Cheap Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Nemo's Fortress (Vol. 5) (DVD) (Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi) Price

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Customer Reviews of Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Nemo's Fortress (Vol. 5)

As for the content, the first episode centers on Jean feeling tired at being treated like a kid, and attempts to prove his worthiness by constructing an aircraft to impress Nadia. Watching Jean in this episode actually made me begin to like him a lot better than I did the first time I met him. He was always happy, even in the direst of circumstances, and I was sort of taking Nadia's side on him (perhaps a little too unfairly), but as the story went on, I began to like him FOR that reason. And when Nadia begins to mistreat him on the last episode, I actually feel more drawn to him and pretty much driven away by her. Her angry outbursts remind me painfully how I treated people in a similar way when I was younger, because I shared the same distrusting, rigid, stubborn, dismissive nature that Nadia occasionally gets into. Grandis, Hanson, and Sanson are as funny as ever, and Marie is just adorable (especially whenever she teases Nadia about being in love with Jean, and saying that they're going to get "mushy" with each other!). Of course, King also engages in some occasionally hilarious bits, although not many on this volume.

The highlight of this DVD is the Nautilus's trip to Antarctica. Enacted in Episodes 18 (which involves a grueling, and exciting, undersea battle with a giant shellfish) and 19, this depiction of Antarctica, although not accurate, is so spectacular that one will wish this is what it would really look like. From the warm cavern upon arrival to the shadows of the legendary beasts, to a mighty, talking(!) whale, finishing with an absolutely breathtaking shot of an aurora in the night sky atop the Southern Pole, the imaginative images of Antarctica could warrant the purchase of the DVD alone.

So why doesn't it? Well, because the last episode is the weakest on the DVD. It ends on a "to be continued" mode, which will leave the viewer wanting more (I personally didn't watch this episode until I got Volume 6). In addition, there is very little that is resolved right here. Also, as mentioned, Nadia may drive you away on the last episode. Her jealousy over Jean's friendship with First Officer Electra intensifies when Grandis "plants the seeds" in her head, and her inability to deal with her emotions almost destroys her friendship with Jean. She does, however, visit Electra and learns that she only considers Jean a friend, and not as a potential love interest as Grandis might have suggested. Even though she apparently starts to get a better idea, the lack of any scenes involving her with Jean after her talk with Electra is rather unsatisfying and unsettling.

There are two very mild sexual situations on the DVD. The first is a recycling of the sexual gag on Volume 2 (Jean trying to sneak a look as Nadia shakes her bra to cool off, only to receive a slap on the cheek), only this time Marie is involved as well. In this case, the two throw off their coats to cool off because they are in a cavern that they consider to be "too hot! Too hot! TOO HOT!" The second one is when Nadia and Electra share a bath together (where the latter reveals secrets which I will not go into detail about), and Marie, naked, is playing with King on the floor. There isn't anything revealing (sex-wise) about these scenes, and they're absolutely not offensive, but it is best to be informed so that you don't find yourself gagging in shock.

If there's anything disappointing about the fifth installment of NADIA, aside from the cliffhanging last episode, it may be the lack of interaction between Marie and Sanson. The two shared an absolutely terrific, funny, fast-paced chase sequence in Volume 4, with Sanson coming out of his egotistical shell and starting to care for Marie, especially when she gets sick. There isn't much of that right here, with the exception of a sand castle game and a very woefully short but funny scene where they play "house", with Sanson as a baby! *Hysterical Laughter* Nevertheless, I would have liked to see more of that, so that was a bit of a letdown.

In spite of its pitfalls, though, the fifth volume of NADIA only leaves you wanting more. It's still worth getting, but I'd also suggest purchasing Volume 6 as well. That way, you'll be able to pick up from right where you leave off in this volume. (Did I mention to also pick up the first four volumes if you haven't already done so?)