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REVIEW: Monster DVD Box Set 1

this is a unedited version. As was said in the post you quoted, the western releases have the music rearanged. Viz has this version.

Rearranged soundtrack and two missing songs doesn't qualify as unedited under any definition I know of. You can argue over the significance of the changes to the soundtrack, but it is not unedited.

So, spoiler["I just saw one random guy on television saying something mildly obtusely not entirely anti-Kira, HE MUST BE X-KIRA!!!!"] wasn't at all contrived?

Or the fact that Light's most absurd and convoluted gambit ultimately revolved ENTIRELY around his faith that spoiler[he would still be wearing a watch in which he kept a piece of the Death Note out of habit months and months later at just the right critical moment, and not only that but that he would NEVER in all those months bother to check the hidden compartment in that watch]?

spoiler[Light would know, because it would not have been wiped away by losing his memory of the Death Note, that that watch had a secret compartment. He wouldn't know what was in it, but he would know it was there, as that in and of itself is a memory unrelated to the Death Note. Yet even knowing that, in all those months, he NEVER EVER tried to use it for something? Or check what was in there? Or, hell, even accidentally open it when he had to fiddle with the dates on the watch after months that only had 30 days? And even than, I mean, I have a watch that I wear basically everyday. But, you know, every once in a while I feel like "you know, I think I'll go without the watch today for a change." The fact is that Light created a plan where such a whim on his own part would completely foil his entire ridiculous, months long gambit, which just seems remarkably out of place considering how the show likes to pretend that Light accounts for all possible scenarios.]

Or perhaps the fact that the bomb that Light rigged into his own desk at home was not discovered by investigators despite the fact that they installed multiple surveillance cameras in his desk?

Araki seems to have had the good foresight of just dealing it straight to the viewer with minimal fuss over all the details, which probably aren't mind-blowingly good anyway.

Death Note revels in its ridiculousness, in its complete eschewing of reality, in its distilling the entire world down to just two (and later three) mildly intelligent human beings while using the entire rest of the cast merely as playthings and pawns for the opposing puppetmasters. That's the fun of Death Note, the source of its energy and suspense.

If you really want to get something done, show viz that there is not only interest in Monster but interest in an unedited version of Monster. I'm going to be purchasing the show and writing to Viz to let them know that I'm a customer and I'm also interested in an unedited version of Monster. I won't be holding my breath, but if it comes down to it I'll just pick up the R2 version of the show as well.

As far as the editing done to the show, it's pretty weak compared to several other shows that have been released over here (Robotech, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptors to name a few). Butchered is not a word I would use to describe this release of Monster.

I thought it was pretty mind-blowing reading the manga just because of the impression that the author "thought of everything;" or at least thought of a lot more than you would have deemed necessary.

As far as the editing done to the show, it's pretty weak compared to several other shows that have been released over here (Robotech, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptors to name a few). Butchered is not a word I would use to describe this release of Monster.

Eh, you're right, "butchered" was extreme. I'm just really angry and disappointed about this because I've been looking forward to this series for so long. But really: I want to know, why did this happen? Whose idea was it to scramble the music? What was the point? In all those other examples you gave, I can understand the reasoning behind it, however stupid. I could understand if you couldn't get the rights to a few songs (in spite of my overreaction at the announcement of Eden of the East's licensing, I will buy it even if they don't get the opening theme), but why take the soundtrack and put different music in different places? I just cannot get my head around this.

Maybe the director didn't like the way he arranged the music and decided to change it? Not every director is happy with the way a product turns out and, to whatever annoyence it causes the fans, changes things around.

ThegreatPirateKing wrote:

Maybe the director didn't like the way he arranged the music and decided to change it? Not every director is happy with the way a product turns out and, to whatever annoyance it causes the fans, changes things around.

Ghost in the Shell 2.0.

Ffffffffffffffffffuu--

(that's not to say that I didn't like all the "enhancements").

Some countries dub them over and you can tell because The High-Lows back-up singing in the opening is still present. This happens more than you think and honestly, I would much rather have an instrumental than a different song used.

Ans spend $200+ on a series that I'll want to completely replace at some point? Yeah, maybe if I was made of money! I expect to get as much of the original as possible if I'm going to fork over that kind of cash. Meanwhile, I'll just buy their manga. I love their manga releases of Urasawa's work.

Eh, you're right, "butchered" was extreme. I'm just really angry and disappointed about this because I've been looking forward to this series for so long. But really: I want to know, why did this happen? Whose idea was it to scramble the music? What was the point? In all those other examples you gave, I can understand the reasoning behind it, however stupid. I could understand if you couldn't get the rights to a few songs (in spite of my overreaction at the announcement of Eden of the East's licensing, I will buy it even if they don't get the opening theme), but why take the soundtrack and put different music in different places? I just cannot get my head around this.

but why take the soundtrack and put different music in different places? I just cannot get my head around this.

The characters in Monster act and feel more like "people" than disposible chess pieces...

Otaking09 wrote:

The characters in Monster act and feel more like "people" than disposible chess pieces...

Ha ha...! While I do agree with this in general, I was just wondering if you remember the time Monster spoiler[spends at least half an episode developing the backstory for 2 characters whose sole purpose is to get run over by a car minutes later, thus causing a conincidental diversion for Dr. Temna to escape custody from his prisoner transport vehicle.] I'm sure people are going to have a field day discussing that one once they see the episode.