Gungrave - Beyond the Grave (Vol. 1)
Based on a manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, the creator ofTrigun,Gungraveis a dark, violent fantasy linked to a video game. In a grimy future metropolis, Dr. Tokioka has somehow resurrected Brandon Heat, a.k.a. Beyond the Grave, to fight the mob run by Harry McDowell, a.k.a. Bloody Harry. As Brandon dispatches hordes of mutant "orgmen" like so many clay pigeons, he's clearly the man for the job. Three of these episodes are extended flashbacks that trace Brandon's past as a two-bit street thug. He and Harry were partners, fighting their way through the city's mean streets and sewers: How did they become enemies? Director Toshiyuki Tsuru stages the many gun battles effectively, but except for the occasional voice-over narration, Brandon remains so stoically taciturn, he's uninteresting. Viewers seeking the special charm that madeTrigunso entertaining should look elsewhere. (Rated 16 and older: considerable violence, tobacco and alcohol use)--Charles Solomon