest in!


Finally. It here and it a pretty good review.

Yeah, the staff have had a hectic time of late - especially the editors. I think the plan was to have got this up sooner, but you know how life loves it's curveballs!

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Yeah, the staff have had a hectic time of late - especially the editors. I think the plan was to have got this up sooner, but you know how life loves it's curveballs!

I am sure the Throwdown--in which One Piece is additionally mentioned--did not help, either.

And so, Mr. McLean, for the baited audience, shall you be taking on reviewing of the second volume?

[James]

I am sure the Throwdown--in which One Piece is additionally mentioned--did not help, either.

And so, Mr. McLean, for the baited audience, shall you be taking on reviewing of the second volume?

Lol. That would depend on the editors. As they know, I'm happy to do what ever works best. Personally, as I attested in the review, I'd be very happy to see where this goes - particularly from the comments in this thread. But ultimately, that be an editorial decision!

[Light Lucario]

That was a really great review. I agreed with what you said, except the part about the opening theme. Maybe its because I didn't hear the Japanese version until after I finished the set, but I thought that the English version of "We Are" had an enjoyable beat to it. Of course, so does the Straw Hats version of the song that I heard.

Anyway, I liked how you compared the anime to the manga for a paragraph, as well as how you described Luffy's personality pretty much spot on. I also liked how they introduced Zolo into the series, as well as the backstory for Luffy. I also liked the emotional connection the Buggy episodes had, but I do agree that the intensity of One Piece really gets starting once the Kuro arc starts. And I've only seen these episodes and what was aired for the Skypeia arc. I completely loved the commentary because the voice actors there seemed like they had a great time doing it and they were just loving to do the series. Great review and I got a good laugh when you mentioned how people may very well develop a wallet-draining relationship with One Piece. That's really not too far off from the truth for a lot of fans.

[Dark Fact]

That was a really great review. I agreed with what you said, except the part about the opening theme. Maybe its because I didn't hear the Japanese version until after I finished the set, but I thought that the English version of "We Are" had an enjoyable beat to it. Of course, so does the Straw Hats version of the song that I heard.

Agreed about the opening theme. I thought it was sung wonderfully by Vic Mignogna and captured the feel of One Piece as so many fans wanted it. And for the record, I've listened to both the English and Japanese themes many times and think they both have their own charm and none are any better than the other.

[James]

Agreed about the opening theme. I thought it was sung wonderfully by Vic Mignogna and captured the feel of One Piece as so many fans wanted it. And for the record, I've listened to both the English and Japanese themes many times and think they both have their own charm and none are any better than the other.

That's very interesting. I must confess I watched the English dub before the Japanese (rare for me, I don't know why quite honestly), and the one thing I was bewildered with was the theme tune. It didn't sound quite as corny in Japanese, but overall, to my virgin ears it sounded like an 80s theme for a kid's Saturday morning cartoon.

So while I can't pretend I like it, at least I have learned that my opinion isn't universal and the song - particularly the English dub - does have a place with the fans. Maybe I'll just have to try liking it harder in future. ;)

[Daxdiv]

Just wait until we get to the part where the members of the Straw Hat Pirates get to sing "We Are." That is my favorite rendition of "We Are" and I am sort of looking foward to that being sung in English, since in one episode that aired on CN, in the background the Strawhats sung "Family", So if we get more episodes, I can see us getting a Strawhat rendition of "We Are." Even though that might not happen for a while.

[Dark Fact]

So while I can't pretend I like it, at least I have learned that my opinion isn't universal and the song - particularly the English dub - does have a place with the fans. Maybe I'll just have to try liking it harder in future. ;)
Don't worry. It'll grow on you. ;)

Just wait until we get to the part where the members of the Straw Hat Pirates get to sing "We Are." That is my favorite rendition of "We Are" and I am sort of looking foward to that being sung in English, since in one episode that aired on CN, in the background the Strawhats sung "Family", So if we get more episodes, I can see us getting a Strawhat rendition of "We Are." Even though that might not happen for a while.
The only time I remember the Straw Hats singing "We Are" was in the first movie's opening. What other episode did they sing it in?

[GWOtaku]

Don't worry. It'll grow on you. ;)

The only time I remember the Straw Hats singing "We Are" was in the first movie's opening. What other episode did they sing it in?

At one point during Eines Lobby they took a break for what were basically backstory & flashback episodes for the Straw Hats, and I'm pretty sure they had it during those. So we're talking a LONG time from now, but it'll get there.