Cheap Mezzo Forte (DVD) (Mezzo Forte, Yasuomi Umetsu) Price

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Customer Reviews of Mezzo Forte

For the fans...
Well, this 2-ep. OVA was quite a surprise after something like Kite. I really liked Kite for it's no-sweat attitude and violent action sequences. The same things can be found in Mezzo Forte, but it's taken in a slightly different approach.
This anime wasn't made to be taken seriously. It's more of a lighthearted action show rather than a pychological action drama(like Kite was). It's like a Yasuomi Umetsu grab-bag film (meaning that you'll find most of the things he does well in this movie)

The first thing that will strike you about Mezzo Forte is it's art and animation, which are a large step above Kite's (which is excellent on it's own). The character animations are very smooth, and the coloring is very detailed and diverse. Unlike Kite's animation where everything but an action sequence uses mostly still fraims, Mezzo Forte gived nearly equal treatment to every scene throughout. The character designs are very appealing and attractive (espcially for the female characters. You could almost drool over them. I want the director's cut now *gawww*) As you can see, Action scenes aren't the only thing in this show that are a sight to behold.
Speaking of action scenes, this anime takes Kite's standards to a new level. Remember the exploding bullets from Kite? Mezzo Forte has exploding people(well, they're actually sex robots) and explosive bowling balls. Not only are there gun fights, there are also some superbly executed hand-to-hand combat scenes that have great attention to detail in the choreagraphy.
In conclusion, as far as art/animation and action goes, you will not be dissapointed in this title.

Now not 5 instead of 4 stars? Well, that's for the title's lack of depth. You won't turn off the film and start thinking about the plot's twists and turns. The entire film is pretty straightforward. Some people tend to like that in action films, that it not being too cerebral. I'm more of the cerebral type, but this movie was still quite enjoyable. Like I said, Mezzo Forte is quite light-hearted and is filled with jokes and gags. You could almost call it a comedy.
There's a hilarious parody of Die Hard during the second episode and watch for the *blink-and-you'll-miss-it* cameo of Sawa from Kite.

The dubbing is also quite good. I espcially liked Mikura's cute voice done by Ed's voice actor from Cowboy Bebop. The Japanese VAs also do a terrific job.

Overall, the film's lack of depth doesn't keep it from being a very goofy and entertaining story. If you want something like Kite but less depressing, then this is your film.

I also wish Mezzo Forte was longer (only 55 minutes). I thought that it really could have used an extra half hour. I wanted more!

But even though the film is goofy, it is filled with blood and guts. There first scene in the film has a guy beaten to death with a baseball bat and then shot several times. People get shot not once, not twice, but dozens of times before they die. Mezzo Forte isn't for the squemish. As the cover says, this is Kite times 2.

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A Fun Little Peice of Anime
People expecting the next Kite should deffinatly not watch this. Mezzo Forte is much lighter than Kite (although still VERY violent) and takes everything with the tongue placed firmly in the cheek. Oh and just to make this clear, I saw the cut version of Mezzo Forte (sans all adult scenes).

The dub for this release is also pretty well done. Some very familiar voices grace the screen, and not the usual Kitty actors (although I read at AnimeonDVD that the girl who Mikaru had a voice double for the more mature scenes).

This is not for kids at all! There is plenty of nudity and some pretty strong sex related dialogue in the first few scenes. Also, even though this is a comedy, it is VERY violent. People are shot, impaled, exploded, and beaten with bats to name a few little things. A deffinate 16+ viewing experince (and the directors cut is deffinatly a 18+.)

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A Fun but Short Anime
Most anime are fun little distractions, rather then serious works of film. With that in mind, I have to say I love Mezzo Forte, and I love Mikura.

The main character of the show is the cute, spunky, and feisty Mikura. She's a badass fighter and really flexible, we never know why she got so good at fighting, but then who cares? She has a firebrand nature, and can be easily upset. Where her two partners are spineless to a point, she is afraid of very few things.
In the same Investigation agency she works for, there are two clowns, Harada a young mechanic of cyborgs, and Mr. Kurokawa, a ex-cop with money.

The main story revolves around the trio kidnapping a mob-like owner of a baseball team, but then things go sour fast, and next thing you know there is fighting and explosions, and Mikura!!! The story is by no means great, as it feels as though the writer wanted alot more then an hours worth, but never got it. Secondly, this movie is the prelude to the TV series which is either running or will be running on Japanese TV, which means its more of an introduction to the team, rather then a complete "stand alone" movie. In the end the story is enjoyable for what it is.

The animation in the movie is top notch, as it comes from the same guy who brought us the gritty movie "Kite". Mikura, for a cartoon is sexy cute, and all the other characters in the movie are graphically pleasing in their own ways.

In the end this a fun little movie, not to be taken seriously, but to be enjoyed for the zanny characters and the excellent graphics.